Cat Peak

Cat Peak is a 5,940-foot (1,810-metre) mountain summit within Olympic National Park in Clallam County of Washington state.[4]

Cat Peak
West aspect, seen from High Divide
(Mt. Carrie directly behind, and Mt. Fairchild to left)
Highest point
Elevation5,940 ft (1,810 m)[1]
Prominence750 ft (230 m)[2]
Parent peakMount Carrie (6,995 ft)[3]
Isolation1.49 mi (2.40 km)[3]
Coordinates47°54′00″N 123°40′48″W[4]
Geography
Cat Peak is located in Washington (state)
Cat Peak
Cat Peak
Location of Cat Peak in Washington
Cat Peak is located in the United States
Cat Peak
Cat Peak
Cat Peak (the United States)
LocationOlympic National Park
Clallam County, Washington, US
Parent rangeOlympic Mountains
Bailey Range[5]
Topo mapUSGS Mount Carrie
Geology
Age of rockEocene
Climbing
First ascentUnknown[2]
Easiest routeclass 1 Hiking via High Divide Trail[2]

Description

Set within the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness, Cat Peak is the westernmost peak of the Bailey Range, which is a subrange of the Olympic Mountains. With clear weather, the mountain can be seen by hikers from High Divide or Hurricane Hill. The nearest higher neighbor is Mount Carrie 1.24 mi (2.00 km) to the east-southeast, and Mount Olympus rises 6.84 mi (11.01 km) to the south.[5] Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains north into Cat Creek which is a tributary of the Elwha River, and south into the Hoh River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises over 4,400 feet (1,340 m) above the Hoh River in approximately one mile.

History

The mountain's name has been officially adopted by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. The peak is named in association with Cat Creek, which heads on the peak. The creek was christened "Wildcat Creek" by the 1889–90 Seattle Press Expedition because an expedition member killed a bobcat on February 28, 1890, where the creek joins the Elwha River.[6]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Cat Peak is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[7] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east toward the Olympic Mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks of the Olympic Range, causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall (Orographic lift). As a result, the Olympics experience high precipitation, especially during the winter months. 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. The months June through October offer the most favorable weather for viewing and climbing.[2]

Geology

The Olympic Mountains are composed of obducted clastic wedge material and oceanic crust, primarily Eocene sandstone, turbidite, and basaltic oceanic crust.[8] The mountains were sculpted during the Pleistocene era by erosion and glaciers advancing and retreating multiple times.

  • Cat Peak centered with Mts. Carrie and Fairchild looming behind
    Cat Peak centered with Mts. Carrie and Fairchild looming behind
  • Northeast aspect in winter
    Northeast aspect in winter
  • Mount Fitzhenry (centered) as seen from Hurricane Hill, with Cat Peak behind right, and Mt. Carrie to left
    Mount Fitzhenry (centered) as seen from Hurricane Hill,
    with Cat Peak behind right, and Mt. Carrie to left
  • Mt. Carrie (left) and Cat Peak (right) seen from the north at a pond to the east of Haigs Lake
    Mt. Carrie (left) and Cat Peak (right) seen from the north at a pond to the east of Haigs Lake
  • Mt. Carrie (left) and Cat Peak (centered) seen from the north at Haigs Lake
    Mt. Carrie (left) and Cat Peak (centered) seen from the north at Haigs Lake
  • The Catwalk (right) on Cat Peak. Mount Olympus to left, and Hoh Valley centered.
    The Catwalk (right) on Cat Peak. Mount Olympus to left, and Hoh Valley centered.
  • Seattle Press Expedition, 1889
    Seattle Press Expedition, 1889

See also

References
  1. Olympic Mountain Rescue, Olympic Mountains: A Climbing Guide, 4th Edition, 2006, Mountaineers Books, ISBN 9780898862065, page 191.
  2. "Cat Peak - Climbers Guide to the Olympic Mountains". climbersguideolympics.com. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  3. "Cat Peak - 5,925' WA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  4. "Cat Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
  5. "Cat Peak". Peakbagger.com.
  6. Parratt, Smitty (1984). Gods and Goblins: A Field Guide to Place Names of Olympic National Park (1st ed.).
  7. Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11: 1633–1644. ISSN 1027-5606.
  8. Alt, D.D.; Hyndman, D.W. (1984). Roadside Geology of Washington. pp. 249–259. ISBN 0-87842-160-2.
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