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Cat Peak

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Mountain in Washington (state), United States
Cat Peak
West aspect, seen from High Divide
(Mt. Carrie directly behind, and Mt. Fairchild to left)
Highest point
Elevation5,940 ft (1,811 m)
Prominence750 ft (229 m)
Parent peakMount Carrie (6,995 ft)
Isolation1.49 mi (2.40 km)
Coordinates47°54′00″N 123°40′48″W / 47.9001113°N 123.6800913°W / 47.9001113; -123.6800913
Geography
Cat Peak is located in Washington (state)Cat PeakCat PeakLocation of Cat Peak in WashingtonShow map of Washington (state)Cat Peak is located in the United StatesCat PeakCat PeakCat Peak (the United States)Show map of the United States
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountyClallam
Protected areaOlympic National Park
Parent rangeOlympic Mountains
Bailey Range
Topo mapUSGS Mount Carrie
Geology
Rock ageEocene
Climbing
First ascentUnknown
Easiest routeclass 1 Hiking via High Divide Trail

Cat Peak is a 5,940-foot (1,811-metre) mountain summit within Olympic National Park in Clallam County of Washington state.

Description

Set within the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness, Cat Peak is the westernmost peak of the Bailey Range, which is a subrange of the Olympic Mountains. With clear weather, the mountain can be seen by hikers from High Divide or Hurricane Hill. The nearest higher neighbor is Mount Carrie 1.24 mi (2.00 km) to the east-southeast, and Mount Olympus rises 6.84 mi (11.01 km) to the south. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains north into Cat Creek which is a tributary of the Elwha River, and south into the Hoh River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises over 4,400 feet (1,340 m) above the Hoh River in approximately one mile.

History

The mountain's name has been officially adopted by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. The peak is named in association with Cat Creek, which heads on the peak. The creek was christened "Wildcat Creek" by the 1889–90 Seattle Press Expedition because an expedition member killed a bobcat on February 28, 1890, where the creek joins the Elwha River.

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Cat Peak is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America. Weather fronts originating in the Pacific Ocean travel northeast toward the Olympic Mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks (orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snow. As a result, the Olympics experience high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger. 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. The months June through October offer the most favorable weather for viewing and climbing.

Geology

The Olympic Mountains are composed of obducted clastic wedge material and oceanic crust, primarily Eocene sandstone, turbidite, and basaltic oceanic crust. The mountains were sculpted during the Pleistocene era by erosion and glaciers advancing and retreating multiple times.

Gallery

  • Cat Peak centered with Mts. Carrie and Fairchild looming behind Cat Peak centered with Mts. Carrie and Fairchild looming behind
  • Northeast aspect in winter Northeast aspect in winter
  • Mount Fitzhenry (centered) as seen from Hurricane Hill, with Cat Peak behind right, and Mt. Carrie to left Mount Fitzhenry (centered) as seen from Hurricane Hill,
    with Cat Peak behind right, and Mt. Carrie to left
  • Mt. Carrie (left) and Cat Peak (right) seen from the north at a pond to the east of Haigs Lake Mt. Carrie (left) and Cat Peak (right) seen from the north at a pond to the east of Haigs Lake
  • Mt. Carrie (left) and Cat Peak (centered) seen from the north at Haigs Lake Mt. Carrie (left) and Cat Peak (centered) seen from the north at Haigs Lake
  • The Catwalk (right) on Cat Peak. Mount Olympus to left, and Hoh Valley centered. The Catwalk (right) on Cat Peak. Mount Olympus to left, and Hoh Valley centered.
  • Seattle Press Expedition, 1889 Seattle Press Expedition, 1889

See also

References

  1. Olympic Mountain Rescue, Olympic Mountains: A Climbing Guide, 4th Edition, 2006, Mountaineers Books, ISBN 9780898862065, page 191.
  2. ^ "Cat Peak - Climbers Guide to the Olympic Mountains". climbersguideolympics.com. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  3. ^ "Cat Peak - 5,925' WA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  4. ^ "Cat Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  5. ^ "Cat Peak". Peakbagger.com.
  6. Parratt, Smitty (1984). Gods and Goblins: A Field Guide to Place Names of Olympic National Park (1st ed.).
  7. Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11: 1633–1644. ISSN 1027-5606.
  8. ^ McNulty, Tim (2009). Olympic National Park: A Natural History. Seattle, Washington: University of Washington Press.
  9. Alt, D.D.; Hyndman, D.W. (1984). Roadside Geology of Washington. pp. 249–259. ISBN 0-87842-160-2.

External links

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