Banshee Peak

Banshee Peak is a 7,420-foot (2,262-metre) mountain summit located in Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County of Washington state, US. As part of the Cascade Range, Banshee Peak is situated west of the Cowlitz Chimneys and east of Panhandle Gap, with the Sarvant Glacier set below its north cliff. Precipitation runoff from Banshee Peak drains into tributaries of the White River and the Cowlitz River. Banshee Peak is a high remnant of bedded Ohanapecosh Formation lava flows. Access is from Panhandle Gap via the Wonderland Trail. The broad summit has alpine tundra similar to that found on Burroughs Mountain. The Sunrise Historic District provides a viewpoint from which to see Banshee Peak when weather permits. The road to Sunrise is only open seasonally in the summer due to closure from winter snowpack.

Banshee Peak
Banshee Peak seen from Sunrise area
Highest point
Elevation	7,420 ft (2,262 m)
Prominence	400 ft (122 m)
Parent peak	Cowlitz Chimneys
Isolation	0.40 mi (0.64 km)
Coordinates	46°51′04″N 121°37′14″W
Geography
Banshee Peak Location of Banshee Peak in Washington Banshee Peak Banshee Peak (the United States)
Country	United States
State	Washington
County	Pierce
Protected area	Mount Rainier National Park
Parent range	Cascade Range
Topo map	USGS Chinook Pass
Geology
Rock type	Volcanic rock
Climbing
Easiest route	Scrambling class 2

Climate

Banshee Peak is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America. Weather fronts originating in the Pacific Ocean travel northeast toward the Cascade Mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks of the Cascade Range (orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snow onto the Cascades. As a result, the west side of the Cascades experiences high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger. 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.

See also

• Mountains portal
• Geology of the Pacific Northwest

Gallery

• 
  Banshee Peak from Sunrise Point
• 
  Banshee Peak, south aspect
• 
  Southwest aspect
• 
  Mountain goats on Banshee Peak

External links

• National Park Service web site: Mount Rainier National Park