Boston Peak
Encyclopedia
Boston Peak is a tall peak in the North Cascades
in the U.S. state
of Washington and within North Cascades National Park
. At 8894 feet (2,710.9 m) in elevation it is the 26th highest peak in Washington. Its nearest higher neighbor is Buckner Mountain
, 1.66 miles (2.7 km) to the east.
counties. It is connected to Buckner Mountain
, to the east by the sharp arête
of Ripsaw Ridge, which follows the county line. Sahale Peak
is located directly south of Boston Peak, connected by a short ridge. A longer ridge to the northwest connects Boston Peak with Forbidden Peak
. The north slopes of Boston Peak and Ripsaw Ridge are covered by Boston Glacier, the largest glacier of the North Cascades. The west side of Boston Peak is covered by Quien Sabe Glacier. Davenport Glacier occupies the southeast side of Boston Peak. To the east of the high summits of Forbidden Peak, Boston Peak, and Sahale Mountain the land slopes down into the vast cirque
of Boston Basin. Numerous headwater tributaries of the Cascade River
flow down the slopes of Boston Basin. Cascade Pass
, an important mountain pass of the North Cascades, is located about 2.2 mi (3.5 km) south of Boston Peak. To the south of the high peaks and ridges between Sahale Mountain, Boston peak, Ripsaw Ridge, and Buckner Mountain is another vast cirque called Horseshoe Basin, from which some the headwater tributaries of the Stehekin River
flow.
Boston Peak sits on the boundary between the watersheds
of the Skagit River
to the west, via the Cascade River and other tributaries, and the Columbia River
to the east, via the Stehekin River
and other tributaries.
Boston Peak was first summited in 1938 by Calder Bressler, Ray Clough, Bill Cox, and Tom Myers. It is a difficult climb as the slope is steep and the rock very loose and friable.
North Cascades
The North Cascades are a section of the Cascade Range of western North America. They span the border between the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. state of Washington and are officially named in Canada as the Cascade Mountains...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Washington and within North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park
North Cascades National Park is a U.S. National Park located in the state of Washington. The park is the largest of the three National Park Service units that comprise the North Cascades National Park Service Complex. Several national wilderness areas and British Columbia parkland adjoin the...
. At 8894 feet (2,710.9 m) in elevation it is the 26th highest peak in Washington. Its nearest higher neighbor is Buckner Mountain
Buckner Mountain
Buckner Mountain is a tall peak in the North Cascades of Washington state and in the Stephen Mather Wilderness of North Cascades National Park. At in elevation it is the highest in Skagit County and one of about ten of Washington's non-volcanic peaks above 9,000 feet high...
, 1.66 miles (2.7 km) to the east.
Description
Boston Peak is located just north of the border between Chelan and SkagitSkagit County, Washington
Skagit County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. It is named after the Skagit Indian tribe. As of 2010, the population was 116,901. It is included in the Mount Vernon-Anacortes, Washington, Metropolitan Statistical Area...
counties. It is connected to Buckner Mountain
Buckner Mountain
Buckner Mountain is a tall peak in the North Cascades of Washington state and in the Stephen Mather Wilderness of North Cascades National Park. At in elevation it is the highest in Skagit County and one of about ten of Washington's non-volcanic peaks above 9,000 feet high...
, to the east by the sharp arête
Arete
Areté is the term meaning "virtue" or "excellence", from Greek ἈρετήArete may also be used:*as a given name of persons or things:**Queen Arete , a character in Homer's Odyssey.***197 Arete, an asteroid....
of Ripsaw Ridge, which follows the county line. Sahale Peak
Sahale Mountain
Sahale Mountain is a jagged, glaciated mountain, in North Cascades National Park, in northern Washington state. The summit of Sahale Mountain is referred to as Sahale Peak. It is just south of its higher neighbor, Boston Peak, and the saddle between the two is only lower than Sahale's summit...
is located directly south of Boston Peak, connected by a short ridge. A longer ridge to the northwest connects Boston Peak with Forbidden Peak
Forbidden Peak
Forbidden Peak is part of the North Cascades and is located near Cascade Pass. Forbidden Peak features a rock climbing route named West Ridge route which is featured in Fifty Classic Climbs of North America.- External links :* . MountainProject.com....
. The north slopes of Boston Peak and Ripsaw Ridge are covered by Boston Glacier, the largest glacier of the North Cascades. The west side of Boston Peak is covered by Quien Sabe Glacier. Davenport Glacier occupies the southeast side of Boston Peak. To the east of the high summits of Forbidden Peak, Boston Peak, and Sahale Mountain the land slopes down into the vast cirque
Cirque
Cirque may refer to:* Cirque, a geological formation* Makhtesh, an erosional landform found in the Negev desert of Israel and Sinai of Egypt*Cirque , an album by Biosphere* Cirque Corporation, a company that makes touchpads...
of Boston Basin. Numerous headwater tributaries of the Cascade River
Cascade River (Washington)
The Cascade River is a river in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a tributary of the Skagit River which it joins at the city of Marblemount. It is a National Wild and Scenic River.- South Fork :...
flow down the slopes of Boston Basin. Cascade Pass
Cascade Pass
Cascade Pass is a mountain pass over the northern Cascade Range, east of Marblemount, Washington, U.S....
, an important mountain pass of the North Cascades, is located about 2.2 mi (3.5 km) south of Boston Peak. To the south of the high peaks and ridges between Sahale Mountain, Boston peak, Ripsaw Ridge, and Buckner Mountain is another vast cirque called Horseshoe Basin, from which some the headwater tributaries of the Stehekin River
Stehekin River
The Stehekin River is a river located in Washington state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. It is the main river flowing into Lake Chelan. Miners arrived in Stehekin River Valley in the late 19th century. They were followed by homesteaders in the early 20th century...
flow.
Boston Peak sits on the boundary between the watersheds
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of the Skagit River
Skagit River
The Skagit River is a river in southwestern British Columbia in Canada and northwestern Washington in the United States, approximately 150 mi long...
to the west, via the Cascade River and other tributaries, and the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
to the east, via the Stehekin River
Stehekin River
The Stehekin River is a river located in Washington state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. It is the main river flowing into Lake Chelan. Miners arrived in Stehekin River Valley in the late 19th century. They were followed by homesteaders in the early 20th century...
and other tributaries.
History
Boston Peak is named for Boston Mine, which operated on the southeast side of the peak in the late 19th century. The first mining claims of what would become the Cascade Mining District were made in 1889 by George Rowse and John Rouse, who named their claims "Boston" and "Chicago", respectively.Boston Peak was first summited in 1938 by Calder Bressler, Ray Clough, Bill Cox, and Tom Myers. It is a difficult climb as the slope is steep and the rock very loose and friable.