The Needles is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[2] 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 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.[3] Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger.[3]
Geologyedit
The North Cascades features some of the most rugged topography in the Cascade Range with craggy peaks, 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.
During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured the landscape leaving deposits of rock debris.[4] 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.
^ abcdKruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.
External linksedit
The Needles weather: Mountain Forecast
March 16, 2024
needles, washington, this, article, about, mountain, cascades, mountains, olympic, national, park, needles, olympic, mountains, needles, foot, metre, granite, mountain, located, okanogan, county, washington, state, part, okanogan, range, which, range, north, c. This article is about the mountain in the Cascades For the mountains in Olympic National Park see The Needles Olympic Mountains The Needles is an 8 160 foot 2 490 metre granite mountain located in Okanogan County in Washington state It is part of the Okanogan Range which is a sub range of the North Cascades Range 1 The Needles is situated on land administered by the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest The nearest higher peak is Tower Mountain 2 26 miles 3 64 km to the southwest 1 The NeedlesThe Needles seen from North Cascades HighwayHighest pointElevation8 160 ft 2 490 m 1 Prominence1 759 ft 536 m 1 Coordinates48 35 59 N 120 39 27 W 48 599756 N 120 657438 W 48 599756 120 657438 1 GeographyThe NeedlesWashington U S Parent rangeNorth CascadesClimbingFirst ascentHelmy Beckey Larry Strathdee in 1944 2 Easiest routeClimb Contents 1 Climate 2 Geology 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksClimate edit nbsp The Needles from Wallaby PeakThe Needles is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America 2 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 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 3 Because of maritime influence snow tends to be wet and heavy resulting in high avalanche danger 3 Geology editThe North Cascades features some of the most rugged topography in the Cascade Range with craggy peaks 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 nbsp The Needles seen from Slate PeakThe history of the formation of the Cascade Mountains dates back millions of years ago to the late Eocene Epoch 4 With the North American Plate overriding the Pacific Plate episodes of volcanic igneous activity persisted 4 In addition small fragments of the oceanic and continental lithosphere called terranes created the North Cascades about 50 million years ago 4 The Needles is carved mostly from granite of the Golden Horn batholith nbsp The Needles from the PCTDuring the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured the landscape leaving deposits of rock debris 4 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 edit nbsp Mountains portalGeography of Washington state Geology of the Pacific Northwest List of mountain peaks of Washington state References edit a b c d e The Needles Washington Peakbagger com a b Beckey Fred W Cascade Alpine Guide Climbing and High Routes Seattle WA Mountaineers Books 2008 a b Beckey p 16 a b c d Kruckeberg Arthur 1991 The Natural History of Puget Sound Country University of Washington Press External links editThe Needles weather Mountain Forecast Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Needles Washington amp oldid 1194030406, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
