Sherman Peak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sherman Peak |
|
|---|---|
Sherman Peak seen from the south
(smoke from 2017 Diamond Creek Fire beyond) |
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 8,204 ft (2,501 m) |
| Prominence | 404 ft (123 m) |
| Isolation | 1.98 mi (3.19 km) |
| Parent peak | Big Craggy Peak (8,470 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Sherman Peak
Location in Washington (state)
Sherman Peak
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | |
| Parent range | Okanogan Range North Cascades Cascade Range |
| Topo map | USGS Sweetgrass Butte |
Sherman Peak is a tall mountain in the western part of Okanogan County, in Washington state. It stands about 8,204 feet (2,500 meters) high. This mountain is part of the Okanogan Range, which is a smaller part of the amazing North Cascades mountains.
Sherman Peak is a bit remote, meaning it's far from cities. It sits on Isabella Ridge, about 10.5 miles (17 kilometers) north-northeast of a town called Mazama. The land around it is managed by the Okanogan National Forest. The closest mountain that is taller than Sherman Peak is Big Craggy Peak, which is about 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) to the north. Water from rain and melting snow on Sherman Peak flows into streams that lead to the Methow River.
Contents
Weather at Sherman Peak
The weather around Sherman Peak is mostly shaped by the Pacific Ocean. Most weather systems, like storms, start over the Pacific and move northeast towards the Cascade Mountains.
How Mountains Affect Weather
When these weather systems reach the North Cascades, the tall peaks force the air upwards. As the air rises, it cools down and drops its moisture. This process is called Orographic lift. It causes a lot of rain or snow to fall on the western side of the North Cascades.
Seasons and Visibility
Because of this, the western side of the North Cascades gets a lot of rain, especially in winter. Winters are usually cloudy. However, in summer, high-pressure systems over the Pacific Ocean often bring clear skies. The best time to visit this area is usually from July to September. During these months, the weather is often sunny and pleasant.
Sometimes, smoke from distant wildfires can make it hard to see far. Sadly, smoky summer conditions have become more common due to changes in our climate.
The Geology of Sherman Peak
The North Cascades mountains, where Sherman Peak is located, have some of the most rugged and dramatic landscapes. You can see sharp peaks, tall spires, long ridges, and deep valleys carved by glaciers. The amazing shapes and different heights of the land here were created by geological events that happened millions of years ago. These events also led to the different climates you find across the Cascade Range.
How the Cascades Formed
The story of how the Cascade Mountains formed goes back millions of years. It started in a time called the late Eocene Epoch. At that time, the North American Plate (a huge piece of Earth's crust) was slowly moving over the Pacific Plate. This movement caused many volcanic eruptions and created igneous rocks.
Also, small pieces of Earth's crust, called terranes, came together. These pieces were once part of the ocean floor or other continents. They joined to form the North Cascades about 50 million years ago.
Ice and Earthquakes
During the Pleistocene period, which began over two million years ago, huge sheets of ice (glaciers) moved across the land many times. As they advanced and retreated, they scraped and shaped the landscape. They left behind piles of rock debris. The "U"-shaped valleys you see today were carved by these glaciers.
The main forces that created the tall peaks and deep valleys of the North Cascades are uplift (when land is pushed up) and faulting (when Earth's crust breaks and moves), combined with the powerful action of glaciers.
