86-551: Skamania County ( / s k ə ˈ m eɪ n i ə / skə- MAY -nee-ə ) is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington . As of the 2020 census , the population was 12,036. The county seat and largest incorporated city is Stevenson , although the Carson River Valley CDP is more populous. Skamania County is included in the Portland - Vancouver - Hillsboro , OR -WA Metropolitan Statistical Area . The county
172-675: A county executive . Councils in the other three charter counties appoint a manager to administer the government. Voters may also elect a clerk, treasurer, sheriff, assessor, coroner , auditor (or recorder), and prosecuting attorney. Elections are nonpartisan in non-charter counties, but charter counties may choose to make some positions partisan, though all elections are by top-two primary . Four counties changed their name between 1849 and 1925. During Washington's territorial period, Washington split off from an Oregon county, three counties were disestablished, and three split into separate territories. Several counties were proposed prior to or during
258-489: A 'Sasquatch', 'Yeti', 'Bigfoot', or 'Giant Hairy ape'", subject to a maximum penalty of a $ 10,000 fine and five years imprisonment. Although its passage coincided with April Fool's Day, Ordinance 69-01 was real, was amended in 1984, and has not been repealed. Its purposes included protection of residents and visitors from in the county from a very real concern, "an influx of scientific investigators as well as casual hunters, many armed with lethal weapons", who had been attracted to
344-481: A group of small lakes, Chain of Lakes. The area offers developed and primitive camping as well as a good number of trails for hiking and backpacking. Most trails are open to horses and many outside the wilderness are open to motorcycles . More scenery similar to what is encountered in the Mount Adams Wilderness abounds. The area also offers boating and fishing opportunities on several of the lakes. On
430-560: A household in the county was $ 39,317, and the median income for a family was $ 44,586. Males had a median income of $ 36,732 versus $ 25,130 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 18,002. About 10.00% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the poverty line , including 18.10% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over. In the year 2000 there were more Seventh-day Adventists in Skamania County than adherents of any other religious group. Skamania County
516-661: A large cirque below the summit at about 10,000 feet (3,050 m), sandwiched between the North Cleaver on the west and the Lava Ridge to the east. It terminates at about 7,600 feet (2,320 m). The Lava and Lyman Glaciers are the source of the Muddy Fork of the Cispus River . The total glacier area on Mount Adams decreased 49%, from 12.2 square miles (31.5 km ) to 6.3 square miles (16.2 km ), between 1904 and 2006, with
602-623: A normal rate of one earthquake every 2-3 years, this is above background levels, and the most since recordkeeping began in 1982. The USGS plans to install temporary seismic stations around Mount Adams to better estimate the size and depth of these earthquakes. Like many other Cascade volcanoes, Mount Adams offers many recreational activities, including mountain climbing, backcountry skiing, hiking and backpacking, berry picking, camping, boating , fishing , rafting , photography , wildlife viewing, and scenic driving among other things. The 47,122-acre (19,070 ha) Mount Adams Wilderness along
688-549: A popular picnic and hiking area noted for its outstanding display of wildflowers, and exceptional views of Mount Adams and its glaciers, as well as Mount Hood to the south. Some areas of the Yakama Indian Reservation are open for recreation, while other areas are open only to members of the tribe. Each year, thousands of outdoor enthusiasts attempt to summit Mount Adams. The false summits and broad summit plateau have disheartened many climbers as this inscription on
774-465: A rock at Piker's Peak indicates. "You are a piker if you think this is the summit. Don't crab, the mountain was here first." Crampons and ice axes are needed on many routes because of glaciers and the route's steepness. Aside from crevasses on the more difficult glacier routes, the biggest hazard is the loose rocks and boulders which are easily dislodged and a severe hazard for climbers below. These falling rocks are especially dangerous for climbers on
860-477: A slide that occurred on Little Tahoma in 1963. The first occurred at the end of August and consisted of mainly snow and ice with some rock. It fell from a similar location and in a similar path to the slide of 1921. The second slide that year occurred in late October and originated high on Battlement Ridge just below The Castle. It consisted of mainly rock and flowed three miles down the Klickitat Glacier and
