Chinook Peak is a 6,904 feet (2,104 m) summit located on the eastern border of Mount Rainier National Park. It is also on the shared border of Pierce County and Yakima County in Washington state. Chinook Peak is situated north of Chinook Pass on the crest of the Cascade Range. Its nearest higher peak is Crystal Mountain, 1.31 mi (2.11 km) to the north.[1] Crystal Peak lies 0.75 mi (1.21 km) to the northwest, and Cupalo Rock is 1.0 mi (1.6 km) to the east-northeast. Precipitation runoff from Chinook Peak drains into tributaries of the White River and Yakima River.
| Chinook Peak | |
|---|---|
 Chinook Peak seen from Chinook Pass | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 6,904 ft (2,104 m)[1] |
| Prominence | 504 ft (154 m)[1] |
| Coordinates | 46°53′50″N 121°30′37″W / 46.897228°N 121.510155°W |
| Geography | |
  Chinook Peak Location of Chinook Peak in Washington  Chinook Peak Chinook Peak (the United States) | |
| Location | Mount Rainier National Park Pierce County, Washington, U.S. |
| Parent range | Cascades |
| Topo map | USGS White River Park |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Scrambling class 3 |
Climate
Chinook Peak 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, 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 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. Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger.
See also
References
- ^ a b c "Chinook Peak, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
- ^ Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
Gallery
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Southeast aspect reflected in Sheep Lake -
from a tarn along the Pacific Crest Trail near Naches Peak -
Chinook Peak, east aspect -
from Chinook Pass -
Peak 6708 (left) and Chinook Peak from north
External links
- National Park Service web site: Mount Rainier National Park