Centennial Peak (Colorado)

Centennial Peak
Centennial Peak
	Northeast aspect, centered; (Lavender Peak to left. Hesperus behind, right)
Highest point
Elevation	13,062 ft (3,981 m)
Prominence	262 ft (80 m)
Parent peak	Lavender Peak (13,233 ft)
Isolation	0.43 mi (0.69 km)
Coordinates	37°26′50″N108°04′37″W / 37.4473328°N 108.0769016°W
Naming
Etymology	Centennial
Geography
	Centennial Peak Location in Colorado Centennial Peak Centennial Peak (the United States)
Country	United States
State	Colorado
County	Montezuma
Parent range	Rocky Mountains ; San Juan Mountains ; La Plata Mountains
Topo map	USGS La Plata
Climbing
Easiest route	class 2 via North ridge

Last updated December 18, 2024

Centennial Peak is a 13,062-foot-elevation (3,981-meter) mountain summit in Montezuma County, Colorado.^[5]

Description

Centennial Peak is located 16 miles (26 km) northwest of the community of Durango on land managed by San Juan National Forest. It ranks as the six-highest summit of the La Plata Mountains which are a subrange of the Rocky Mountains.^[3] Precipitation runoff from the mountain's west slope drains to the Mancos River and the east slope drains into the headwaters of Bear Creek which is a tributary of the Dolores River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 2,460 feet (750 meters) above Bear Creek in one mile (1.6 km) and 1,500 feet (460 meters) above Sliderock Basin in one-half mile (0.8 km). Neighbors include Mount Moss, 0.57 miles (0.92 km) to the south, Lavender Peak, 0.45 miles (0.72 km) to the south-southwest, and Hesperus Mountain 0.68 miles (1.09 km) to the west-southwest.^[3] An ascent of Centennial Peak's summit involves hiking 4.4 miles (7.1 km) with 2,130 feet (650 meters) of elevation gain.^[6]

Etymology

The mountain's toponym was officially adopted on July 8, 1976, by the United States Board on Geographic Names as proposed by the Colorado Centennial-Bicentennial Commission to commemorate 100 years of statehood since it was admitted to the Union on August 1, 1876.^[5] Prior to that the landform was called "Banded Mountain", a descriptive name attributable to the alternating colored strata of sedimentary rock.^[5]^[6]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Centennial Peak has an alpine climate with cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers.^[7] Due to its altitude, it receives precipitation all year, as snow in winter and as thunderstorms in summer, with a dry period in late spring.

Related Research Articles

Sharkstooth Peak is a 12,468-foot-elevation (3,800-meter) mountain summit in Montezuma County, Colorado.

Snowdon Peak is a 13,077-foot-elevation (3,986-meter) mountain summit located in San Juan County, Colorado, United States. It is situated seven miles south of the community of Silverton, in the Weminuche Wilderness, on land managed by San Juan National Forest. It is part of the San Juan Mountains range which is a subset of the Rocky Mountains of North America, and is set nine miles west of the Continental Divide. Topographic relief is significant as the east aspect rises 4,300 feet above the Animas River in approximately 1.5 mile. Neighbors include Mount Garfield three miles to the east-southeast, and Twilight Peak, which is the nearest higher peak, 3.7 miles to the south-southwest. This mountain can be seen from U.S. Route 550. The mountain is named after Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales.

Mount Emma is a 13,581-foot-elevation (4,139-meter) mountain summit located in San Miguel County of Colorado, United States. It is situated three miles north of the community of Telluride, on the south side of Yankee Boy Basin, in the Uncompahgre National Forest. It is part of the Sneffels Range which is a subset of the San Juan Mountains, which in turn is part of the Rocky Mountains. Mount Emma is situated west of the Continental Divide, two miles south of Mount Sneffels, and 0.8 mile south of Gilpin Peak, the nearest higher neighbor. Emma ranks as the 197th-highest peak in Colorado, and the 10th-highest in the Sneffels Range. Topographic relief is significant as the south aspect rises 4,830 feet above Telluride in approximately three miles. An ascent of Mt. Emma is a difficult climb with 2,180 feet of elevation gain covering three miles from Yankee Boy Basin, or 4,836 feet of elevation gain from Telluride. This mountain's name was officially adopted by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.

Coxcomb Peak is a 13,656-foot-elevation (4,162-meter) mountain summit located on the common boundary of Hinsdale County and Ouray County, in Colorado, United States. It is situated nine miles northeast of the community of Ouray, in the Uncompahgre Wilderness, on land managed by Uncompahgre National Forest. It is part of the San Juan Mountains which are a subset of the Rocky Mountains, and is situated west of the Continental Divide. Coxcomb ranks as the 171st-highest peak in Colorado, and topographic relief is significant as the south aspect rises 2,000 feet above Wetterhorn Basin in approximately one mile, and 4,400 feet above Cow Creek in three miles. Neighbors include Precipice Peak 2.7 miles to the north, Redcliff one-half mile north, Matterhorn Peak 2.3 miles to the east-southeast, and nearest higher neighbor Wetterhorn Peak 1.8 mile to the southeast. The mountain's descriptive name, which has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names, was in use since at least 1906 when Henry Gannett published it in the Gazetteer of Colorado.

Engineer Mountain is a 12,968-foot-elevation (3,953-meter) mountain summit located in San Juan County, Colorado, United States. It is part of the San Juan Mountains range which is a subset of the Rocky Mountains, and is west of the Continental Divide. Engineer Mountain is a prominent landmark set 1.5 mile immediately west of Coal Bank Pass, and is visible from multiple viewpoints along Highway 550, making it one of the most photographed mountains in the San Juans. It is situated 11 miles southwest of the community of Silverton, on land managed by San Juan National Forest. Topographic relief is significant as the southwest aspect rises 3,800 feet above Cascade Creek in approximately two miles. Neighbors include Snowdon Peak seven miles to the east, and Twilight Peak, five miles to the southeast.

