Tatie Peak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tatie Peak |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Tatie Peak, south aspect
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 7,386 ft (2,251 m) |
| Prominence | 466 ft (142 m) |
| Isolation | 0.81 mi (1.30 km) |
| Parent peak | Syncline Mountain (7,580 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Tatie Peak
Location in Washington (state)
Tatie Peak
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Okanogan County / Whatcom County Washington state, U.S. |
| Parent range | Okanogan Range North Cascades Cascade Range |
| Topo map | USGS Slate Peak |
| Type of rock | sandstone, shale |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Harts Pass, PCT class 2 scrambling |
Tatie Peak is a 7,386-foot (2,251-metre) mountain summit located on the shared border between Okanogan County and Whatcom County in Washington state. It is part of the Okanogan Range, which is a sub-range of the North Cascades. The mountain is situated 2.6 miles (4.2 km) east of Mount Ballard, and 3.3 miles (5.3 km) south of Slate Peak, on land managed by Okanogan National Forest. The nearest higher neighbor is Syncline Mountain, 0.8 miles (1.3 km) to the south-southwest. The Pacific Crest Trail traverses the south slope of the peak, with an easy off-trail scramble to reach the summit. Precipitation runoff from Tatie Peak drains south into Trout Creek which is a tributary of the Methow River, or northwest into Slate Creek, which is part of the Skagit River drainage basin.
Climate
Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and 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 higher precipitation than the east side, 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. The months July through September offer the most favorable weather, and the Forest Service access road being open for the season. However, smoke from distant wildfires may potentially reduce visibility, and smoky summer conditions have been increasing with climate change. In August 2015, the Tatie Peak Fire scorched over 140 acres near this mountain.
Geology
The North Cascades features some of the most rugged topography in the Cascade Range with craggy peaks, spires, 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.
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.