946-540: A small glacial tarn , Equestria Lake. In the Cascades , Adams Glacier is second in size only to Carbon Glacier on Mount Rainier . The Pinnacle , White Salmon , and Avalanche glaciers on the west side of the mountain are less thick and voluminous, and are generally patchy in appearance. They all originate from glacial cirques below the actual summit. Although the White Salmon Glacier does not originate from
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#17328519557991032-400: A southerly direction. Three prominent ridges descend from the east side of the mountain. The Ridge of Wonders is farthest south and ends at an area away from the mountain called The Island. Battlement Ridge is very rugged and descends from high on the mountain. The farthest ridge north on the east side, Victory Ridge, descends from a lower elevation on the mountain than Battlement Ridge beneath
1118-666: A taxing dispute with the Oregon Steam Navigation Company . The dissolution was repealed in 1867 after intervention from the U.S. Congress. After that, Skamania County retained its shape, including through the period after Washington became the 42nd state of the Union in 1889. Fort Cascades , built to protect the Columbia River, served as an early county seat, but the county seat has been in Stevenson since 1893. Skamania County
1204-510: Is 1,830 square miles (4,700 km ), with 200,330 people. Seventeen counties have Native American–derived names, including nine names of tribes whose land settlers would occupy. Another seventeen were named for political figures, only five of whom had lived in the region. The last five are named for geographic places. The Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) code, used by the United States government to uniquely identify counties,
1290-650: Is 30 miles (48 km) north of the Columbia River and 55 miles (89 km) north of Mount Hood in Oregon . The nearest major cities are Yakima , 50 miles (80 km) to the northeast, and the Portland metropolitan area, 60 miles (97 km) to the southwest. Between half and two thirds of Adams is within the Mount Adams Wilderness of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest . The remaining area
1376-467: Is a cinder cone on Adams' north side that was created in the late Pleistocene and stands 800 feet (240 m) above its lava plain. Lavas from its base flowed into the Cispus Valley where they were later modified by glaciers. At the 7,500 feet (2,290 m) level on Adams' south flank is South Butte. The lavas associated with this structure are all younger than Suksdorf Ridge but were emplaced before
1462-574: Is also known for enacting what has been described as the "Bigfoot Ordinance", passed by the Board of County Commissioners at its meeting of April 1, 1969, and published twice in the Skamania County Pioneer , the newspaper of highest circulation in the county, as required by law. The ordinance forbids the slaying of any "nocturnal primate mammal variously described as an ape-like creature or a sub-species of Homo sapiens ... generally and commonly known as
1548-516: Is not considered extinct. It is the second-highest mountain in Washington , after Mount Rainier . Adams, named for President John Adams , is a member of the Cascade Volcanic Arc , and is one of the arc's largest volcanoes, located in a remote wilderness approximately 34 miles (55 km) east of Mount St. Helens . The Mount Adams Wilderness consists of the upper and western part of
1634-616: Is only by incorporated cities and towns , as well as by 29 Indian reservations , while unincorporated areas are governed only by the county. There are 242 census county divisions for statistical purposes only. The default form of county government is the non-charter commission, with three to five elected commissioners serving as both the legislature and executive. Seven counties have adopted charters providing for home rule distinct from state law: King, Clallam, Whatcom, Snohomish, Pierce, San Juan, and Clark. Of these, King, Whatcom, Snohomish, and Pierce, four major counties on Puget Sound , elect
1720-550: Is provided with each entry. The FIPS code links in the table point to U.S. Census data pages for each county. Washington's FIPS state code is 53. Counties provide a broad scope of services, including court operation, parks and recreation, libraries, arts, social services, elections, waste collection, roads and transportation, zoning and permitting, as well as taxation. The extent of these vary, and some are administered by municipalities. Counties are not subdivided into minor civil divisions like townships; sub-county local government
1806-542: Is reflected in its 18 miles (29 km)-diameter base, which has a prominent north–south trending axis. Adams is the source of the headwaters for two major rivers, the Lewis River and White Salmon River . The many streams that emanate from the glaciers and from springs at its base flow into two more major river systems, the Cispus River and the Klickitat River . The streams on the north and west portions of Adams feed
