Cross Mountain (Colorado) Explained

Cross Mountain
Elevation Ft:12703
Elevation Ref:[1] [2]
Prominence Ft:203
Isolation Mi:1.02
Parent Peak:Gladstone Peak (13,919 ft)
Country:United States
State:Colorado
Region:Dolores / San Miguel
Region Type:County
Part Type:Protected area
Part:Lizard Head Wilderness
Range:Rocky Mountains
San Juan Mountains
San Miguel Mountains[3]
Map:Colorado#USA
Label Position:top
Coordinates:37.8321°N -107.9687°W
Coordinates Ref:[4]
Topo:USGS Mount Wilson
Rock:Mancos Shale and Igneous rock[5]
Age:Cretaceous

Cross Mountain is a 12703feet summit on the border shared by Dolores and San Miguel County, in Colorado, United States.

Description

Cross Mountain is located 11miles southwest of the community of Telluride in the Lizard Head Wilderness, on land administered by Uncompahgre National Forest and San Juan National Forest. It is situated west of the Continental Divide in the San Juan Mountains which are a subrange of the Rocky Mountains. Precipitation runoff from the mountain's south slope drains to the Dolores River via Slate Creek, whereas the north slope drains to the San Miguel River via Bilk Creek. Topographic relief is modest as the summit rises 2100abbr=offNaNabbr=off above Slate Creek in 1.4miles. An ascent of the summit involves hiking 4.3miles with 2,663 feet of elevation gain from the Cross Mountain Trailhead along Highway 145.[1] 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, Cross Mountain has an alpine climate 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.

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://books.google.com/books?id=Do-sEAAAQBAJ&dq=cross+mountain+san+juan+colorado&pg=PT316 James Dziezynski (2023), Best Summit Hikes in Colorado: 55 Classic Routes and 100+ Summits
  2. Web site: Cross Mountain - 12,703' CO. listsofjohn.com. June 9, 2023.
  3. 58360. Cross Mountain, Colorado. June 9, 2023.
  4. 187476. Cross Mountain. June 9, 2023.
  5. https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/1227/plate-1.pdf Geologic map and sections of the Mount Wilson Quadrangle, Colorado
  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.