Mount Sopris

Mount Sopris is a twin-summit mountain in the northwestern Elk Mountains range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 12,965-foot (3,952 m) mountain is located in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness of White River National Forest, 6.6 miles (10.7 km) north by northeast (bearing 30°) of the community of Redstone in Pitkin County, Colorado, United States.[1][2][3][4]

Mount Sopris West Peak
Mount Sopris as viewed from State Highway 82.
Highest point
Elevation12,965 ft (3,952 m) [1][2]
Prominence1,453 ft (443 m) [3]
Isolation9.23 mi (14.85 km) [3]
Coordinates39°15′48″N 107°10′33″W [1]
Geography
Mount Sopris West Peak
LocationPitkin County, Colorado, U.S.[4]
Parent rangeElk Mountains[3]
Topo mapUSGS 7.5' topographic map
Mount Sopris, Colorado[1]
Climbing
Easiest routeMount Sopris Trail (hike)
Mount Sopris East Peak
Highest point
Elevation12,965 ft (3,952 m) [5]
Prominence1,453 ft (443 m) 
Coordinates39°15′40″N 107°09′51″W [6]

Mountain

Mount Sopris is located in western Pitkin County, south of Carbondale and southwest of the confluence of the Crystal and Roaring Fork rivers. Mount Sopris is notable for having two summits, East Sopris and West Sopris, that are one-half mile (0.8 km) apart and have the same elevation of 12,965 feet (3,952 m).[7]

It is named for Richard Sopris,[8] a former mayor of Denver and part of the first European expedition in the Roaring Fork Valley. In 2011 J.P. McDaniels petitioned to rename East Sopris "Mount John Denver" after the Colorado singer. A local poll in Aspen and Carbondale said 74 percent of the respondents were against the proposal.[9][10]

Mount Sopris is believed to have been formed by an igneous intrusion 10,000 feet below the earth's surface, geologically referred to as a pluton, that occurred around 30 million years ago, after the initial uplift of the modern Rocky Mountains. Mount Sopris is not a volcano, but it is possible that an ancient volcano sat above it, with the current rock forming the magma chamber far below. Due to subsequent continued erosion, any evidence is now gone. In either case, the rock that makes up Sopris never reached the surface, cooling and crystallizing in situ, and later becoming exposed due to erosion. Nearby prominent peaks Mount Gunnison and Crested Butte are believed to have formed similarly. [11]

Mount Sopris dominates the skyline of Carbondale and the lower Roaring Fork Valley, serving as an unofficial symbol of the area. It is prominently visible from State Highway 82 in the vicinity of Carbondale. In terms of local relief, it is one of the largest peaks in the state of Colorado. For example, West Sopris rises 6,400 ft (1,905 m) above the valley to the west in only 2.7 mi (4 km). (One can compare this to the corresponding vertical rise of the more well-known Maroon Peak in the heart of the Elks: it rises only about 4,300 ft (1,310 m), at best, in the same horizontal distance.) In fact a vertical rise of over 6,000 feet in less than 3 miles is rare and impressive anywhere in the contiguous United States.[12]

Looking North West from Mt. Sopris

Hiking/Climbing

The Mount Sopris Trail ascends to East Sopris via its east ridge. It starts near Dinkle Lake, on the northeast side of the mountain, and passes between the two Thomas Lakes just before reaching timberline. The ascent involves about 4,300 ft (1,300 m) of vertical gain (plus 600 ft/180 m for a round-trip to West Sopris, if desired) and 12 mi (20 km) of hiking (plus 1 mi/1.6 km for West Sopris); it is a strenuous trail hike, with some scree.

Historical names
  • Mount Sopris [4]
  • Sopris Peak

See also

References
  1. "W SOPRIS". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  2. The elevation of Mount Sopris West Peak includes an adjustment of +1.669 m (+5.48 ft) from NGVD 29 to NAVD 88.
  3. "Mount Sopris, Colorado". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  4. "Mount Sopris". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  5. The elevation of Mount Sopris East Peak includes an adjustment of +1.723 m (+5.65 ft) from NGVD 29 to NAVD 88.
  6. East Sopris on TopoQuest
  7. The peaks are connected by a saddle at elevation of about 12,660 feet, giving them a relative prominence of just around 300 feet. Hence by the usual 300 foot prominence rule for Colorado summits, the two summits are on the borderline of being considered separate peaks.
  8. Dziezynski, James (1 August 2012). Best Summit Hikes in Colorado: An Opinionated Guide to 50+ Ascents of Classic and Little-Known Peaks from 8,144 to 14,433 Feet. Wilderness Press. p. 231. ISBN 978-0-89997-713-3.
  9. Home About Sponsor (2011-07-24). "Mt. John Denver?". Upadowna.com. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  10. "Speak out against Denver Peak proposal". AspenTimes.com. 2011-08-02. Retrieved 2011-08-09.
  11. Will Grandbois (2014-08-06). "Some Rock History You Probably Didn't Know". Post Independent.com. Retrieved 2016-07-10.
  12. Fred Beckey, Cascade Alpine Guide, The Mountaineers.
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