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#17328519557991892-689: Is the only county in the United States for which this is true. Currently, this honor belongs to the state of Walla Walla, Washington. Skamania County is a fairly competitive county in presidential elections. The Republicans and Democrats won the county four times each between 1988 and 2016. 46°02′N 121°55′W / 46.03°N 121.91°W / 46.03; -121.91 List of counties in Washington The U.S. state of Washington has 39 counties . The Provisional Government of Oregon established Vancouver and Lewis Counties in 1845 in unorganized Oregon Country , extending from
1978-660: Is the second-most isolated, in terms of access, stratovolcano in Washington; Glacier Peak is the most isolated. Only two major highways pass close to it. Highway 12 passes about 25 miles (40 km) to the north of Adams through the Cascades. Highway 141 comes within 13 miles (21 km) of Adams as it follows the White Salmon River valley up from the Columbia River to the small town of Trout Lake . From either highway, travelers have to use Forest Service roads to get closer to
2064-682: Is the source of Little Muddy Creek, another tributary of the Klickitat. The north side is distinguished by two major glaciers, the Lyman and Lava Glaciers. Like the Adams Glacier , the Lyman Glacier is characterized by deep crevasses and many icefalls as it cascades down from the summit ice cap . It is divided into two arms by a very rugged ridge at 10,200 feet (3,110 m) and terminates at 7,400 feet (2,260 m). The Lava Glacier originates in
2150-780: Is the source of Morrison Creek; and, although it does not feed it directly, the Gotchen Glacier is the source of Gotchen Creek. Both creeks drain to the White Salmon River . The rugged east side has four glaciers, the Mazama Glacier , Klickitat Glacier , Rusk Glacier , and the Wilson Glacier . During the last ice age , they carved out two immense canyons: the Hellroaring Canyon and the Avalanche Valley. This created
2236-491: Is therefore made of easily eroded andesite fragments. Since its construction, constant emissions of heat and caustic gases have transformed much of the rock into clays (mostly kaolinite ), iron oxides , sulfur -rich compounds and quartz . The present eruptive cone above 7,000 feet (2,100 m) was constructed sometime between 40,000 to 10,000 years ago. Since that time the volcano has erupted at least ten times, generally from above 6,500 feet (2,000 m). One of
2322-554: Is very low and it is one of the quietest volcanoes in Oregon and Washington . It is monitored by the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network and the Cascades Volcano Observatory via a seismic station on the southwest flank of the mountain. During the month of September of 2024, the U.S. Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory recorded six earthquakes ranging in magnitudes 0.9 to 2.0. With
2408-855: Is within the Mount Adams Recreation Area of the Yakama Indian Reservation . While many of the volcanic peaks in Oregon are located on the Cascade Crest, Adams is the only active volcano in Washington to be so. It is farther east than all the rest of Washington's volcanoes except Glacier Peak . Adams is one of the long-lived volcanoes in the Cascade Range , with minor activity beginning 900,000 years ago and major cone building activity beginning 520,000 years ago. The whole mountain has been completely eroded by glaciers to an elevation of 8,200 feet (2,500 m) twice during its lifetime. The current cone
2494-521: The Adams , Klickitat , Lyman , and White Salmon ) originate from Adams' summit ice cap. On the northwest face of the mountain, Adams Glacier cascades down a steep channel in a series of icefalls before spreading out and terminating at around the 7,000 feet (2,130 m) elevation, where it becomes the source of the Lewis River and Adams Creek, a tributary of the Cispus River . Its eastern lobe ends at
2580-497: The Columbia River north to 54°40′ north latitude . After the region was organized within the Oregon Territory with the current northern border of 49° north, Vancouver County was renamed Clark , and six more counties were created out of Lewis County before the organization of Washington Territory in 1853; 28 were formed during Washington's territorial period, two of which only existed briefly. The final five were established in
2666-568: The Goat Rocks volcano was periodically explosive and deposited ash 2.5 million years ago that later solidified into 2,100-foot (640 m) thick tuff layers. In the area surrounding Mount Adams, many caves have formed around inactive lava vents. These caves, usually close to the surface, can be hundreds of feet (meters) deep and wide. A few of the more well known caves include the Cheese Cave , Ice Cave, and Deadhorse Caves. Cheese Cave has
Skamania County, Washington - Misplaced Pages Continue
