Buck Mountain (Washington)

Buck Mountain is an 8,528-foot (2,599-metre) mountain summit located in the Glacier Peak Wilderness of the North Cascades in Washington state.[4] The mountain is situated in Chelan County, in the Wenatchee National Forest. Its nearest higher peak is Clark Mountain, 3.98 mi (6.41 km) to the southwest, and Brahma Peak is set 1.8 mi (2.9 km) to the south. Precipitation runoff from it drains into Buck Creek, Chiwawa River, and Napeequa River, each a tributary of the Wenatchee River. The mountain's name was applied by Albert Hale Sylvester (1871-1944), a pioneer surveyor, explorer, topographer, and forest supervisor in the Cascades.

Buck Mountain
Buck Mountain, northeast aspect
Highest point
Elevation8,528 ft (2,599 m) [1]
Prominence1,888 ft (575 m) [1]
Parent peakClark Mountain (8,602 ft)[2]
Isolation3.99 mi (6.42 km) [2]
Coordinates48°05′37″N 120°54′44″W [1]
Geography
Buck Mountain
Location in Washington
Buck Mountain
Location in the United States
LocationChelan County, Washington, U.S.
Parent rangeCascade Range
Topo mapUSGS Clark Mountain
Climbing
First ascent1948 Carl Suback, Ray Rigg[3]
Easiest routeScrambling class 3

Geology

The North Cascades feature 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] Glacier Peak, a stratovolcano that is 9.0 mi (14.5 km) west of Buck Mountain, began forming in the mid-Pleistocene.[6] 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. Several glaciers lie on the slopes of Buck Mountain. 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.

Climate
Buck Mountain from the southeast

Buck Mountain is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[6] 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.[6] Due to its temperate climate and proximity to the Pacific Ocean, areas west of the Cascade Crest very rarely experience temperatures below 0 °F (−18 °C) or above 80 °F (27 °C).[6] 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.[6] Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger.[6]

See also

References
Buck from Mt. Maude
  1. "Buck Mountain, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. "Buck Mountain - 8,528' WA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  3. RhinoClimbs.com
  4. "Buck Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
  5. Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.
  6. Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
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