| Uncompahgre Peak | |
|---|---|
 Uncompahgre Peak from the west | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 14315.8 ft (4363.46 m)[1] NAPGD2022 |
| Prominence | 4277 ft (1304 m)[2] |
| Isolation | 85.0 mi (136.8 km)[2] |
| Listing | |
| Coordinates | 38°04′18″N107°27′44″W / 38.0716581°N 107.4620893°W /38.0716581; -107.4620893[3] |
| Geography | |
  Uncompahgre Peak | |
| Location | High point ofHinsdale County,Colorado,United States[2] |
| Parent range | Highest summit of the San Juan Mountains[2] |
| Topo map(s) | USGS 7.5' topographic map Uncompahgre Peak, Colorado[4] |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | South Ridge: Hike,class 2[5] |
Uncompahgre Peak (/ənkəmˈpɑːɡreɪ/ ⓘ) is thesixth highest summit of theRocky Mountains ofNorth America and theU.S. state ofColorado. Theprominent 14,316-foot (4363.46 m)fourteener is the highest summit of theSan Juan Mountains and the highest point in thedrainage basin of theColorado River and theGulf of California. It is located in theUncompahgre Wilderness in the northern San Juans, in northernHinsdale County approximately 7 miles (11 km) west of the town ofLake City.
Uncompahgre Peak has a broad summit plateau, rising about 1,500 ft (500 m) above the broad surrounding alpine basins. The south, east and west sides are not particularly steep, but the north face has a 700 ft (210 m)cliff. Like all peaks in the San Juan Mountains, Uncompahgre is of volcanic origin, but is not a volcano. The rock is of poor quality for climbing, precluding an ascent of the north face.
The most popular route for climbing Uncompahgre Peak isUncompahgre National Forest Service Trail Number 239, which starts from the end of the Nellie Creek Road, east-southeast of the peak. The Nellie Creek Road is afour wheel drive road accessed from the Henson Creek Road, about 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Lake City. The trail to the summit is a strenuous hike rising 2,919 ft (890 m) in elevation in about 3.5 mi (6 km). It accesses the summit in a winding ascent, starting from the east, passing over a south-trending ridge, and finishing on the west slopes of the summit plateau.[6]
There is also a route up Uncompahgre starting at the Matterhorn Creek trailhead.[7] It is popular among hikers preferring to avoid the 4wd Nellie Creek road.[8]
The peak's name comes from theUte wordUncompaghre, which loosely translates to "dirty water" or "red water spring" and is likely a reference to the many hot springs in the vicinity ofOuray, Colorado.[a]
Over several days beginning on September 10, 1894, a detachment of the U.S. Army Signal Corps established the worldheliograph record from stations atop Mount Ellen, Utah and Mount Uncompahgre, Colorado.[10] The record for visual signaling was established utilizing mirrors 8 inches across and telescopes. The flashing signals communicated over a distance of 183 miles.
| Climate data for Uncompahgre Peak 38.0651 N, 107.4588 W, Elevation: 13,369 ft (4,075 m) (1991–2020 normals) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 24.4 (−4.2) | 24.2 (−4.3) | 29.3 (−1.5) | 34.7 (1.5) | 43.0 (6.1) | 54.4 (12.4) | 59.1 (15.1) | 56.8 (13.8) | 51.2 (10.7) | 41.7 (5.4) | 31.1 (−0.5) | 24.5 (−4.2) | 39.5 (4.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 12.8 (−10.7) | 12.2 (−11.0) | 16.8 (−8.4) | 21.8 (−5.7) | 30.3 (−0.9) | 40.8 (4.9) | 45.8 (7.7) | 44.2 (6.8) | 38.6 (3.7) | 29.3 (−1.5) | 19.8 (−6.8) | 13.2 (−10.4) | 27.1 (−2.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 1.1 (−17.2) | 0.3 (−17.6) | 4.2 (−15.4) | 8.9 (−12.8) | 17.6 (−8.0) | 27.2 (−2.7) | 32.5 (0.3) | 31.5 (−0.3) | 26.0 (−3.3) | 16.9 (−8.4) | 8.5 (−13.1) | 1.9 (−16.7) | 14.7 (−9.6) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 4.15 (105) | 4.36 (111) | 4.34 (110) | 4.36 (111) | 2.74 (70) | 1.20 (30) | 2.91 (74) | 3.18 (81) | 3.80 (97) | 3.94 (100) | 4.14 (105) | 4.18 (106) | 43.3 (1,100) |
| Source: PRISM Climate Group[11] | |||||||||||||
To find the table data on the PRISM website, start by clickingCoordinates (underLocation); copyLatitude andLongitude figures from top of table; clickZoom to location; clickPrecipitation, Minimum temp, Mean temp, Maximum temp; click30-year normals, 1991-2020; click800m; clickRetrieve Time Series button.
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