Pigeon Peak
| Pigeon Peak | |
|---|---|
  Pigeon Peak Colorado | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 13,978 ft (4,260 m) NAVD 88[1] |
| Prominence | 1,132 ft (345 m)[1] |
| Geography | |
| Location | La Plata County, Colorado, U.S. |
| Region | US-CO |
| Parent range | Needle Mountains, San Juan Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Snowdon Peak |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Northwest slope: scramble, class 3 |
Pigeon Peak, elevation 13,978 ft (4,260 m), is a summit in 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 miles (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. It is the 57th highest independent peak in Colorado,[3][4] 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 nearly 6,000 feet (1,829 m) in under 2.5 miles (4 km). Also, its east face is a 800 feet (244 m) cliff.[5]
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.[4] Difficulties involve class 3 scrambling.[6]
See also
- Mountain peaks of Colorado
- Mountain peaks of North America
- Mountain peaks of the Rocky Mountains
- Mountain peaks of the United States
- Mountain ranges of Colorado
- Needle Mountains
- San Juan Mountains
- Southern Rocky Mountains
References
- ^ a b "Pigeon Peak, Colorado". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
- ^ "Pigeon Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2013-06-02.
- ^ The usual criteria for a peak to be considered independent is that it have 300 feet (91 m) of topographic prominence.
- ^ a b
Garratt, Mike (1992). Colorado's High Thirteeners (3rd ed.). Boulder: Johnson Press. ISBN 0-917895-39-8.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthor=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Snowdon Peak quadrangle, Colorado (Map). 1:24000. 7.5 Minute Topographic. USGS. 1972. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
- ^ "Pigeon Peak". Summitpost.org. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
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