Thunder Mountain (Washington)

Thunder Mountain is a 6,556-foot (1,998-metre) mountain summit located above the eastern shore of Glacier Lake, on the common border of King County and Chelan County in Washington state.[4] It's part of the Wenatchee Mountains, which are a subset of the Cascade Range, and is situated in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, on land managed by Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.[1] Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains west into Surprise Creek, or east into tributaries of Icicle Creek. The nearest higher neighbor is Nimbus Mountain, 0.56 mi (0.90 km) to the northeast, and Surprise Mountain is set 0.88 mi (1.42 km) to the southwest.[1] The Pacific Crest Trail skirts this peak as it passes between Thunder Mountain and Spark Plug Mountain.

Thunder Mountain
Southwest aspect from Surprise Gap
Highest point
Elevation6,556 ft (1,998 m) [1][2]
Prominence276 ft (84 m) [1]
Parent peakNimbus Mountain (6,711 ft)[3]
Isolation0.55 mi (0.89 km) [3]
Coordinates47°39′21″N 121°07′55″W [1]
Geography
Thunder Mountain
Location in Washington
Thunder Mountain
Thunder Mountain (the United States)
LocationKing County / Chelan County
Washington state, U.S.
Parent rangeNorth Wenatchee Mountains[1]
Cascade Range
Topo mapUSGS Scenic
Climbing
Easiest routeHiking West Ridge[2]

Climate

Thunder Mountain is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[2] 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, 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 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.[2] Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in avalanche danger.[2] The months July through September offer the most favorable weather for viewing or climbing this peak.

Geology

The Alpine Lakes Wilderness features some of the most rugged topography in the Cascade Range with craggy peaks and ridges, deep glacial valleys, and granite walls spotted with over 700 mountain lakes.[5] Geological events occurring many years ago created the diverse topography and drastic elevation changes over the Cascade Range leading to the various climate differences.

Nimbus (left) and Thunder (right)

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 and shaped the landscape.[6] The last glacial retreat in the Alpine Lakes area began about 14,000 years ago and was north of the Canada–US border by 10,000 years ago.[6] The "U"-shaped cross section of the river valleys are a result of that 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 Alpine Lakes Wilderness area.

See also

References
  1. "Thunder Mountain, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
  3. "Thunder Mountain - 6,556' WA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  4. "Thunder Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2020-06-23.
  5. Smoot, Jeff (2004). Backpacking Washington's Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Helena, Montana: The Globe Pequot Press.
  6. Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.
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