page_title: Corteo Peak
section_title: Geology
hierarchical_section_title: Corteo Peak / Geology
context_page_description: Corteo Peak is an 8,080-foot mountain summit located on the eastern boundary line of North Cascades National Park in Washington state. It is situated west of Rainy Pass in the North Cascades Range. Remnants of the retreating Lewis Glacier hang on its north flank. The nearest higher peak is Black Peak, 1.67 miles to the northwest. Corteo Peak and nearby Mount Benzarino were named by Forest Service surveyor, Lage Wernstedt, after Basque sheepherders he met near these two mountains.
context_section_description: The North Cascades features some of the most rugged topography in the Cascade Range with craggy peaks, ridges, and deep glacial valleys. The history of the formation of the Cascade Mountains dates back millions of years ago to the late Eocene Epoch. With the North American Plate overriding the Pacific Plate, episodes of volcanic igneous activity persisted.  In addition, small fragments of the oceanic and continental lithosphere called terranes created the North Cascades about 50 million years ago.
  During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured the landscape leaving deposits of rock debris. The "U"-shaped cross section of the river valleys are 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.
caption: Corteo Peak seen from Wing Lake
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