2752-613: The United States Forest Service (USFS) is required for activities above 7,000 feet (2,100 m) from June through September. On the north side, the Midway High Lakes Area , which lies mostly outside the wilderness area, is one of the more popular areas around Mount Adams. The area is made up of four large lakes, Council Lake, Takhlakh Lake , Ollalie Lake , and Horseshoe Lake ; one small lake, Green Mountain Lake; and
2838-468: The "majority of the voters" in that area. A number of county partition proposals in the 1990s interpreted this as a majority of people who voted, until a 1998 ruling by the Washington Supreme Court clarified that they would need a majority of registered voters . No changes to counties have been made since the formation of Pend Oreille County in 1911, except when the small area of Cliffdell
2924-480: The 22 years after Washington was admitted to the Union as the 42nd state in 1889. Article XI of the Washington State Constitution addresses the organization of counties. New counties must have a population of at least 2,000 and no county can be reduced to a population below 4,000 due to partitioning to create a new county. To alter the area of a county, the state constitution requires a petition of
3010-573: The Big Muddy Creek streambed. Both slides were estimated to have moved as much as 6.5 million cubic yards (5.0 million cubic meters) of material. The Indian Heaven volcanic field is located between St. Helens and Adams and within the Indian Heaven Wilderness . Its principal feature is an 18-mile (29 km) long linear zone of shield volcanoes , cinder cones , and flows with volumes of up to </ref>t|23|cumi|km3}} with
3096-624: The Big Muddy on its way to the Klickitat. The Wilson Glacier, like the Rusk Glacier, starts below the Roosevelt Cliff and is fed by avalanching snow and ice; however, the Wilson Glacier starts slightly higher at about 10,800 feet (3,290 m). It is also fed by an arm of the Lyman Glacier as it flows down from the summit ice cap. The Wilson Glacier terminates at 7,500 feet (2,290 m) where it
3182-944: The Cispus River, which joins the Cowlitz River near Riffe Lake , and the Lewis River. To the south, the White Salmon River has its source on the lower flanks of the west side of Adams and gains additional flows from streams along the southwest side of the mountain. Streams on the east side all flow to the Klickitat River. Streams on all sides, at some point in their courses, provide essential irrigation water for farming and ranching . The Klickitat and White Salmon rivers are nearly completely free flowing, with only small barriers to aid irrigation (White Salmon) and erosion control (Klickitat). The Cispus and Lewis rivers have been impounded with dams farther downstream for flood control and power generation purposes. Mount Adams
3268-493: The Pinnacle, to the northwest and west, respectively. Stagman Ridge descends west-southwest from a point about halfway up the west side and turns more southwest at about 6,000 feet (1,830 m). South of Stagman Ridge lies Crofton Ridge. Crofton gradually becomes very broad as it descends southwesterly from the tree line. MacDonald Ridge, on the south side, starts at about tree line below the lower end of Suksdorf Ridge and descends in
3354-652: The Ridge of Wonders between the two. Of the four glaciers on the east side, the Mazama Glacier is the farthest south and begins between the Suksdorf Ridge and Ridge of Wonders at about 10,500 feet (3,200 m). Near its terminus, it straddles the Ridge of Wonders and a small portion feeds into the Klickitat Glacier. The glacier gains more area from additional glacier ice that collects from drifting snow and avalanches below
3440-445: The Suksdorf Ridge as the ridge turns south. The Mazama Glacier terminates at about 8,000 feet (2,440 m) and is the source of Hellroaring Creek, which flows over several waterfalls before it joins Big Muddy Creek. Klickitat Glacier on the volcano's eastern flank originates in a 1 mile (1.6 km) wide cirque and is fed by two smaller glaciers from the summit ice cap. It terminates around 6,600 feet (2,010 m), where it becomes
3526-591: The Windholes on the southeast side near Island Cabin Campground. Adams is made of several overlapping cones that together form an 18-mile-diameter (29 km) base which is elongated in its north–south axis and covers an area of 250 square miles (650 km ). The volcano has a volume of 70 cubic miles (290 km ) placing it second only to Mount Shasta in that category among the Cascade stratovolcanoes. Mount Adams
Skamania County, Washington - Misplaced Pages Continue
3612-493: The area around Mount Adams where visitors can find extensive vistas, local history, displays of wildflowers, lava formations, and several waterfalls . One such trail is the unofficially named "Round the Mountain Trail" that encircles Mount Adams and is approximately 35 miles (56 km) long. It is called the "Round the Mountain Trail" unofficially because it is made up of three different named trails and an area where there
