Pigeon Peak
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Pigeon Peak is a high peak of the Needle Mountains, a subrange of the San Juan Mountains in the southwestern part of the US State of Colorado. It rises dramatically on the east side of the Animas River, 1.5 mi (2.4 km) west of the fourteener Mount Eolus. It is located in the Weminuche Wilderness, part of the San Juan National Forest.
Pigeon Peak is notable both for its absolute height and for its local relief in particular. It is the 57th highest independent peak in Colorado,[2][3] narrowly missing the well-known list of fourteeners. In terms of local relief, it is one of the most impressive peaks in Colorado. Its most dramatic rise is over the Animas River to the west, over which it rises 5,750 ft (1,750 m) in under 2.5 mi (4 km). Also, its east face is a 1,000 ft (305 m) cliff.[4]
Climbing
Since Pigeon Peak is not a fourteener, it sees far less traffic than the nearby trio of Mount Eolus, Windom Peak, and Sunlight Peak. The standard route is not technically difficult, but it is long and requires a little-hiked wilderness approach. Climbers typically camp near Ruby Lake north of the peak. From there the route ascends to a saddle between Pigeon Peak and Turret Peak, southwest of Pigeon. The route then descends and makes a traverse around to the opposite side of the peak, finally ascending the northwest slopes.[3] Difficulties involve class 3 scrambling.[5]
References
- ^ Colorado high-prominence peaks
- ^ This uses a 300 foot topographic prominence cutoff.
- ^ a b Mike Garratt and Bob Martin, Colorado's High Thirteeners, Third Edition, Johnson Press, Boulder, 1992, ISBN 0-917895-39-8.
- ^ Pigeon Peak on TopoQuest
- ^ Pigeon Peak on Summitpost
External links
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