| Muncaster Mountain | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 5,910 ft (1,800 m)[1] |
| Prominence | 990 ft (300 m)[1] |
| Parent peak | June 10th Peak (6,019 ft)[1] |
| Isolation | 2.72 mi (4.38 km)[2] |
| Coordinates | 47°38′17″N123°30′44″W / 47.638055°N 123.512167°W /47.638055; -123.512167[1] |
| Geography | |
  Muncaster Mountain Location in Washington Show map of Washington (state) Muncaster Mountain Muncaster Mountain (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Jefferson |
| Protected area | Olympic National Park |
| Parent range | Olympic Mountains |
| Topo map | USGSMount Christie |
| Geology | |
| Rock age | Eocene |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1941 |
| Easiest route | class 3scrambling via Quinualt River trail[3] |
Muncaster Mountain is a 5,910-foot (1,801-metre) mountainsummit located withinOlympic National Park inJefferson County ofWashington state.[4] It is situated 4.4 mi (7.1 km) south-southeast ofMount Christie, and 14.6 mi (23.5 km) southeast ofMount Olympus.[1] Precipitationrunoff from the mountain drains into Rustler Creek, which is a tributary of theQuinault River. Although modest in elevation,relief is significant as the summit rises 4,000 feet above the Rustler Creek valley in one mile.
The 1889–1890Seattle Press Expedition originally named this geographical feature "Mount DeYoung", forM. H. de Young of theSan Francisco Chronicle.[5] The peak was later renamed in honor of U.S. Army Private Roy Muncaster (1892–1918), 6th Battalion, 20th Engineer Regiment; a forest ranger for the Olympic National Forest, who drowned 5 February 1918, when the troop transportSS Tuscania was torpedoed and sunk in World War I.[3] The Muncaster Mountain toponym was officially adopted in 1918 by theU.S. Board on Geographic Names.[4]
Thefirst ascent of this peak was made in 1941 by T. Nelson of theUnited States Geological Survey.[3]
Based on theKöppen climate classification, Muncaster Mountain is located in themarine west coast climate zone of western North America.[6]Weather fronts originating in the Pacific Ocean travel northeast toward the Olympic Mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks (orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snow. As a result, the Olympics experience high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall.[7] Because ofmaritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting inavalanche 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.[7] The months July through September offer the most favorable weather for viewing or climbing this peak.
The Olympic Mountains are composed ofobductedclastic wedge material and oceanic crust, primarilyEocenesandstone,turbidite, andbasaltic oceanic crust.[8] The mountains were sculpted during thePleistocene era by erosion and glaciers advancing and retreating multiple times.
