Castle Peak (Colorado)

Infobox Mountain
Name = Castle Peak
Elevation = 14,265 ft (4,348 m)
Location = Colorado, United States
Range = Rocky Mountains, Elk Mountains
Coordinates = coord|39|00|35|N|106|51|41|W|type:mountain_region:US
Topographic
USGS Hayden Peak
Prominence = 2,365 ft (721 m) [http://www.peaklist.org/USlists/COP2000.html Colorado high-prominence peaks on peaklist.org] ]
First ascent = 1873 by the Hayden Survey
Easiest route = hike/scramble

Castle Peak is a fourteener in the Elk Mountains of the US state of Colorado. It is the highest peak in the Elks and the twelfth highest peak in Colorado. The peak rises along the Pitkin-Gunnison county line, approximately 15 miles (24 km) south of Aspen. The best climbing months are June, July, August, September through the Montezuma Glacier, a permanent snowfield between Castle and Conundrum Peaks. There are two standard routes for ascent. The Northwest Ridge features a moderate snow climb followed by an easy ridge scramble. It should not be attempted late in the summer, when the convert|200|ft|m|abbr=on of loose dirt and scree meet the climber near the top of the Castle-Conundrum saddle. The Northeast Ridge features an easy snow climb, but slightly harder scrambling and route-finding once on the ridge.

Conundrum Peak is a northern subsummit of Castle Peak. It has two closely spaced summits; the northern is higher, with elevation 14,040+ ft (4,279 m). [http://www.topoquest.com/map.asp?lat=39.01444&lon=-106.86333&datum=nad27&u=4&layer=DRG&s=24 Conundrum Peak on TopoQuest] ] It is 0.4 mi (0.6 km) north of Castle Peak, and has between 200 and convert|280|ft|m of topographic prominence. This does not meet the usual 300 foot prominence criterion for an officially separate peak; however it is often climbed in conjunction with Castle Peak.Louis W. Dawson II, "Dawson's Guide to Colorado's Fourteeners, Volume 1", Blue Clover Press, 1994, ISBN 0-9628867-1-8]

In addition, there are two other Castle Peaks in Colorado, one in Eagle County at coord|39|46|23|N|106|50|04|W|, elevation 11,240 feet (3,426 m); and the other in Mesa County at coord|39|16|16|N|108|05|50|W|, elevation 8,140 feet (2,481 m).

ee also

*Colorado 4000 meter peaks
*Colorado fourteeners
*Colorado mountain peaks
*Colorado mountain ranges
*Mountain peaks of Colorado
*Mountain peaks of North America
*Mountain peaks of the Rocky Mountains
*Mountain peaks of the United States
*Southern Rocky Mountains

References

External links

* [http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/150482/castle-peak.html Castle Peak on Summitpost]
* [http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/151715/conundrum-peak.html Conundrum Peak on Summitpost]
* [http://www.14ers.com/photos/peakmain.php?peak=Castle%20Peak Castle Peak on 14ers.com]
* [http://14ers.home.comcast.net/castle/trip.html Colorado Fourteeners]
* [http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=5709 Castle Peak on peakbagger.com]
* [http://www.peakware.com/peaks.html?pk=1095 Peakware World Mountain Encyclopedia]