Mount Skokomish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Skokomish |
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![]() Mount Skokomish (left) and Mount Stone (right) seen from Seattle
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Highest point | |
Elevation | 6,434 ft (1,961 m) |
Prominence | 1,154 ft (352 m) |
Geography | |
Location | Mason County, Washington, United States |
Parent range | Olympic Mountains |
Topo map | USGS Mount Skokomish |
Geology | |
Age of rock | Eocene |
Type of rock | pillow basalt |
Climbing | |
Easiest route | Scrambling YDS 2 |
Mount Skokomish is a tall mountain peak in the Olympic Mountains of Washington state. It stands 6,434 feet (1,961 meters) high. This mountain is located in Mason County.
Mount Skokomish is special because it sits on the edge of Olympic National Park. It is also the highest point in the Mount Skokomish Wilderness. You can even see it from far away cities like Seattle! The mountain has three peaks, with the one to the south being the tallest.
The name "Skokomish" comes from the Skokomish people. This honors the Native American tribe, just like the nearby Skokomish River. Rain and melting snow from the mountain flow into the Hamma Hamma River and the Skokomish River.
Weather at Mount Skokomish
Mount Skokomish has a "marine west coast" climate. This means it gets a lot of moisture from the Pacific Ocean. Most weather systems start over the Pacific. They then move northeast towards the Olympic Mountains.
When these weather systems hit the tall Olympic peaks, they are forced to rise. As the air goes up, it cools down. This causes the moisture in the air to fall as rain or snow. This is why the Olympic Mountains get so much rain and snow, especially in winter.
In winter, the weather is often cloudy. But in summer, high pressure systems over the Pacific Ocean bring clear skies. Because of the ocean's influence, the snow here can be wet and heavy. This can sometimes create a danger of avalanches.
Images for kids
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Mts. Henderson (left), Skokomish (right) from Mt. Gladys