Brown Mountain (Klamath County, Oregon) Explained

Brown Mountain
Elevation:7344+ ft (2238+ m) [1]
Prominence Ft:2058
Location:Klamath / Jackson counties, Oregon, U.S.
Map:USA Oregon
Map Size:240
Label:Brown Mountain
Label Position:left
Coordinates:42.3633°N -122.2714°W
Coordinates Ref:[2]
Topo:USGS Brown Mountain
Type:Shield volcano[3]
Volcanic Arc:Cascade Volcanic Arc
Last Eruption:Over 12,000 years ago
Easiest Route:Scramble[4]

Brown Mountain is a small cinder cone on top of a shield volcano located in Cascade Volcanic Arc in Klamath and Jackson counties, Oregon.[3] Most of the mountain, including its peak, is in western Klamath County, but its western flanks trail off into eastern Jackson County. It is above sea level, but is overshadowed by nearby 9495feet Mount McLoughlin.[5]

Geology

Brown Mountain appears to be relatively young at first as its summit is unweathered and devoid of trees, however glacial valleys and a cirque near the summit prove that the mountain is actually twelve thousand to sixty thousand years old.[5] Around two thousand years ago,[6] a large lava flow consisting primarily of basaltic andesite covered of the north and western slopes with Aa-type lava over thick.[5] [7] [8] Over its lifetime, the mountain has erupted over of lava.[3]

Access and trails

Brown Mountain can be accessed via Oregon Route 140, which passes just north of the peak. It can also be accessed through the Pacific Crest Trail, and the 6.8miles Brown Mountain Trail.[6] [9] [10]

Flora and fauna

The area at the base of the mountain is covered with old growth forests.[10] The mountain is also home to animals such as Douglas squirrels and pikas. Toward the summit, the land is nearly devoid of vegetation.[5]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Brown Mountain, Oregon . peakbagger.com . 2021-12-03.
  2. 1138672 . Brown Mountain . 2008-11-22.
  3. Web site: Oregon Volcanoes - Brown Mountain Volcano . Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests - Crooked River National Grassland . . 2006-11-23 . 2008-09-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101109053745/http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/geology/info/volcanoes/brownmtn.shtml . 2010-11-09.
  4. Book: Wood , Charles A. . Jűrgen Kienle . Volcanoes of North America . . 1993 . 199 . 0-521-43811-X .
  5. Web site: Description: Brown Mountain, Oregon . . 2000-08-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080704211519/http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/Oregon/BrownMountain/description_brown_mountain.html . 2008-07-04 . 2009-03-17 .
  6. News: Day-hiking the PCT . Lee . Mary . . 2008-08-21 . 2009-03-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110610174323/http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080821%2FLIFE%2F808210301# . 2011-06-10 . dead.
  7. Tittler . Andrew . 1992 . A Geological History of Brown Mountain, Oregon . Keck Symposium . 5 . 5th Keck Symposiom Volume . 161–164 . 2009-03-18.
  8. Book: Ostertag , George . Camping Oregon . Globe Pequot . 2005 . 238 . 2nd . 978-0-7627-3643-0 .
  9. News: Brown Mountain Trail features lava flow . Kettler . Bill . . 2007-07-08 . 2009-03-18.
  10. Web site: Brown Mountain Trail #1005 . Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest . 2016-05-05.