Eaton Peak is a 2,117-metre (6,946-foot) double summit mountain located in the Canadian Cascades of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is situated 17 km (11 mi) southeast of Hope, 3 km (2 mi) south of Mt. Grant, and 12.6 km (8 mi) northwest of Silvertip Mountain.[3] The peak was first climbed in 1950 by J. Butcher, F. Rodgers, and E. Jenkins.[1] The peak was named to honor Canadian Army Private Douglas B. Eaton (1911-1944), from nearby Chilliwack, who was killed in action in World War II.[4] The mountain's name was officially adopted April 7, 1955, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.[2] Nearby Eaton Creek and Eaton Lake were named in memory of his younger brother, William, also killed in action a year earlier.[4] Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into Silverhope Creek, a tributary of the Fraser River.
| Eaton Peak | |
|---|---|
 North aspect of Eaton Peak seen from Mt. Grant | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,117 m (6,946 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 387 m (1,270 ft)[1] |
| Parent peak | Silvertip Mountain[1] |
| Listing | Mountains of British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 49°14′15″N 121°20′49″W / 49.23750°N 121.34694°W[2] |
| Geography | |
  Eaton Peak Location in British Columbia  Eaton Peak Eaton Peak (Canada) | |
| Location | British Columbia, Canada |
| District | Yale Division Yale Land District |
| Parent range | Skagit Range Canadian Cascades |
| Topo map | NTS 92H3 Skagit River[2] |
| Geology | |
| Type of rock | Intrusive |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1950 J. Butcher, F. Rodgers, E. Jenkins |
| Easiest route | Scrambling via West Ridge[1] |
Geology edit
Eaton Peak is related to the Chilliwack batholith, which intruded the region 26 to 29 million years ago after the major orogenic episodes in the region. This is part of the Pemberton Volcanic Belt, an eroded volcanic belt that formed as a result of subduction of the Farallon Plate starting 29 million years ago.[5][6][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.[8] 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.
The North Cascades features some of the most rugged topography in the Cascade Range with craggy peaks and ridges, deep 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 various climate differences which lead to vegetation variety defining the ecoregions in this area.
Climate edit
Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Cascade Range where they are forced upward by the range (Orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall. As a result, the Cascade Mountains experience high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. The months July through September offer the most favorable weather for climbing Eaton Peak.
Climbing Routes edit
Established climbing routes on Eaton Peak:[1]
- West Ridge - class 3
- Southeast Ridge
- North Ridge
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f "Eaton Peak". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 2019-12-01.
- ^ a b c "Eaton Peak". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
- ^ "Eaton Peak, British Columbia". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
- ^ a b "Eaton Peak". BC Geographical Names. Retrieved 2019-12-06.
- ^ Cenozoic to Recent plate configurations in the Pacific Basin: Ridge subduction and slab window magmatism in western North America
- ^ "Miocene peralkaline volcanism in west-central British Columbia - Its temporal and plate-tectonics setting" (PDF). Geological Survey of Canada. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
- ^ "Catalogue of Canadian volcanoes: Franklin Glacier". Archived from the original on 2010-12-11.
- ^ Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.
External links edit
- Eaton Peak aerial photo: PBase
- Weather forecast: Eaton Peak
- Climbing Eaton Peak: YouTube