Haystack Butte

Mountain in the state of Montana
Haystack Butte is located in Montana
Haystack Butte
Haystack Butte
Location in Montana
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Haystack Butte is located in the United States
Haystack Butte
Haystack Butte
Location in the United States
Show map of the United States
LocationGlacier National Park
Flathead County
Montana, U.S.Parent rangeLewis RangeTopo mapUSGS Logan PassGeologyType of rockSedimentary rockClimbingEasiest routeclass 2 hiking

Haystack Butte is a 7,486-foot-elevation (2,282-meter) summit located in the Lewis Range, of Glacier National Park in the U.S. state of Montana. It is situated one mile west of the Continental Divide, in Flathead County, above the Weeping Wall on its south slope. Topographic relief is significant as the west aspect rises 3,900 feet (1,200 meters) above McDonald Creek in less than 1.5 mile. It can be seen from Logan Pass, and from Going-to-the-Sun Road which traverses the west and south slopes of the peak. The nearest higher neighbor is Mount Gould, 1.07 miles (1.72 km) to the northeast.[1] Climbing access is via the Highline Trail. This geographical feature's descriptive name was on maps as early as 1904, and was officially adopted March 6, 1929, by the United States Board on Geographic Names[3]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Haystack Butte is located in an alpine subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers.[4] Temperatures can drop below −10 °F with wind chill factors below −30 °F. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into McDonald Creek, thence Lake McDonald.

Geology

Like other mountains in Glacier National Park, Haystack Butte Tail is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Precambrian to Jurassic periods. Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was initially uplifted beginning 170 million years ago when the Lewis Overthrust fault pushed an enormous slab of precambrian rocks 3 mi (4.8 km) thick, 50 miles (80 km) wide and 160 miles (260 km) long over younger rock of the cretaceous period.[5] The bulk of the peak is composed of limestone of the Siyeh Formation, with a diorite cap.[6]

  • Southwest aspect
    Southwest aspect
  • South aspect centered, from Logan Pass area
    South aspect centered, from Logan Pass area
  • West aspect of Haystack Butte, with Mt. Gould behind
    West aspect of Haystack Butte, with Mt. Gould behind
  • Haystack Butte, Going-to-the-Sun Road, and Weeping Wall seen from Highline Trail
    Haystack Butte, Going-to-the-Sun Road, and Weeping Wall seen from Highline Trail
  • North aspect from Highline Trail
    North aspect from Highline Trail
  • North aspect
    North aspect
  • Haystack Butte (left) and Mt. Cannon (right), seen from Highline Trail
    Haystack Butte (left) and Mt. Cannon (right), seen from Highline Trail
  • Avalanche Team skier on Haystack Butte summit, with Garden Wall, Bishops Cap, and Pollock Mountain in the background.
    Avalanche Team skier on Haystack Butte summit, with Garden Wall, Bishops Cap, and Pollock Mountain in the background.
  • Left to rightː Haystack Butte, Reynolds Mountain, Mt. Oberlin, Clements Mountain, Mt. Cannon
    Left to rightː Haystack Butte, Reynolds Mountain, Mt. Oberlin, Clements Mountain, Mt. Cannon
  • Haystack Butte and Haystack Creek Falls seen from northwest along the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
    Haystack Butte and Haystack Creek Falls seen from northwest along the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
  • Left to rightː Haystack Butte, Reynolds Mountain, Mt. Oberlin, Clements Mountain, Mt. Cannon
    Left to rightː Haystack Butte, Reynolds Mountain, Mt. Oberlin, Clements Mountain, Mt. Cannon
  • Left to rightː Haystack Butte, Reynolds Mountain, Mt. Oberlin, Clements Mountain, and Mt. Cannon seen from Garden Wall Weather Station.
    Left to rightː Haystack Butte, Reynolds Mountain, Mt. Oberlin, Clements Mountain, and Mt. Cannon seen from Garden Wall Weather Station.
  • Haystack Butte, Mt. Gould, and Bishops Cap
    Haystack Butte, Mt. Gould, and Bishops Cap

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Haystack Butte, Montana". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
  2. ^ a b "Haystack Butte - 7,486' MT". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
  3. ^ a b "Haystack Butte". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
  4. ^ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11: 1633–1644. ISSN 1027-5606.
  5. ^ Gadd, Ben (2008). "Geology of the Rocky Mountains and Columbias". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ James L. Dyson, The Geologic Story of Glacier National Park
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Places adjacent to Haystack Butte
Highline Trail Mount Gould
Going-to-the-Sun Road
Haystack Butte
Garden Wall
Heavens Peak Bishops Cap
Mount Cannon Mount Oberlin Pollock Mountain