Cascade Mountain Range

Running north-south along the west coast of the United States from British Columbia to [Northern California]?, the Cascade Mountain Range is part of the [Pacific Ring of Fire]?, the ring of volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean. The range is still volcanically active: Mt. Lassen erupted in 1911, and Mt. St. Helens in 1980.

Primary Mountains

Mt. Garibaldi (British Columbia) - heavily eroded by glaciers and has three principal peaks.

Mt. Baker (Near the U.S.-Canada border) - highest peak in Northern Washington. It still shows some steam activity from its crater, though is considered dormant.

Glacier Peak (Northern Washington) - secluded and relatively inaccessible peak. Contrary to its name, its glacial cover isn't that extensive.

Central/Southern? Washington Mt. Rainier (southeast of Tacoma, Washington) - highest peak in the Cascades, it dominates the surrounding landscape.

Mt. St. Helens (Southern Washington) - Erupted in 1980, completely leveling the surrounding area and sending ash acrosss the northwest. The northern part of the mountain was destroyed in the blast.

Mt. Adams (east of Mt. St. Helens) - the second highest peak in Washington.

Mt. Hood (Northern Oregon) - the highest peak in Oregon and the most frequently climbed major peak in the cascades.

Mt. Jefferson (North/Central? Oregon) - the second highest peak in Oregon.

Mt. Washington (between Santiam and McKenzie? passes)

Mt. Thielsen (north of Crater Lake)

Three Sisters (near the town of Bend in Central Oregon) - South Sister is the highest and youngest, with a well defined crater. Middle Sister is more pyramidal and eroded. North Sister is the oldest and has a crumbling rock pinnacle.

Mt. Bachelor (near Three Sisters) - a popular ski resort.

Mt. Mazama (Southern Oregon) - detonated thousands of years ago and now known as Crater Lake, which is a caldera formed by a catastrophic eruption which took out most of the summit. Mt. Mazama is said to have about 12,000ft elevation prior to the blast.

Mt. Bailey (near Crater Lake)

Mt. Thielsen (near Crater Lake)

Mt. McLoughlin? (near Klamath Falls) - presents a symmetrical appearance when viewed from Klamath Lake.

Mt. Shasta (Northern California - second highest peak in the Cascades. Can be seen as far as Sacramento Valley, 60 miles away, as it is a dominating feature of the region.

Mt. Lassen (south of Mt. Shasta) - southern-most volcano in the Cascades and the most easily climbed peak in the Cascades, it erupted in 1911. Lassen Volcanic National Park was formed.

History

The Barlow Trail was the first established land path for U.S. settlers through the Cascade Range in 1845, and formed the final overland link for the Oregon Trail (previously, settlers had to raft down the treacherous rapids of the Columbia). It passes north of Mt. Hood.