Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty in winter
Highest point
Elevation4,907 ft (1,496 m)[1]
Prominence347 ft (106 m)[1]
Coordinates46°05′35″N 121°38′58″W / 46.093022°N 121.649325°W / 46.093022; -121.649325
Geography
Sleeping Beauty is located in Washington (state)
Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty
Location of Sleeping Beauty in Washington
Sleeping Beauty is located in the United States
Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty (the United States)
LocationSkamania County, Washington, U.S.
Parent rangeCascades
Topo mapUSGS Sleeping Beauty
Geology
Type of rockAndesite basalt
Climbing
Easiest routeHiking

Sleeping Beauty[2] is a 4,907-foot (1,496 m) mountain summit located in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest of Skamania County in Washington state. It is situated in the Cascade Range, 10.73 mi (17.27 km) southwest of Mount Adams.[1] Sleeping Beauty is so named because its profile as seen from the east side of the Trout Lake Valley somewhat resembles a sleeping woman. Precipitation runoff from Sleeping Beauty drains into tributaries of the White Salmon River. The peak is composed of andesitic magma that intruded up into older volcanic rocks more than 25 million years ago and is now surrounded by a forest of old-growth Douglas fir and mountain hemlock.[3] Sleeping Beauty Peak Trail is a 1.4 mile steep trail that ends at the base of the rock outcrop known as Sleeping Beauty. The peak was the site of a former fire lookout tower that was constructed in 1931.

Sleeping Beauty Lookout, 1944

Climate

Sleeping Beauty is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[4] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and 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 snowfall 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. 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. The months July through September offer the most favorable weather for viewing or climbing this peak.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Sleeping Beauty, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. ↑ "Sleeping Beauty". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  3. ↑ "Gifford Pinchot National Forest - Trail #37 Sleeping Beauty Peak". Fs.usda.gov. 2022-06-26. Retrieved 2022-09-17.
  4. ↑ Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
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