Mount Torment
Mount Torment | |
---|---|
Washington, U.S. | |
Parent range | North Cascades |
Geology | |
Volcanic arc | Cascade Volcanic Arc |
Climbing | |
First ascent | 1946 by Jack Schwabland and Herb Staley [2] |
Mount Torment is a 8,120+ -foot (2,470+ m) high peak in the
Washington in the United States.[1] It is located approximately 65 miles (105 km) northeast of the city of Everett.[3] First ascended on August 23, 1946, its name originates from the first ascent party, because of "the torture of a hot day with only one orange for quenching thirst." Since then, Mount Torment has gained popularity because of the Torment-Forbidden Traverse to neighboring Forbidden Peak, an exposed alpine route.[2]
The
North Fork Cascade River rises in a basin below Mount Torment and flows several miles west to the Cascade River. Numerous waterfalls
are found in this valley.
Climate
Mount Torment is located in 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 west side of 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.[4] Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger.[4]
Geology
The North Cascades features some of the most rugged topography in the
glacial valleys
. Geological events occurring many years ago created the diverse topography and drastic elevation changes over the Cascade Range leading to various climate differences.
The history of the formation of the Cascade Mountains dates back millions of years ago to the late
During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured the landscape leaving deposits of rock debris.[5] 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.
References
- ^ a b c "Mount Torment". Peakbagger.com.
- ^ a b "Mount Torment". Peakware.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2009-03-14.
- ^ "Latitude-Longitude Distance Calculation". Retrieved 2009-03-14.
- ^ a b c Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
- ^ a b c d Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.
External links
- North Cascades National Park National Park Service