Wildhorse Peak is a 13,266-foot-elevation (4,043-meter) mountain summit located in Ouray County, of Colorado, United States. It is situated five miles east of the community of Ouray, in the Uncompahgre Wilderness, on land managed by Uncompahgre National Forest. It is part of the San Juan Mountains which are a subset of the Rocky Mountains, and is situated west of the Continental Divide. Neighbors include Darley Mountain 2.2 miles to the south, and Abrams Mountain five miles to the southwest. This distinctive peak abruptly rises 1,000 feet above the alpine tundra of American Flats, and topographic relief is significant as the northwest aspect rises 1,600 feet above Wildhorse Creek in less than one mile. The peak can be seen from Montrose and Highway 550. The first ascent of the summit was made August 25, 1899, by Eli Stanton, F. H. Stanton, and William Killen. The mountain's name, which has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names, was in use in 1906 when Henry Gannett published it in A Gazetteer of Colorado.

Palmyra Peak is a 13,319-foot-elevation (4,060-meter) mountain summit located in San Miguel County of southwest Colorado, United States. It is situated four miles south of the town of Telluride, on land managed by Uncompahgre National Forest. It is part of the San Juan Mountains which are a subset of the Rocky Mountains, and is west of the Continental Divide. It is immediately south of Telluride Ski Resort, from which it is a prominent landmark, and Palmyra has the distinction of having the highest inbounds skiing terrain of any North American ski resort. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises 2,300 feet above Prospect Basin in one mile, and the west aspect rises 2,100 feet above Alta Lakes in one-half mile. The mountain's name has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names in association with the Palmyra Mine, a gold and silver mine located at an elevation of 11,650-feet on the peak's western aspect. Other mines on its flanks included Lakeview Mine, Mountain Quail Mine, Roy Johnston mine, and Turkey Creek Mine.

Carson Peak is a 13,662-foot-elevation (4,164-meter) summit in Hinsdale County, Colorado, United States.

Mount Moss is a 13,192-foot-elevation (4,021-meter) mountain summit on the common boundary shared by La Plata County and Montezuma County in Colorado.

Diorite Peak is a 12,761-foot-elevation (3,890-meter) mountain summit on the common boundary shared by La Plata County and Montezuma County in Colorado.

Spiller Peak is a 13,123-foot-elevation (4,000-meter) mountain summit on the common boundary shared by La Plata County and Montezuma County in Colorado.

Babcock Peak is a 13,161-foot-elevation (4,011-meter) mountain summit in La Plata County, Colorado.

Electric Peak is a 13,598-foot (4,145 m) mountain summit on the boundary shared by Custer and Saguache counties, in Colorado, United States.

Cross Mountain is a 12,703-foot-elevation (3,872-meter) summit on the border shared by Dolores and San Miguel County, in Colorado, United States.

Grizzly Peak is a 13,738-foot-elevation (4,187-meter) mountain summit on the boundary shared by Dolores County and San Juan County, in Colorado, United States.

Engineer Mountain is a 13,225-foot-elevation (4,031 meter) summit located on the boundary shared by Hinsdale County with Ouray County, in Colorado, United States.

Grayrock Peak is a 12,504-foot-elevation (3,811-meter) mountain summit located in San Juan County, Colorado, United States.

Wood Mountain is a 13,682-foot-elevation (4,170 meter) summit located on the boundary shared by Hinsdale County with San Juan County, in Colorado, United States.

North Pole Peak is a 12,208-foot-elevation (3,721-meter) mountain summit located in San Miguel County, Colorado, United States.

Parika Peak is a 12,402-foot-elevation (3,780-meter) mountain summit in Colorado, United States.

References

1 2 Robert M. Ormes (2000), Guide to the Colorado Mountains, Colorado Mountain Club Press, ISBN 9780967146607, p. 322.
↑ Robert F. Rosebrough (1986), The San Juan Mountains: A Climbing & Hiking Guide, Cordillera Press, p. 33.
1 2 3 4 5 "Centennial Peak, Colorado". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
↑ "Centennial Peak - 13,068' CO". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.
1 2 3 4 5 "Centennial Peak". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved May 21, 2023.
1 2 John Peel, Paul Pixler (2020), Hiking Trails of Southwestern Colorado, Fifth Edition, West Margin Press, ISBN 9781513262987, p. 73.
↑ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN 1027-5606.

External links

Weather forecast: Centennial Peak

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[Ormes-1] 1 2 Robert M. Ormes (2000), Guide to the Colorado Mountains, Colorado Mountain Club Press, ISBN 9780967146607, p. 322.

[2] Robert F. Rosebrough (1986), The San Juan Mountains: A Climbing & Hiking Guide, Cordillera Press, p. 33.

[pb-3] 1 2 3 4 5 "Centennial Peak, Colorado". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.

[listsofjohn-4] "Centennial Peak - 13,068' CO". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved May 21, 2023.

[GNIS-5] 1 2 3 4 5 "Centennial Peak". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved May 21, 2023.

[Pixler-6] 1 2 John Peel, Paul Pixler (2020), Hiking Trails of Southwestern Colorado, Fifth Edition, West Margin Press, ISBN 9781513262987, p. 73.

[Peel-7] Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN 1027-5606.

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