Coordinates: 46°50′56″N 121°36′34″W / 46.848877°N 121.609409°W / 46.848877; -121.609409

Cowlitz Chimneys

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Cowlitz Chimneys
Cowlitz Chimneys from near Sunrise
Highest point
Elevation7,605 ft (2,318 m)[1]
Prominence965 ft (294 m)[1]
Parent peakLittle Tahoma Peak (11,138 ft)[2]
Isolation4.84 mi (7.79 km)[2]
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Geography
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CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountyPierce
Protected areaMount Rainier National Park
Parent rangeCascades
Topo mapUSGS Chinook Pass
Geology
Rock typeRhyolite
Climbing
First ascent1915 by The Mountaineers[3]
Easiest routeScrambling class 3

Cowlitz Chimneys are a group of four rhyolite towers located in Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County of Washington state.[4] As part of the Cascade Range, the Cowlitz Chimneys are situated southwest of Tamanos Mountain and east of Banshee Peak, all of which are visible from the Sunrise Historic District. The Sarvant Glacier is set on the north aspect of these remnants of a volcanic plug. Cowlitz is the name of several geographical features in Mount Rainier National Park, as well as the state of Washington. The name appeared as early as the Lewis and Clark journals of 1805 when it was written as "Cowliskee" and has the Chinook Jargon meaning of "capturing the medicine spirit".[5]

  • Main (South) Cowlitz Chimney - 7,605 ft[1]
  • Central Cowlitz Chimney - 7,421 ft[1]
  • North Cowlitz Chimney - 7,015 ft[1]
  • Third Cowlitz Chimney - 6,640+ ft[6]

Climate

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The Cowlitz Chimneys are located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[3] Most 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.[3] Precipitation runoff from Cowlitz Chimneys drains into the Cowlitz River.[1]

Cowlitz Chimneys from the Cowlitz Divide (south)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ^ a b c Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
  4. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ Mount Rainier National Park Place Names. Gary Fuller Reese (author), 2009.
  6. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  • Error creating thumbnail: File missing Media related to Lua error in Module:Commons_link at line 62: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). at Wikimedia Commons
  • National Park Service web site: Mount Rainier National Park
  • Cowlitz Chimneys weather: Mountain Forecast