El Diente Peak

Summary

El Diente Peak is a high summit in the San Juan Mountains range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 14,165-foot (4,317 m) peak is located in the Lizard Head Wilderness of San Juan National Forest, 10.5 miles (16.9 km) north by east (bearing 8°) of the Town of Rico in Dolores County, Colorado, United States. "El Diente" is Spanish for "The Tooth", a reference to the shape of the peak.[1][2][3]

El Diente Peak
El Diente Peak from Mount Wilson
Highest point
Elevation14,165 ft (4,317 m)[1][2]
Prominence239 ft (73 m)[2]
Parent peakMount Wilson[2]
Isolation0.75 mi (1.21 km)[2]
Coordinates37°50′22″N 108°00′19″W / 37.8394383°N 108.0053474°W / 37.8394383; -108.0053474[3]
Naming
English translationThe Tooth
Language of nameSpanish
Geography
El Diente Peak is located in Colorado
El Diente Peak
El Diente Peak
LocationDolores County, Colorado, U.S.[3]
Parent rangeSan Juan Mountains[2]
Topo mapUSGS 7.5' topographic map
Dolores Peak, Colorado[3]
Climbing
Easiest routeSouth Slopes: Scramble, class 3[4]

Climbing edit

The topographic prominence of El Diente Peak is only 239 feet (73 m), so by a strict 300-foot (91 m) cutoff rule, it would not be counted as a separate peak from its higher neighbor Mount Wilson. However, the 3/4 mile (1.2 km) connecting ridge is a significant climbing challenge (Class 4/5), making El Diente more independent than its prominence would indicate.[5] Hence, it is often regarded as a full-fledged fourteener.

El Diente is one of the more dramatic peaks in Colorado in terms of local relief and steepness. As a result, it is one of the most challenging climbs among Colorado's fourteeners. All routes involve at least class 3 scrambling on loose talus, and poor route-finding can expose the climber to more difficult and dangerous terrain.

Historical names edit

  • El Diente
  • El Diente Peak [3]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b The elevation of El Diente Peak includes an adjustment of +1.906 m (+6.25 ft) from NGVD 29 to NAVD 88.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "El Diente Peak, Colorado". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e "El Diente Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  4. ^ "El Diente Peak Routes". 14ers.com.
  5. ^ Dawson, Louis W., II (1994). Dawson's Guide to Colorado's Fourteeners. Vol. 1. Blue Clover Press. ISBN 0-9628867-1-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

External links edit

  • "El Diente Peak". 14ers.com.
  • "El Diente". SummitPost.org. Retrieved 2011-05-15.