| The Cascade Mountain Range  Western Cascades from the top of Battleax Mountain. Three Sisters are in the background Location The Cascade mountains passes north-south through Oregon and stretches from Canada to California. They are the “spine” of the state and play a role in nearly all of Oregon's climate, geology, and ecosystems. History The Cascades are actually composed of two ranges: Western and High. Western is the older of the two and is lower in elevation. The High Cascades are where the tallest peaks and active volcanoes are found. Western Cascades: These mountains formed roughly 40 million years ago as a chain of volcanoes on the then-coastline of Oregon. By 500,000 years ago, the magma had shifted eastward to form the younger High Cascades. The Western Cascades have since undergone erosion from the enormous amounts of precipitation that fall there each year. As a result, this range's elevation is now no higher than 5800 feet. High Cascades: This range formed 3.5 million years ago and is active to this day, with the most recent volcanic eruption of Mt.  Hood
happening in 1865. The High Cascades contain six active volcanoes: Mt
Hood (11240 ft), Three Sisters (10047 – 10363 ft), Crater Lake (8159
ft), and Newberry Crater(7989 ft). Extensive lava fields can be found
throughout this mountain range, many of them young enough to be devoid
of plant life.Lava fields and Three Sisters seen from Dee Wright Observatory Climate Western Cascades: The Western Cascades receive large quantities of moisture due to orographic lifting of dominant Pacific Ocean air masses. Annual precipitation varies from 60 – 100 inches depending on location. This creates active erosion and encourages a flourishing ecology. High Cascades: The High Cascades receive even more precipitation due to the higher elevations. Annual amounts range from 80 to as much as 140 inches. Much of this water is in a the form of snow and, until recently, much of it was locked in permanent glaciers on the highest peaks. Life is abundant in this region of the Cascades as well but is lacking on the tallest volcanic peaks due to extreme conditions. Ecosystem The ecosystems of the Cascades are widely varied depending on latitude, elevation, and west vs. east slopes. A discussion of this topic would require its own complete article. My discussion here is broadly general and will be lacking in any detail. Western Cascades: Plant and animal life are diverse in this mountain range. Copious amounts of water and a temperate climate allow for thriving wildlife. Small animals are too numerous to list here but large fauna includes bear, mountain lion, bobcat, and elk. The Western Cascades are almost choking with plant life in most areas. Fallen logs give rise to ferns and mosses that carpet the ground. From the vantage of any peak, a hiker can see vast forests of conifers including numerous species of firs. The abundance of life here has led to the “farming” of this region in Oregon. High Cascades: Diversity is less here due to the higher terrain and more extreme climate, particularly during the winter. The lower elevations support fir, pine, grasses, and other plants similar to the Western range. The sub-alpine and alpine region supports mainly pine with various shrubs and grasses growing in wet meadows. The highest elevations are above treeline and support either low growing flora adapted to the harsh environment or no plants at all. Human Activity The Cascade mountain range contains bustling activity of all types. People have occupied and used this region of Oregon since human beings first arrived many thousands of years ago. Today, the mountain range supports sports, agriculture and ecotourism. There are numerous ski resorts, hundreds of miles of hiking trails, and a large timber industry. While the Cascades hold no major cities, there are hundreds of small towns peppered along its entire length. At present, agriculture is the largest commodity in the Cascades, however, tourism is gradually gaining a larger share of the economy of this part of Oregon. Things to See As with the Willamette Valley in last month's issue, there are far more things to see in this section of Oregon than I can fit here. Below is a list of only a fraction of what the mountains have to offer: - Timberline Lodge (Skiing): http://www.timberlinelodge.com/ - Dee Wright Observatory: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/willamette/recreation/tripplanning/pointsofinterest/dee_wright.html - Crater Lake: http://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm - Sky Lakes Wilderness: http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/rogue/wilderness_skylakes.html If You Go: The Cascade mountains have millions of acres of forest and wilderness land. Be sure to check the local ranger station for permit requirements. Be prepared for a wide variety of weather conditions. The High Cascades can see snow even in August. Annual fires can close some areas so, again, check with the local ranger station for information. US Forest Service district links: http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/map/state_list.shtml#Oregon  NEXT MONTH: Deschutes Columbia Plateau Original text © 2009 S. Skiles |