Editing Index, Washington (section)

==Geography==
[[File:North Fork Skykomish River from US Highway 2 near Index, WA.jpg|thumb|right|The [[North Fork Skykomish River]] in Index]]

Index lies in the western foothills of the [[Cascade Mountains]] on the north side of the [[North Fork Skykomish River]], just above its confluence with the main channel of the [[Skykomish River]]. The town is in southeastern [[Snohomish County, Washington|Snohomish County]], approximately {{convert|7|mi|km}} east of [[Gold Bar, Washington|Gold Bar]] and {{convert|30|mi|km}} west of [[Stevens Pass]].<ref name="HazardPlan">{{cite report |date=September 2015 |title=Snohomish County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Update, Volume 2: Planning Partner Annexes |pages=7{{hyphen}}1, 7{{hyphen}}2 |url=https://snohomishcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/14608 |publisher=Snohomish County Department of Public Works |access-date=April 12, 2020 |archive-date=April 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425114138/https://snohomishcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/14608 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="WSDOT-Map">{{cite WSDOT map |year=2014 |link=yes |accessdate=February 9, 2025}}</ref> It is connected to nearby areas by [[U.S. Route 2 in Washington|U.S. Route 2]], a major highway that runs {{convert|1|mi|km|spell=in}} south of the town and travels {{convert|36|mi|km}} west to [[Everett, Washington|Everett]] and east across the Cascades.<ref name="HL-Incorporation"/><ref name="WSDOT-Map"/> Index is bisected by the [[Scenic Subdivision]] of the [[BNSF Railway]],<ref name="HazardPlan"/> a railroad originally built by the [[Great Northern Railway (U.S.)|Great Northern Railway]] that carries freight trains and [[Amtrak]]'s ''[[Empire Builder]]'' passenger service.<ref name="WSDOT-Map"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Upchurch |first=Michael |date=June 3, 2005 |title=Climb aboard for an easy trip from Seattle to Chicago
 |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2002295825_traintrip05.html |work=The Seattle Times |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060324105339/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2002295825_traintrip05.html |archive-date=March 24, 2006 |accessdate=February 9, 2025}}</ref>

The town has a total area of {{convert|0.23|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all of it land, according to the [[United States Census Bureau]].<ref name="Census-Gazetteer">{{cite web |title=2018 U.S. Gazetteer Files |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2018_Gazetteer/2018_gaz_place_53.txt |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=February 16, 2020 |archive-date=September 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915010450/https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2018_Gazetteer/2018_gaz_place_53.txt |url-status=live}}</ref> Index and its outlying [[unincorporated area]]s are surrounded by the [[Mount Baker–Snoqualmie National Forest]] and other protected lands; the [[Wild Sky Wilderness]] area is east of the town.<ref>{{cite map |date=October 22, 2021 |title=Lands Useful for Public Purpose |url=https://www.snoco.org/v1/services/Docs/SCD/PDF/PDS_GMA_FLU/Map5_LandsUsefulPublicPurpose.pdf |publisher=Snohomish County Planning and Development Services |accessdate=February 9, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite map |date=June 2021 |title=Motor Vehicle Use Map: Skykomish & Snoqualmie Ranger Districts, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest |url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd903855.pdf |publisher=[[United States Forest Service]] |accessdate=February 9, 2025}}</ref> The southern boundary is the North Fork Skykomish River, while the northern border is defined by the Index Town Walls and [[Forks of the Sky State Park]].<ref name="SnoCo-Map">{{cite map |year=2015 |title=Snohomish County General Reference Map: Quadrangle 10 |url=https://www.snoco.org/v1/services/Docs/SCD/PDF/PDS_GenRef/GenRef__10.pdf |publisher=Snohomish County Planning and Development Services |accessdate=February 9, 2025}}</ref> The Town Walls are a series of granite cliffs in Forks of the Sky State Park that rise {{convert|360 to 600|ft}} above the valley and are popular with [[rock climbing|rock climbers]].<ref name="Times-Climbing"/><ref>{{cite web |date=June 2017 |title=Forks of the Sky State Park: Index Town Walls Technical Rock Climbing Management Plan |page=1 |url=https://washingtonclimbers.org/wp-content/uploads/Index-climbing-management-plan-June-2017.pdf |publisher=[[Washington State Parks]] |via=Washington Climbers Coalition |accessdate=February 9, 2025}}</ref> The cliffs are also home to nests for [[peregrine falcon]]s, which necessitate occasional closures to climbing for protection.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wootton |first=Sharon |date=June 5, 2014 |title=Some routes on Index Town Wall closed for falcons |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/life/some-routes-on-index-town-wall-closed-for-falcons/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=February 8, 2025}}</ref>

