Torreys Peak

Torreys Peak is a mountain in the Front Range region of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. It is one of 53 fourteeners in Colorado. Its nearest major city is Denver. Torreys Peak is located along the Continental Divide, as well as the division between Clear Creek County and Summit County.

For the mountain in the Wind River Range, Wyoming, see Torrey Peak (Wyoming).
Torreys Peak
Torreys Peak seen from I-70
Highest point
Elevation14,267 ft (4,349 m) [1][2]
Prominence560 ft (171 m) [3]
Parent peak
Isolation0.65 mi (1.05 km) [3]
ListingColorado Fourteener 12th
Coordinates39°38′34″N 105°49′16″W [1]
Naming
EtymologyJohn Torrey
Geography
Torreys Peak
LocationContinental Divide between
Clear Creek and Summit counties, Colorado, United States[4]
Parent rangeFront Range[3]
Topo mapUSGS 7.5' topographic map
Grays Peak, Colorado[1]
Climbing
First ascent1861 by Charles C. Parry
Easiest route4.5 mi (7.2 km) hike on Grays Peak Trail

Name

The first European to ascend Torreys Peak, botanist Charles C. Parry, named the peak for his botanist colleague John Torrey. Torrey actually did not see the peak until 1872, 11 years later (the year before his death at the age 76. It is nearly always mentioned in conjunction with nearby Grays Peak.[5]

Hiking

There are three main trails used to reach the summit. The first is actually a continuation of Grays Peak Trail to the summit of Grays Peak, which starts in Stevens Gulch. See the Grays Peak article for more information on accessing that trail.

A popular and challenging variation of this trail follows class-3 Kelso Ridge. This route splits from the Grays Peak trail 2 miles (3.2 km) from the trailhead, climbs to the 12,400-foot (3,800 m) saddle between Torreys and 13,164-foot (4,012 m) Kelso Mountain, then follows the rugged ridge about 1 mile (1.6 km) to the summit.

The third trail starts at Loveland Pass about 4.5 miles (7.2 km) to the northwest. To reach Loveland Pass, follow I-70 west from Denver 55 miles (89 km) to where US Route 6 breaks off and heads south. Follow the meandering Route 6 approximately seven miles to the trailhead at Loveland Pass, at an elevation of 11,990 feet (3,650 m). The steepest part of the trail actually begins right away with a half mile climb of 1,000 feet (300 m). The trail follows the Continental Divide gently taking the climber down into three saddles and up two more peaks, including Grizzly Peak at 13,427 feet (4,093 m) and Mount Sniktau at 13,234 feet (4,034 m).[6][7] The final saddle rests at approximately 12,600 ft. From this saddle, it is a mile-long ascent of 1,800 feet (550 m) to the final summit.

Once at the summit, many opt to continue on to Grays Peak, 0.75 miles (1.21 km) away. The trail from Torreys Peak to Grays Peak dips down to a 13,707-foot (4,178 m) saddle and then climbs back up to 14,270 feet (4,350 m).

See also

References
  1. "TORREYS PEAK". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey. Retrieved October 22, 2014. Note: The summit of Torreys Peak is -0.20 m (-0.7 ft) lower than NGS station TORREYS PEAK.
  2. The elevation of Torreys Peak includes an adjustment of +1.897 m (+6.22 ft) from NGVD 29 to NAVD 88.
  3. "Torreys Peak, Colorado". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  4. "Grays Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved November 6, 2014.
  5. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. 258 (2 ed.). Washington, DC: United States Geological Survey. pp. 142, 302.
  6. Roach, Gerry. "Colorado's Summits – 13,000 to 13,999 feet". climb.mountains.com. Mountains.com. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  7. "Mount Sniktau". hikingincolorado.org. Hiking in Colorado. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
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