| Unicorn Peak | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 6,971 ft (2,125 m) |
| Prominence | 2,091 ft (637 m) |
| Parent peak | Mount Rainier |
| Isolation | 4.72 mi (7.60 km) |
| Coordinates | 46°44′42″N 121°42′03″W / 46.745127°N 121.700912°W / 46.745127; -121.700912 |
| Geography | |
  Unicorn PeakLocation in Washington
| |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Lewis |
| Protected area | Mount Rainier National Park |
| Parent range | Tatoosh Range Cascades |
| Topo map | USGS Tatoosh Lakes |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | class 3 climbing |
Unicorn Peak is a 6,971-foot (2,125-metre) mountain summit in Lewis County of Washington state, United States. It is the highest point in the Tatoosh Range which is a sub-range of the Cascade Range. It is located in Mount Rainier National Park, south of Mount Rainier. Precipitation runoff from the mountain's small glaciers, such as Unicorn Glacier, drains into tributaries of the Cowlitz River. The descriptive name is for the mountain's resemblance to the head and horn of a unicorn. The toponym was officially adopted in 1913 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.
Climate
Unicorn Peak is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America. Most weather fronts originating in the Pacific Ocean travel northeast toward the Cascade Mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks of the Cascade Range (orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snow onto the Cascades. As a result, the west side of the Cascades experiences 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 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. Due to its temperate climate and proximity to the Pacific Ocean, areas west of the Cascade Crest very rarely experience temperatures below 0 °F (−18 °C) or above 80 °F (27 °C).
See also
Gallery
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Unicorn Peak (left), with West Unicorn Peak (center), and Foss Peak (right)
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Unicorn Peak
References
- ^ "Unicorn Peak, Washington". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
- ^ "Unicorn Peak - 6,942' WA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2024-04-14.
- "Unicorn Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2020-02-24.
- ^ Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
External links
- Weather forecast: Unicorn Peak
- National Park Service web site: Mount Rainier National Park