Mount MacFarlane is a 2,090-metre (6,860-foot) mountain summit located in the Cascade Mountains of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. It is situated 6 km (4 mi) north of the Canada–United States border, 3.65 km (2 mi) northwest of Slesse Mountain, and 1.4 km (1 mi) northwest of Crossover Peak, which is its nearest higher peak.[2] Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into Slesse Creek and Pierce Creek, both tributaries of the Chilliwack River. The mountain was named to honor Royal Canadian Air Force First Lieutenant Ronald E. MacFarlane, from nearby Chilliwack, who was killed in action on December 16, 1943, at age 21.[3] The name was officially adopted on April 7, 1955, by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.[4]
| Mount MacFarlane | |
|---|---|
 Mt. MacFarlane, east aspect | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,090 m (6,860 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 140 m (460 ft)[1] |
| Parent peak | Crossover Peak[1] |
| Listing | Mountains of British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 49°03′10″N 121°37′31″W / 49.05278°N 121.62528°W |
| Geography | |
  Mount MacFarlane Location in British Columbia  Mount MacFarlane Mount MacFarlane (Canada) | |
 | |
| Interactive map of Mount MacFarlane | |
| Location | British Columbia, Canada |
| District | Yale Division Yale Land District |
| Parent range | Skagit Range North Cascades |
| Topo map | NTS 92H4 Chilliwack |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Intrusive |
| Volcanic arc/belt | Pemberton Volcanic Belt |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Scrambling via northeast ridge |
Geology
editMount MacFarlane is related to the Chilliwack batholith, which intruded the region 26 to 29 million years ago after the major orogenic episodes in the region. This is part of the Pemberton Volcanic Belt, an eroded volcanic belt that formed as a result of subduction of the Farallon Plate starting 29 million years ago.[5][6][7]
During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured the landscape leaving deposits of rock debris.[8] The U-shaped cross section of the river valleys is 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.
The North Cascades features some of the most rugged topography in the Cascade Range with craggy peaks and ridges, deep glacial valleys, and granite spires. Geological events occurring many years ago created the diverse topography and drastic elevation changes over the Cascade Range leading to various climate differences which lead to vegetation variety defining the ecoregions in this area.
Climate
editBased on the Köppen climate classification, Mount MacFarlane is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[9] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Cascade Range where they are forced upward by the range (Orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall. As a result, the Cascade Mountains experience high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. The months July through September offer the most favorable weather for climbing MacFarlane.
Climbing Routes
editEstablished climbing routes on Mount McGuire:[1]
- Northeast Ridge - class 3 - Approach via Pierce Lake Trail
Gallery
edit-
Mount MacFarlane from Upper Pierce Lake. A boot path is visible on the northeast ridge on right
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Mount MacFarlane". Bivouac.com. Retrieved 2019-11-24.
- ^ "Mount MacFarlane, British Columbia". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2019-11-24.
- ^ "Mount MacFarlane". BC Geographical Names. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
- ^ "Mount MacFarlane". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2019-11-24.
- ^ Madsen; Thorkelson; Friedman; Marshall (2006). "Cenozoic to Recent plate configurations in the Pacific Basin: Ridge subduction and slab window magmatism in western North America". Geosphere. 2 (1). Geological Society of America: 11–34. doi:10.1130/GES00020.1.
- ^ Bevier, Mary Lou; Armstrong, Richard Lee; Souther, J. G. (1979). "Miocene peralkaline volcanism in west-central British Columbia - Its temporal and plate-tectonics setting" (PDF). Geology. 7 (8): 389–392. doi:10.1130/0091-7613(1979)7<389:MPVIWB>2.0.CO;2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2019-11-24.
- ^ Catalogue of Canadian volcanoes: Franklin Glacier Archived 2010-12-11 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press. ISBN 9780295974774.
- ^ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L. & McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN 1027-5606.
External links
edit- Weather: Mount MacFarlane
- Hiking route description: Outdoor Vancouver
- Climbing Mt. MacFarlane: YouTube
- View from the summit: YouTube
