Indian Mountain (Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Indian Mountain |
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West aspect, from Ruth Mountain
(Red Face Mountain to right) |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 7,133 ft (2,174 m) |
| Prominence | 613 ft (187 m) |
| Isolation | 1.14 mi (1.83 km) |
| Parent peak | Red Face Mountain (7,141 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Indian Mountain
Location in Washington (state)
Indian Mountain
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 Copper Mountain |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | class 2 scrambling |
Indian Mountain is a tall mountain in the North Cascades mountain range. It is located in Whatcom County, Washington state. This mountain stands about 7,133 feet (2,174 meters) high.
It is found inside North Cascades National Park. The mountain is about 7 miles (11 km) south of the border with Canada. Its closest taller neighbor is Red Face Mountain, which is about 1.14 miles (1.8 km) to the southeast. Whatcom Peak is also nearby, about 2.9 miles (4.7 km) to the south.
Even though Indian Mountain is not the highest peak, it rises very steeply. It climbs over 4,100 feet (1,250 meters) from the Brush Creek Valley in just about one mile. Water from Indian Mountain flows into streams that feed the Chilliwack River.
Mountain Weather
Indian Mountain is in a marine west coast climate area. This means it gets a lot of moisture from the Pacific Ocean. Most weather fronts, which are like big weather systems, come from the Pacific. They travel northeast towards the Cascade Range.
When these weather fronts hit the tall peaks of the North Cascades, they are forced to rise. As they go higher, they cool down and drop their moisture. This causes a lot of rain or snow to fall on the mountains, especially on the western side.
During winter, the weather is often cloudy. However, in summer, high pressure systems over the Pacific Ocean bring clear skies. This means there is often little or no cloud cover. Because of the ocean's influence, the snow tends to be wet and heavy. This can create a high risk of avalanches. The best time to visit or climb Indian Mountain is usually from July through September.
How the Mountains Formed
The North Cascades has some of the most rugged land in the Cascade Range. You can see jagged peaks, sharp ridges, and deep glacial valleys. These amazing shapes and big changes in height were created by geological events over millions of years. These events also led to different climates across the range.
The Cascade Mountains started forming millions of years ago, during a time called the late Eocene Epoch. This happened when the North American Plate slowly moved over the Pacific Plate. This movement caused many volcanic eruptions and melted rock to rise.
Also, small pieces of the Earth's outer layers, called terranes, came together. These pieces of both ocean and land crust helped build the North Cascades about 50 million years ago.
Later, during the Pleistocene period, which was over two million years ago, glaciers played a huge role. Giant sheets of ice moved forward and then melted back many times. As they moved, they carved and shaped the land. 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.
Images for kids
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Indian Mountain lies to the right of the valley, Red Face Mountain to left.
