Mount Spokane

Mount Spokane

View from northeast Spokane in 2008
Highest point
Elevation 5,887 ft (1,794 m)  NAVD 88[1]
Prominence 3,503 ft (1,068 m) [2]
Coordinates 47°55′25″N 117°06′44″W / 47.9236°N 117.1122°W / 47.9236; -117.1122Coordinates: 47°55′25″N 117°06′44″W / 47.9236°N 117.1122°W / 47.9236; -117.1122 [1]
Geography
Mount Spokane
Mount Spokane
Parent range Selkirk Mountains
Topo map USGS Mount Spokane
Climbing
Easiest route Highway 206
View from southwest in January 2007

Mount Spokane (elevation 5,883 feet (1,793 m)) is a mountain in the northwest United States, located northeast of Spokane, Washington. Its summit is the highest point in Spokane County,[2] and it is one of the tallest peaks in the Inland Northwest. Mount Spokane is surrounded by Mount Spokane State Park, Washington's largest at 13,919 acres (56.3 km2).

One of the well-known features is a bald spot on the corner of the west and south parts of the mountain.

A non-profit organization operates the Mount Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park, located on the southwest portion of the mountain.

Summary of Mount Spokane State Park history

1909 Frances Cook, owner of the summit, builds a toll road to within 3 miles (5 km) of the summit.
1927 Mt. Spokane State Park is officially dedicated 90 years ago at 1,500 acres (6.1 km2).
1929 H. Cowles, Jr. donates 640 acres (2.6 km2) of land to the park.
1930s The Spokane Ski Club, the Selkirk Ski Club, and the Spokane Mountaineers purchase over 500 acres (2.0 km2) on the mountain for construction of lodges, rope-tows, and ski jump hills. The road is completed to the summit.
1932 A "monster" sized Sun Globe was erected at the top of the mountain on June 26 by the Spokane Federation of Women's Organizations. Its purpose was to reflect the sun's rays for many miles in a tribute to fatherhood, as well as being a permanent memorial to the people of Spokane as being children of the sun. A dedication ceremony took place and Mrs. J. B. Dodd, the originator of Father's Day, unveiled the globe. As of 2011, the Sun Globe and its base are absent, and it is not known how long it stayed in place.[3][4][5][6]
1934 Vista House is built by the Civilian Conservation Corps crew from Riverside State Park.
1935 CCC sets up camp on Beauty Mountain to improve the road and construct other facilities.
1939 The Spokane Chapter of the Conservation League buys 320 acres (1.3 km2) for the park for $1,500 (south half of Section 21) to save virgin timber from logging and fire.
1946 The first double chairlift in the world is put into operation on the south face of the summit.
1952 A master plan is proposed for the park which includes over 24,000 acres (97.1 km2) and designates all of Mt. Spokane proper for downhill ski purposes. This proposal is not implemented.
1953 KXLY-TV becomes operational from the summit.
1955 Lodge #1 and Chairlift #1 are constructed.
1961 Concessionaire A.E.Mettler constructs Lodge #2 and Lift #2
1965 Another master plan is developed by State Parks to include 11,592 acres (46.9 km2) of land, 958 acres (3.9 km2) of which were allocated for general outdoor recreation with the remainder to be administered as a natural environment area. This plan is not adopted by the Parks Commission.
1974 Mt. Spokane Park’s official classification is changed from recreation area to state park and a new philosophy is applied: State Parks are to continuously service man’s spiritual, mental, and leisure time physical needs through the use of selected outstanding natural resources. This is to be accomplished by providing a full range of non-urban outdoor educational and recreational services and opportunities to a wide range of users with diversified interests and needs.
1978 A coordinated trail system plan is developed to, among other things, reduce conflicting recreational uses by specific allocation of park lands to user groups. The plan quickly became out of date and was never fully implemented.
1985 The Parks Commission formally designates the Ragged Ridge Natural Area within Mt. Spokane State Park.
1993 The Park contains about 13,643 acres (55.2 km2) of land, not including Quartz Mountain. Most of this land was donated or obtained during the Great Depression through property forfeitures. The Mt. Spokane State Park Alpine Ski Area Working Group Interface Subcommittee issues a report concerning the future of the Park. Among other things, it recommends a comprehensive planning process.
1994 State Parks proposes to classify areas of the Park as Natural Forest Areas. Several alternatives are proposed. The Mt. Spokane Planning Task Force Steering Committee is formed and issues its report. The group recommends a comprehensive planning process as well as the formation of a permanent, local Park advisory committee.
1995 Mt. Spokane State Park Advisory Committee appointed by Parks Commission begins monthly meetings in Spokane. Friends of Mt. Spokane State Park also formed.
1997 Mt. Spokane 2000, a non-profit group of local businesses and civic leaders, is approved as the new concessionaire for the alpine ski area to replace the Mt. Spokane Ski Corporation which operated the area for 20 years.
1999 A Classification and Management Plan (CAMP) process is started for the Park. New land classifications approved including about 10% as Recreation Area, about 58% as Resource Recreation Area, less than 1% as Heritage Area, about 22% as Natural Forest Area, about 4% as Natural Area Preserve, and about 5% as yet unclassified pending completion of the Ski Area Plan and further Commission consideration.

