Three Way Peak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Three Way Peak |
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Three Way Peak seen from Upper Crystal Lake
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 6,796 ft (2,071 m) |
| Prominence | 236 ft (72 m) |
| Isolation | 0.59 mi (0.95 km) |
| Parent peak | Crystal Mountain (6,998 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Three Way Peak
Location in Washington (state)
Three Way Peak
Location in the United States
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| Location | Mount Rainier National Park Pierce County / Yakima County Washington, U.S. |
| Parent range | Cascades |
| Topo map | USGS Norse Peak |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | class 2 scrambling |
Three Way Peak is a cool mountain peak that stands tall at 6,796 feet (2,071 m). You can find it right on the eastern edge of Mount Rainier National Park. This peak also sits on the border between two counties in Washington: Pierce County and Yakima County.
Three Way Peak is located about 0.42 miles (0.68 km) north of a spot called Cupalo Rock. It's part of the long line of mountains known as the Cascade Range. The mountain closest to Three Way Peak that is even taller is Crystal Mountain. It's only about 0.56 miles (0.90 km) to the northwest. Another peak, Chinook Peak, is about 0.8 miles (1.3 km) to the southwest. When rain or snow falls on Three Way Peak, the water flows into streams. These streams eventually join the White River and Naches River.
Understanding the Climate Around Three Way Peak
Three Way Peak is in a special weather area called the marine west coast climate zone. This means its weather is strongly affected by the nearby Pacific Ocean. Most of the weather systems, like big clouds that bring rain or snow, start over the Pacific Ocean. They then travel northeast towards the Cascade Mountains.
When these weather systems hit the tall Cascade Mountains, they are forced to rise up into the sky. This process is called orographic lift. As the air rises, it cools down, and the moisture inside it turns into rain or snow. This is why the western side of the Cascade Mountains gets a lot of precipitation, especially heavy snowfall in winter.
During the winter months, the weather around Three Way Peak is usually cloudy. However, in the summer, large areas of high pressure form over the Pacific Ocean. These high-pressure systems often bring clear skies and lots of sunshine to the mountains. Because the ocean influences the weather so much, the snow that falls here tends to be wet and heavy. This type of snow can sometimes lead to a high risk of avalanches, which are large slides of snow down a mountain.
