Early Morning Spire

Early Morning Spire is an 8,200-foot (2,500-metre) mountain summit located in North Cascades National Park, in Skagit County of Washington state. The peak lies 0.29 mi (0.47 km) west-northwest of Dorado Needle, 1.05 mi (1.69 km) north-northwest of Eldorado Peak and 1.08 mi (1.74 km) southeast of Perdition Peak.[1] It can be seen from the North Cascades Highway, west of Marblemount at a road pullout alongside the Skagit River. The first ascent of the peak was made in 1971 by Richard Emerson and Tom Hornbein via the Southwest Face. They made a chilly bivouac near the summit, which is how the peak's name came to be.[3] Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into Marble Creek, a tributary of the Cascade River.

Early Morning Spire
Early Morning Spire
Highest point
Elevation8,200 ft (2,500 m)[1]
Prominence240 ft (73 m)[1]
Parent peakDorado Needle 8,440 ft [2]
Coordinates48°33′04″N 121°08′41″W[1]
Geography
Early Morning Spire is located in Washington (state)
Early Morning Spire
Early Morning Spire
Location of Early Morning Spire in Washington
Early Morning Spire is located in the United States
Early Morning Spire
Early Morning Spire
Early Morning Spire (the United States)
LocationNorth Cascades National Park
Skagit County, Washington
Parent rangeNorth Cascades
Cascade Range
Topo mapUSGS Eldorado Peak
Geology
Age of rockCretaceous
Type of rockOrthogneiss
Climbing
First ascent1971 by Richard Emerson and Tom Hornbein
Easiest routeClimbing class 4 [2]

Climate

Early Morning Spire is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[3] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel northeast toward the Cascade Mountains. As fronts approach the North Cascades, they are forced upward by the peaks of the Cascade Range, causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the Cascades (Orographic lift). As a result, the west side of the North 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.[3]

Geology

The North Cascades features some of the most rugged topography in the Cascade Range with craggy peaks, spires, ridges, and deep glacial valleys. Geological events occurring many years ago created the diverse topography and drastic elevation changes over the Cascade Range leading to the various climate differences.

Early Morning Spire from Hidden Lake Peaks

The history of the formation of the Cascade Mountains dates back millions of years ago to the late Eocene Epoch.[4] With the North American Plate overriding the Pacific Plate, episodes of volcanic igneous activity persisted.[4] In addition, small fragments of the oceanic and continental lithosphere called terranes created the North Cascades about 50 million years ago.[4]

During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured and shaped the landscape.[4] A small unnamed glacial remnant lies on the southeast aspect of Early Morning Spire, and the Marble Creek Glacier lies to the north. The U-shaped cross section of the river valleys are a result of recent glaciation. Uplift and faulting in combination with glaciation have been the dominant processes which have created the tall peaks and deep valleys of the North Cascades area.

Climbing Routes

Climbing Routes on Early Morning Spire[3]

References
  1. "Early Morning Spire, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. Early Morning Spire ListsofJohn
  3. Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
  4. Kruckeberg, Arthur (1991). The Natural History of Puget Sound Country. University of Washington Press.
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