Mount Cruiser
{{short description|Mountain in Washington (state), United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Mount Cruiser
| photo = Mount Cruiser.jpg
| photo_caption = Mt. Cruiser, west aspect, seen from Mt. Gladys,
(Alpha on left)
| elevation_ft = 6104
| elevation_ref = {{cite peakbagger|1044|Mount Cruiser}}
| prominence_ft = 1104
| part_type = Protected area | part = Mount Skokomish Wilderness
| country = United States
| state = Washington
| region = Mason
| region_type = County
| range = Olympic Mountains
| map = Washington#USA
| map_caption = Location of Mount Cruiser in Washington
| label_position = bottom
| coordinates = {{coord|47.56433|N|123.315682|W|type:mountain_region:US-WA_scale:100000_source:gnis|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| parent_peak = Mount Skokomish (6,434 ft)
| topo = USGS Mount Skokomish
| rock = Basalt
| age = Eocene
| first_ascent = 1937 Paul Crews, Ray Layton[http://www.climbersguideolympics.com/peaks/skokomish-duckabush-group/mount-cruiser/ Mount Cruiser at climbersguideolympics.com]
| easiest_route = {{YDS|5}} South corner[http://www.climbersguideolympics.com/peaks/skokomish-duckabush-group/mount-cruiser/ Mount Cruiser at climbersguideolympics.com]
}}
Mount Cruiser is a {{convert|6104|ft|meter|adj=mid|-elevation|abbr=off|sp=us}} mountain summit located in the Olympic Mountains, in Mason County of Washington state, United States.{{cite gnis|id = 1518361|name = Mount Cruiser| accessdate =2020-01-21}} It is situated in Mount Skokomish Wilderness on land managed by Olympic National Forest. Cruiser is the highest point on Sawtooth Ridge, and its nearest higher peak is Mount Skokomish, {{convert|2.1|mi|km|abbr=on}} to the north-northeast. Cruiser has two sub-peaks, Alpha ({{convert|6040.|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=semicolon}}), and Beta ({{convert|5920.|ft|m|abbr=on|disp=semicolon}}), the latter of which lies on the Olympic National Park boundary. The first ascent of the peak was made in 1937 by Paul Crews and Ray Layton. The mountain was named by the first ascent party to recognize their club, the Bremerton Ski Cruisers.[https://products.kitsapsun.com/archive/1997/05-08/0045_mr__outdoors__ski_cruisers_earned.html Kitsap Sun, May 8, 1997] The mountain's toponym was officially adopted in 1961 by the United States Board on Geographic Names. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into the Hamma Hamma River.
Climate
Mount Cruiser 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 June through September offer the most favorable weather for climbing.
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.
Climbing Routes
Established rock climbing routes on Mt. Cruiser:[http://www.climbersguideolympics.com/peaks/skokomish-duckabush-group/mount-cruiser/ Mount Cruiser at climbersguideolympics.com]
- South Corner - {{YDS|5.0}}
- West-Southwest Corner - class 5.7
- Northeast Face - class 5.6
- West Face - class 5.5
- East Face - class 5.7
- Southeast Face - class 5.5
See also
{{portal|Mountains}}
References
{{reflist}}
File:Mount Cruiser and Mount Lincoln.jpg (right) seen from Mt. Gladys]]
External links
- Weather: [https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/2-5791511/United%20States/Washington/Mason/Mount%20Cruiser Mount Cruiser]
- [http://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/olympic/recreation/recarea/?recid=78489 Mount Skokomish Wilderness] U.S. Forest Service
- PBase photo: [https://pbase.com/longbachnguyen/image/122909547 Cruiser winter aerial]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cruiser, Mount}}
Category:Mountains of Mason County, Washington
Category:Mountains of Washington (state)