Mount Saul is a prominent 7,293-foot (2,223-metre) mountain summit located in Chelan County of Washington state.[1] The mountain is situated in the Glacier Peak Wilderness, on land managed by the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Mount Saul is the fourth-highest point on Wenatchee Ridge, a subrange which also includes Indian Head Peak, Whittier Peak, Mount David, and Mount Jonathan.[2] Its nearest higher neighbor is Mount David, 3.1 mi (5.0 km) to the south-southeast.[2] Precipitation runoff from Mount Saul drains into tributaries of the White River. Although modest in elevation, relief is significant since the south aspect of Mt. Saul rises 4,000 feet above the Indian Creek Valley in a little more than one mile. This peak was named for the biblical Saul because of its gloomy appearance by Albert Hale Sylvester, a pioneer surveyor, explorer, topographer, and forest supervisor in the Cascades who named thousands of natural features.[5]
| Mount Saul | |
|---|---|
 Mt. Saul, northeast aspect | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 7,293 ft (2,223 m)[1] |
| Prominence | 1,360 ft (410 m)[2] |
| Parent peak | Mount David (7,420 ft)[3] |
| Isolation | 3.1 mi (5.0 km)[3] |
| Coordinates | 48°00′07″N 121°01′24″W / 48.00194°N 121.02333°W[2] |
| Geography | |
  Mount Saul Location in Washington  Mount Saul Location in the United States | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Chelan |
| Protected area | Glacier Peak Wilderness |
| Parent range | North Cascades Cascade Range |
| Topo map | USGS Glacier Peak East |
| Geology | |
| Rock age | Late Cretaceous[4] |
| Rock type | Tonalitic plutons[4] |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hiking[5] |
Geology
editThe North Cascades feature some of the most rugged topography in the Cascade Range with craggy peaks, spires, ridges, and deep glacial valleys. Geological events occurring many years ago created the diverse topography and drastic elevation changes over the Cascade Range leading to the various climate differences.
The history of the formation of the Cascade Mountains dates back millions of years ago to the late Eocene Epoch.[6] With the North American Plate overriding the Pacific Plate, episodes of volcanic igneous activity persisted.[6] Glacier Peak, a stratovolcano that is 8.7 mi (14.0 km) northwest of Mount Saul, began forming in the mid-Pleistocene.[5] Due to Glacier Peak's proximity to Mount Saul, volcanic ash is common in the area. In addition, small fragments of the oceanic and continental lithosphere called terranes created the North Cascades about 50 million years ago.[6]
During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured and shaped the landscape.[6] 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.
Climate
editWeather fronts originating in the Pacific Ocean travel east toward the Cascade Mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks (orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the Cascades. As a result, the Cascades experience high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. 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.[5] The months July through September offer the most favorable weather for viewing or climbing this peak.
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b "Mount Saul". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
- ^ a b c d "Mount Saul, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
- ^ a b "Saul, Mount - 7,300' WA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
- ^ a b Geologic map of the North Cascade Range, Washington, Haugerud, R.A., and Tabor, R.W., US Geological Survey, 2009.
- ^ a b c d Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
- ^ a b c d Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.
External links
edit- Weather forecast: Mount Saul