Snagtooth Ridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Snagtooth Ridge |
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Snagtooth Ridge from North Cascades Highway
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 8,330 ft (2,540 m) |
| Prominence | 570 ft (170 m) |
| Geography | |
 Snagtooth Ridge
Location in Washington (state)
Snagtooth Ridge
Location in the United States
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| Parent range | North Cascades |
| Topo map | USGS Silver Star Mountain |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1946 Fred Beckey |
| Easiest route | Scrambling |
Snagtooth Ridge is a jagged granitic ridge located in Okanogan County of Washington state. It is part of the Methow Mountains which is a sub-range of the North Cascades. Snagtooth Ridge is situated between Silver Star Mountain and Kangaroo Ridge on land administered by Okanogan National Forest.
Big Snagtooth, at 8,330 feet elevation, is the highest point on Snagtooth Ridge. Other named spires include Willow Tooth, Cedar Tooth, Decayed Tooth, Red Tooth, Dog Tooth, Grey Tooth, Split Tooth, Cleft Tooth, Silver Tooth, and Last Tooth. The first ascent of Big Snagtooth was made September 29, 1946, by Fred Beckey, Jerry O'Neil, and Charles Welsh. Precipitation runoff from the ridge drains into tributaries of the Methow River.
Contents
Climate
Weather fronts originating in the Pacific Ocean travel northeast toward the Cascade Mountains. As fronts approach the North Cascades, they are forced upward by the peaks of the Cascade Range, causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the Cascades (Orographic lift). As a result, the west side of the North Cascades experiences high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. During winter months, weather is usually cloudy, but, due to high pressure systems over the Pacific Ocean that intensify during summer months, there is often little or no cloud cover during the summer. Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger.
Geology
The North Cascades features some of the most rugged topography in the Cascade Range with craggy peaks, ridges, and deep glacial valleys. Geological events occurring many years ago created the diverse topography and drastic elevation changes over the Cascade Range leading to the various climate differences. These climate differences lead to vegetation variety defining the ecoregions in this area.
The history of the formation of the Cascade Mountains dates back millions of years ago to the late Eocene Epoch. With the North American Plate overriding the Pacific Plate, episodes of volcanic igneous activity persisted. In addition, small fragments of the oceanic and continental lithosphere called terranes created the North Cascades about 50 million years ago.
During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured the landscape leaving deposits of rock debris. The “U”-shaped cross section of the river valleys are a result of recent glaciation. Uplift and faulting in combination with glaciation have been the dominant processes which have created the tall peaks and deep valleys of the North Cascades area.
Gallery
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Snagtooth Ridge seen from Kangaroo Ridge
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Snagtooth Ridge with Dog Tooth, Red Tooth, Cedar Tooth
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Snagtooth Ridge
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Snagtooth Ridge (left) from Maple Pass trail
Images for kids
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Snagtooth Ridge from Maple Pass trail
