Twin Needles
{{short description|Mountains in Washington (state), United States}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Twin Needles
| photo = Himmelhorn and the Twin Needles.jpg
| photo_caption = Twin Needles (left), north aspect
| elevation_ft = 7936
| elevation_ref = {{cite peakbagger|38256|West Twin Needle, Washington}}
| prominence_ft = 576
| isolation_mi = 0.62
| isolation_ref = {{cite web|url=https://listsofjohn.com/peak/48922|title=Twin Needles, West - 7,936' WA|website=listsofjohn.com|accessdate=2020-08-03}}
| parent_peak = Mount Terror (8,151 ft)
| location = North Cascades National Park
Whatcom County, Washington US
| range = Picket Range
North Cascades
Cascade Range
| map = Washington#USA
| relief = 1
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 8
| mapframe-caption = Interactive map of Twin Needles
| map_caption = Location in Washington
| coordinates = {{coord|48|46|36|N|121|18|45|W|type:mountain_region:US-WA_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| topo = USGS Mount Challenger
| rock = Skagit Gneiss
| first_ascent = 1932
| easiest_route = {{YDS|4}} Mountaineering
}}
Twin Needles are a pair of {{Convert|7936|ft|m|abbr=off|adj=on}} and {{convert|7840|ft|-1|abbr=on|disp=preunit|+}} spires located in the remote and rugged Picket Range within North Cascades National Park in the state of Washington.{{cite gnis|1527548|Twin Needles}} The peaks are situated {{convert|0.55|mi|abbr=on}} west of Mount Terror which is the nearest higher peak. The Mustard Glacier lies on the northern slope of the peaks, and Himmelhorn lies immediately west. The first ascent of Twin Needles was made on August 17, 1932, by William Degenhardt, James Martin, and Herb Strandberg. Twin Needles can be seen from the 100 meter Sterling Munro Trail located behind the park's Newhalem Visitor Center.
Climate
Twin Needles is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008. Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel northeast toward the Cascade Mountains. As fronts approach the North Cascades, they are forced upward by the peaks of the Cascade Range, causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the Cascades (Orographic lift). As a result, the west side of the North Cascades experiences high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. 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 of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger. Precipitation runoff from the peaks drains into tributaries of Skagit River.
Geology
The North Cascades features some of the most rugged topography in the Cascade Range with craggy peaks, spires, ridges, and deep glacial valleys. 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 late Eocene Epoch.{{cite book|last=Kruckeberg|first=Arthur|title=The Natural History of Puget Sound Country|publisher=University of Washington Press|year=1991}} With the North American Plate overriding the Pacific Plate, episodes of volcanic igneous activity persisted. In addition, small fragments of the oceanic and continental lithosphere called terranes created the North Cascades about 50 million years ago.
During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured the landscape leaving deposits of rock debris. The U-shaped cross section of the river valleys is a result of recent glaciation. Uplift and faulting in combination with glaciation have been the dominant processes which have created the tall peaks and deep valleys of the North Cascades area.
Gallery
File:Picket Range from Sterling Munro Trail overlook 01.jpg|Picket Range from the Sterling Munro Trail overlook, with Twin Needles left of center
See also
{{Portal|Mountains}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- Twin Needles aerial photo: [https://pbase.com/nolock/image/111667416 PBase]
- [https://www.nps.gov/noca/index.htm North Cascades National Park] National Park Service
Category:North Cascades National Park
Category:Mountains of Whatcom County, Washington