3698-519: The area by reported sightings of a creature. Mt. St. Helens, which is located in Skamania County, erupted in 1980 . According to the United States Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 1,684 square miles (4,360 km), of which 1,656 square miles (4,290 km) is land and 28 square miles (73 km), or 1.7%, is water. 90% of Skamania is forested and 80% is a part of Gifford Pinchot National Forest . The highest elevation in
3784-462: The base of Mount Adams, and filled existing depressions and ponded in valleys. Most of the volcano is made of andesite together with a handful of dacite and pyroclastic flows which erupted early in Adams' development. The present main cone was built when Adams was capped by a glacier system in the last ice age . The lava that erupted was shattered when it came in contact with the ice and the cone interior
3870-481: The county is 8,920 feet (2,720 m), on the slopes of Mount Adams , although prior to its eruption, Mount Saint Helens was the highest point at 9,677 feet (2,950 m). As of the 2020 census , there were 12,036 people, 4,748 households, and 3,199 families residing in the county. The population density was 7.3 inhabitants per square mile (2.8/km). There were 5,796 housing units at an average density of 3.5 inhabitants per square mile (1.4/km). The racial makeup of
3956-452: The county was 85.6% White , 0.6% African American , 1.6% Native American , 1.0% Asian , 0.3% Pacific Islander , 2.4% from some other races and 8.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 6.4% of the population. 16.7% of residents were under the age of 18, 3.7% were under 5 years of age, and 25.8% were 65 and older. As of the 2010 census , there were 11,066 people, 4,522 households, and 3,072 families living in
4042-435: The county. The population density was 6.7 people per square mile (2.6 people/km). There were 5,628 housing units at an average density of 3.4 units per square mile (1.3 units/km). The racial makeup of the county was 92.8% white, 1.6% American Indian, 0.9% Asian, 0.4% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 1.3% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.0% of
4128-418: The early 21st century, glaciers covered a total of 2.5% of Adams' surface. During the last ice age about 90% of the mountain was glaciated. Mount Adams has 209 perennial snow and ice features and 12 officially named glaciers. The total ice-covered area makes up 9.3 square miles (24 km ), while the area of named glaciers is 7.7 sq mi (20 km ). Most of the largest remaining glaciers (including
4214-587: The end of the last ice age. Several relatively young obvious lava flows exist in the area around Adams. Most of these flows are on the north side of the mountain and include the flow in the Mutton Creek area, Devils Garden, the Takh Takh Meadows Flow, and the much larger Muddy Fork Lava Flow to the north of Devils Garden. Only one obvious flow appears on the south slopes of Adams, the A. G. Aiken Lava Bed. Other smaller flows exist in various locations around
4300-400: The existence of Washington Territory and nine counties were proposed within the first 16 years of Washington's statehood, but none were established. Works Mount Adams (Washington) Mount Adams , known by some Native American tribes as Pahto or Klickitat , is an active stratovolcano in the Cascade Range . Although Adams has not erupted in more than 1,000 years, it
4386-421: The first occurring 520,000 to 500,000 years ago, the second 450,000 years ago, and the third 40,000 to 10,000 years ago. Most of these eruptions and therefore most of the volcano , consist of lava flows with little tephra . The loose material that makes up much of Adams' core is made of brecciated lava. Andesite and basalt flows formed a 20-to-200-foot (6 to 60 m) thick circle around
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#17328519557994472-432: The greatest loss occurring before 1949. Since 1949, the total glacier area has been relatively stable with a small amount of decline since the 1990s. Mount Adams is surrounded by a variety of other volcanic features and volcanoes . It stands near the center of a north–south trending volcanic field that is about 4 miles (6.4 km) wide and 30 miles (48 km) long, from just south of the Goat Rocks to Guler Mountain,
4558-654: The headwall of the White Salmon Glacier and was the largest avalanche on Adams in historic time. The slide fell about 1 mile (1.6 km) and its debris covered about 1 square mile (2.6 km ) of the upper Salt Creek area. Steam vents were reported active at the slide source for three years, leading to speculation that the event was started with a small steam explosion. This was the only debris flow in Mount Adams' recorded history, but there are five known lahars. Since then, thermal anomalies (hot spots) and gas emissions (including hydrogen sulfide ) have occurred especially on
