Sprague Mountain Explained

Sprague Mountain
Elevation Ft:12713
Elevation Ref:[1]
Prominence Ft:552
Prominence Ref:[2]
Isolation Mi:1.04
Parent Peak:Stones Peak (12,922 ft)
Country:United States
State:Colorado
Region:Grand County / Larimer County
Region Type:County
Part Type:Protected area
Part:Rocky Mountain National Park
Range:Rocky Mountains
Front Range[3]
Map:Colorado#USA
Label Position:right
Coordinates:40.3466°N -105.7364°W
Coordinates Ref:[4]
Topo:USGS McHenrys Peak
Rock:Biotite schist and gneiss[5]
Age:Paleoproterozoic
Easiest Route: Southeast ridge[6]

Sprague Mountain is a 12713feet mountain summit on the boundary shared by Grand County and Larimer County, in Colorado, United States.[3] It is set on the Continental Divide in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, and 12.5miles west of the community of Estes Park. Precipitation runoff from the mountain's east side drains into tributaries of the Big Thompson River and the west slope drains into headwaters of Tonahutu Creek which flows to Grand Lake. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises over 1900abbr=offNaNabbr=off above Tonahutu Creek in one mile. The peak is visible from Trail Ridge Road.

Etymology

Abner Erwin Sprague (1850–1943) was one of the early settlers of Estes Park who homesteaded in the nearby Moraine Park area in 1874.[7] Other landforms in the national park bearing his name include Sprague Lake, Sprague Glacier, and Sprague Pass. 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, Sprague Mountain is located in an alpine subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers.[8] 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. This climate supports the Sprague Glacier on the south aspect of the mountain.[9]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Robert M. Ormes (1992), Guide to the Colorado Mountains, Johnson Books,, p. 47.
  2. Web site: Sprague Mountain - 12,709' CO. listsofjohn.com. April 26, 2023.
  3. 5611. Sprague Mountain, Colorado. April 26, 2023.
  4. 177869. Sprague Mountain. April 26, 2023.
  5. https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_87496.htm Geologic map of the Estes Park 30' x 60' quadrangle, north-central Colorado
  6. Lisa Foster, 2005, Rocky Mountain National Park: The Complete Hiking Guide, Westcliffe Publishers,, p. 93.
  7. Web site: Time Line of Historic Events. National Park Service. April 26, 2023.
  8. 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.
  9. James Fargo Balliett (2016), Mountains Environmental Issues, Global Perspectives, Publisher: Taylor & Francis,