Trico Mountain

Trico Mountain is a 6,640+ ft (2,020+ m) mountain summit located 10 mi (16 km) south of Stevens Pass on the common border of King County, Kittitas County and Chelan County in Washington state.[3] "Trico" is a portmanteau of triple county. This peak is part of the Wenatchee Mountains, which are a subset of the Cascade Range, and is situated 20 mi (32 km) west of Leavenworth in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.[1] Trico is a triple divide peak with precipitation runoff from the mountain draining south into Cle Elum River, northwest into Deception Creek, and northeast into Leland Creek, which is a tributary of Icicle Creek. The scenic Tuck and Robin Lakes are set on the south slopes, between Trico and Granite Mountain, which is 1.6 mi (2.6 km) to the southeast. The Pacific Crest Trail skirts below the western aspect this peak as it crosses Deception Pass.

Trico Mountain
Trico Mountain centered, Granite Mountain upper left.
North aspect from Mac Peak
Highest point
Elevation6,640 ft (2,020 m) [1]
Prominence360 ft (110 m) [1]
Parent peakGranite Mountain (7,144 ft)[2]
Isolation1.11 mi (1.79 km) [2]
Coordinates47°35′50″N 121°06′49″W [1]
Geography
Trico Mountain
Location in Washington
Trico Mountain
Trico Mountain (the United States)
LocationAlpine Lakes Wilderness
King / Kittitas / Chelan counties
Washington state, U.S.
Parent rangeWenatchee Mountains[1]
Cascade Range
Topo mapUSGS The Cradle
Climbing
Easiest routescrambling from Robin Lakes

Climate

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.[4] 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.

Trico's southeast aspect

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
View from Trico Mountain with Lake Phoebe and French Ridge to right, Mt Daniel on left horizon

References
  1. "Trico Mountain, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. "Trico Mountain - 6,660' WA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  3. "Trico Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  4. Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
  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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