The Chopping Block
The Chopping Block, south aspect
Highest point
Elevation	6,819 ft (2,078 m)[1]
Prominence	579 ft (176 m)[1]
Coordinates	48°45′18″N 121°18′29″W / 48.75500°N 121.30806°W / 48.75500; -121.30806[1]
Geography
The Chopping Block Location of The Chopping Block in Washington Show map of Washington (state) The Chopping Block The Chopping Block (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location	North Cascades National Park Whatcom County, Washington
Parent range	Picket Range Cascade Range
Topo map	USGS Mount Challenger
Geology
Type of rock	Skagit Gneiss
Climbing
Easiest route	Climbing YDS 5

The Chopping Block is a 6,819-foot (2,078-metre) mountain summit located in the Picket Range within North Cascades National Park in the state of Washington. The mountain is officially named Pinnacle Peak^[2] on maps, but hardly anyone calls it by that name.^[3] The nearest higher peak is Mount Degenhardt, 0.6 mi (0.97 km) to the northeast.^[1] The Chopping Block can be seen from the North Cascades National Park Newhalem visitor center, weather permitting. Precipitation runoff from the peak drains into Goodell Creek, a tributary of the Skagit River.

Climate

The Chopping Block is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America.^[4] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean, and travel northeast toward the Cascade Mountains. As fronts approach the North Cascades, they are forced upward by the peaks of the Cascade Range, causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the Cascades (Orographic lift). As a result, the west side of the North 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.^[4] Because of maritime influence, snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger.^[4]

Geology

The North Cascades features some of the most rugged topography in the Cascade Range with craggy peaks, spires, ridges, and deep glacial valleys. Geological events occurring many years ago created the diverse topography and drastic elevation changes over the Cascade Range leading to the various climate differences.

The history of the formation of the Cascade Mountains dates back millions of years ago to the late Eocene Epoch.^[5] With the North American Plate overriding the Pacific Plate, episodes of volcanic igneous activity persisted.^[5] In addition, small fragments of the oceanic and continental lithosphere called terranes created the North Cascades about 50 million years ago.^[5]

During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured the landscape leaving deposits of rock debris.^[5] The U-shaped cross section of the river valleys is a result of recent glaciation. Uplift and faulting in combination with glaciation have been the dominant processes which have created the tall peaks and deep valleys of the North Cascades area.