The Chopping Block (Washington)
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| The Chopping Block | |
|---|---|
 The Chopping Block, south aspect | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 6,819 ft (2,078 m)[1] |
| Prominence | 579 ft (176 m)[1] |
| Coordinates | 48°45′18″N 121°18′29″W / 48.75500°N 121.30806°W[1] |
| Geography | |
  The Chopping Block Location in Washington  The Chopping Block The Chopping Block (the United States) | |
 | |
| Interactive map of The Chopping Block | |
| Location | North Cascades National Park Whatcom County, Washington |
| Parent range | Picket Range Cascade Range |
| Topo map | USGS Mount Challenger |
| Geology | |
| Rock type | Skagit Gneiss |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Climbing YDS 5 |
The Chopping Block is a 6,819-foot (2,078-metre) mountain summit located in the Picket Range within North Cascades National Park in the state of Washington. The mountain is officially named Pinnacle Peak[2] on maps, but hardly anyone calls it by that name.[3] The nearest higher peak is Mount Degenhardt, 0.6 mi (0.97 km) to the northeast.[1] The Chopping Block can be seen from the North Cascades National Park Newhalem visitor center, weather permitting. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into Goodell Creek, a tributary of the Skagit River.
The Chopping Block is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[4] 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.[4] Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger.[4]
