Sauk Mountain

Sauk Mountain is a 5,541-foot (1,689-metre) mountain summit located in Skagit County of Washington state.[3] It is situated immediately north of Rockport State Park and the North Cascades Highway, on land managed by the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Sauk Mountain is positioned west of the crest of the North Cascades Range, approximately nine miles east of Concrete, Washington, and 17 miles north of the town of Darrington. Its nearest higher peak is Helen Buttes, 5.86 miles (9.43 km) to the northeast.[1] A popular two-mile trail provides hikers with good views from the craggy summit of Mount Baker, Mount Shuksan, Mount Chaval, and the Picket Range. The mountain's name "Sauk" comes from its position immediately north of the confluence of the Sauk River with the Skagit River, which in turn comes from the Sah-kee-ma-hu (Sauk-Suiattle tribe), a group related to the Skagit tribes.[4] Precipitation runoff from Sauk Mountain drains into tributaries of the Skagit River.

Sauk Mountain
Sauk Mountain, west aspect  
Highest point
Elevation5,541 ft (1,689 m) [1]
Prominence1,621 ft (494 m) [1]
Coordinates48°31′23″N 121°36′04″W [1]
Geography
Sauk Mountain
Location in Washington
Sauk Mountain
Sauk Mountain (the United States)
LocationSkagit County, Washington, U.S.
Parent rangeNorth Cascades
Topo mapUSGS Sauk Mountain
Geology
Type of rockGreenschist[2]
Climbing
First ascent1895 G. O. Smith[2]
Easiest routeSauk Mountain Trail and scrambling

Climate
One of Sauk's summits

Sauk Mountain 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 the North Cascades, 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 North 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[2] Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger.[2]

Geology

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 the various climate differences.

The history of the formation of the Cascade Mountains dates back millions of years ago to the late Eocene Epoch.[5] With the North American Plate overriding the Pacific Plate, episodes of volcanic igneous activity persisted.[5]  In addition, small fragments of the oceanic and continental lithosphere called terranes created the North Cascades about 50 million years ago.[5]

During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured the landscape leaving deposits of rock debris.[5] 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.

See also

References
Sauk's view of Picket Range
  1. "Sauk Mountain, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
  3. "Sauk Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  4. Phillips, James W. (1971). Washington State Place Names. University of Washington Press. ISBN 0-295-95158-3.
  5. Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.
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