4644-752: The highest peak, Lemei Rock . The shield volcanoes, which form the backbone of the volcanic field, are located on the northern and southern sides of the field. Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams are on the western and the eastern sides. To the east, across the Klickitat River , lies the Simcoe Mountains volcanic field . This area contains many small shield volcanoes and cinder cones of mainly alkalic intraplate basalt with fractionated intermediate alkalic products, subordinate subalkaline mafic lavas, and several rhyolites as secondary products. There are about 205 vents that were active between 4.2 million and 600 thousand years ago. Seismic activity around Adams
4730-420: The largest bore of the caves near Adams with a diameter of 40–50 feet (12–15 m) and a length of over 2,000 feet (610 m). Ice cave, which is made up of several sections created by several sinkholes , has an ice section that is 120 feet (37 m) long and 20–30 feet (6.1–9.1 m) in diameter and noted for its ice formations. From the same entrance, the tube continues another 500 feet (150 m) to
4816-630: The many streams of the Salt Creek and Cascade Creek drainages, which flow into the White Salmon River . The Pinnacle Glacier is the source of a fork of the Lewis River as well as Riley Creek, which is also a tributary of the Lewis River. The south side of the mountain along Suksdorf Ridge is moderately glacier-free, with the only glaciers being the relatively small Gotchen Glacier and the Crescent Glacier . The south side, however, does have some perennial snowfields on its slopes. The Crescent Glacier
4902-459: The more recent flows issued from South Butte and created the 4.5-mile (7.2 km) long by 0.5-mile (0.8 km) wide A.G. Aiken Lava Bed. This flow looks young but has 3,500-year-old Mount St. Helens ash on it, meaning it is at least that old. Of a similar age are the Takh Takh Meadows and Muddy Fork lava flows. The lowest vent to erupt since the main cone was constructed is Smith Butte on
4988-434: The mountain as well. The many other vents and volcanoes encompassed by the Mount Adams field include Glaciate Butte and Red Butte on the north, King Mountain, Meadow Butte, Quigley Butte, and Smith Butte on the south, with others interspersed throughout. Located about 25 miles (40 km) north of Adams is Goat Rocks Wilderness and the heavily eroded ruins of a stratovolcano that is much older than Adams. Unlike Adams,
5074-561: The mountain. The main access roads, FR 23, FR 82, FR 80, and FR 21, are paved for part of their length. Almost all other roads are gravel or dirt, with varying degrees of maintenance. Access to the Mount Adams Recreation Area is by way of FR 82, which becomes BIA 285 at the Yakama reservation boundary. BIA 285 is known to be extremely rough and often suitable only for trucks or high-clearance vehicles. Two small towns, Glenwood and Trout Lake , are located in valleys within 15 miles (24 km) of
5160-484: The north, as well as Mount St. Helens to the west, all in Washington; and Mount Hood , Mount Jefferson , and the Three Sisters , all to the south in Oregon . Contrary to legend, the flatness of Adams' current summit area is not due to the loss of the volcano's peak. Instead, it was formed as a result of cone-building eruptions from separated vents. A false summit, Pikers Peak , rises 11,657 feet (3,553 m) on
5246-477: The northwest false summit and was created by erosion from the Adams and White Salmon glaciers. On the east side, The Castle is a low prominence at the top of Battlement Ridge. The summit crater is filled with snow and is open on its west rim. Prominent ridges descend from the mountain on all sides. On the north side, the aptly named North Cleaver comes down from a point below the summit ice cap heading almost due north. The Northwest Ridge and West Ridge descend from
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#17328519557995332-406: The other Cascade volcanoes. However, since the interior of the main cone is little more than a pile of fragmented lava and hydrothermally altered rock, there is a potential for very large landslides and other debris flows. In 1997, Adams experienced two slides seven weeks apart that were the largest slides in the Cascades , ignoring the catastrophic landslide eruption of Mount St. Helens , since
5418-504: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 17.7% were of German , 12.5% English , 12.1% Irish , 11.2% United States or American and 5.2% Norwegian ancestry. There were 3,755 households, out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.50% were married couples living together, 8.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.60% were non-families. 21.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.60% had someone living alone who
5504-441: The population. In terms of ancestry, 20.6% were German , 15.7% were Irish , 11.0% were English , 6.3% were Norwegian , and 5.0% were American . Of the 4,522 households, 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.1% were non-families, and 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size
