Matterhorn (Oregon)

Matterhorn is a 9,835-foot elevation (2,998 m) mountain summit located in Wallowa County, Oregon, US.

For other uses, see Matterhorn (disambiguation).
Matterhorn
Northwest aspect of Matterhorn
Highest point
Elevation9,835 ft (2,998 m)[1]
Prominence333 ft (101 m)[2]
Parent peakSacajawea Peak (9,838 ft)[3]
Isolation1.25 mi (2.01 km)[3]
Coordinates45°13′44″N 117°17′52″W[4]
Geography
Matterhorn is located in Oregon
Matterhorn
Matterhorn
Location in Oregon
Matterhorn is located in the United States
Matterhorn
Matterhorn
Matterhorn (the United States)
LocationEagle Cap Wilderness
CountryUnited States of America
StateOregon
CountyWallowa
Parent rangeWallowa Mountains
Topo mapUSGS Eagle Cap
Geology
Type of rocklimestone
Climbing
Easiest routeclass 2[3] hiking via Ice Lake[1]

Description

Matterhorn is located 10 miles south-southwest of Joseph, Oregon, in the Wallowa Mountains. It is set within the Eagle Cap Wilderness on land managed by Wallowa–Whitman National Forest.[2] The peak is situated 1.8 mile west-northwest of Craig Mountain, 1.5 mile west of Ice Lake and 1.24 mile south of line parent Sacajawea Peak. The peak ranks as the second-highest peak in the Wallowa Mountains,[1] and the seventh-highest summit in Oregon.[3] It was once considered to be the highest in the Wallowas, before Sacajawea Peak was determined to be a few feet higher.[5] Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains west into Hurricane Creek and east into Adam Creek, both of which are tributaries of the Wallowa River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises over 3,200 feet (980 meters) above Hurricane Creek in less than one mile. The peak is composed of limestone of the Martin Bridge Formation.[1] This landform's toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.[4] It is so named because of a likeness to the famous Matterhorn on the Swiss–Italian border, and the name has been in use since at least 1926.[6]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Matterhorn is located in a subarctic climate zone characterized by long, usually very cold winters, and mild summers.[7] Winter temperatures can drop below −10 °F with wind chill factors below −20 °F. Most precipitation in the area is caused by orographic lift. Thunderstorms are common in the summer.[1]

  • North aspect of Matterhorn seen from traverse to Sacajawea Peak.
    North aspect of Matterhorn seen from traverse to Sacajawea Peak.
  • Northeast aspect
    Northeast aspect
  • Southwest aspect
    Southwest aspect
  • East aspect of Matterhorn from Ice Lake
    East aspect of Matterhorn from Ice Lake
  • Matterhorn upper left, Ice Lake centered, Sacajawea Peak in upper right corner
    Matterhorn upper left, Ice Lake centered, Sacajawea Peak in upper right corner

See also

References
  1. Fred Barstad (2021), Hiking Oregon's Eagle Cap Wilderness, Falcon Guides, ISBN 9781493043774, p. 364
  2. "Matterhorn, Oregon". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
  3. "Matterhorn - 9,826' OR". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
  4. "Matterhorn". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
  5. Wallowa-Whitman National Forest (N.F.), Wallowa Valley Unit Resource Allocation Environmental Impact Statement, (1975), United States Forest Service, p. 2
  6. Frederic George Young, "Oregon Historical Quarterly" Volume 27, (1926), p. 418
  7. Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11: 1633–1644. ISSN 1027-5606.
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