Palisades Peak

Palisades Peak is a 7,040 feet (2,150 m) summit located in Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County of Washington state. It is part of the Sourdough Mountains, a subset of the Cascade Range, and is situated 0.6 mile north of Marcus Peak. The peak's descriptive name stems from the resemblance of its columnar basalt cliffs to a palisade. Access is via Palisades Lakes Trail which starts at Sunrise Point. Access to Sunrise Point is limited due to snowpack closing the Sunrise Road much of the year. July, August, and September are typically the months when the Sunrise Road is seasonally open for vehicle traffic. Precipitation runoff from Palisades Peak drains into the White River.

Palisades Peak
Palisades Peak seen from Sunrise Point
Highest point
Elevation7,040 ft (2,150 m) [1]
Prominence600 ft (180 m) [1]
Coordinates46°56′52″N 121°36′17″W 
Geography
Palisades Peak
Location of Marcus Peak in Washington
Palisades Peak
Palisades Peak (the United States)
LocationMount Rainier National Park, Pierce County, Washington, U.S.
Parent rangeCascades
Topo mapUSGS White River Park
Geology
Type of rockAndesite, Basalt
Climbing
Easiest routeScrambling class 3

Climate

Palisades Peak is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[2] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel northeast toward the Cascade Mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks of the Cascade Range (Orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the Cascades. As a result, the west side of the Cascades experiences high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. During winter months, weather is usually cloudy, but, due to high pressure systems over the Pacific Ocean that intensify during summer months, there is often little or no cloud cover during the summer. Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger.

References
  1. "Palisades Peak, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
Marcus Peak (left) with Palisades Peak (right)
The Palisades
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