Cirque Mountain (Colorado)

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Cirque Mountain
Cirque and Teakettle.jpg
Cirque Mountain (left), west aspect.
(Teakettle Mtn upper right, from Mt. Sneffels)
Highest point
Elevation 13,686 ft (4,171 m) [1] [2]
Prominence 526 ft (160 m) [1]
Parent peak Teakettle Mountain (13,819 ft) [3]
Isolation 0.57 mi (0.92 km) [3]
Coordinates 38°00′14″N107°46′18″W / 38.0038255°N 107.7716743°W / 38.0038255; -107.7716743 Coordinates: 38°00′14″N107°46′18″W / 38.0038255°N 107.7716743°W / 38.0038255; -107.7716743 [4]
Naming
Etymology cirque
Geography
USA Colorado relief location map.svg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Cirque Mountain
Location in Colorado
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Cirque Mountain
Cirque Mountain (the United States)
Location Ouray County
Colorado, US
Parent range Rocky Mountains
San Juan Mountains
Sneffels Range [1]
Topo map USGS Mount Sneffels
Geology
Type of rock Extrusive rock
Climbing
Easiest route class 2+ [3] Southwest Ridge

Cirque Mountain is a 13,686-foot-elevation (4,171-meter) mountain summit located in Ouray County of southwest Colorado, United States. [4] It is situated six miles west of the community of Ouray, above the north side of Yankee Boy Basin, on land managed by 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. Cirque ranks as the 155th-highest peak in Colorado, [3] and the ninth-highest in the Sneffels Range. [1] It is west of the Continental Divide, 1.12 mile east of Mount Sneffels, and 0.59 mile west of Teakettle Mountain, which is the nearest higher neighbor. [1] Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises 3,000 feet (910 meters) above Blaine Basin in one mile, and the south aspect rises over 2,000 feet above Yankee Boy Basin in less than one mile. These basins are cirques which were carved by ancient glaciers. [5] The mountain's name has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names. [4]

Contents

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Cirque Mountain is located in an alpine subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers. [6] 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. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Uncompahgre River.

See also

Related Research Articles

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Mount Sneffels is the highest summit of the Sneffels Range in the Rocky Mountains of North America. The prominent 14,158-foot (4315.4 m) fourteener is located in the Mount Sneffels Wilderness of Uncompahgre National Forest, 6.7 miles (10.8 km) west by south of the City of Ouray in Ouray County, Colorado, United States. The summit of Mount Sneffels is the highest point in Ouray County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sneffels Range</span> Mountain range in Colorado, United States

The Sneffels Range, regionally conterminous with San Juans, is a young, prominent, and rugged range of mountains in southwestern Colorado of the San Juan Mountains. The Sneffels range form the southern border of Ouray County and run west to east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dallas Peak</span>

Dallas Peak is a high mountain summit in the Sneffels Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 13,815-foot (4,211 m) thirteener is located in the Mount Sneffels Wilderness of Uncompahgre National Forest, 3.3 miles (5.3 km) north by west of the Town of Telluride, Colorado, United States, on the drainage divide between Ouray and San Miguel counties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teakettle Mountain</span> Mountain in Colorado, United States

Teakettle Mountain, elevation 13,825 ft (4,214 m), is a summit in the Sneffels Range of southwest Colorado. The peak is west of Ouray in the Uncompahgre National Forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilpin Peak</span>

Gilpin Peak is a high mountain summit in the Sneffels Range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 13,700-foot (4,176 m) thirteener is located in the Mount Sneffels Wilderness of Uncompahgre National Forest, 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north-northeast of the Town of Telluride, Colorado, United States, on the drainage divide between Ouray County and San Miguel County. Gilpin Peak was named in honor of William Gilpin, the first Governor of the Territory of Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Garfield (San Juan County, Colorado)</span>

Mount Garfield is a 13,074-foot-elevation (3,985-meter) mountain summit located in San Juan County, Colorado, United States. It is situated eight 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. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Animas River. The peak can be seen from U.S. Route 550 and the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad. Topographic relief is significant as the west aspect rises over 4,300 feet above the river and railway in approximately one mile. It is set six miles west of the Continental Divide, one mile west of Electric Peak, and three miles east-southeast of Snowdon Peak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mears Peak</span>

