Crater Mountain: Difference between revisions

| photo_caption = Crater Mountain seen from North Cascades Highway

| elevation_ref = {{navd88}}<ref name="ngspb">{{cite ngs|TQ0584|Crater}}</ref>

| map = USA Washington#USA

| map_sizelabel_position = 225right

'''Crater Mountain''' is an {{Convert|8132|ft|m|lk=off|abbr=off|adj=on}} mountain summit located in the [[North Cascades]] of [[Washington (U.S. state)|Washington]] state. It is the 29th -highest mountain in the [[Pasayten Wilderness]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.summitpost.org/pasayten-wilderness/171077|title=Pasayten Wilderness : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering : SummitPost|website=Summitpost.org|accessdate=3 June 2018}}</ref> The [[Jerry Glacier]] resides in the [[cirque]] on the upper north slopes of the mountain. The crater-like summit of the mountain is not of volcanic origin. Crater Mountain is grouped in the sub-range [[Hozameen Range]], which also includes [[Hozomeen Mountain]] and [[Jack Mountain]].

The mountain is composed mostly of [[Metavolcanic rock]] and [[Metasedimentary rock]] from the Hozameen Group. Most predominate is [[Greenstone (archaeology)|Greenstonegreenstone]] from the [[Jurassic]] to [[Permian]] periods. Crater Mountain is carved from greenstone of the Hozomeen Terrane, once the basaltic floor of the ancient Methow Ocean. The mountain's name probably derives from the craterlike shape of its summit, which was carved from the ancient metamorphosed basalt by modern cirque glaciers. The rugged battlements of the greenstone viewed from the highway rest above [[phyllite]] of the Little Jack terrane, which is exposed in the lower slopes of the mountain.<ref>{{cite web |title=Geology of North Cascades National Park |url=https://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/parks/noca/nocaft7.html |publisher=U.S. Geological Survey |access-date=2018-06-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222092246/https://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/parks/noca/nocaft7.html |archive-date=2016-12-22 |url-status=dead }} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

Crater Mountain is located in the [[marine west coast]] climate zone of western [[North America]].<ref name="Beckey 15beckey">[[#{{cite book |last=Beckey-ref |first=Fred W. |authorlink=Fred Beckey]] |title=Cascade Alpine Guide, pVol. 153, Rainy Pass to Fraser River |edition=3rd |year=2008 |publisher=[[The Mountaineers (club)|Mountaineers Books]] |isbn=978-1-59485-136-0}}</ref> Most [[weatherWeather front]]s originateoriginating in the [[Pacific Ocean]], and travel northeast toward the [[Cascade Mountains]]. As fronts approach the [[North Cascades]], they are forced upward by the peaks of the Cascade Range, causing them to drop their moisture in the form of [[rain]] or [[snowfall]] onto the Cascades. As a result, the west side of the North Cascades experiences high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall.<ref name="Beckey 15beckey"/> Because of [[Oceanic climate|maritime influence]], snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high [[avalanche]] danger.<ref name="beckey"/> Due to its temperate climate and proximity to the Pacific Ocean, areas west of the Cascade Crest very rarely experience temperatures below {{convert|0|°F|°C}} or above {{convert|80|°F|°C}}.<ref name="Beckey 15beckey" /> 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.<ref name="Beckey 16beckey">[[#Beckey-ref|Beckey]], p. 16</ref> BecauseThe months of [[OceanicJuly climate|maritimethrough influence]],September snowoffer tendsthe tomost befavorable wetweather andfor heavy,viewing resultingor inclimbing highthis [[avalanche]] dangerpeak.<ref name="Beckey 16" />

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File:Crater Peak, North Cascades.jpg|thumb|left|Crater Mountain seen from the [[North Cascades Highway]]