West Spanish Peak
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| West Spanish Peak | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 13,626 ft (4,153 m) |
| Location | Colorado, United States |
| Range | Culebra Range, Sangre de Cristo Mountains |
| Prominence | 3,686 ft (1,124 m)[1] |
| Coordinates | |
| Topo map | Spanish Peaks (CO) |
| Easiest route | West Ridge: hike/scramble (Class 2) |
West Spanish Peak is a high mountain peak in the US state of Colorado. It is the higher of the two Spanish Peaks, two large igneous stocks which form an eastern outlier of the Culebra Range, a subrange of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Though not a fourteener, it is the twelfth most topographically prominent peak in the state.
Due to its position well east of the Culebra Range and on the edge of the eastern plains of Colorado, West Spanish Peak enjoys great local vertical relief in almost all directions. For example, it rises over 5,200 ft (1,585 m) in less than 4 miles (6.4 km) on both its north and south flanks.
[edit] Geology
While the Spanish Peaks have the appearance of volcanic cones, they are actually stocks, remnants of an igneous batholith which formed underground around 25 million years ago. They are surrounded by radiating dikes, up to 14 miles (22 km) long, made of the same material.[2]
[edit] Hiking/climbing
The standard ascent route for West Spanish Peak starts at Cordova Pass, a high pass (11,248 ft/3,428 m) to the west of the peak. It follows a trail for about 2 miles (3.2 km) and a rough path on talus and scree up the southwest ridge of the peak for an additional 1.5 miles (2.4 km).[3]
[edit] See also
- Colorado 4k peaks
- Colorado mountain peaks
- Colorado mountain ranges
- Mountain peaks of Colorado
- Mountain peaks of North America
- Mountain peaks of the Rocky Mountains
- Mountain peaks of the United States
- Rocky Mountains
[edit] References
- ^ Colorado high-prominence peaks on peaklist.org
- ^ The Spanish Peaks on sangres.com
- ^ Mike Garratt and Bob Martin, Colorado's High Thirteeners, Third Edition, Johnson Books, Boulder, Colorado, ISBN 0-917895-39-8.
[edit] External links
- West Spanish Peak is at coordinates Coordinates:
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