Oval Peak

Oval Peak is an 8,800-foot (2,700-metre) mountain in the North Cascades of Washington state. It is protected by the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness within the Okanogan National Forest. Oval Peak is the highest summit in the Methow Mountains, a subrange of the North Cascades.[2] Oval Peak has a small rock glacier on its slopes.[3]

Oval Peak
Oval Peak seen from the east
Highest point
Elevation8,800 ft (2,682 m)  NAVD 88[1]
Prominence2,731 ft (832 m) [1]
Isolation15.46 mi (24.88 km) [1]
Coordinates48°17′14″N 120°25′31″W [1]
Geography
Oval Peak
Oval Peak
Oval Peak (the United States)
Parent rangeNorth Cascades
Topo mapUSGS Oval Peak
Climbing
Easiest routeHiking class 2 via South Slope[2]

Climbing Oval Peak can be difficult due to the amount of talus on its slopes. There is a summit register at the peak.[4]

Climate

Lying east of the Cascade crest, the area around Oval Peak is a bit drier than areas to the west. Summers can bring warm temperatures and occasional thunderstorms. With its impressive height, Oval Peak can have snow on it in late-Spring and early-Fall, and can be very cold in the winter.[3] The best time to climb Oval Peak is early July through October.[5] Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Oval Creek and Buttermilk Creek, which are both tributaries of the Twisp River.


Geology
Oval Peak seen from Courtney Peak

The history of the formation of the Cascade Mountains dates back millions of years ago to the late Eocene Epoch.[6] With the North American Plate overriding the Pacific Plate, episodes of volcanic igneous activity persisted.[6] In addition, small fragments of the oceanic and continental lithosphere called terranes created the North Cascades about 50 million years ago.[6]

During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured the landscape leaving deposits of rock debris.[6] The "U"-shaped cross section of the river valleys are 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.

See also

References
  1. "Oval Peak". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2015-06-01.
  2. Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
  3. SummitPost - Oval Peak Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  4. Oval Peak Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  5. Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest - Scaffold Ridge/Oval Peak Trail Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  6. Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.
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