Mount Daniel

Mount Daniel is the highest summit on the Cascade Range crest of Alpine Lakes Wilderness of the central Washington, USA. It is the highest point in King and Kittitas counties. Streams on its eastern slopes form the headwaters of the Cle Elum River.

Mount Daniel
Highest point
Elevation7,960+ ft (2,430+ m)  NGVD 29[1]
Prominence3,480 ft (1,060 m) [1]
Coordinates47°33′54″N 121°10′51″W [1]
Geography
LocationKing / Kittitas counties, Washington, U.S.
Parent rangeCascade Range
Topo mapUSGS Mount Daniel
Geology
Age of rockOligocene
Mountain typeandesite
Climbing
First ascent1925
Easiest routeHike from Peggys Pond

Geology

Mount Daniel's volcanic rock is composed of andesite, dacite, and rhyolite inflows, breccia, and tuff. Volcanic sandstone is interbedded. Just west of Mount Daniel is the Mount Hinman plutonic stock.[2]

Peaks

From most vantages Mount Daniel appears to be a triple-crowned mass, but five summits can be identified.[1][2]

  • West Summit (7,960+ ft (2,430+ m))
  • Middle Summit (7,959 ft or 2,426 m)
  • East Peak (7,899 ft or 2,408 m)
  • West Pyramid (7,880+ ft (2,400+ m))
  • Northwest Summit (7,686 ft or 2,343 m)

These elevations are based on Sea Level Datum of 1929 and are taken from the Mount Daniels 7.5 minute topographic map which was published in 1965.[3] The United States Board on Geographic Names has assigned the name Mount Daniel to the east peak even though it is not the highest.[4]

Glaciers
North aspect of Daniel featuring Lynch Glacier.

Mount Daniel supports several glaciers, the largest of which is Lynch Glacier on the northwest slope of the mountain. Lynch Glacier extends from 7,800 feet (2,377 m) to 6,220 feet (1,896 m), where it melts into Pea Soup Lake, draining to the East Fork Foss River. The West Lynch Glacier hangs from the north slope of the Northwest Peak of Mount Daniel. West Lynch Glacier was formerly connected to Lynch Glacier. On the north side of the ridge between the Middle Summit and East Peak is another glacier with the tentative name of Daniel Glacier. It is partially connected to Lynch Glacier. Daniel Glacier is losing mass and was once much larger. Several small remnants, now just perennial snow accumulations rather than living glaciers, are located east of Daniel Glacier. On the southeast side of Mount Daniel, nested against a cirque headwall, is the Hyas Creek Glacier, an isolated and small ice mass that was once much larger. It drains to Hyas Creek and Peggy's Pond. All the glaciers on Mount Daniel are thinning and becoming stagnant. West Lynch Glacier is expected to disappear in the near future.[2]

History

The first known ascent of Mount Daniel was by The Mountaineers 1925 outing, but it is likely that surveyors had already ascended Daniel. The 1925 party climbed via Lynch Glacier.[2]

Climbing Route

The standard route to the summit starts at Salmon La Sac, passes Cathedral Rock, Peggy's Pond, and then is a scramble up to summit.[1]

Mt. Daniel with Cathedral Rock (left)

See also

References
  1. "Mount Daniel, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. Beckey, Fred (2000). Cascade Alpine Guide: Climbing and High Routes: Columbia River to Stevens Pass (3rd ed.). The Mountaineers. pp. 193–197. ISBN 978-0-89886-577-6.
  3. Mount Daniels quadrangle, Wash (Map). 1:24000. 7.5 Minute Topographic. USGS.
  4. "Mount Daniel". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.