Mount Formidable facts for kids
Mount Formidable is a tall mountain in the North Cascades mountain range. It is located in Skagit County, Washington state, in the United States. This mountain was first climbed by a group of adventurers who were on a famous route called the Ptarmigan Traverse. Many climbers still enjoy reaching its top today. The mountain got its name, "Formidable," in 1935 from an early climber named Herman Ulrichs. He thought its north side looked very rugged and impressive.
Quick facts for kids Mount Formidable |
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Mount Formidable
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 8,325 feet (2,537 m) |
| Prominence | 1,885 feet (575 m) |
| Parent peak | Overdrive Tower |
| Geography | |
 Mount Formidable
Location in Washington (state)
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| Location | Skagit County, Washington, United States |
| Parent range | North Cascades |
| Topo map | USGS Cascade Pass |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Triassic |
| Mountain type | Fold |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | Calder T. Bressler Ralph W. Clough Bill Cox Tom Myers |
| Easiest route | Class III |
Contents
Where is Mount Formidable?
Mount Formidable is found on a ridge about half a mile west of the main Cascade mountain range. It sits between Cascade Pass and Dome Peak. It is also about a mile west of Spider Mountain.
Climate Around the Mountain
The area around Mount Formidable has a "Marine west coast" climate. This means it gets a lot of rain and snow. The region is also part of a "Pacific temperate rainforest." This type of forest has many trees and plants because of the wet weather.
Glaciers and Rivers
The Middle Cascade Glacier is on the north side of Mount Formidable. This glacier melts into the Skagit River. Its water flows through the Cascade River on its way to the larger Skagit River.
What is Mount Formidable Made Of?
The North Cascades mountains are made up of different types of rocks. These rocks formed at various times in Earth's history. The rocks around Mount Formidable are mostly granitic rocks. These are igneous rocks that cooled from magma. They are from the Mesozoic Era. There is also schist, which is a metamorphic rock. It formed in the late Paleozoic Era.
Mount Formidable itself is likely made of rocks that were once igneous. These rocks formed during the Triassic Period. Later, they changed into metamorphic rocks. This change happened during the Late Cretaceous Period.
How Do People Climb Mount Formidable?
Most climbers reach Mount Formidable by following the Ptarmigan Traverse. This climbing route starts at Cascade Pass.
The Climbing Route
- Climbers first go from Cascade Pass to a place called Cache Col. They cross the Cache Col Glacier to get there.
- Next, they travel towards Kool-Aid Lake. This is a small lake high in the mountains. Its water flows into the Middle Fork of the Cascade River.
- From Kool-Aid Lake, climbers usually head south. They pass the Red Ledges and move towards the Middle Cascade Glacier.
- Finally, they go around the south side of the mountain to reach the top.
There are other ways to climb Mount Formidable too. Most of these other routes also involve climbing from the Middle Cascade Glacier.
