| Esmeralda Peaks | |
|---|---|
_4.jpg) Esmeralda Peaks from the northeast,[1] 21 October 2024 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 6,765 ft (2,062 m)[2][3] |
| Prominence | 765 ft (233 m)[2] |
| Parent peak | Ingalls Peak (7,662 ft)[4] |
| Isolation | 1.67 mi (2.69 km)[4] |
| Coordinates | 47°26′26″N120°58′05″W / 47.440662°N 120.968166°W /47.440662; -120.968166[2] |
| Geography | |
  Esmeralda Peaks Location of Esmeralda Peaks in Washington Show map of Washington (state) Esmeralda Peaks Esmeralda Peaks (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Kittitas |
| Parent range | Wenatchee Mountains Cascade Range |
| Topo map | USGSMount Stuart |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | class 2scrambling |
Esmeralda Peaks is a 6,765 ft (2,060 m) multi-summit mountain located inKittitas County ofWashington state.[5] Esmeralda Peaks are in the Teanaway area of theWenatchee Mountains.[2] Esmeralda Peaks is situated 2.4 mi (3.9 km) south ofIngalls Peak, and 1.7 mi (2.7 km) southeast ofHawkins Mountain, on land managed byWenatchee National Forest. Precipitationrunoff from the peaks drains into tributaries of theTeanaway River. This mountain's name has also been spelledEsmerelda Peaks, however Esmeralda was officially adopted in 1966 by theU.S. Board on Geographic Names.[3][5]
Lying east of theCascade crest, the area around Hawkins Mountain is a bit drier than areas to the west. Summers can bring warm temperatures and occasional thunderstorms.Weather fronts originating in the Pacific Ocean travel east toward theCascade Mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks of the Cascade Range, causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snow onto the Cascades (Orographic lift). As a result, the eastern slopes of the Cascades experience lower precipitation than the western slopes. 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]