5590-405: The precipitous Roosevelt Cliff. Lava Ridge, starting at about the same location as the North Cleaver, descends slightly east of north. Several rock prominences exist on the lower flanks of Adams. The Spearhead is an abrupt rocky prominence near the bottom of Battlement Ridge. Burnt Rock, The Hump, and The Bumper are three smaller rocky prominences at or below the tree line on the west side. In
5676-415: The precipitous east faces and the steep headwalls of the north and west sides. Routes in those areas should only be climbed early in the season under as ideal conditions as can be had. Other hazards faced by climbers on Adams include sudden storms and clouds, avalanches , altitude sickness , and inexperience. Climbing Mount Adams can be dangerous for a variety of reasons and people have died in pursuit of
5762-552: The region to be an Anglo-American condominium . During this period, the future Washington Territory was divided into two administrative zones: Clarke County (now Clark County) and Lewis County (made official in 1845). The condominium was unwieldy and led to continual argument, and occasional conflict. The status of the Washington area was settled in 1846, when the Oregon Treaty ceded the land south of North latitude 49 degrees to American control. On March 9, 1854, Skamania County
5848-460: The source of Big Muddy Creek, a tributary of the Klickitat River . The Rusk Glacier does not start from the summit ice cap but starts at 10,500 feet (3,200 m) below the Roosevelt Cliff and is fed by avalanching snow and ice from the summit cap. It is enclosed on the south by Battlement Ridge and Victory Ridge on the north and terminates at about 7,100 feet (2,160 m). It is the source of Rusk Creek, which flows over two waterfalls before joining
5934-653: The south side of Adams, the Morrison Creek area provides additional opportunities for hiking, backpacking, biking , and equestrian sports with several long loop trails. A few small and primitive campgrounds exist in the area, including the Wicky Creek Shelter. Generally, there are trailheads at these campgrounds. On the southeast side of the mountain, the Mount Adams Recreation Area , another very popular area, offers activities such as hiking , camping , picnicking , and fishing . The area features Bird Creek Meadows,
6020-415: The south side of the nearly half-mile (800 m) wide summit area. The true summit is about 600 feet (180 m) higher on the gently sloping north side. A small lava and scoria cone marks the highest point. Suksdorf Ridge is a long buttress descending from the false summit to an elevation of 8,000 feet (2,000 m). This structure was built by repeated lava flows in the late Pleistocene . The Pinnacle forms
6106-507: The south slope of Adams. The last lava known to have erupted from Adams is an approximately 1000-year-old flow that emerged from a vent at about 8,200 feet (2,500 m) on Battlement Ridge. The Trout Lake Mudflow is the youngest large debris flow from Adams and the only large one since the end of the last Ice Age . The flow dammed Trout Creek and covered 25 miles (40 km) of the White Salmon River valley. Impounded water later formed Trout Lake. The Great Slide of 1921 started close to
6192-485: The summit ice cap , it does begin very high on the mountain at about 11,600 feet (3,540 m). In the early 20th century, a portion of it descended from the summit ice cap, but volume loss has separated it. Some of its glacial ice feeds the Avalanche Glacier below it to the southwest while the rest tumbles over some large cliffs to its diminutive lower section to the west. The White Salmon and Avalanche Glaciers feed
6278-418: The summit plateau and indicate that Adams is dormant , not extinct . Future eruptions from Adams will probably follow patterns set by previous events and will thus be flank lava flows of andesite or basalt . Because the primary products were andesite, the eruptions that occur on Adams tend to have a low to moderate explosiveness and present less of a hazard than the violent eruptions of St. Helens and some of
6364-455: The summit while many others have had close calls. There are 25 main routes to the summit with alternates of those main routes. They range in difficulty from the relatively easy non-technical South Spur (South Climb) route to the extremely challenging and dangerous Victory Ridge, Rusk Glacier Headwall, and Wilson Glacier Headwall routes up Roosevelt Cliff. While the summit is the main draw for many who visit Adams, many trails pass through
6450-430: The summit, Glenwood on the southeast quarter and Trout Lake on the southwest quarter. The mountain's size and distance from major cities, and the tendency of some people to forget or ignore Mount Adams, has led some people to call this volcano "The Forgotten Giant of Washington". On a clear day from the summit, other visible volcanoes in the Cascade Range include: Mount Rainier , Mount Baker , and Glacier Peak to
