Hurricane Hill

Hurricane Hill is a 5,757-foot (1,755 m) mountain summit located within Olympic National Park in Clallam County of Washington state. It is part of the Olympic Mountains and is situated at the western end of Hurricane Ridge within the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness. Hurricane Hill is nine miles south-southwest of Port Angeles and two miles northwest of the park's Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains to the Elwha River via various tributaries. Topographic relief is significant as the southwest aspect rises 5,100 feet (1,600 m) above the Elwha Valley in three miles.

Hurricane Hill
Southeast aspect in spring
Highest point
Elevation5,757 ft (1,755 m)[1]
Prominence707 ft (215 m)[1]
Parent peakMount Angeles (6,454 ft)[2]
Isolation2.89 mi (4.65 km)[2]
Coordinates47°59′24″N 123°31′45″W[3]
Geography
Hurricane Hill is located in Washington (state)
Hurricane Hill
Hurricane Hill
Location of Hurricane Hill in Washington
Hurricane Hill is located in the United States
Hurricane Hill
Hurricane Hill
Hurricane Hill (the United States)
LocationOlympic National Park
Clallam County, Washington, US
Parent rangeOlympic Mountains
Topo mapUSGS Hurricane Hill
Geology
Age of rockEocene
Climbing
Easiest routeclass 1 hiking on a paved trail

History

This landform was originally christened "Mt. Eldridge" by the 1889-90 Seattle Press Expedition, for William C. Eldridge, a journalist from Washington D.C.[4] Early pioneers of the area referred to the mountain as "Old Hurricane" because of hurricane-force winds in winter, and in 1897 it was named Hurricane Hill by prospector W. A. Hall who climbed it from the Elwha Valley on a particularly windy day.[4] During World War II, a 13' by 13' observation cabin was constructed at the top for the Aircraft Warning Service and was manned by wildlife cinematographer Herb Crisler and his wife in 1942–43.[5] The lookout has since been removed, while Dodger Point and Pyramid Peak Lookouts are the only stations remaining in Olympic National Park of the thirteen that were constructed.

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Hurricane Hill is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[6] 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 in the form of snowfall. Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in 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.

Recreation

From the end of the Hurricane Ridge Road, a 1.6-mile trail leads to the top of Hurricane Hill. This paved trail was originally a Forest Service road built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps.[7] The relatively easy and popular hike gains approximately 750 feet of elevation and is snow-free from late June to October.[8] The trail was refurbished in 2020.[9] In winter, Hurricane Hill becomes a favorite destination with snowshoers.[10] There is also a six-mile trail on the west side which climbs up from the Elwha Valley and gains 5,100 feet of elevation.[11] From the north side, the Little River Trail climbs 4,700 feet over seven miles before intersecting with the paved Hurricane Hill trail. The summit offers views of the Bailey Range, Mount Olympus, Victoria on Vancouver Island across the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and on clear days one can see Mount Baker 95 miles distant. Hurricane Hill is considered one of the best wildflower hikes in Washington state with over 125 species of plants, with the peak time for wildflowers in July and August.[12]

Flora and fauna

Hurricane Hill hosts lupine, mountain pasqueflower, mountain dandelion, rosy pussytoes, nodding arnica, Olympic Mountain aster, western mugwort, common harebell, paintprush, mountain larkspur and rockslide larkspur.[12] Old-growth forests of Douglas fir, western hemlock, and western redcedar grow on the lower slopes surrounding the peak. Deer, grouse, chipmunks, and marmots may be encountered on the meadow slopes. Colonies of the Olympic marmot are found only in the Olympic Mountains and nowhere else in the world, but their population has declined due to non-native coyote predation. However, they continue to thrive on Hurricane Hill which makes it the best place to see and photograph them.[13]

  • Newly refurbished trail to Hurricane Hill in 2020
    Newly refurbished trail to Hurricane Hill in 2020
  • Hurricane Hill from southeast
    Hurricane Hill from southeast
  • South aspect of Hurricane Hill seen from 5,250'
    South aspect of Hurricane Hill seen from 5,250'
  • The Bailey Range seen from Hurricane Hill
    The Bailey Range seen from Hurricane Hill
  • Hurricane Hill is best place to see the Olympic marmot
    Hurricane Hill is best place to see the Olympic marmot
  • Olympic marmot
    Olympic marmot
  • Olympic marmot using the trail to Hurricane Hill
    Olympic marmot using the trail to Hurricane Hill
  • Snowshoe trail with Hurricane Hill in the background
    Snowshoe trail with Hurricane Hill in the background

References
  1. "Hurricane Hill, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. "Hurricane Hill - 5,757' WA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  3. "Hurricane Hill". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
  4. Parratt, Smitty (1984). Gods and Goblins: A Field Guide to Place Names of Olympic National Park (1st ed.).
  5. Judy Bentley, Craig Romano (2021), Hiking Washington's History, University of Washington Press, ISBN 9780295748535, page 52.
  6. McNulty, Tim (2009). Olympic National Park: A Natural History. Seattle, Washington: University of Washington Press.
  7. Robert L. Wood (1991), Olympic Mountains Trail Guide, The Mountaineers Books, ISBN 9780898863208, page 72.
  8. Arthur R. Kruckeberg, Karen Sykes, Craig Romano (2004), Best Wildflower Hikes: Washington, The Mountaineers Books, ISBN 9781594852183, page 47.
  9. Hurricane Hill Trail Project, nps.gov
  10. Douglas Lorain (2014), Top Trails: Olympic National Park and Vicinity, Wilderness Press, ISBN 9780899977324, page 213.
  11. Cheri Pompeo Gillis (2002), 50 Trail Runs in Washington, Mountaineers Books, ISBN 9780898867152, page 37.
  12. Peter Stekel (2016), Best Wildflower Hikes Western Washington, Falcon Guides, ISBN 9781493018697, page 160.
  13. Gunnar O. Fagerlund (1965), Olympic National Park, Washington, Publisher:U.S. National Park Service, page 40.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hurricane Hill.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.