Skagit Range
Encyclopedia
The Skagit Range is a subrange of the Cascade Range
in southwestern British Columbia
, Canada
and northwestern Washington, United States
, which are known in Canada as the Canadian Cascades or, officially, the Cascade Mountains. The Skagit Range lies to the west of the Skagit River
and east and north of the Chilliwack River and flanks the Upper Fraser Valley region of British Columbia's Lower Mainland
.
Of the three subranges of the Canadian Cascades—the Skagit, Hozameen
, and Okanagan
ranges—the Skagit is the most mountainous. It continues north to the Fraser River
, sometimes using different local names. The Hope Mountains, and the "Anderson River Group" are separated from the main Skagit Range by distinct natural boundaries, but are otherwise similar in character.
there are differences of opinion about the names and locations of the subranges of the northern Cascades, especially between Canadian and American geographers. Nervertheless early geologists and topographers had a fundamental agreement about the location and names of the subranges. The Skagit Range was seen as the mountainous area from the Skagit River northwest to the Fraser River
. More recent Canadian maps show the Skagit Range as bounded to the west by the Sumallo
-Nicolum
valley and extending north along the east side of the Coquihalla River
.
BCGNIS
defines the Skagit Range simply as "west of the Skagit River, extends into the U.S.A." The USGS defines the range in its GNIS database with a single point, 48°55′39"N 121°33′57"W, north of Granite Mountain. Peakbagger.com defines the Skagit Range as a large and not entirely mountainous region bounded by the Fraser River to the north, the Skagit River to the south and east, the Strait of Georgia
to the west, and the Nicolum River
and Sumallo River
on the northeast. This definition includes a sizable area of non-mountainous areas, especially along the lower Fraser River and near the coast.
Subranges include the Cheam Range, also known as the Four Brothers, and the Picket Range
.
, Mount Barr
, Cheam Peak
, Slesse Mountain
, and the American
-Canadian Border Peak
s.
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
in southwestern British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and northwestern Washington, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, which are known in Canada as the Canadian Cascades or, officially, the Cascade Mountains. The Skagit Range lies to the west 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...
and east and north of the Chilliwack River and flanks the Upper Fraser Valley region of British Columbia's Lower Mainland
Lower Mainland
The Lower Mainland is a name commonly applied to the region surrounding and including Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. As of 2007, 2,524,113 people live in the region; sixteen of the province's thirty most populous municipalities are located there.While the term Lower Mainland has been...
.
Of the three subranges of the Canadian Cascades—the Skagit, Hozameen
Hozameen Range
The Hozameen Range is a mountain range in southwestern British Columbia and northern Washington, straddling the division between the Coast and Interior regions of that province...
, and Okanagan
Okanagan Range
The Okanagan Range or Okanogan Range is a small subrange of the Cascade Range straddling the border between British Columbia and Washington south of the Similkameen River on the inland side of the range...
ranges—the Skagit is the most mountainous. It continues north to the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
, sometimes using different local names. The Hope Mountains, and the "Anderson River Group" are separated from the main Skagit Range by distinct natural boundaries, but are otherwise similar in character.
Geography
According to Fred BeckeyFred Beckey
Fred Beckey is an American mountaineer and author, who has made hundreds of first ascents, more than any other North American climber.-Early years:...
there are differences of opinion about the names and locations of the subranges of the northern Cascades, especially between Canadian and American geographers. Nervertheless early geologists and topographers had a fundamental agreement about the location and names of the subranges. The Skagit Range was seen as the mountainous area from the Skagit River northwest to the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
. More recent Canadian maps show the Skagit Range as bounded to the west by the Sumallo
Sumallo River
The Sumallo River is located in southern British Columbia, in the Cascade Mountains to the east of Hope. It begins on the east slopes of Mount Payne, south of the village of Sunshine Valley. It flows north until it reaches Sunshine Valley where it turns southeast and proceeds into Manning Park...
