Saska Peak
Climate
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 North 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.
Geology
Saska Peak is composed primarily of granodiorite and hornblende quartz diorite, minerals of the Cardinal Peak pluton.
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. With the North American Plate overriding the Pacific Plate, episodes of volcanic igneous activity persisted. Glacier Peak, a stratovolcano that is 21.8 mi (35.1 km) west of Saska Peak, began forming in the mid-Pleistocene. In addition, small fragments of the oceanic and continental lithosphere called terranes created the North Cascades about 50 million years ago. During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured the landscape leaving deposits of rock debris. The U-shaped cross section of the river valleys is 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.
Gallery
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Saska Peak (left) and Emerald Peak (right), from the south
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West-northwest aspect, with Emerald Peak to left
See also
References
- ^ "Saska Peak, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
- ^ "Saska Peak - 8,404' WA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
- ^ "Saska Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
- ^ Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
- ^ "Welcome to City of Entiat, Washington".
- ^ William Bright, Native American Placenames of the United States, University of Oklahoma Press, 2004, page 422
- ^ Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.
External links
- Saska Peak aerial photo: PBase
- Weather: Saska Peak