Pinnacle Peak (Lewis County, Washington)

Pinnacle Peak
Pinnacle Peak and The Castle (right) from Plummer Peak
Highest point
Elevation6,562 ft (2,000 m) NGVD 29[1]
Prominence562 ft (171 m)[1]
Coordinates46°45′29″N 121°43′57″W / 46.7581647°N 121.7325932°W / 46.7581647; -121.7325932[2]
Geography
Parent rangeCascades, Tatoosh Range
Topo mapUSGS Mount Rainier East
Climbing
Easiest routeScrambling south face

Pinnacle Peak is a 6,562 ft (2,000 m) peak located in Mount Rainier National Park in Lewis County, Washington. It is the second highest peak in the Tatoosh Range.[3] There are two other Washington summits with the same name: Pinnacle Peak near Enumclaw, Washington, roughly 30 miles (50 km) to the northwest, and Pinnacle Peak in North Cascades State Park.

The trail to the saddle and summit has views of Rainier. Some scrambling and rock climbing is needed to attain the summit.[4] The Castle is situated 0.2 miles (0.32 km) to the east.

Climate

Pinnacle Peak is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[4] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and 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 snowfall 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.[4] 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.[4] Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b "Pinnacle Peak, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. ^ "Pinnacle Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  3. ^ "Pinnacle Peak Trail". Mount Rainier National, National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2007-12-26.
  4. ^ a b c d e Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
  • The Castle (left) and Pinnacle Peak (center)
    The Castle (left) and Pinnacle Peak (center)
  • Pinnacle Peak with The Castle (right)
    Pinnacle Peak with The Castle (right)
  • Pinnacle Peak
    Pinnacle Peak
  • The southeast aspect of Pinnacle Peak
    The southeast aspect of Pinnacle Peak
  • The Tatoosh Range, taken near Paradise
    The Tatoosh Range, taken near Paradise


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