Himmelhorn (Washington)
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| Himmelhorn | |
|---|---|
 Himmelhorn centered (Twin Needles left) | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 7,880 ft (2,400 m)[1] |
| Prominence | 120 ft (37 m)[1] |
| Parent peak | Twin Needles (7,936 ft)[2] |
| Isolation | 0.11 mi (0.18 km)[2] |
| Coordinates | 48°46′35″N 121°18′53″W / 48.77639°N 121.31472°W[1] |
| Geography | |
  Himmelhorn Location of Himmelhorn in Washington  Himmelhorn Himmelhorn (the United States) | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Washington |
| County | Whatcom |
| Protected area | North Cascades National Park |
| Parent range | Picket Range Cascade Range |
| Topo map | USGS Mount Challenger |
| Geology | |
| Rock type | Skagit Gneiss |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1961 |
| Easiest route | Climbing YDS 5 |
Himmelhorn is a 7,880+ ft (2,400+ m) mountain summit located in the remote and rugged Picket Range within North Cascades National Park in the state of Washington. The peak lies 0.7 mi (1.1 km) west of Mount Terror and the small Mustard Glacier lies on its northern slope.[1] The first ascent of Himmelhorn was made on September 8, 1961, by Ed Cooper, Glen Denny, Joan and Joe Firey, and George Whitmore.[3] Originally called Himmelgeisterhorn, Himmelhorn means Horn of the Sky Spirit.[3]
Himmelhorn is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[3] Weather fronts originating in the Pacific Ocean travel northeast toward the Cascade Mountains. As fronts approach the North Cascades, they are forced upward by the peaks of the Cascade Range (orographic lift), 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. Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger.[3] 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.[3]
