White Goat Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White Goat Mountain |
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White Goat Mountain from the south
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 7,800 ft (2,400 m) |
| Prominence | 400 ft (120 m) |
| Isolation | 0.70 mi (1.13 km) |
| Parent peak | Tupshin Peak (8320+ ft) |
| Geography | |
 White Goat Mountain
Location in Washington (state)
White Goat Mountain
Location in the United States
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| Location | Chelan County Washington, U.S. |
| Parent range | North Cascades Cascade Range |
| Topo map | USGS Mount Lyall |
| Type of rock | gneiss |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | September 10, 1940 |
| Easiest route | class 5 climbing |
White Goat Mountain is a tall peak in Washington state. It stands 7,800 feet (2,377 meters) high. You can find it in Chelan County, within the Wenatchee National Forest. This mountain is part of the Glacier Peak Wilderness in the North Cascades mountain range.
Its closest taller neighbor is Tupshin Peak, about 0.7 miles (1.1 km) away to the northeast. Devore Peak is also nearby, about 1 mile (1.6 km) to the south. Rain and snow melting from the mountain flow into Company and Devore Creeks. These creeks then carry the water to nearby Lake Chelan.
The first people to climb White Goat Mountain reached the top on September 10, 1940. They were Everett and Ida Zacher Darr, Joe Leuthold, and Eldon Metzger. They saw a group of mountain goats near the peak. That's why they named it White Goat Mountain!
What's the Weather Like on White Goat Mountain?
Most of the weather that affects White Goat Mountain comes from the Pacific Ocean. These weather systems travel northeast towards the Cascade Mountains. As they get closer to the North Cascades, the tall peaks force the air upwards. This causes the air to cool down and drop its moisture as rain or snow. This process is called orographic lift.
Because of this, the North Cascades get a lot of rain and snow. This is especially true during the winter months. In winter, the weather is often cloudy. However, during the summer, high pressure systems over the Pacific Ocean become stronger. This often means there are clear skies and little to no clouds.
How White Goat Mountain Was Formed
The North Cascades are known for their rugged landscape. They have jagged peaks, spires, and deep valleys carved by glaciers. These amazing features were created by geological events that happened millions of years ago. These events led to big changes in elevation and different climates across the Cascade Range.
The Cascade Range started forming millions of years ago, during the late Eocene Epoch. At that time, the North American Plate was slowly moving over the Pacific Plate. This movement caused many volcanic eruptions. Glacier Peak, a large volcano, began to form about 20 miles (32 km) southwest of White Goat Mountain.
Also, small pieces of the Earth's crust, called terranes, crashed into North America. These collisions helped create the North Cascades about 50 million years ago.
During the Pleistocene period, which was over two million years ago, huge glaciers repeatedly moved across the land. As they advanced and retreated, they scraped away the landscape. They left behind piles of rock and debris. The "U"-shaped valleys you see today were carved out by these glaciers. The combination of land being pushed up (called uplift) and cracks forming in the Earth's crust (called faulting), along with glaciation, created the tall peaks and deep valleys of the North Cascades.
Climbing White Goat Mountain
People enjoy climbing White Goat Mountain. Here are some of the known climbing routes:
- Southeast Buttress – This route is rated class 5. It was first climbed in 1940.
- Northwest Ridge – This route is rated class 5. It was first climbed in 1984.
 | Audre Lorde |
 | John Berry Meachum |
 | Ferdinand Lee Barnett |
