Forbidden Peak
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Forbidden Peak | |
|---|---|
 Forbidden Peak, northwest aspect | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 8,815 ft (2,687 m) NGVD 29[1] |
| Prominence | 1,055 ft (322 m)[1] |
| Coordinates | 48°30′41″N 121°03′28″W / 48.5115158°N 121.0578916°W[2] |
| Geography | |
  Forbidden Peak Location in Washington, U.S.  Forbidden Peak Forbidden Peak (the United States) | |
 | |
| Interactive map of Forbidden Peak | |
| Parent range | North Cascades |
| Topo map | USGS Forbidden Peak |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | June 1, 1940 by Lloyd Anderson, Fred Beckey, Helmy Beckey, Jim Crooks, Dave Lind[3] |
| Easiest route | West Ridge class 5.6 rock[4] |
Forbidden Peak is an 8,815 feet (2,687 m) glacial horn located in North Cascades National Park, in Skagit County of Washington state. It is part of the North Cascades and is located near Cascade Pass. Forbidden Peak features a rock climbing route named West Ridge route which is featured in Fifty Classic Climbs of North America.[5] The peak was first climbed by a party consisting of Fred Beckey, his brother Helmy Beckey, Jim Crooks, Lloyd Anderson and Dave Lind in 1940.[6]
Forbidden Peak is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[7] 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. As a result, the west side of the North Cascades experiences high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall.[7] 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).[7] 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.[8] Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger.[8] This climate supports the Forbidden Glacier in the northwest cirque, the immense Boston Glacier to the east, and glacial remnants on the south side in Boston Basin. These glaciers carved Forbidden Peak into a classic horn.