Mears Peak is a 13,496-foot-elevation (4,114-meter) mountain summit located on the common boundary of Ouray County with San Miguel County, in Colorado, United States. It is situated six miles northwest of the community of Telluride, in the Mount Sneffels Wilderness, on land managed by 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. Mears Peak is situated west of the Continental Divide, and 3.8 miles west of Mount Sneffels. Topographic relief is significant as the south aspect rises 4,900 feet above the San Miguel River in approximately 5.5 miles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hayden Peak (San Miguel County, Colorado)</span>

Hayden Peak is a 12,987-foot-elevation (3,958-meter) mountain summit located in San Miguel County, in Colorado, United States. It is situated nine miles northwest of the community of Telluride, in the Mount Sneffels Wilderness, on land managed by 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. Hayden Peak is situated west of the Continental Divide, and three miles northwest of Mears Peak. Topographic relief is significant as the south aspect rises 2,000 feet above Deep Creek in approximately one mile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Precipice Peak</span>

Precipice Peak is a 13,144-foot-elevation (4,006-meter) mountain summit located in Hinsdale County, of Colorado, United States. It is situated 10.5 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 is a subset of the Rocky Mountains, and is situated west of the Continental Divide. Topographic relief is significant as the west aspect rises 2,500 feet above the West Fork Cimarron River valley in approximately one mile. Neighbors include Dunsinane Mountain three-quarters of a mile north, Courthouse Mountain 2.4 miles northwest, and Redcliff 2.2 miles south. The mountain's name was officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names in 1966. It is so named because of a very prominent precipice on the mountain's east face.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Potosi Peak</span> Mountain in Colorado, United States

Potosi Peak is a 13,786-foot-elevation (4,202-meter) mountain summit located in Ouray County of Colorado, United States. It is situated five miles southwest of the community of Ouray, on land managed by 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. It is situated west of the Continental Divide, 2.2 miles south of Whitehouse Mountain, and 2.5 miles southeast of Mount Sneffels. Potosi ranks as the 113th-highest peak in Colorado, and the fourth-highest in the Sneffels Range. Recreation enthusiasts heading for Yankee Boy Basin traverse below the southern base of the mountain. Topographic relief is significant as the southeast aspect rises 4,000 feet above the Camp Bird Mine in approximately 1.5 mile. The mining activity in the immediate area produced significant amounts of gold and silver. "Potosi" in Quechuan language translates to "great wealth.". The mountain's name, which has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names, was in use before 1899 when Henry Gannett published it in A Dictionary of Altitudes in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Emma</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coxcomb Peak (Colorado)</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitehouse Mountain</span>

Whitehouse Mountain is a 13,492-foot-elevation (4,112-meter) mountain summit located in Ouray County of southwest Colorado, United States. It is situated four miles west of the community of Ouray, on land managed by 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. It is west of the Continental Divide, 2.2 miles north of Potosi Peak, and 3.2 miles east-northeast of Mount Sneffels. Topographic relief is significant as the east aspect rises 5,680 feet above the town of Ouray in approximately four miles. The mountain's name, which has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names, was in use before 1906 when Henry Gannett published it in the Gazetteer of Colorado.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Ridgway</span>

Mount Ridgway is a 13,468-foot-elevation (4,105-meter) mountain summit located in Ouray County of southwest Colorado, United States. It is situated five miles west of the community of Ouray, on land managed by 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. It is west of the Continental Divide, 2.2 miles east-northeast of Mount Sneffels, and 0.95 miles southwest of Whitehouse Mountain, which is the nearest higher neighbor. Topographic relief is significant as the west aspect rises 3,000 feet above Blaine Basin in one mile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stony Mountain (Colorado)</span>

