Mount Stuart
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| Mount Stuart | |
|---|---|
 Mount Stuart from the south. |
|
| Elevation | 9,415 ft (2,869 m) |
| Location | Washington, United States |
| Range | Stuart Range, Cascade Range |
| Prominence | 5,335 ft (1,626 m) |
| Coordinates | |
| Topo map | USGS Mount Stuart |
| Type | granite |
| Age of rock | Late Cretaceous |
| First ascent | 1873 by A. McPherson and party |
| Easiest route | Major scramble |
Mount Stuart is a mountain in the Cascade Range and is located in the US state of Washington. It is the second highest non-volcanic peak in the state, after Bonanza Peak. (It is the sixth-highest independent peak in Washington overall.[1]) Mount Stuart is the highest peak in the Stuart Range, and is contained within the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, located in the central part of the Washington Cascades, south of Stevens Pass and east of Snoqualmie Pass.
Like many Cascade peaks, Mount Stuart is more notable for its local relief than for its absolute elevation. For example, the south face rises 5000 feet (1524 m) in just 2 horizontal miles (3.2 km). The northeast and northwest sides of the mountain exhibit similar steep relief.[2] Due to its location away from higher peaks, Mount Stuart also has a high topographic prominence of 5,335 ft (1,626 m), ranking it sixth in the state.[1] The rock of Mount Stuart is unusually rugged and unstable, due to the extensive jointing of the granite.[3]
The first ascent of Mount Stuart is somewhat in doubt. According to Fred Beckey: "Claude Rusk... was told by Frank Bryant of Yakima about finding a stick at the summit bearing the name `Angus McPherson—1873.' A. H. Sylvester, who climbed to the summit in 1897 and 1899 for triangulation, believed the first ascent was made by Richard U. Goode and Frank Tweedy during the Northern Pacific land survey about 1890 (possibly 1885)."[3] Also, since the easiest route is not technical, a much earlier Native American ascent is a possibility.
The standard route is the Southeast Route, which has several variations. All of these ascend gullies on the southeast slopes of the mountain to a false summit just southeast of the main summit, and finish along a short ridge. The route involves scrambling, and often, steep snow. Other, much more serious and technical climbs are available on the complex North Face of the mountain.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Jeff Howbert's Master List of Peaks in Washington
- ^ Mount Stuart on Topozone
- ^ a b c Beckey, Fred (1987). Cascade Alpine Guide, Volume 1, Second Edition, The Mountaineers, 300.
[edit] External links
- Mount Stuart is at coordinates Coordinates:
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