Picket Range

The Picket Range is a small, extremely rugged subrange of the North Cascades in the northwestern part of the American state of Washington. It is entirely contained within North Cascades National Park. It is about 6 miles (9.7 km) long, running northwest–southeast, and lies north of the Skagit River, west of Ross Lake, and east of Mounts Baker and Shuksan. There are at least 21 peaks in the range over 7,500 ft (2,300 m) high.[1]

Picket Range
Mount Terror (left skyline), Inspiration Peak (center) and McMillan Spires (right center) from the south
Highest point
PeakLuna Peak
Elevation8,311 ft (2,533 m)
Coordinates48°49′51″N 121°16′24″W 
Geography
CountryUnited States
RegionWashington
Parent rangeNorth Cascades
Picket Range at the head of Luna Creek, looking west (1960)

Swedish American Lage Wernstedt of the U.S. Forest Service mapped the Picket Range in the 1920s and named it for its resemblance to a picket fence (and not for George Pickett). Wernstedt was also apparently responsible for the names of the main peaks, including Mt. Challenger, Fury, Terror, and Phantom. These names first appeared on maps in 1931.[1][2]

There are few trails in the Picket Range, and any excursion there has a strong wilderness character. Most of the access points are characterized as steep brush thick valleys, with little open terrain. Many of the peaks are challenging rock climbs. The rock is biotite gneiss, formed by metamorphism of sedimentary and volcanic rocks about 100 million years ago.[1]

The Picket Range is home to many of the North Cascades' classic climbs and many of its best technical climbs. The rugged terrain has attracted many photographers to the range, creating some of the most spectacular images in the national park. The rugged and sharp peaks are unmatched in steepness and jaggedness by any other ranges in the lower 48 American states. This has made it a popular area in the National Park, and has contributed to the Cascades' title of "The American Alps".

Picket Range from Trappers Peak 1990

Notable Peaks of the Picket Range
Mountain Height First ascent
(ft) (m)
Luna Peak 8,311 2,533 1938
Mount Fury 8,292 2,527 1938
Mount Challenger 8,207 2,501 1936
Poltergeist Pinnacle 8,200 2,499 2004
Mount Terror 8,151 2,484 1932
Crooked Thumb Peak 8,129 2,478 1940
McMillan Spire 8,004 2,440 1940
Phantom Peak 8,004 2,440 1940
Mount Degenhardt 8,000 2,438 1931
Ghost Peak 8,000 2,438 1970
Swiss Peak 7,993 2,436 1968
The Pyramid 7,960 2,426 1951
Twin Needles 7,936 2,419 1932
Inspiration Peak 7,880 2,402 1940
Spectre Peak 7,880 2,402 1980
Himmelhorn 7,880 2,402 1961
The Rake 7,840 2,390 1951
Little Mac Spire 7,680 2,341 1969
Ottohorn 7,640 2,329 1961
Whatcom Peak 7,574 2,309 1936
Frenzel Spitz 7,440 2,268 1961
West Peak 7,000 2,134 1932
The Chopping Block 6,819 2,078 1932

See also
  • List of mountain ranges in Washington

References
  1. Beckey, Fred W. (1995). Cascade Alpine Guide: Rainy Pass to Fraser River. The Mountaineers Books. pp. 94–128. ISBN 978-0-89886-423-6.
  2. Childs, Geof. "Lage Wernstedt The forgotten giant". methownet.com. methownet. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
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