Devils Peak (Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Devils Peak |
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Devils Peak centered, from the west
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 8,081 ft (2,463 m) |
| Prominence | 901 ft (275 m) |
| Isolation | 1.63 mi (2.62 km) |
| Parent peak | Robinson Mountain (8,731 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Devils Peak
Location in Washington (state)
Devils Peak
Location in the United States
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| Location |
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| Parent range | Okanogan Range North Cascades Cascade Range |
| Topo map | USGS Robinson Mountain |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Scrambling class 3 |
Devils Peak is a tall mountain summit in Okanogan County, Washington state. It stands at 8,081-foot (2,463-metre) high. This peak is part of the Okanogan Range, which is a smaller part of the amazing North Cascades mountain system.
You can find Devils Peak inside the Pasayten Wilderness. This area is managed by the Okanogan National Forest. The closest taller mountain is Robinson Mountain, about 1.88 miles (3.03 km) to the east. Another nearby peak is Slate Peak, located 3.1 miles (5.0 km) to the west. Water from Devils Peak flows into Robinson Creek and Eureka Creek. Both of these creeks eventually join the Methow River.
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Weather at Devils Peak
Most of the weather in this area comes from the Pacific Ocean. These weather systems, called weather fronts, move northeast towards the Cascade Mountains.
How Mountains Affect Weather
When these weather fronts hit the tall North Cascades peaks, they are forced to rise. As the air goes higher, it cools down. This cooling causes the moisture in the air to turn into rain or snow. This process is called Orographic lift.
Because of this, the western side of the North Cascades gets a lot more rain and snow. This is especially true during the winter months.
Summer vs. Winter Weather
In winter, the weather is often cloudy. However, during the summer, high-pressure systems form over the Pacific Ocean. These systems usually bring clear skies and sunshine to the mountains.
How Devils Peak Was Formed
The North Cascades mountains, where Devils Peak is located, have a very rugged landscape. You can see sharp peaks, tall spires, long ridges, and deep valleys carved by glaciers. These amazing features were created by geological events that happened millions of years ago. These events also led to the big changes in elevation and different climates across the Cascade Range.
Ancient Earth Movements
The history of the Cascade Mountains goes back millions of years. It started in the late Eocene Epoch. At that time, the North American Plate was slowly moving over the Pacific Plate. This movement caused many volcanic eruptions and igneous activity.
Also, small pieces of the Earth's crust, called terranes, came together. These pieces were made of both oceanic and continental rock. They helped form the North Cascades about 50 million years ago.
The Ice Age's Impact
During the Pleistocene period, which was over two million years ago, huge glaciers covered the land. These glaciers moved forward and then retreated many times. As they moved, they scraped and shaped the landscape. They left behind piles of rock debris.
The "U"-shaped valleys you see today were carved out by these ancient glaciers. The combination of the land being pushed up (called uplift) and cracks forming in the Earth's crust (called faulting), along with the glaciers, created the tall peaks and deep valleys of the North Cascades.
