Lost Peak (Jefferson County, Washington) Explained

Lost Peak
Elevation Ft:6515
Elevation Ref:[1]
Prominence Ft:355
Prominence Ref:[2]
Isolation Mi:0.83
Isolation Ref:[3]
Parent Peak:Mount Cameron (7,190 ft)
Part Type:Protected area
Part:Olympic National Park
Country:United States
State:Washington
Region:Jefferson
Region Type:County
Range:Olympic Mountains
Map:Washington#USA
Label Position:bottom
Coordinates:47.8139°N -123.3371°W
Coordinates Ref:[4]
Topo:USGS Wellesley Peak
Age:Eocene
Easiest Route: via Lost Pass

Lost Peak is a 6515feet mountain summit located within Olympic National Park in Jefferson County of Washington state. Part of the Olympic Mountains, Lost Peak is situated immediately northeast of Lost Pass, and is set within the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains east into the Dosewallips River, and west into the headwaters of the Lost River. Neighbors include line parent Mount Cameron, 0.8miles to the north, along with Mount Fromme and Mount Claywood, both 1.8miles to the southwest. Topographic relief is significant as the southeast aspect rises 2500abbr=offNaNabbr=off above the Dosewallips River in approximately one mile. This landform's name has been officially adopted by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.[4] The origin of the "Lost" name is unknown, but a park ranger once described the river area as a "good place to get lost" because of the confusing and difficult travel.[5]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Lost Peak is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[6] Weather fronts originating in the Pacific Ocean travel northeast toward the Olympic Mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks (orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snow. As a result, the Olympics experience high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall.[7] Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in 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.[7] The months of June through September offer the most favorable weather for viewing or climbing this mountain.[2]

Geology

The Olympic Mountains are composed of obducted clastic wedge material and oceanic crust, primarily Eocene sandstone, turbidite, and basaltic oceanic crust.[8] The mountains were sculpted during the Pleistocene era by erosion and glaciers advancing and retreating multiple times.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Olympic Mountain Rescue, Olympic Mountains: A Climbing Guide, 4th Edition, 2006, Mountaineers Books,, page 102.
  2. http://www.climbersguideolympics.com/peaks/dosewalips-group/lost-peak Lost Peak, climbersguideolympics.com
  3. Web site: Lost Peak - 6,515' WA. listsofjohn.com. 2022-01-26.
  4. 1522503. Lost Peak. 2022-01-26.
  5. Book: Parratt, Smitty . Gods and Goblins: A Field Guide to Place Names of Olympic National Park . 1st . 1984.
  6. Peel, M. C. . Finlayson, B. L. . McMahon, T. A. . 2007 . Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification . Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. . 11 . 1633–1644 . 1027-5606.
  7. Book: McNulty, Tim. Olympic National Park: A Natural History. 2009. University of Washington Press. Seattle, Washington.
  8. Book: Alt, D.D.. Hyndman, D.W.. 1984. Roadside Geology of Washington. 249–259. 0-87842-160-2.