Star Peak (Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Star Peak |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 8,690 ft (2,649 m) |
| Prominence | 1,170 ft (360 m) |
| Isolation | 2.52 mi (4.06 km) |
| Geography | |
 Star Peak
Location in Washington (state)
Star Peak
Location in the United States
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| Parent range | North Cascades |
| Topo map | USGS Oval Peak |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1898 by Survey Party including Albert Hale Sylvester |
| Easiest route | Scrambling |
Star Peak is a tall mountain in Washington state, standing at about 8,690-foot (2,650-metre) high. It's part of the Methow Mountains, which are a smaller group of mountains within the larger North Cascades range. Star Peak is the highest point on a long ridge called Sawtooth Ridge. This special mountain is protected inside the Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness, which is part of the Okanogan National Forest. The closest higher mountain is Oval Peak, about 2.52 miles (4.06 km) to the north. Water from the south side of Star Peak flows into Lake Chelan, while water from the north side goes into Buttermilk Creek, which then joins the Twisp River.
Contents
Weather at Star Peak
Star Peak is located east of the main Cascade Range. This means the weather here is a bit drier than in areas to the west.
Summer Weather
During summer, it can get warm, and you might even see some thunderstorms.
Winter Weather
Because Star Peak is so tall, it can have snow on its slopes from late spring all the way into early fall. Winters are usually very cold.
How Star Peak Was Formed
The North Cascades mountains, where Star Peak is located, have very rugged and dramatic shapes. You can see sharp peaks, long ridges, and deep valleys carved by glaciers.
Geological Events
Many millions of years ago, big geological events happened. These events created the different shapes of the land and the huge changes in height across the Cascade Range. These changes in height also lead to different climates in different areas. These climate differences then create different types of plant life.
Mountain Building History
The Cascade Mountains started forming millions of years ago, during a time called the late Eocene Epoch. This happened because the North American Plate was slowly moving over the Pacific Plate. This movement caused volcanoes to erupt many times. Also, small pieces of the Earth's crust, called terranes, came together to form the North Cascades about 50 million years ago.
Ice Age Effects
About two million years ago, during the Pleistocene period (also known as the Ice Age), huge glaciers moved across the land many times. As they moved, they scraped away the ground and left behind piles of rocks and dirt. The valleys that rivers flow through today often have a "U" shape. This shape was created by these ancient glaciers. The combination of the land being pushed up (called uplift) and cracks forming in the Earth's crust (called faulting), along with the glaciers, are the main reasons why the North Cascades have such tall peaks and deep valleys.