Climate

Climate data for Mount Spokane, Washington, July 1953 - December 1972
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 47
(8)		 50
(10)		 54
(12)		 72
(22)		 77
(25)		 83
(28)		 89
(32)		 89
(32)		 81
(27)		 68
(20)		 59
(15)		 46
(8)		 89
(32)
Average high °F (°C) 23.1
(−4.9)		 27.6
(−2.4)		 30.3
(−0.9)		 38.2
(3.4)		 49.0
(9.4)		 57.4
(14.1)		 66.5
(19.2)		 66.0
(18.9)		 56.4
(13.6)		 43.1
(6.2)		 32.5
(0.3)		 26.5
(−3.1)		 43.0
(6.1)
Average low °F (°C) 13.1
(−10.5)		 18.4
(−7.6)		 19.4
(−7)		 24.9
(−3.9)		 35.0
(1.7)		 41.1
(5.1)		 49.3
(9.6)		 48.8
(9.3)		 40.9
(4.9)		 30.8
(−0.7)		 22.5
(−5.3)		 16.9
(−8.4)		 30.1
(−1.1)
Record low °F (°C) −23
(−31)		 −17
(−27)		 −20
(−29)		 10
(−12)		 15
(−9)		 21
(−6)		 25
(−4)		 28
(−2)		 18
(−8)		 4
(−16)		 −17
(−27)		 −28
(−33)		 −28
(−33)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 5.83
(148.1)		 4.61
(117.1)		 4.94
(125.5)		 3.49
(88.6)		 2.78
(70.6)		 2.71
(68.8)		 1.30
(33)		 1.54
(39.1)		 2.75
(69.9)		 3.71
(94.2)		 6.24
(158.5)		 6.25
(158.8)		 46.15
(1,172.2)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 39.1
(99.3)		 20.5
(52.1)		 25.9
(65.8)		 10.9
(27.7)		 5.0
(12.7)		 0.6
(1.5)		 0.2
(0.5)		 0
(0)		 1.9
(4.8)		 8.1
(20.6)		 18.2
(46.2)		 32.2
(81.8)		 162.5
(412.8)
Source: Western Regional Climate Center[7]

References

  1. 1 2 "Y". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey.
  2. 1 2 "Mount Spokane, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  3. ↑ "Monster Sun Globe To Top Mt. Spokane". Spokane Daily Chronicle. November 16, 1931.
  4. ↑ "Sky To Rain Silver Stars". Spokane Daily Chronicle. June 25, 1932.
  5. ↑ "Many To See Big Sun Globe". Spokane Daily Chronicle. June 25, 1932.
  6. ↑ "Unveil Globe On Mountain". Spokane Daily Chronicle. June 27, 1932.
  7. ↑ "MT SPOKANE SUMMIT, WASHINGTON (455674)". Western Regional Climate Center. 2013. Retrieved on August 26, 2015.
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