Tumtum Peak

Mountain in Washington (state), United States

Tumtum Peak

Location of Tumtum Peak in Washington

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Tumtum Peak

Tumtum Peak (the United States)

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CountryUnited StatesStateWashingtonCountyPierceProtected areaMount Rainier National ParkParent rangeCascadesTopo mapUSGS Wahpenayo PeakGeologyAge of rockEoceneType of rockOhanapecosh Formation^[5]ClimbingEasiest routescrambling^[6]

Tumtum Peak is a 4,678-foot-elevation (1,426-meter) mountain summit located in the southwest corner of Mount Rainier National Park, in Pierce County of Washington state.^[4] This top-to-bottom forested peak is part of the Cascade Range and lies 8.7 mi (14.0 km) southwest of the summit of Mount Rainier. The nearest higher neighbor is Mount Wow, 2.2 mi (3.5 km) to the northwest, and Iron Mountain rises 3.56 mi (5.73 km) to the northeast.^[1] Precipitation runoff from Tumtum Peak is drained by Tahoma Creek on the west side of the mountain, whereas Kautz Creek drains the east side, and both are tributaries of the Nisqually River. The Road to Paradise traverses the southern base of the peak shortly after visitors to the park enter via the Nisqually Entrance. Topographic relief is significant as the southwest aspect rises nearly 2,500 feet (760 meters) above the road in one mile.

Etymology

The "tumtum" name derives from Chinook Jargon for a word meaning "heart, or heartbeat", and refers to the shape of the landform.^[7]^[8] The toponym was officially adopted in 1913 by the United States Board on Geographic Names.^[4]

Climate

Tumtum Peak is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.^[9] Most weather fronts originating in the Pacific Ocean 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 snow 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.^[9] Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger.^[9] 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.^[9]

Gallery

Tumtum Peak seen from Inspiration Point
Tumtum Peak seen from Inspiration Point
Mt. Rainier and Tumtum Peak (lower left) viewed from High Rock Lookout.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Tumtum Peak, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
^ USGS topographic map, Wahpenayo Peak Quadrangle
^ ^a ^b "Tumtum Peak - 4,678' WA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Tumtum Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
^ Richard S. Fiske, Geology of Mount Rainier National Park Washington, U. S. Geological Survey (1963), Geological Survey Professional Paper Issue 444, U.S. Government Printing Office, page 18-19.
^ Tumtum Peak, Mountaineers.org
^ Mount Rainier National Park Place Names. Gary Fuller Reese (author), 2009.
^ Edmond S. Meany, Mount Rainier, a Record of Exploration, (1916), page 323.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.