Glacier Peak

Glacier Peak
Dakobed
Takobia
East slope of Glacier Peak with Cool (left), Chocolate (descending from summit), North Guardian and Dusty Glaciers (right)
Highest point
Elevation10,525+ ft (3,207+ m) NAVD 88[1]
Prominence7,498 ft (2,285 m)[1]
Listing
Coordinates48°06′43″N 121°06′51″W / 48.11194°N 121.11417°W / 48.11194; -121.11417[1][2]
Geography
Glacier Peak is located in Washington (state)
Glacier Peak
Glacier Peak
Washington
LocationSnohomish County, Washington, U.S.
Parent rangeCascade Range
Topo mapUSGS Glacier Peak East
Geology
Age of rockPleistocene
Mountain typeStratovolcano[3]
Volcanic arcCascade Volcanic Arc[3]
Last eruption1700[3]
Climbing
First ascent1898 by Thomas Gerdine and party[4]
Easiest routeRock/ice climb on Sitkum Glacier

Glacier Peak or Dakobed (known in the Sauk-Suiattle dialect of the Lushootseed language as "Tda-ko-buh-ba" or "Takobia"[5]) is the most isolated of the five major stratovolcanoes (composite volcanoes) of the Cascade Volcanic Arc in the U.S state of Washington. Located in the Glacier Peak Wilderness in Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest, the volcano is visible from the west in Seattle, and from the north in the higher areas of eastern suburbs of Vancouver such as Coquitlam, New Westminster and Port Coquitlam. The volcano is the fourth tallest peak in Washington state, and not as much is known about it compared to other volcanoes in the area. Local Native Americans have recognized Glacier Peak and other Washington volcanoes in their histories and stories. When American explorers reached the region, they learned basic information about surrounding landforms, but did not initially understand that Glacier Peak was a volcano. Positioned in Snohomish County, the volcano is only 70 miles (110 km) northeast of downtown Seattle. From locations in northern Seattle and northward, Glacier Peak is closer than the more famous Mount Rainier (Tahoma), but as Glacier Peak is set farther into the Cascades and almost 4,000 feet (1,200 m) shorter, it is much less noticeable than Mount Rainier.

Glacier Peak is one of the most active of Washington's volcanoes. The volcano formed during the Pleistocene epoch, about one million years ago, and since the most recent ice age, it has produced some of the largest and most explosive eruptions in the state. When continental ice sheets retreated from the region, Glacier Peak began to erupt regularly, erupting explosively five times in the past 3,000 years. It has erupted repeatedly during at least six periods; two of these eruptions have been among the largest in Washington.

  1. ^ a b c "Glacier Peak, Washington". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  2. ^ "Glacier Peak". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c "Glacier Peak". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved January 8, 2009.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Beckey was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Bedal Fish, Jean; Bedal, Edith (2000). Two Voices – A History of the Sauk and Suiattle People, and Sauk Country Experiences. Astriba R. Blukis Onat.