6536-411: The vent farthest south in the field. This field includes over 120 vents; about 25 of these are considered flank volcanoes of Mount Adams. The largest flank volcano is a basaltic shield volcano on Adams east base called Goat Butte. This structure is at least 150,000 years old. Little Mount Adams is a symmetrical cinder cone on top of the Ridge of Wonders on Adams' southeast flank. Potato Hill
6622-613: The volcano's cone. The eastern side of the mountain is designated as part of the territory of the Yakama Nation . Adams' asymmetrical and broad body rises 1.5 miles (2.4 km) above the Cascade crest. Its nearly flat summit was formed as a result of cone-building eruptions from separated vents. The Pacific Crest Trail traverses the western flank of the mountain. Mount Adams stands 37 miles (60 km) east of Mount St. Helens and about 50 miles (80 km) south of Mount Rainier . It
6708-430: The west slope of Mount Adams offers an abundance of opportunities for hiking , backpacking , backcountry camping, mountain climbing and equestrian sports. Trails in the wilderness pass through dry east-side and moist west-side forests, with views of Mt. Adams and its glaciers , tumbling streams, open alpine forests, parklands, and a variety of wildflowers among lava flows and rimrocks . A Cascades Volcano Pass from
6794-507: The west. Deadhorse Cave is a massive network of lava tubes. It is the most complex lava tube in the United States with 14,441 feet (4,402 m) of passage. These caves are all just outside of Trout Lake . These and many other caves in the Trout Lake area were at one time part of a huge system that originated at the Indian Heaven volcanic field . The most obscure caves around Adams are
6880-589: Was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.92. The median age was 44.0 years. As of the 2000 census , there were 9,872 people, 3,755 households, and 2,756 families living in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile (2.3 people/km). There were 4,576 housing units at an average density of 3 units per square mile (1.2 units/km). The racial makeup of the county was 92.11% White , 0.30% Black or African American , 2.20% Native American , 0.54% Asian , 0.17% Pacific Islander , 2.43% from other races , and 2.25% from two or more races. 4.03% of
6966-458: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.02. In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.60% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 27.10% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.40 males. The median income for
7052-450: Was built during the most recent major eruptive period 40,000–10,000 years ago. Standing at 12,281 feet (3,743 m), Adams towers about 9,800 feet (3,000 m) over the surrounding countryside. It is the second-highest mountain in Washington and third-highest in the Cascade Range . Because of the way it developed, it is the largest stratovolcano in Washington and second-largest in the Cascades, behind only Mount Shasta . Its large size
7138-599: Was created by the subduction of the Juan de Fuca Plate , which is located just off the coast of the Pacific Northwest . Mount Adams was born in the mid- to late Pleistocene and grew in several pulses of mostly lava -extruding eruptions. Each eruptive cycle was separated from one another by long periods of dormancy and minor activity, during which, glaciers eroded the mountain to below 9,000 feet (2,700 m). Potassium-argon dating has identified three such eruptive periods;
7224-556: Was founded in 1854 and derives its name from the Cascades Chinook word sk'mániak , meaning 'swift waters'. The area delineated by the future Washington state boundary began to be colonized at the start of the nineteenth century, both by Americans and British subjects. However, the majority of British exploration and interest in the land was due to the fur trade, whereas American settlers were principally seeking land for agriculture and cattle raising. The Treaty of 1818 provided for
7310-509: Was moved from Kittitas to Yakima County in 1970. King County , home to the state's largest city, Seattle , holds almost 30 percent of Washington's population (2,271,380 residents of 7,812,880 in 2023), and has the highest population density, with more than 1,000 people per square mile (400/km ). Garfield County is both the least populated (2,363) and least densely populated (3.3/sq mi [1.3/km ]). Two counties, San Juan and Island , are composed only of islands. The average county
7396-606: Was split from the original Clarke County and stretched east to the Rocky Mountains in present-day Montana. Walla Walla County was split from the portions of Skamania County east of the Deschutes River on April 24. The county lost its eastern edge during the creation of Klickitat County in 1861. The territorial legislature dissolved Skamania County and divided its land between Clarke and Klickitat counties in January 1865 during
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