| Guye Peak | |
|---|---|
 South aspect from Snoqualmie Pass | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 5,168 ft (1,575 m) NGVD 29[1] |
| Prominence | 528 ft (161 m)[1] |
| Parent peak | Kendall Peak (5,784 ft)[2] |
| Isolation | 1.12 mi (1.80 km)[2] |
| Coordinates | 47°26′29″N121°24′33″W / 47.4415013°N 121.4092611°W /47.4415013; -121.4092611[3] |
| Geography | |
  Guye Peak Location in Washington Show map of Washington (state) Guye Peak Guye Peak (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Location | King County,Washington,U.S. |
| Parent range | Cascade Range |
| Topo map | USGS Snoqualmie Pass |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | ExposedScramble,class 3 |
Guye Peak is amountain in thenorthwestUnited States in theCascade Range ofWashington, east ofSeattle. Named for Francis M. Guye, who held an iron mining claim on it in the 1880s,[4] it lies in theAlpine Lakes Wilderness area and overlooksSnoqualmie Pass from the north.
Guye Peak was first climbed on October 6, 1912, by Charles Hazlehurst, Hector Abel, Paul Dubuar, and Mary Hard.[4] The climb is 2,000 feet (600 m) from the pass valley and has mixed rock climbing and scrambling, ranging fromclass 3 toclass 5.6. It is popular partly because of easy access fromInterstate 90.
Like other hiking experiences in the region, Guye Peak has wet-climate hazards such as mossy or otherwise slippery rocks in the summer andavalanches in the winter. At least eight climbers have died in falls on Guye Peak, including the mathematicianOded Schramm in 2008.[5]
The Alpine Lakes Wilderness features some of the most rugged topography in theCascade Range with craggy peaks and ridges, deepglacial valleys, andgranite walls spotted with over 700 mountain lakes.[6] 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.[7] With theNorth American Plate overriding thePacific Plate, episodes ofvolcanic igneous activity persisted.[7] In addition, small fragments of theoceanic andcontinental lithosphere calledterranes created theNorth Cascades about 50 million years ago.[7]
During thePleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured and shaped the landscape.[7] The last glacial retreat in the Alpine Lakes area began about 14,000 years ago and was north of the Canada–US border by 10,000 years ago.[7] The U-shaped cross section of the river valleys is a result of that recent glaciation.Uplift andfaulting in combination with glaciation have been the dominant processes which have created the tall peaks and deep valleys of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness area.
Guye Peak is located in themarine west coast climate zone of westernNorth America.[8] Mostweather fronts originate in thePacific Ocean, and travel northeast toward theCascade Mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks of the Cascade Range (Orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form ofrain orsnowfall onto the Cascades. As a result, the west side of the North Cascades experiences high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall.[8]
Due to its temperate climate and proximity to the Pacific Ocean, areas west of the Cascade Crest very rarely experience temperatures below 0 °F (−18 °C) or above 80 °F (27 °C).[8] 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. Because ofmaritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in highavalanche danger.[8] The months July through September offer the most favorable weather for viewing or climbing this peak.
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