Lichtenberg Mountain facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lichtenberg Mountain
Lichtenberg Mountain with Lake Valhalla in the foreground.
Highest point
Elevation	5,844 ft (1,781 m)
Prominence	1,124 ft (343 m)
Geography
Lichtenberg Mountain Location in Washington (state) Show map of Washington (state) Lichtenberg Mountain Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Parent range	Cascade Range
Topo map	USGS Labyrinth Mountain
Climbing
Easiest route	Scrambling

Lichtenberg Mountain is a cool mountain peak in Washington state. It stands tall at about 5,844 feet (1,781 meters). This mountain is located in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. It's not too far from Stevens Pass. Lichtenberg Mountain looks amazing, rising sharply from the east side of Lake Valhalla. Water flowing off the mountain eventually makes its way to the Wenatchee River.

Mountain Climate and Weather

Lichtenberg Mountain is in a special climate zone. This zone is called the marine west coast climate. It means the weather is often influenced by the nearby Pacific Ocean.

How Weather Works Here

Most of the weather systems start over the Pacific Ocean. They then travel northeast towards the Cascade Mountains. When these weather systems hit the tall peaks of the Cascades, they are forced to rise. As the air rises, it cools down. This causes the moisture in the air to turn into rain or snow. This process is called Orographic lift.

Rain and Snowfall

Because of this "orographic lift," the western side of the North Cascades gets a lot of rain and snow. This is especially true during the winter months. In winter, the weather is usually cloudy. But in summer, high-pressure systems over the Pacific Ocean often bring clear skies. The snow here tends to be wet and heavy. This can sometimes create a danger of avalanches.

Geology of Lichtenberg Mountain

The Cascade Mountains, including Lichtenberg Mountain, formed over millions of years. This process began in the late Eocene Epoch.

How Mountains Formed

The North American Plate is slowly moving over the Pacific Plate. This movement caused a lot of volcanic activity. Also, small pieces of the Earth's crust, called terranes, crashed into North America. These collisions helped create the North Cascades about 50 million years ago.

Ice Age and Valleys

About two million years ago, during the Pleistocene period, glaciers covered this area. These huge sheets of ice moved forward and then melted back many times. As they moved, they scraped away the land. This left behind piles of rock and debris. The "U"-shaped valleys you see today were carved out by these glaciers. The combination of the land pushing up (uplift) and cracks in the Earth's crust (faulting) with the glaciers has shaped the tall peaks and deep valleys of the North Cascades.