Precipice Peak
{{Short description|Mountain in the state of Colorado}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Precipice Peak
| photo = Precipice Peak.jpg
| photo_caption = Northwest aspect
| elevation_ft = 13144
| elevation_ref = {{cite peakbagger|56707|Precipice Peak, Colorado}}
| prominence_ft = 464
| isolation_mi = 1.52
| isolation_ref = {{cite web|url=https://listsofjohn.com/peak/662|title=Precipice Peak - 13,144' CO|website=listsofjohn.com|accessdate=2021-06-30}}
| parent_peak = Fortress Peak (13,241 ft)
| etymology = Precipice
| location = Hinsdale County
Colorado, US
| range = Rocky Mountains
San Juan Mountains
| map = Colorado#USA
| map_caption = Location in Colorado
| label_position = top
| coordinates = {{coord|38.1191433|N|107.5355828|W|type:mountain_region:US-CO_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| topo = USGS Wetterhorn Peak
| rock =
| age =
| type =
| easiest_route = {{YDS|2+}} W slope, south ridgeRobert F. Rosebrough, The San Juan Mountains: A Climbing & Hiking Guide, Cordillera Press, 1986, page 224.
}}
Precipice Peak is a {{convert|13,144|ft|meter|adj=mid|-elevation|abbr=off|sp=us}} mountain summit located in Hinsdale County, of Colorado, United States.{{cite gnis| id = 188665| name = Precipice Peak| accessdate = 2021-06-30}} It is situated 10.5 miles northeast of the community of Ouray, in the Uncompahgre Wilderness, on land managed by Uncompahgre National Forest. It is part of the San Juan Mountains which is a subset of the Rocky Mountains, and is situated west of the Continental Divide. Topographic relief is significant as the west aspect rises {{convert|2,500|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} above the West Fork Cimarron River valley in approximately one mile. Neighbors include Dunsinane Mountain three-quarters of a mile north, Courthouse Mountain 2.4 miles northwest, and Redcliff 2.2 miles south. The mountain's name was officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names in 1966. It is so named because of a very prominent precipice on the mountain's east face.United States Board on Geographic Names, Decisions on Geographic Names in the United States, Decision List No. 6602, 1966, page 9.
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Precipice Peak is located in an alpine subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers.{{cite journal | author = Peel, M. C. |author2=Finlayson, B. L. |author3=McMahon, T. A. | year = 2007 | title = Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification | journal = Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. | volume = 11 | issn = 1027-5606}} 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. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Cimarron River.
Gallery
File:Precipice and Dunsinane.jpg|East aspect
File:Precipice Peak in Sept. 2014.jpg|Precipice Peak centered, with Courthouse Mountain on left. Camera pointed east.
File:Chimney, Courthouse, Precipice.jpg|Chimney Rock (left), Courthouse Mountain (center), Precipice Peak (right)
File:Dunsinane Mountain - Precipice Peak.jpg|Dunsinane Mountain on the left, with Precipice Peak on the right. West aspect.
File:Cimarron Range in Sep 2014.jpg|Courthouse and Precipice centered, Redcliff to far right
See also
{{portal|Mountains|Colorado}}
- {{C|Mountains of Hinsdale County, Colorado}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{stack|}}
- Weather forecast: [https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/2-5435313/United%20States/Colorado/Hinsdale/Precipice%20Peak Precipice Peak]
{{Mountains of Colorado}}
Category:Mountains of Hinsdale County, Colorado
Category:San Juan Mountains (Colorado)