| White Goat Mountain | |
|---|---|
 White Goat Mountain from the south | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 7,800 ft (2,400 m)[1] |
| Prominence | 400 ft (120 m)[1] |
| Parent peak | Tupshin Peak (8320+ ft)[2] |
| Isolation | 0.70 mi (1.13 km)[2] |
| Coordinates | 48°17′30″N120°45′49″W / 48.2915453°N 120.7635491°W /48.2915453; -120.7635491[3] |
| Geography | |
  White Goat Mountain Location in Washington Show map of Washington (state) White Goat Mountain White Goat Mountain (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
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| Interactive map of White Goat Mountain | |
| Location | Chelan County Washington,U.S. |
| Parent range | North Cascades Cascade Range |
| Topo map | USGSMount Lyall |
| Geology | |
| Rock type | gneiss |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | September 10, 1940 |
| Easiest route | class 5climbing[4] |
White Goat Mountain is a 7,800+ ft (2,380+ m) mountain summit located in theGlacier Peak Wilderness of theNorth Cascades inWashington state.[3] The mountain is situated inChelan County, on land managed byWenatchee National Forest. Its nearest higher neighbor isTupshin Peak, 0.7 mi (1.1 km) to the northeast, andDevore Peak is 1.02 mi (1.64 km) to the south.[1] Precipitationrunoff from the peak drains to nearbyLake Chelan via Company and Devore Creeks. Thefirst ascent was made September 10, 1940, by Everett and Ida Zacher Darr, Joe Leuthold, and Eldon Metzger.[4] A herd of mountain goats beneath the peak was their inspiration for so naming this geographical feature.[4]
Mostweather fronts originate in thePacific Ocean, and travel northeast toward theCascade Mountains. As fronts approach theNorth Cascades, they are forced upward by the peaks of the Cascade Range, causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the Cascades (Orographic lift). As a result, the North 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]
The North Cascades feature some of the most rugged topography in theCascade Range with craggy peaks, spires, ridges, and deepglacial valleys. Geological events occurring many years ago created the diverse topography and drastic elevation changes over the Cascade Range leading to the various climate differences.
The history of the formation of the Cascade Mountains dates back millions of years ago to the lateEocene Epoch.[5] With theNorth American Plate overriding thePacific Plate, episodes ofvolcanic igneous activity persisted.[5]Glacier Peak, astratovolcano that is 20 mi (32 km) southwest of White Goat Mountain, began forming in the mid-Pleistocene.[4] In addition, small fragments of theoceanic andcontinental lithosphere calledterranes created theNorth Cascades about 50 million years ago.[5]
During thePleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured the landscape leaving deposits of rock debris.[5] The U-shaped cross section of the river valleys is a result of recent glaciation.Uplift andfaulting in combination with glaciation have been the dominant processes which have created the tall peaks and deep valleys of the North Cascades area.
Established rock climbing routes on White Goat Mountain:[4]