Index sits at an elevation of {{convert|500 to 540|ft|m}},<ref name="HazardPlan"/> while the surrounding mountains range from {{convert|5,464 to 6,244|ft|m}} in height.<ref name="Times-Bush"/> These include [[Mount Index]] to the south at {{convert|5,991|ft|m}} and [[Gunn Peak]] to the east at {{convert|6,240|ft|m}}.<ref name="SnoCo-Map"/> The mountains around Index are primarily [[batholith]]s that formed from cooled magma lifted to the surface approximately 34{{nbsp}}million years [[before present]]. The town also lies near the [[Straight Creek Fault]], a major [[strike-slip fault]] that generates seismic activity.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Alt |first1=David D. |last2=Hyndman |first2=Donald W. |year=1995 |title=Roadside Geology of Washington |edition=11th |pages=70–73 |publisher=[[Mountain Press Publishing Company]] |location=Missoula, Montana |isbn=9780878421602 |oclc=246175271}}</ref><ref>{{cite tech report |last1=Tabor |first1=R.W. |last2=Frizzell Jr. |first2=V.A. |last3=Booth |first3=D.B. |last4=Waitt |first4=R.B. |last5=Whetten |first5=J.T. |last6=Zartman |first6=R.E. |year=1993 |title=Geologic Map of the Skykomish River 30-by-60 Minute Quadrangle, Washington |page=34 |url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/imap/i1963/skypampa.pdf |publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]] |accessdate=February 10, 2025}}</ref> The area southeast of Index includes several waterfalls on the South Fork Skykomish River. [[Sunset Falls]] is {{convert|1|mi|km|spell=in}} south of Index and comprises a {{convert|104|ft|m|adj=mid}} drop in a {{convert|275|ft|m|adj=mid}} granite chute.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dougherty |first=Phil |date=November 16, 2007 |title=Al Faussett rides over Sunset Falls (Skykomish River) in a dugout canoe on May 30, 1926. |url=https://www.historylink.org/File/8348 |work=HistoryLink |accessdate=February 9, 2025}}</ref> [[Eagle Falls (Washington)|Eagle Falls]] is {{convert|4|mi|km}} southeast of the town and is the site of frequent rescues due to its popularity and fast-moving rapids.<ref>{{cite news |last=King |first=Rikki |date=July 24, 2016 |title=Eagle Falls near Index risky for swimmers, rescue crews |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/eagle-falls-near-index-risky-for-swimmers-rescue-crews/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=February 9, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Watanabe |first=Ben |date=July 30, 2020 |title=Despite drownings, TikTok fame draws hordes to Eagle Falls |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/despite-drownings-tiktok-fame-draws-hordes-to-eagle-falls/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=February 9, 2025}}</ref>

The Index area has a moderate summer climate with approximately 213 frost-free days and average annual precipitation of {{convert|180|in|cm}}.<ref name="HazardPlan"/> It receives more snowfall than most populated areas of the county, with an annual average of {{convert|59.3|in|cm}} from 1948 to 1957.<ref>{{cite web |title=Period of Record Monthly Climate Summary: Index 1 SSE, Washington |url=https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?wa3909 |publisher=[[Western Regional Climate Center]] |accessdate=March 1, 2025}}</ref> The area north of the town is designated a "high risk" area for [[wildfire]]s, while other areas are within the 100-year flood zone for the Skykomish River.<ref name="HazardPlan"/><ref name="Herald-Fire">{{cite news |last=Hansen |first=Jordan |date=September 20, 2023 |title=After Maui wildfires, Sky Valley locals look warily at US 2 |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/after-maui-wildfires-sky-valley-locals-look-warily-at-us-2/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=February 6, 2025}}</ref> Index and neighboring areas were placed under mandatory evacuation orders on September 10, 2022, due to the nearby [[Bolt Creek Fire]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Turner |first1=Nicholas |last2=Zhou |first2=Amanda |last3=Brunner |first3=Jim |date=September 11, 2022 |title=Index residents told to leave as Bolt Creek fire spreads |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/index-residents-told-to-leave-as-bolt-creek-fire-continues-to-spread/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=September 24, 2022 |archive-date=September 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923050610/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/index-residents-told-to-leave-as-bolt-creek-fire-continues-to-spread/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The order was modified two days later to allow residents to return to their homes, but U.S. Route{{nbsp}}2 remained closed to most travel for several days.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gutman |first=David |date=September 13, 2022 |title=Index evacuation order eased; residents allowed home amid Bolt Creek fire |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/index-evacuation-order-eased-residents-allowed-home-amid-bolt-creek-fire/ |work=The Seattle Times |accessdate=September 24, 2022 |archive-date=September 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220924023848/https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/index-evacuation-order-eased-residents-allowed-home-amid-bolt-creek-fire/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The fire burned approximately {{convert|15,000|acre|ha}} and was contained in late October.<ref>{{cite news |last=Haun |first=Riley |date=November 17, 2022 |title=Work begins to stabilize Bolt Creek burn scar for winter weather |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/work-begins-to-stabilize-bolt-creek-burn-scar-for-winter-weather/ |work=The Everett Herald |accessdate=February 10, 2025}}</ref>