Mount Larrabee | |
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Highest point | |
Elevation | 7,865 ft (2,397 m) NAVD 88[1] |
Prominence | 981 ft (299 m)[1] |
Parent peak | American Border Peak (7,994 ft) |
Isolation | 1.34 mi (2.16 km)[1] |
Coordinates | 48°58′45″N 121°38′53″W / 48.9791022°N 121.6481266°W[2] |
Geography | |
Country | United States |
State | Washington |
County | Whatcom |
Protected area | Mount Baker Wilderness |
Parent range | Cascade Range North Cascades Skagit Range |
Topo map | USGS Mount Larrabee |
Climbing | |
First ascent | September 11, 1908 by James J. McArthur and party[3] |
Easiest route | class 3 scramble |
Mount Larrabee is a 7,865-foot (2,397-metre) Skagit Range mountain summit situated 1.4 mile south of the Canada–United States border, in the North Cascades of Washington state. It is located immediately southeast of American Border Peak within the Mount Baker Wilderness, which is part of the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, and near North Cascades National Park. It is notable for its reddish coloring caused by oxidation of Iron in the rock. The rock consists of reddish interbedded and interfolded phyllites and greenstone.[3] Originally known as Red Mountain, the name was changed in 1951 to honor Charles F. Larrabee (1895–1950), of the prominent Larrabee family of Bellingham, Washington.[2] The toponym was officially adopted in 1951 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.[2]
Mount Larrabee can be seen from the Mt. Baker Highway near Heather Meadows and Artist Point, as well as from points in the Fraser Valley in Canada. On Larrabee's east ridge are a series of jagged spires called The Pleiades. Larrabee's northwest ridge connects to American Border Peak. Precipitation runoff on the west side of the mountain drains into Tomyhoi Lake and Tomyhoi Creek, whereas the east side of the mountain drains to Silesia Creek, and both creeks flow north to the Chilliwack River in Canada. An unnamed glacier known colloquially as Larrabee Glacier lies below the steep north face. Downslope of that glacier is the Boundary Red Mountain Mine where gold was discovered in the early 1900s. The Gargett Mine was located on the southwest slope north of High Pass, but it didn't produce quality ore and was abandoned.
The summit offers views of Tomyhoi Peak, American Border Peak, Slesse Mountain, Mount Challenger, the Picket Range, Mount Shuksan, and Mount Baker. Normal access is via the Twin Lakes Road and High Pass Trail. The Winchester Mountain Lookout provides a nice vantage to photograph Larrabee, and shelter to sleep under a roof.