Babcock Peak

Babcock Peak is a 13,161-foot-elevation (4,011-meter) mountain summit in La Plata County, Colorado.

Babcock Peak
Southwest aspect, aerial view
(The true summit is the left peak, and the right peak is labelled Babcock Peak 13149 on USGS map)
Highest point
Elevation13,161 ft (4,011 m)[1][2]
Prominence505 ft (154 m)[1]
Parent peakLavender Peak (13,233 ft)[1]
Isolation0.65 mi (1.05 km)[2]
Coordinates37°25′42″N 108°04′37″W[3]
Geography
Babcock Peak is located in Colorado
Babcock Peak
Babcock Peak
Location in Colorado
Babcock Peak is located in the United States
Babcock Peak
Babcock Peak
Babcock Peak (the United States)
CountryUnited States
StateColorado
CountyLa Plata
Parent rangeRocky Mountains
San Juan Mountains
La Plata Mountains[2]
Topo mapUSGS La Plata
Climbing
Easiest routeclass 3+ scrambling[1]

Description

Babcock Peak is located 15 miles (24 km) northwest of the community of Durango on land managed by San Juan National Forest. It ranks as the fourth-highest summit of the La Plata Mountains which are a subrange of the Rocky Mountains.[2] Precipitation runoff from the mountain's west slope drains to the Mancos River and the southeast slope drains to the La Plata River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises over 3,900 feet (1,200 meters) above the river in 2.2 miles (3.5 km). Neighbors include Mount Moss 0.65 miles (1.05 km) to the north and Spiller Peak 0.43 miles (0.69 km) to the west.[2] The mountain's toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names,[3] and was recorded in publications in 1900.[4][5] On February 25, 1962, a US Air Force T-29A plane struck the side of Babcock Peak in a snowstorm, killing the three crew.[6]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Babcock Peak has an alpine climate 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.

  • South aspects of Spiller Peak (left) and Babcock Peak(s)
    South aspects of Spiller Peak (left) and Babcock Peak(s)
  • La Plata Mountains from NNE. Left to rightː Babcock Peak, Mt. Moss, Lavender Peak, Centennial Peak, Hesperus Mountain
    La Plata Mountains from NNE. Left to rightː Babcock Peak, Mt. Moss, Lavender Peak, Centennial Peak, Hesperus Mountain

See also

References
  1. "Babcock Peak - 13,161' CO". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  2. "Babcock Peak, Colorado". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  3. "Babcock Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  4. United States Geological Survey (1900), Twenty-First Annual Report of the United States Geological Survey to the Secretary of the Interior 1899–1900, US Government Printing Office, p. 82.
  5. Henry Gannett, United States Geological Survey (1906), A Gazetteer of Colorado, US Government Printing Office, p. 20.
  6. Accident description for 49-1931 at the Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved on May 25, 2023.
  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. ISSN 1027-5606.
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