mount baker known simply active washington united_states mount baker second active crater cascade range miles east city youngest volcano mount baker volcanic field persisted million years current cone likely years old possibly older years older volcanic eroded away heavily cascade range volume snow ice greater combined places world located northeast set world record recorded snowfall single season highest mountain fifth highest little mount counted located visible british_columbia south seattle clear days washington indigenous natives known mountain thousands years written record mountain spanish spanish explorer mapped great mount explorer renamed mountain 3rd lieutenant hms discovery saw april history mount baker known indigenous people pacific_northwest indigenous names mountain include white sentinel mountain wound crater white mountain white sentinel mountain language unidentified tribe set sail temporary settlement orders explore newly discovered juan accompanying pilot drew detailed charts week expedition journal voyage refer mountain manuscript charts includes sketch spanish named snowy volcano montana reminded white clad monks monastery british explorer left england year later mission survey northwest coast america vancouver crew reached pacific_northwest coast anchored south shore lieutenant observation vancouver recorded journal time high conspicuous mountain presented clouds low allowed visible covered snow south long ridge rugged snowy mountains elevated stretch considerable distance high distant land formed observed like detached islands mountain discovered afternoon lieutenant compliment called rose conspicuous object apparently remote distance years later official narrative voyage published including printed reference mountain known feature horizon explorers fur traders traveled region governor wrote mount baker conspicuous peaks northern cascade range nearly high like mountain snow covered pyramid form sugar visible water islands sound southeastern likewise eastern division region natural important landmark climbing history ascent englishman resided victoria british_columbia canada veteran alps attempt ascend mountain chose route forced turn local native americans refused passage later year recruited settlers aid second attempt scale mountain approaching party known ascended feet summit turning face ice threatening weather later returned mountain years august new companions scaled summit north margin roman wall notable feet august geology present day cone relatively young years old volcano sits atop similar older volcanic cone called active years ago mount baker earlier geological record eroded away ice age culminated years ago thick ice sheets filled valleys surrounded volcano years area mountain largely ice free mountain remains heavily covered snow ice isolated ridges lava altered rock especially area exposed glaciers upper flanks volcano lower flanks steep heavily volcanic rocks rest foundation non volcanic rocks deposits recording years indicate highly explosive like mount mount erupted frequently period episodes activity recently recognized produced flows lava flows summit meadow cone destructive frequent events debris flows debris related induced intrusion steam earthquakes instability possibly heavy rainfall history early history research beginning late 1990s shows youngest volcanic centers area youngest preserved miles northeast activity mount baker volcanic field began million years ago earliest lava deposits removed glacial erosion pale colored rocks northeast modern volcano mark site ancient million years old collapsed enormous ash eruption million years ago subsequently area produced lava flows rock constitutes cascade range adams hood years ago present numerous volcanic centers area come disappeared glacial erosion largest active years ago bigger today modern cone mount baker built lava volcanic prior end glacial period ended years ago mountain ice filled summit ice dome crater source cone building highest point exposed southeast rim small pile lying stack lava flows deeply south younger crater south summit ice covered floor summit ice dome crater site activity hundreds vent gases primarily lava flows summit vent erupted years ago final stages construction flows entered volcano southeastern eruption years ago erupted blanket ash extended east today gases reach surface pathways northeast summit south summit sites alteration converting weak white yellow common mineral collapses weakened rock generated 1840s park period years ago approximately years ago series events culminated largest producing eruption post glacial time episode activity preserved record largest collapse history volcano occurred roman wall transformed feet deep upper reaches deep downstream volcano time believed drained north unlikely reached small eruption occurred triggering second collapse flank east collapse mainly followed course tributaries finally eruption cloud deposited ash far northeast east historical activity occurred 19th century witnessed area possible eruption seen june spanish expedition report read night anchored constantly saw light south east mountain baker times bursts flame signs left doubt strong mountains explorers reported widespread layer newly fallen rock fragments like snowfall forest fire miles highly unlikely fires caused material found deposits fine volcanic ash certainly cooled atmosphere falling rivers south volcano reportedly ash native americans reported salmon perished reports flooding eruption probably greatly exaggerated short time later collapses east produced larger flowed natural increasing level feet location 19th century lake covered waters modern dam similar lower level activity continued intermittently decades afterward november passengers traveling steamer reported large volumes smoke breaking rolled snow covered sides mountain forming pleasing effect light shade rock fell producing traveled covered km2 activity 20th century decreased 19th century numerous small debris fell descended large occurred july early march dramatic increase activity snow melt crater area raised concern eruption imminent heat flow increased additional monitoring equipment installed surveys conducted try detect movement increased thermal activity prompted public officials temporarily close public access popular recreation area lower reservoir water level feet actions taken significant debris crater area swept directly reservoir triggering disastrous wave caused human fatalities damage reservoir increased heat flow recorded surveys activities observed indicate moving volcano small formed material ejected surrounding glaciers acidic water discharged months activity gradually declined years stabilized higher level increased level activity continued changes suggest movement involved current research mount baker considerable research mount baker past decade studied cascade recent ongoing projects include gps based monitoring gas sampling distribution mapping new interpretations meadow lava flow hazards analyses mapping interpretations history continues mount baker volcano research center maintains online archive work extensive references list photos glaciers main glaciers mountain largest surface area square kilometres acres large glaciers areas greater square kilometres acres park boulder retreated half century advanced retreating increasingly rapidly mount baker drained north streams flow west southeast east tributaries lake shannon largest nearby bodies water formed dams ammunition ships united_states_navy traditionally named named mountain uss mount baker commissioned navy commissioned uss mount baker decommissioned placed service scrapped
Mount Baker