Styloid Peak

LocationNorth Cascades National Park, Washington, U.S.Parent rangeNorth Cascades
Cascade RangeTopo mapUSGS Ross DamClimbingFirst ascent1981 John Roper and party^[3]

Styloid Peak is the unofficial name of a 6,972-foot (2,125-metre) mountain summit located in North Cascades National Park in Skagit County of Washington state. Its nearest higher peak is Mantis Peak, 0.33 mi (0.53 km) to the west, and Snowfield Peak rises 1.7 mi (2.7 km) to the west.^[1] Precipitation runoff from Styloid Peak drains into Neve Creek and McAllister Creek, both tributaries of Thunder Creek. The first ascent of Styloid Peak was made on May 31, 1981, by John Roper and party, on the same day that they climbed Distal Phalanx.^[3] Roper, being a doctor, named some of his many first ascents for anatomical parts of the body.

Climate

Styloid Peak is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.^[3] 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, causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the Cascades (Orographic lift). 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.^[4] Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger.^[4]

Geology

The North Cascades features some of the most rugged topography in the Cascade Range with craggy peaks, spires, ridges, and deep glacial valleys. 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 is 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.

References

External links

• North Cascades National Park National Park Service
• John Roper website: RhinoClimbs