Mount Bailey (Oregon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Bailey |
|
|---|---|
Mount Bailey from Diamond Lake
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 8,375 ft (2,553 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 2,968 ft (905 m) |
| Geography | |
 Mount Bailey
Location in Oregon
|
|
| Location | Douglas County, Oregon, U.S. |
| Parent range | Cascade Range |
| Topo map | USGS Diamond Lake |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Shield volcano, tephra cone |
| Volcanic arc | Cascade Volcanic Arc |
| Last eruption | Less than 100,000 years ago |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Trail hike |
Mount Bailey is a mountain in southern Oregon, United States. It is a type of volcano called a tephra cone and a shield volcano. Mount Bailey is located in the Cascade Range, right across Diamond Lake from Mount Thielsen.
The mountain is made up of a main cone that is about 2,000 feet (610 m) tall. This cone sits on top of an older basaltic andesite shield volcano. Mount Bailey is a bit smaller than its neighbor, Diamond Peak.
Mount Bailey is a very popular place for fun activities. In winter, it's known for skiing. Instead of a regular chairlift, special vehicles called snowcats take skiers up the mountain. These are like tractors with treads that can climb steep, snowy slopes. In summer, a 5-mile (8 km) hiking trail lets people walk to the top. Mount Bailey is one of Oregon's special "Matterhorns," meaning it has a distinct, pointed shape.
Long ago, Native Americans were the first to climb Mount Bailey. Their spiritual leaders would hold special gatherings and prayers on the very top.
What's in a Name?
The name of Mount Bailey has an interesting story. Older maps sometimes called it "Old Baldy" or "Old Bailey." The name "Baldy" might come from the mountain's bare, burnt look at the top. It's thought that "Bailey" might have been a mistake when drawing maps. No one has found a record of a person named Bailey connected to the mountain.
In 1992, the Oregon Geographic Names Board decided to officially name the mountain after two naturalists, Vernon and Florence Bailey.
The Klamath Native Americans had their own name for the mountain: Youxlokes. This means "Medicine Mountain." According to Klamath traditions, their medicine men and priests would have feasts on the summit. They believed they could connect with the spiritual world from there.
Mountain Makeup
Mount Bailey is part of the Cascade Range, a chain of mountains in the western United States. These mountains have been shaped by glaciers for a very long time. Glaciers are like slow-moving rivers of ice.
The Cascade Range has seen a lot of volcanic activity. Over millions of years, new volcanoes formed and covered older rocks. Mount Bailey is a shield volcano with steep slopes near its top. It's similar to its neighbor, Mount Thielsen.
Scientists believe the current Mount Bailey volcano is less than 100,000 years old. It formed around the same time as another nearby peak, Rodley Butte. At first, Bailey erupted a type of rock called basaltic andesite. Later, it started erupting just andesite.
Mount Bailey has a central tephra cone. This cone was built up by eruptions of basaltic andesite. The volcano then changed to erupting andesite. It likely formed over several eruptions or even different periods of eruptions. Mount Bailey is currently inactive, meaning it's not erupting now. It has been inactive since around the time Mount Mazama became active, a very long time ago.
Nature and Fun
Mount Bailey is home to many different kinds of plants. On the lower parts of the mountain, you'll find mostly pine trees. As you go higher, the trees change to mountain hemlock, western white pine, and Shasta fir.
The mountain is a popular spot for both hiking and skiing. This is because of its challenging climbs and amazing views of Diamond Lake. You can get to Mount Bailey from Oregon Route 230. The hiking trail starts at the Fox Spring trailhead.
The Mount Bailey Trail is part of the Diamond Lake Recreational Area. Hikers can enjoy "panoramas to the northeast of Diamond Lake and Bailey's dizzying avalanche bowl." For skiers, the mountain is famous for its unique way of getting up the slopes: snowcats!
