Genesis Peak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Genesis Peak |
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Genesis Peak, southeast aspect
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 7,244 ft (2,208 m) |
| Prominence | 1,084 ft (330 m) |
| Isolation | 2.21 mi (3.56 km) |
| Parent peak | Mount Prophet (7,640 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Genesis Peak
Location in Washington (state)
Genesis Peak
Location in the United States
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| Location | North Cascades National Park Whatcom County, Washington, U.S. |
| Parent range | Skagit Range North Cascades Cascade Range |
| Topo map | USGS Pumpkin Mountain |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1975 |
Genesis Peak is a tall mountain in the North Cascades mountain range. It stands 7,244 feet (2,208 meters) high. You can find it in Whatcom County, Washington, United States. This peak is part of the beautiful North Cascades National Park and the Stephen Mather Wilderness.
Genesis Peak's closest higher neighbor is Mount Prophet, which is about 2.22 miles (3.57 km) away. What makes Genesis Peak special is how much it rises from the land around it. For example, its southern side climbs 5,400 feet (1,646 meters) above the Big Beaver Valley in just about 2 miles (3.2 km). Its eastern side rises 5,600 feet (1,707 meters) above Ross Lake in about 3 miles (4.8 km).
Rain and melting snow from the mountain flow into Ross Lake. This water travels through Skymo, No Name, and Big Beaver Creeks. The first time people climbed to the top of Genesis Peak was on September 13, 1975. The climbers were Norman Burke, Cliff Lawson, Ed Lebert, and Dan Sjolseth.
Contents
What is the Climate Like at Genesis Peak?
Genesis Peak is in a "marine west coast" climate zone. This means it gets a lot of influence from the ocean. Most weather systems start over the Pacific Ocean. They then travel east towards the Cascade Range.
How Does Weather Affect the North Cascades?
When these weather systems reach the North Cascades, the tall mountains force the air to rise. As the air goes higher, it cools down and drops its moisture. This process is called Orographic lift. It causes a lot of rain or snow to fall on the western side of the North Cascades. This is especially true during the winter months.
What are the Seasons Like?
In winter, the weather is often cloudy. However, during summer, high-pressure systems over the Pacific Ocean become stronger. This often leads to clear skies with little or no cloud cover. Because of the ocean's influence, the snow tends to be wet and heavy. This type of snow can increase the risk of avalanches, which are large slides of snow down a mountain.
What is the Geology of Genesis Peak?
The North Cascades area has some of the most rugged landforms in the Cascade Range. You can see jagged peaks, sharp ridges, and deep valleys carved by glaciers. These amazing shapes and big changes in elevation happened because of geological events millions of years ago. These events also led to different climates and types of plants in the area.
How Were the Cascade Mountains Formed?
The Cascade Mountains began forming millions of years ago, during the late Eocene Epoch. At that time, the North American Plate was slowly moving over the Pacific Plate. This movement caused many periods of volcanic activity. Also, small pieces of the Earth's crust, called terranes, joined together to create the North Cascades about 50 million years ago.
What Role Did Glaciers Play?
During the Pleistocene period, which was over two million years ago, glaciers repeatedly moved across the land. As they advanced and then melted back, they scraped and shaped the landscape. They left behind piles of rock and debris. The "U"-shaped valleys you see today were formed by these glaciers. The combination of land being pushed up (called uplift) and cracks in the Earth's crust (called faulting), along with glaciation, created the tall peaks and deep valleys of the North Cascades.
