Uncompahgre Peak

For other uses, see Uncompahgre (disambiguation).
Uncompahgre Peak
Uncompahgre Peak from the west
Highest point
Elevation14315.8 ft (4363.46 m)[1]
NAPGD2022
Prominence4277 ft (1304 m)[2]
Isolation85.0 mi (136.8 km)[2]
Listing
Coordinates38°04′18″N 107°27′44″W / 38.0716581°N 107.4620893°W / 38.0716581; -107.4620893[3]
Geography
Uncompahgre Peak is located in Colorado
Uncompahgre Peak
Uncompahgre Peak
LocationHigh point of Hinsdale County, Colorado, United States[2]
Parent rangeHighest summit of the
San Juan Mountains[2]
Topo map(s)USGS 7.5' topographic map
Uncompahgre Peak, Colorado[4]
Climbing
Easiest routeSouth Ridge: Hike, class 2[5]

Uncompahgre Peak (/ənkəmˈpɑːɡreɪ/ ⓘ) is the sixth highest summit of the Rocky Mountains of North America and the U.S. state of Colorado. The prominent 14,316-foot (4363.46 m) fourteener is the highest summit of the San Juan Mountains and the highest point in the drainage basin of the Colorado River and the Gulf of California. It is located in the Uncompahgre Wilderness in the northern San Juans, in northern Hinsdale County approximately 7 miles (11 km) west of the town of Lake 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 is Uncompahgre 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 a four 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 the Ute word Uncompaghre, which loosely translates to "dirty water" or "red water spring" and is likely a reference to the many hot springs in the vicinity of Ouray, Colorado.[a]

Over several days beginning on September 10, 1895, a detachment of the U.S. Army Signal Corps established the world heliograph 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.

Uncompahgre Peak (center) and the San Juans from Slumgullion Pass, July 2002
  1. ^ Ahlgren, Kevin; Van Westrum, Derek; Shaw, Brian (April 2024). "Moving mountains: reevaluating the elevations of Colorado mountain summits using modern geodetic techniques". Journal of Geodesy. 98 29. doi:10.1007/s00190-024-01831-8. Open access icon
  2. ^ a b c d "Uncompahgre Peak, Colorado". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  3. ^ "UNCOMPAHGRE". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved January 2, 2016.
  4. ^ "Uncompahgre Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  5. ^ "Uncompahgre Peak Routes". 14ers.com.
  6. ^ Louis W. Dawson II (1996). Dawson's Guide to Colorado's Fourteeners, Volume 2. Blue Clover Press. pp. 115–126. ISBN 0-9628867-2-6.
  7. ^ "Uncompahgre and Matterhorn Peaks". Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  8. ^ "14ers.com Forum". 14ers.com. 2014-07-21. Retrieved 2024-11-02.
  9. ^ Jarom McDonald (ed.). "The itinerary and diary of Francisco Atanasio Domínguez and Francisco Silvestre Vélez de Escalante". Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2013-01-27.
  10. ^ "Coe, Lewis (1993). telegraph : a history of Morse s invention and its predecessors in the United States. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. ISBN 0899507360. OCLC 25509648.


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