-Nicolum
Nicolum River
The Nicolum River, formerly Nicolum Creek, is a tributary of the Coquihalla River, rising in the Cascade Mountains and flowing northwest to join that stream near the town of Hope, British Columbia, Canada...
valley and extending north along the east side of the Coquihalla River
Coquihalla River
The Coquihalla River is located in the Cascade Mountains near the town of Hope, British Columbia. It originates in the Coquihalla Lakes and empties into the Fraser River at Hope....
.
BCGNIS
BC Geographical Names Information System
The BC Geographical Names is a geographic name web service and database for British Columbia, Canada, which is run and maintained by the Base Mapping and Geomatic Services Branch of the Integrated Land Management Bureau...
defines the Skagit Range simply as "west of the Skagit River, extends into the U.S.A." The USGS defines the range in its GNIS database with a single point, 48°55′39"N 121°33′57"W, north of Granite Mountain. Peakbagger.com defines the Skagit Range as a large and not entirely mountainous region bounded by the Fraser River to the north, the Skagit River to the south and east, the Strait of Georgia
Strait of Georgia
The Strait of Georgia or the Georgia Strait is a strait between Vancouver Island and the mainland coast of British Columbia, Canada. It is approximately long and varies in width from...
to the west, and the Nicolum River
Nicolum River
The Nicolum River, formerly Nicolum Creek, is a tributary of the Coquihalla River, rising in the Cascade Mountains and flowing northwest to join that stream near the town of Hope, British Columbia, Canada...
and Sumallo River
Sumallo River
The Sumallo River is located in southern British Columbia, in the Cascade Mountains to the east of Hope. It begins on the east slopes of Mount Payne, south of the village of Sunshine Valley. It flows north until it reaches Sunshine Valley where it turns southeast and proceeds into Manning Park...
on the northeast. This definition includes a sizable area of non-mountainous areas, especially along the lower Fraser River and near the coast.
Subranges include the Cheam Range, also known as the Four Brothers, and the Picket Range
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 long, running northwest-southeast, and is lies north of the Skagit River, west of...
.
Peaks/Summits
Notable summits include Hope MountainHope Mountain
Hope Mountain, 1844m, commonly called Mount Hope, is a prominent mountain overlooking the town of Hope, British Columbia, Canada from the south. It is the northernmost summit of the Skagit Range of the Cascade Mountains and stands above the confluence of the Coquihalla and Fraser Rivers...
, Mount Barr
Mount Barr
Mount Barr is a mountain in the Skagit Range of the Cascade Mountains of southern British Columbia, Canada, located on the northeast side of Wahleach Lake and just southwest of Hope. It is a ridge highpoint with an elevation of ....
, Cheam Peak
Cheam Peak
Cheam Peak, called Theeth-uhl-kay in the Halqemeylem language of the Sto:lo and usually referred to as Mount Cheam, is the farthest northerly peak of the Cheam Range, a subrange of the Skagit Range of the Canadian Cascades mountains. It dominates the eastern Fraser Valley, rising above Bridal Falls...
, Slesse Mountain
Slesse Mountain
Slesse Mountain, usually referred to as Mount Slesse, is a mountain just north of the US-Canada border, in the Cascade Mountains of British Columbia, near the town of Chilliwack. It is notable for its large, steep local relief. For example, its west face drops over to Slesse Creek in less than ....
, and the American
American Border Peak
American Border Peak is a mountain just south of the US-Canada border, in the North Cascades of Washington state, with a corresponding sister peak, Canadian Border Peak, just north along a col connecting to it across the border. It is located within the Mount Baker Wilderness, part of the Mount...
-Canadian Border Peak
Canadian Border Peak
Canadian Border Peak, , originally known simply as Border Peak, is a mountain at the head of Slesse Creek in the Cascade Mountains of the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. As its name suggests, it is near the United States-Canada border and is connected via a high ridge or col to...
s.