Barrier Peak
[
] is a small summit located in
Mount Rainier National Park in
Pierce County of
Washington state. It is part of the
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range or Cascades is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, ...
and is situated west of
Cayuse Pass
Cayuse Pass (el. ) is a mountain pass in the Cascade Mountains in the state of Washington.
The pass is about southeast of Enumclaw on State Route 410. The intersection with State Route 123 is at the pass.
The pass carries State Route 410 a ...
, 0.53 mile west-northwest of
Buell Peak, and 0.4 mile south-southwest of
Governors Ridge
Governors Ridge
is located in Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County, Washington, Pierce County of Washington (U.S. state), Washington state. It is part of the Cascade Range and is situated west of Cayuse Pass and 1.09 mile east of Taman ...
, which is its nearest higher peak.
Precipitation
runoff from Barrier Peak drains into tributaries of the
White River and
Cowlitz River.
The normal climbing access is from the Owyhigh Lakes Trail. The peak was so named because it served as a barrier between the Cayuse Pass region and the rest of Mount Rainier National Park.
[Gary Fuller Reese, Mount Rainier National Park Place Names, 2009.]
Climate
Barrier Peak is located in the
marine west coast climate zone of western North America.
[Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.] Most
weather fronts originating in the Pacific Ocean travel northeast toward the
Cascade Mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks of the Cascade Range (
Orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snow onto the Cascades. As a result, the west side of the Cascades experiences high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. Because of
maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high
avalanche danger. 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.
See also
*
*
Geology of the Pacific Northwest
References
{{Reflist
Gallery
File:Barrier Peak from Owyhigh Lakes.jpg, Barrier Peak (centered) seen from Owyhigh Lakes with Governors Needle (left)
File:Governors Ridge, Tamanos Mountain.jpg, Governors Ridge
Governors Ridge
is located in Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County, Washington, Pierce County of Washington (U.S. state), Washington state. It is part of the Cascade Range and is situated west of Cayuse Pass and 1.09 mile east of Taman ...
, Barrier Peak, and Tamanos Mountain
Tamanos Mountain is a summit located in Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County, Washington, Pierce County of Washington (U.S. state), Washington state. It is part of the Cascade Range. Tamanos Mountain is situated west of Governors Ridge ...
seen from the Sunrise area
External links
* Barrier Pea
weather forecast* National Park Service web site
Mount Rainier National Park* 2019 Climbing fatality on Barrier Peak
Cascade Range
Mountains of Pierce County, Washington
Mountains of Washington (state)
Mount Rainier National Park
North American 1000 m summits