Mount Fitzhenry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Fitzhenry |
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Mount Fitzhenry from Hurricane Ridge
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 6,050 ft (1,840 m) |
| Prominence | 450 ft (140 m) |
| Isolation | 1.57 mi (2.53 km) |
| Parent peak | Mount Fairchild (6,925 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Mount Fitzhenry
Location in Washington (state)
Mount Fitzhenry
Location in the United States
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| Location | Olympic National Park Clallam County, Washington, US |
| Parent range | Olympic Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Mount Carrie |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Eocene |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | class 2 hiking north ridge |
Mount Fitzhenry is a tall mountain, about 6,050-foot (1,840-metre) high. You can find it inside Olympic National Park in Clallam County, Washington state. It's part of the Bailey Range, which is a smaller group of mountains within the larger Olympic Mountains.
On a clear day, you can see Mount Fitzhenry from the visitor center at Hurricane Ridge. Its closest taller neighbor is Mount Fairchild, which is about 1.57 mi (2.53 km) to the south. Rain and snow melting from the mountain flow into streams that feed the Elwha River.
Mount Fitzhenry and a nearby stream called Fitzhenry Creek are both named after Edward Allen Fitzhenry. He was a surveyor for Clallam County from 1892 to 1900. Later, President Woodrow Wilson chose him to be the Washington Surveyor General in 1913. He also worked as a Deputy State Land Commissioner.
Weather and Climate in the Olympics
Mount Fitzhenry is in a "marine west coast" climate zone. This means it gets a lot of rain and snow. Most weather systems come from the Pacific Ocean and move towards the Olympic Mountains.
When these weather systems hit the tall Olympic peaks, they are forced to rise. This causes them to drop their moisture as rain or snow. This process is called Orographic lift. Because of this, the Olympic Mountains get a lot of precipitation, especially in winter.
During winter, the weather is usually cloudy. But in summer, high-pressure systems over the Pacific Ocean often bring clear skies. The best months to visit and see the mountain are usually July through September.
How the Mountains Were Formed
The Olympic Mountains are made of different kinds of rock. These include sandstone, a type of rock called turbidite, and basalt from the ocean floor. These rocks were formed during a time called the Eocene epoch.
The mountains got their shape during the Pleistocene era. This was a time when large sheets of ice, called glaciers, moved across the land many times. These glaciers carved out valleys and peaks, shaping the mountains we see today.
Images for kids
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Mount Fitzhenry centered
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Mount Fitzhenry centered, Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center on the right
