Sauk Mountain

Coordinates: 48°31′23″N 121°36′04″W / 48.522992°N 121.600986°W / 48.522992; -121.600986
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Sauk Mountain
Lushootseed)
Geography
Sauk Mountain is located in Washington (state)
Sauk Mountain
Sauk Mountain
Location in Washington
State
Washington
CountySkagit
Parent rangeNorth Cascades
Topo mapUSGS Sauk Mountain
Geology
Type of rockGreenschist[3]
Climbing
First ascent1895 by G. O. Smith[3]
Easiest routeSauk Mountain Trail and scrambling

Sauk Mountain (

Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Part of the North Cascades, Sauk Mountain is positioned west of the crest of the Cascade Range, approximately nine miles east of Concrete, Washington, and 17 miles north of the town of Darrington. The nearest higher peak is Helen Buttes, 5.86 miles (9.43 km) to the northeast.[2] A popular two-mile trail provides hikers with good views from the craggy summit of Mount Baker, Mount Shuksan, Mount Chaval, and the Picket Range. Precipitation runoff from Sauk Mountain drains into tributaries of the Skagit River
.

The mountain's name, "Sauk" comes from its position immediately north of the confluence of the

Sauk people, a people indigenous to the Sauk River area.[5] The name for the mountain in their language, Lushootseed, is dxʷgʷiʔt.[6]

Climate

One of Sauk's summits

Sauk Mountain is located in the

Cascade Mountains. As fronts approach the North Cascades, 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 snowfall onto the Cascades. As a result, the west side of the North 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 high avalanche danger.[3] 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[3]

Geology

The North Cascades features some of the most rugged topography in the

glacial valleys, and granite
spires. Geological events occurring many years ago created the diverse topography and drastic elevation changes over the Cascade Range leading to the various climate differences.

Sauk's view of Picket Range

The history of the formation of the Cascade Mountains dates back millions of years ago to the late

continental lithosphere called terranes created the North Cascades about 50 million years ago.[7]

During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured the landscape leaving deposits of rock debris.[7] 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.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Sauk Mountain WA - 5,545'". Lists of John. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  2. ^ a b c "Sauk Mountain, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  3. ^ a b c d e Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
  4. ^ "Sauk Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  5. ISBN 0-295-95158-3
    .
  6. OCLC 29877333
    .
  7. ^ a b c d Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.

External links

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