Fools Peak

Coordinates: 39°27′03″N 106°35′58″W / 39.4508128°N 106.5994444°W / 39.4508128; -106.5994444
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fools Peak
Northeast aspect
Highest point
Elevation12,954 ft (3,948 m)[1]
Prominence615 ft (187 m)[1]
Isolation1.28 mi (2.06 km)[1]
Coordinates39°27′03″N 106°35′58″W / 39.4508128°N 106.5994444°W / 39.4508128; -106.5994444[2]
Geography
Fools Peak is located in Colorado
Fools Peak
Fools Peak
Location in Colorado
Fools Peak is located in the United States
Fools Peak
Fools Peak
Fools Peak (the United States)
CountryUnited States
StateColorado
CountyEagle
Protected areaHoly Cross Wilderness
Parent rangeRocky Mountains
Sawatch Range[3]
Topo mapUSGS Mount Jackson
Climbing
Easiest routeclass 2[1]

Fools Peak is a 12,954-foot-elevation (3,948-meter) summit in Eagle County, Colorado, United States.[2]

Description[edit]

Fools Peak is located in the Sawatch Range and is set in the Holy Cross Wilderness, on land managed by White River National Forest.[1] Precipitation runoff from the mountain's south slope drains into Lime Creek which is a tributary of the Fryingpan River, whereas the north slope drains into East Brush Creek → Brush Creek → Eagle River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,650 feet (503 m) above Mystic Island Lake in one-half mile (0.8 km) and 2,900 feet (884 m) above Lime Creek in 1.1 mile (1.8 km). An ascent of the summit involves hiking 6.5 miles (one way) and 4,340 feet of total elevation gain.[4] The North Ridge is considered one of the best ridge scrambles in Colorado.[5] The mountain's toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names,[2] and has been reported in publications since at least 1923.[6]

Climate[edit]

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Fools Peak is located in an alpine subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers.[7] 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[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Fools Peak - 12,954' CO". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "Fools Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  3. ^ "Fools Peak, Colorado". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  4. ^ Dave Cooper, A mystical lake, no fooling, October 11, 2007, The Denver Post
  5. ^ Backpacker, April 2007, p. 127.
  6. ^ Roger Wolcott Toll, The Mountain Peaks of Colorado, Colorado Mountain Club, 1923, p. 27.
  7. ^ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11 (5): 1633. Bibcode:2007HESS...11.1633P. doi:10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007. ISSN 1027-5606. S2CID 9654551.

External links[edit]