McNeeley Peak (Washington)
McNeeley Peak is a 6,786 feet (2,068 m) summit located in Mount Rainier National Park in Pierce County of Washington state.[3] It is part of the Sourdough Mountains, a subset of the Cascade Range. McNeeley Peak is situated north of the Sunrise Historic District, east of Mount Fremont, and northwest of Antler Peak. The peak was named in 1932 for Edwin J. McNeeley (born 1858), a prominent Tacoma businessman.[4] Access is limited by snow closing the Sunrise Road much of the year. July, August, and September are typically the months when the Sunrise Road is seasonally open for vehicle traffic. Precipitation runoff from McNeeley Peak drains into the White River.
| McNeeley Peak | |
|---|---|
 McNeeley Peak seen from the southeast | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 6,786 ft (2,068 m) [1] |
| Prominence | 306 ft (93 m) [1] |
| Parent peak | Mount Fremont (7,317 ft)[2] |
| Isolation | 0.9 mi (1.4 km) [2] |
| Coordinates | 46°55′42″N 121°38′49″W |
| Geography | |
  McNeeley Peak Location of McNeeley Peak in Washington  McNeeley Peak McNeeley Peak (the United States) | |
| Location | Mount Rainier National Park Pierce County, Washington, U.S. |
| Parent range | Cascades |
| Topo map | USGS Sunrise |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Scrambling class 2 |
Climate
McNeeley Peak 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, they are forced upward by the peaks of the Cascade Range (Orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the Cascades. As a result, the west side of the 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. Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger. The months July through September offer the most favorable weather for viewing or climbing this peak.
References
- "McNeeley Peak, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
- "McNeeley Peak - 6,786' WA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2020-07-21.
- "McNeeley Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2018-08-08.
- Sketches of Washingtonians. Wellington C. Wolfe and Company (author), 1907.
- Beckey, Fred W. Cascade Alpine Guide, Climbing and High Routes. Seattle, WA: Mountaineers Books, 2008.
External links
- National Park Service web site: Mount Rainier National Park
- Weather: McNeeley Peak
