Plummer Mountain

Subduction and tectonic activity in the area began during the late cretaceous period, about 90 million years ago. The area was previously an oceanic environment, consisting mainly of sedimentary and volcanic rocks.[5] Extensive volcanic activity began to take place in the oligocene, about 35 million years ago.[6] However, mountain building in the area did not begin until the miocene, approximately 10 million years ago.[5] Plummer Mountain is located in the Cloudy Pass batholith, an intrusive formation that was formed approximately 20 million years ago, during the early miocene.[5] Glacier Peak, a stratovolcano that is south of Plummer Mountain, began forming in the mid-Pleistocene.[5] Due to Glacier Peak's proximity to Plummer Mountain, volcanic ash is quite common in the area.

Throughout the ice age, the North Cascades were mostly covered in thick glaciers, extending to near Puget Sound. Glaciation was most prevalent approximately 18,000 years ago, and most valleys were ice-free by 12,000 years ago.[5] As a result, valleys in the area are deep and U-shaped, and mountains tend to be rocky, with steep slopes and narrow summits.

Plummer Mountain is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.[5] 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.[5] Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger.[5] 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.[5] Due to its temperate climate and proximity to the Pacific Ocean, areas west of the Cascade Crest very rarely experience temperatures below 0 °F (−18 °C) or above 80 °F (27 °C).[5]

The trail to Miners Ridge can be accessed from the Suiattle River Road. There is an alpine route with scrambling that leads from Miners Ridge to Plummer Mountain.

• List of mountain peaks of Washington (state)

• Weather forecast: Plummer Mountain
• Plummer West Face (photo): PBase
• Plummer West Ridge (photo): PBase