Colonial Peak

Colonial Peak
Colonial Peak seen from Diablo Lake overlook
Highest point
Elevation7,771 ft (2,369 m) NGVD 29[1]
Prominence1,171 ft (357 m)[1]
Coordinates48°39′41″N 121°07′16″W / 48.6615166°N 121.1212309°W / 48.6615166; -121.1212309[2]
Geography
Colonial Peak is located in Washington (state)
Colonial Peak
Colonial Peak
Colonial Peak is located in the United States
Colonial Peak
Colonial Peak
Colonial Peak (the United States)
Parent rangeNorth Cascades
Topo mapUSGS Ross Dam
Climbing
First ascentJuly 31, 1931 by William Degenhardt and Herbert Strandberg [3]
Easiest routeWest Ridge: glacier/snow climb, scramble (class 3)

Colonial Peak is a mountain in the North Cascades of Washington, United States. It rises steeply from the southwest bank of Thunder Arm of Diablo Lake, one of the artificial reservoirs on the Skagit River. It is part of a group of peaks that form the northern end of a chain running south through prized climbing destinations such as Eldorado Peak, Forbidden Peak, and Goode Mountain. Colonial Peak takes its name from the Colonial mining claim on its slopes.[4]

Like many North Cascade peaks, Colonial Peak is more notable for its large, steep rise above local terrain than for its absolute elevation. For example, it rises 6,560 feet (2,000 m) above Thunder Arm in only 2.3 horizontal miles (3.7 km). Its rise over the Skagit river on the northwest is even greater, but not as steep.

Colonial Peak was first climbed on July 31, 1931, by William Degenhardt and Herbert Strandberg of the Seattle Mountaineers. The standard route is the West Ridge, accessed from Colonial Glacier; the approach is via the Pyramid Lake Trail, starting from near Diablo Dam on the North Cascades Highway.[3]

  1. ^ a b "Colonial Peak, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. ^ "Colonial Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  3. ^ a b Beckey, Fred W. (1996). Cascade alpine guide, Volume 2: Stevens Pass to Rainy Pass (2nd ed.). ISBN 978-0-89886-838-8.
  4. ^ Majors, Harry M. (1975). Exploring Washington. Van Winkle Publishing Co. p. 29. ISBN 978-0-918664-00-6.