Eaton Peak

Eaton Peak is a 2,117-metre (6,946-foot) double summit mountain located in the Canadian Cascades of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is situated 17 km (11 mi) southeast of Hope, 3 km (2 mi) south of Mt. Grant, and 12.6 km (8 mi) northwest of Silvertip Mountain.[3] The peak was first climbed in 1950 by J. Butcher, F. Rodgers, and E. Jenkins.[1] The peak was named to honor Canadian Army Private Douglas B. Eaton (1911-1944), from nearby Chilliwack, who was killed in action in World War II.[4] The mountain's name was officially adopted April 7, 1955, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.[2] Nearby Eaton Creek and Eaton Lake were named in memory of his younger brother, William, also killed in action a year earlier.[4] Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into Silverhope Creek, a tributary of the Fraser River.

Eaton Peak
North aspect of Eaton Peak seen from Mt. Grant
Highest point
Elevation2,117 m (6,946 ft) [1]
Prominence387 m (1,270 ft) [1]
Parent peakSilvertip Mountain[1]
Coordinates49°14′15″N 121°20′49″W [2]
Geography
Eaton Peak
Location in British Columbia
Eaton Peak
Eaton Peak (Canada)
LocationBritish Columbia, Canada
Parent rangeSkagit Range
Canadian Cascades
Topo mapNTS 92 H/3
Geology
Mountain typeIntrusive
Climbing
First ascent1950 J. Butcher, F. Rodgers, E. Jenkins
Easiest routeScrambling via West Ridge[1]

Geology

Eaton Peak is related to the Chilliwack batholith, which intruded the region 26 to 29 million years ago after the major orogenic episodes in the region. This is part of the Pemberton Volcanic Belt, an eroded volcanic belt that formed as a result of subduction of the Farallon Plate starting 29 million years ago.[5][6][7]

During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured the landscape leaving deposits of rock debris.[8] The "U"-shaped cross section of the river valleys are a result of recent glaciation. Uplift and faulting in combination with glaciation have been the dominant processes which have created the tall peaks and deep valleys of the North Cascades area.

The North Cascades features some of the most rugged topography in the Cascade Range with craggy peaks and ridges, deep glacial valleys, and granite spires. Geological events occurring many years ago created the diverse topography and drastic elevation changes over the Cascade Range leading to various climate differences which lead to vegetation variety defining the ecoregions in this area.

Climate

Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Cascade Range where they are forced upward by the range (Orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall. As a result, the Cascade Mountains experience high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. The months July through September offer the most favorable weather for climbing Eaton Peak.

Climbing Routes

Established climbing routes on Eaton Peak:[1]

  • West Ridge - class 3
  • Southeast Ridge
  • North Ridge

See also

References
  1. "Eaton Peak". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 2019-12-01.
  2. "Eaton Peak". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
  3. "Eaton Peak, British Columbia". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
  4. "Eaton Peak". BC Geographical Names. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
  5. Cenozoic to Recent plate configurations in the Pacific Basin: Ridge subduction and slab window magmatism in western North America
  6. "Miocene peralkaline volcanism in west-central British Columbia - Its temporal and plate-tectonics setting" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
  7. Catalogue of Canadian volcanoes: Franklin Glacier Archived 2010-12-11 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.
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