The Castle (Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Castle |
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The Castle, south side
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 6,440 ft (1,960 m) |
| Prominence | 200 ft (61 m) |
| Geography | |
 The Castle
Location in Washington (state)
The Castle
Location in the United States
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| Location | Mount Rainier National Park Lewis County, Washington, U.S. |
| Parent range | Cascades |
| Topo map | USGS Mount Rainier East |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Climbing class 5 |
The Castle is the name of a mountain peak in the Tatoosh Range. This range is part of the larger Cascade Range of mountains. You can find it in Lewis County, in Washington state. It's inside Mount Rainier National Park, very close to another peak called Pinnacle Peak. The Castle is just 0.2 miles (about 320 meters) east of Pinnacle Peak. Rain and snow that falls on The Castle eventually flows into streams that lead to the Cowlitz River.
How to Climb The Castle
To start climbing The Castle, you'll begin at the Pinnacle Saddle Trailhead. This trailhead is located at Reflection Lakes. The path to the saddle is more than a mile long. From the saddle, climbers follow a special path. This path goes along the south side of Pinnacle Peak. Reaching the very top of The Castle involves at least class 4 scrambling. This means you'll need to use your hands and feet to climb. There are also options for more difficult class 5 climbing.
Weather and Climate
The Castle is in a place with a marine west coast climate. This type of climate is found in western North America. Most of the weather systems here start over the Pacific Ocean. They then travel northeast towards the Cascade Mountains.
When these weather systems reach the mountains, they are forced to rise. This is called Orographic lift. As they rise, they drop their moisture. This moisture falls as rain or snow on the Cascades. Because of this, the western side of the Cascades gets a lot of rain and snow. This is especially true during the winter months.
In winter, the weather is often cloudy. However, in summer, high-pressure systems form over the Pacific Ocean. These systems often bring clear skies. So, there is usually little or no cloud cover during the summer. Because of the ocean's influence, the snow tends to be wet and heavy. This can lead to a high risk of avalanches.
More Information
- The Castle weather forecast
- National Park Service web site: Mount Rainier National Park
- The Castle: YouTube
Gallery
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The Castle from west
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The Castle from east
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The Castle from the southeast
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The Castle (left) and Pinnacle (center)
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Pinnacle Peak with The Castle (right)
