Barrier Peak

Barrier Peak[2] is a small 6,521 ft (1,988 m) summit located in Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County of Washington state. It is part of the Cascade Range and is situated west of Cayuse Pass, 0.53 mile west-northwest of Buell Peak, and 0.4 mile south-southwest of Governors Ridge, which is its nearest higher peak.[1] The normal climbing access is from the Owyhigh Lakes Trail. The peak was so named because it served as a barrier between the Cayuse Pass region and the rest of Mount Rainier National Park.[3]

Barrier Peak
Barrier Peak seen from Sourdough Ridge
Highest point
Elevation6,521 ft (1,988 m) [1]
Prominence281 ft (86 m) [1]
Coordinates46°51′34″N 121°34′38″W 
Geography
Barrier Peak
Location of Barrier Peak in Washington
Barrier Peak
Barrier Peak (the United States)
LocationMount Rainier National Park, Pierce County, Washington, U.S.
Parent rangeCascades
Topo mapUSGS Chinook Pass
Climbing
Easiest routeScrambling class 3

Climate

Barrier Peak is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[4] 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 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. Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger. Precipitation runoff from Barrier Peak drains into tributaries of the White River and Cowlitz River.[1]

See also

References
  1. "Barrier Peak, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. "Barrier Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2018-08-10.
  3. Gary Fuller Reese, Mount Rainier National Park Place Names, 2009.
  4. Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
  • Barrier Peak (centered) seen from Owyhigh Lakes with Governors Needle (left)
  • Governors Ridge, Barrier Peak, and Tamanos Mountain seen from the Sunrise area
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