Tumtum Peak facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tumtum Peak
East aspect
Highest point
Elevation	4,678 ft (1,426 m)
Prominence	1,078 ft (329 m)
Isolation	2.19 mi (3.52 km)
Parent peak	Mount Wow (6,040 ft)
Geography
Tumtum Peak Location in Washington (state) Show map of Washington (state) Tumtum Peak Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Mount Rainier National Park Pierce County, Washington, U.S.
Parent range	Cascades
Topo map	USGS Wahpenayo Peak
Geology
Age of rock	Eocene
Type of rock	Ohanapecosh Formation
Climbing
Easiest route	scrambling

Tumtum Peak is a 4,678-foot-elevation (1,426-meter) mountain summit located in the southwest corner of Mount Rainier National Park, in Pierce County of Washington state. This top-to-bottom forested peak is part of the Cascade Range and lies 8.7 mi (14.0 km) southwest of the summit of Mount Rainier. The nearest higher neighbor is Mount Wow, 2.2 mi (3.5 km) to the northwest, and Iron Mountain rises 3.56 mi (5.73 km) to the northeast. Precipitation runoff from Tumtum Peak is drained by Tahoma Creek on the west side of the mountain, whereas Kautz Creek drains the east side, and both are tributaries of the Nisqually River. The Road to Paradise traverses the southern base of the peak shortly after visitors to the park enter via the Nisqually Entrance. Topographic relief is significant as the southwest aspect rises nearly 2,500 feet (760 meters) above the road in one mile.

Etymology

The "tumtum" name derives from Chinook Jargon for a word meaning "heart, or heartbeat", and refers to the shape of the landform. The name was officially adopted in 1913 by the United States Board on Geographic Names.

Climate

Tumtum Peak is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America. Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel east 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.

Gallery

See also

• Geology of the Pacific Northwest