Helen Buttes

Helen Buttes are two prominent summits near the western edge of the North Cascades, in Skagit County of Washington state. The buttes are located four miles northwest of Marblemount, Washington, in the Noisy-Diobsud Wilderness, on land administered by the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. The nearest higher neighbor is Diobsud Buttes, 3.11 miles (5.01 km) to the north. Precipitation runoff from Helen Buttes drains into tributaries of the Skagit River.

Helen Buttes
Helen Buttes seen from North Cascades Highway
Highest point
Elevation	5,560 ft (1,695 m)
Prominence	2,040 ft (622 m)
Coordinates	48°34′15″N 121°29′43″W
Geography
Helen Buttes Location in Washington Helen Buttes Helen Buttes (the United States)
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Skagit
Protected area	Noisy-Diobsud Wilderness
Parent range	Cascade Range
Topo map	USGS Marblemount
Geology
Rock age	Early Cretaceous
Rock type	Greenschist
Climbing
Easiest route	Scrambling

Climate

Helen Buttes is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America. Weather fronts originating in the Pacific Ocean move northeast toward 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. 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.

Geology

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. These climate differences lead to vegetation variety defining the ecoregions in this area.

The history of the formation of the Cascade Mountains dates back millions of years ago to the late Eocene Epoch. With the North American Plate overriding the Pacific Plate, episodes of volcanic igneous activity persisted. In addition, small fragments of the oceanic and continental lithosphere called terranes created the North Cascades about 50 million years ago.

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