Pico Aislado is a 13,611-foot (4,149 m) mountain summit in Saguache County, Colorado, United States.

Pico Aislado
North aspect (center), viewed from Humboldt Peak
Highest point
Elevation13,611 ft (4,149 m)[1][2]
Prominence883 ft (269 m)[3]
Parent peakCrestone Needle (14,203 ft)[3]
Isolation1.71 mi (2.75 km)[3]
Coordinates37°56′40″N 105°33′32″W / 37.9443552°N 105.5589626°W / 37.9443552; -105.5589626[4]
Naming
Etymology"Isolated Peak"
Geography
Pico Aislado is located in Colorado
Pico Aislado
Pico Aislado
Location in Colorado
Pico Aislado is located in the United States
Pico Aislado
Pico Aislado
Pico Aislado (the United States)
CountryUnited States
StateColorado
CountySaguache
Protected areaSangre de Cristo Wilderness
Parent rangeRocky Mountains
Sangre de Cristo Range[2]
Topo mapUSGS Crestone Peak
Geology
Mountain typeFault block
Climbing
Easiest routeHiking class 2[3]

Description

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Pico Aislado is set one-half mile west of the crest of the Sangre de Cristo Range which is a subrange of the Rocky Mountains. It is the 16th-highest summit in Saguache County,[5] and the 184th-highest in Colorado.[3] The peak is located in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness on land managed by Rio Grande National Forest.[2] Precipitation runoff from the mountain's slopes drains into Deadman and Cottonwood creeks which flow west into San Luis Valley. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 2,400 feet (732 m) above Deadman Creek in one mile (1.6 km).

Etymology

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The mountain's toponym was officially adopted in 1972 by the United States Board on Geographic Names.[6] The Spanish language name translates as "Isolated Peak" and refers its remote location, which was suggested by the Colorado Mountain Club.[4]

Climate

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According to the Köppen climate classification system, Pico Aislado 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

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References

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  1. ^ Robert M. Ormes (2000), Guide to the Colorado Mountains, Colorado Mountain Club Press, ISBN 9780967146607, p. 109.
  2. ^ a b c "Pico Aislado, Colorado". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Pico Aislado – 13,621' CO". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Pico Aislado". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  5. ^ "Pico Aislado, Peakvisor.com". Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  6. ^ Decisions of the United States Geographic Board, Decision List No. 7201, US Geological Survey, p. 5.
  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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