Stony Mountain is a 12,698-foot-elevation (3,870-meter) mountain summit located in Ouray County of southwest Colorado, United States. It is situated five miles southwest of the community of Ouray, on land managed by 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. It is situated west of the Continental Divide, 1.3 miles southwest of Potosi Peak, and 1.15 miles northeast of parent Mount Emma. Yankee Boy Basin is surrounded by Stony Mountain, Gilpin Peak, Mount Sneffels, Cirque Mountain, and Teakettle Mountain. Topographic relief is significant as the east aspect rises 2,000 feet above Sneffels Creek in less than one mile. The mountain's name, which has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names, was in use before 1899 when Henry Gannett published it in A Dictionary of Altitudes in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States Mountain</span>

United States Mountain is a 13,036-foot-elevation (3,973-meter) mountain summit located in Ouray County of southwest Colorado, United States. It is situated six miles southwest of the community of Ouray, on land managed by 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. It is set west of the Continental Divide, 2.3 miles south of Potosi Peak, and 2.5 miles southeast of Stony Mountain. Recreation enthusiasts heading for Yankee Boy Basin traverse below the northern base of the mountain. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises 3,300 feet above the Camp Bird Mine in approximately one mile. Mining activity in the immediate area produced significant amounts of gold and silver. The Hidden Treasure Mine is a gold mine located on the south slope at 11,759-feet elevation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abrams Mountain</span>

Abrams Mountain, also known as Mount Abram or Mount Abrams, is a 12,801-foot-elevation (3,902-meter) mountain summit located on the shared boundary of Ouray County with San Juan County in southwest Colorado, United States. It is situated four miles south of the town of Ouray, 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. Topographic relief is significant as the north aspect rises 3,800 feet above Uncompahgre Gorge in 1.5 mile. Historic mines are located on the slopes of Abrams Mountain. This iconic feature of the Ouray landscape can be seen for many miles while driving Highway 550 south from Montrose toward Ouray, and it dominates the San Juan Skyway from Red Mountain Pass to Ironton Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wildhorse Peak</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redcliff (Colorado)</span>

Redcliff is a 13,642-foot-elevation (4,158-meter) mountain summit located in Hinsdale County, in southwest Colorado, United States. It is situated nine miles northeast of the town 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. Redcliff ranks as the 175th-highest peak in Colorado, and topographic relief is significant as the west aspect rises 2,300 feet above the West Fork Cimarron River valley in approximately one mile. Neighbors include Precipice Peak and Dunsinane Mountain along the west-middle Cimarron divide three miles to the north, and nearest higher neighbor Coxcomb Peak one-half mile to the south. An ascent of Redcliff involves 3,300 feet of elevation gain and 10 miles of hiking, round-trip. The mountain's name was proposed by the Colorado Mountain Club, and was officially adopted in 1966 by the United States Board on Geographic Names. It is so named because of a large reddish-colored cliff on the mountain's east face.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chicago Peak</span>

Chicago Peak is a 13,385-foot-elevation (4,080-meter) mountain summit located on the shared boundary of San Miguel County with Ouray County in southwest Colorado, United States. It is situated four miles (6.4 km) east of the community of Telluride, on land managed by Uncompahgre National Forest. It is part of the Sneffels Range which is a subset of the San Juan Mountains, which in turn are part of the Rocky Mountains. It is set above the ghost town of Tomboy, one mile (1.6 km) south of United States Mountain, and one mile northwest of Imogene Pass. Topographic relief is significant as the east aspect rises 2,000 feet above Imogene Basin in approximately one mile, and the west aspect rises 2,000 feet above Savage Basin in less than one mile. Mining activity in the immediate area produced significant amounts of gold and silver.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Cirque Mountain, Colorado". Peakbagger.com.
  2. Mike Garratt, Bob Martin, Colorado's High Thirteeners: A Climbing and Hiking Guide, 1992, Johnson Books, ISBN   9780917895395, page 161.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Cirque Mountain - 13,686' CO". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2021-07-05.
  4. 1 2 3 "Cirque Mountain". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2021-07-05.
  5. Ralph Lee Hopkins, Lindy Birkel Hopkins, 2000, Hiking Colorado's Geology, The Mountaineers Books, ISBN   9780898867084, page 155.
  6. 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.