Cottonwood Peak (Colorado) Explained

Cottonwood Peak
Elevation Ft:13588
Elevation Ref:[1] [2]
Prominence Ft:1128
Prominence Ref:[3]
Isolation Mi:3.69
Parent Peak:Electric Peak (13,598 ft)
Country:United States
State:Colorado
Region:Custer / Saguache
Region Type:County
Part Type:Protected area
Part:Sangre de Cristo Wilderness
Range:Rocky Mountains
Sangre de Cristo Range
Map:Colorado#USA
Coordinates:38.2193°N -105.7564°W
Coordinates Ref:[4]
Topo:USGS Valley View Hot Springs
Type:Fault block

Cottonwood Peak is a 13588feet mountain summit on the boundary shared by Custer and Saguache counties, in Colorado, United States.

Description

Cottonwood Peak is set on the crest of the Sangre de Cristo Range which is a subrange of the Rocky Mountains. It is the seventh-highest summit in Custer County and the 191st-highest in Colorado.[3] The mountain is located 10miles south of Coaldale in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, on land managed by San Isabel National Forest and Rio Grande National Forest.[2] Precipitation runoff from the mountain's eastern slopes drains to Lake Creek → Texas Creek → Arkansas River, whereas the west slope drains to the San Luis Valley. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises over 3200feet above Garner Creek in 1.5 mile (2.4 km). An ascent of the summit involves 12 miles of hiking with 5,400 feet of elevation gain.[5] The mountain's toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.[4]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Cottonwood Peak is located in an alpine subarctic climate zone with 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. Climbers can expect afternoon rain, hail, and lightning from the seasonal monsoon in late July and August.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Robert M. Ormes (2000), Guide to the Colorado Mountains, Colorado Mountain Club Press,, p. 102.
  2. 5895. Cottonwood Peak, Colorado. May 30, 2023.
  3. Web site: Cottonwood Peak – 13,597' CO. listsofjohn.com. May 30, 2023.
  4. 192098. Cottonwood Peak. May 30, 2023.
  5. Mike Garratt, Bob Martin (1984), Colorado's High Thirteeners, Johnson Books,, p. 77.
  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 . 1027-5606.