Jefferson Peak
{{short description|Mountain in Washington (state), United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Jefferson Peak
| photo = Mount Pershing.jpg
| photo_caption = Mt. Pershing (left) and Jefferson Peak (right) seen from West Seattle
| elevation_ft = 5720.
| elevation_ref = Olympic Mountain Rescue, Olympic Mountains: A Climbing Guide, 4th Edition, 2006, Mountaineers Books, {{ISBN|9780898862065}}, page 65.
| prominence_ft = 600.
| prominence_ref = [http://www.climbersguideolympics.com/peaks/skokomish-duckabush-group/jefferson-peak-thorson-peak Jefferson Peak (Thorson Peak), climbersguideolympics.com]
| isolation_mi = 1.30
| parent_peak = Mount Pershing (6,154 ft)
| part_type = Protected area | part = Mount Skokomish Wilderness
| country = United States
| state = Washington
| region = Mason
| region_type = County
| range = Olympic Mountains
| etymology = Thomas Jefferson
| map = Washington#USA
| map_caption = Location of Jefferson Peak in Washington
| label_position = bottom
| coordinates = {{coord|47.5613874|N|123.2319222|W|type:mountain_region:US-WA_scale:100000_source:gnis|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| topo = USGS Mount Washington
| rock = pillow basalt
| age = Eocene
| easiest_route = {{YDS|3}} scramble via Goober Pond
}}
Jefferson Peak is a {{Convert|5720.|ft|adj=on}} mountain summit located in the Olympic Mountains in Mason County of Washington state.
{{cite gnis
| id = 1528827
| name = Jefferson Peak
| accessdate = 2022-02-11}} It is situated in the Mount Skokomish Wilderness, on land managed by Olympic National Forest. The mountain's toponym honors Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), the third president of the United States.Kai Huschke (2003), Washington's Wilderness Areas, Westcliffe Publishers, {{ISBN|9781565794412}}, page 48. The nearest higher neighbor is line parent Mount Pershing, {{convert|1.3|mi|km|abbr=on}} to the southwest.{{cite peakbagger|19130|Jefferson Peak, Washington}} Precipitation runoff drains into Jefferson Creek and the Hamma Hamma River. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises over {{Convert|4100|ft}} above the Hamma Hamma valley in approximately one mile.
Climbing
The first ascent of the summit was made in 1958 by Don Anderson, Bob Oram, Keith Spencer, and Robert Petersen. There are three established scrambling routes to the summit: from Goober Pond, the North Couloir, and via the East Peak. Jefferson Peak has a 250-foot-high ({{YDS|5.3}}) subpeak called "Tran Spire" ({{Convert|4943|ft}}) which was first climbed in 1958 by Don Anderson and Robert Petersen .{{cite peakbagger|36183|Tran Spire, Washington}}
Climate
Jefferson Peak is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.{{cite journal | author = Peel, M. C. |author2=Finlayson, B. L. |author3=McMahon, T. A. | year = 2007 | title = Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification | journal = Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. | volume = 11 | pages = 1633–1644 | issn = 1027-5606}} 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.{{cite book|last=McNulty|first=Tim|title=Olympic National Park: A Natural History|year=2009|publisher=University of Washington Press|location=Seattle, Washington}} 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. The months April through August offer the most favorable weather for viewing or climbing this mountain.
Geology
The Olympic Mountains are composed of obducted clastic wedge material and oceanic crust, primarily Eocene sandstone, turbidite, and basaltic oceanic crust.{{cite book|last=Alt|first=D.D.|author2=Hyndman, D.W.|year=1984|title=Roadside Geology of Washington|pages=249–259|isbn=0-87842-160-2}} The mountains were sculpted during the Pleistocene era by erosion and glaciers advancing and retreating multiple times.
Gallery
File:Jefferson mtn.jpg|Jefferson Peak centered.
(Mount Bretherton and Mount Constance to left, The Brothers to right)
File:Ferry on Puget Sound.jpg|Ferry on Puget Sound. Left to right: Mt. Pershing, Jefferson Peak, Mt. Cruiser, Mt. Skokomish, Mt. Stone
File:Olympics above low clouds.jpg|Left to rightː Mt. Ellinor, Mt. Washington, Mt. Pershing, Jefferson Peak.
View from Seattle.
File:Olympic range mtn.jpg|Jefferson Peak
See also
{{Portal|Mountains}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{stack|}}
- Weather forecast: [https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/2-5798683/United%20States/Washington/Mason/Jefferson%20Peak Jefferson Peak]
- [http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/olympic/recreation/recarea/?recid=78489 Mount Skokomish Wilderness] U.S. Forest Service
{{Geographic Location 2
| Center = Jefferson Peak
| North = Mount Bretherton
| Northeast = The Brothers
| East = Jefferson Lake
| Southeast = Jefferson Creek
| South = Mount Washington
| Southwest = Mount Pershing
| West = Mount Cruiser
| Northwest = Mount Skokomish
}}
Category:Mountains of Mason County, Washington
Category:Mountains of Washington (state)