Mount Larrabee

Mount Larrabee
Mount Larrabee and the Border Peaks seen from Winchester Mountain Lookout
Highest point
Elevation7,865 ft (2,397 m) NAVD 88[1]
Prominence981 ft (299 m)[1]
Parent peakAmerican Border Peak (7,994 ft)
Isolation1.34 mi (2.16 km)[1]
Coordinates48°58′45″N 121°38′53″W / 48.9791022°N 121.6481266°W / 48.9791022; -121.6481266[2]
Geography
Mount Larrabee is located in Washington (state)
Mount Larrabee
Mount Larrabee
Location in Washington
Mount Larrabee is located in the United States
Mount Larrabee
Mount Larrabee
Mount Larrabee (the United States)
CountryUnited States
StateWashington
CountyWhatcom
Protected areaMount Baker Wilderness
Parent rangeCascade Range
North Cascades
Skagit Range
Topo mapUSGS Mount Larrabee
Climbing
First ascentSeptember 11, 1908 by James J. McArthur and party[3]
Easiest routeclass 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.

  1. ^ a b c "Mount Larrabee, Washington". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2017-04-23.
  2. ^ a b c "Mount Larrabee". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2020-04-18.
  3. ^ a b Beckey, Fred W. (2008). Cascade Alpine Guide, Vol. 3, Rainy Pass to Fraser River (3rd ed.). Mountaineers Books. pp. 55ff. ISBN 978-1-59485-136-0.