Mount Elk Lick
{{short description|Mountain in Washington (state), United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Mount Elk Lick
| photo = Mount Elk Lick.jpg
| photo_caption = North aspect of Mt. Elk Lick centered on horizon
| elevation_ft = 6517
| elevation_ref = Olympic Mountains: A Climbing Guide, Olympic Mountain Rescue, Fourth Edition, 2006, The Mountaineers Books, page 95.
| prominence_ft = 1997
| isolation_mi = 4.09
| isolation_ref = {{cite web |url = https://listsofjohn.com/peak/17693|title = Elk Lick, Mount WA - 6,517'|website = Lists of John |access-date = 2022-02-14}}
| parent_peak = Mount Anderson (7,330 ft)
| part_type = Protected area
| part = Olympic National Park
| country = United States
| state = Washington
| region = Jefferson
| region_type = County
| range = Olympic Mountains
| map = Washington#USA
| map_caption = Location of Mt. Elk Lick in Washington
| label_position = bottom
| coordinates = {{coord|47.6883460|N|123.2580189|W|type:mountain_region:US-WA_scale:100000_source:gnis|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| topo = USGS Mount Steel
| rock =
| age = Eocene
| first_ascent = 1971
| easiest_route = {{YDS|2}} via LaCrosse Pass Trail
}}
Mount Elk Lick is a {{convert|6,517|ft|meter|adj=mid|-elevation|abbr=off|sp=us}} mountain summit located in the Olympic Mountains, in Jefferson County of Washington state.{{cite gnis|id =1519285|name=Mount Elk Lick|access-date=2022-02-14}} It is situated within Olympic National Park, and is set within the Daniel J. Evans Wilderness at the head of Elk Lick Creek. The nearest neighbor is Mount La Crosse, {{convert|2.54|mi|km|abbr=on}} to the west, and the nearest higher neighbor is Diamond Mountain, {{convert|3.73|mi|km|abbr=on}} to the north-northwest.{{cite peakbagger|1003|Mount Elk Lick, Washington|access-date=2022-02-14}} Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains south into the Duckabush River, and north into the Dosewallips River. Topographic relief is significant as the south aspect rises over {{convert|4,300|ft|m}} above the Duckabush valley in approximately one mile. The mountain is remote and an ascent can take four days and involves 46 miles of hiking.Goldman, Peggy. Washington Scrambles, 2nd Ed., The Mountaineers Books, 2014, {{ISBN|9781594858413}}.
Climate
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Elk Lick 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 | 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 or viewing the mountain.
History
The mountain's name was officially adopted in 1961 by the United States Board on Geographic Names. The mountain and the creek derive their names from mineral licks located along the Dosewallips and Duckabush rivers near here, where elk and deer drink water.{{cite book |last=Parratt |first=Smitty |title=Gods and Goblins: A Field Guide to Place Names of Olympic National Park |edition=1st |year=1984}}
The first ascent of the peak was made in 1971 by Bartlett Burns, Hugh Favero, and Frank King.Olympic Mountains: A Climbing Guide, Olympic Mountain Rescue, Fourth Edition, 2006, The Mountaineers Books, page 95.
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.
See also
{{stack|{{Portal|Mountains}}}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- Mount Elk Lick: [https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/2-5793616/United%20States/Washington/Jefferson/Mount%20Elk%20Lick Weather forecast]
- Mt. Elk Lick photo: [https://www.flickr.com/photos/8839830@N08/2697909473/in/photolist-57puuz-57puvB-57tFUq-57tGbW-57tGkW-57punV-57tGhf-57tFZf-57puic-57tGdb-57tG3w-57puzR-57tG4h-57puCZ-57tG51-2mdgf48-zhv1pP-57puFv-BjtWZF-57tGih-57tFSo-2mveXpV-2mvjw7K-2m4YLy6-2m4ZJVm-2jLVsbA-2ggb3n3-2m4YLDM-2m53H9q-2m4V8Xh-2m55avx-2m4YHPt-2m4ZKq4-2m4ZJY7-2m4ZMEe-2m53ECd-2m4ZKhJ-2m4YHLh-57purF-57tGj9-2joihTN-57tGfG-57tFRN-zquXcL-Ki2kAP-zdBHRu-2m4ZN38-2m4YLmn-2m558cu-2m4V8S7 Flickr]
- {{cite web |url=http://www.nps.gov/olym |title=Olympic National Park |publisher=National Park Service}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Elk Lick, Mount}}
Category:Mountains of Jefferson County, Washington
Category:Mountains of Washington (state)