Culebra Peak
Culebra Peak viewed from south of San Luis.
Highest point
Elevation14,053 ft (4283 m)[1]
NAVD88
Prominence4827 ft (1471 m)[1]
Isolation35.4 mi (56.9 km)[1]
Listing
Coordinates37°07′20″N 105°11′08″W / 37.1222416°N 105.1855625°W / 37.1222416; -105.1855625[2]
Geography
Culebra Peak is located in Colorado
Culebra Peak
Culebra Peak
LocationCostilla County, Colorado, U.S.[2]
Parent rangeSangre de Cristo Mountains, Highest summit of the
Culebra Range[1]
Topo mapUSGS 7.5' topographic map
Culebra Peak, Colorado[2]
Climbing
Easiest routeNorthwest Ridge: Hike, class 2[3]

Culebra Peak (Spanish for "snake") is the highest summit of the Culebra Range of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The prominent 14,053-foot (4,283 m) fourteener is located on private land, 14.2 miles (22.8 km) east-southeast (bearing 113°) of San Luis in Costilla County, Colorado, United States.[1][2] Culebra Peak is the southernmost fourteener in the range.

Geography

Access is limited, and a fee ($150 per person as of Summer 2020) is charged to climb the peak. Ownership of and access to the land, both for recreational and other activities, have been controversial issues for many years, involving multiple lawsuits and occasional violence.[4] In 2017 the ranch the peak was offered for sale for $105 million, and sold later that year for an undisclosed amount.[5]

Culebra is the fourth-most topographically prominent peak in the state, due to its separation from other peaks by the relatively low La Veta Pass.

According to the current owners of Cielo Vista Ranch, within which the peak is located, Culebra Peak is the highest privately-owned peak in the world.[6]

Climate

Climate data for Culebra Peak 37.1275 N, 105.1926 W, Elevation: 13,491 ft (4,112 m) (1991–2020 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 24.0
(−4.4) 		23.6
(−4.7) 		28.5
(−1.9) 		35.2
(1.8) 		43.5
(6.4) 		54.7
(12.6) 		58.4
(14.7) 		56.4
(13.6) 		50.4
(10.2) 		40.6
(4.8) 		30.8
(−0.7) 		24.5
(−4.2) 		39.2
(4.0)
Daily mean °F (°C) 12.0
(−11.1) 		11.5
(−11.4) 		15.9
(−8.9) 		21.6
(−5.8) 		30.0
(−1.1) 		40.1
(4.5) 		44.4
(6.9) 		43.0
(6.1) 		37.3
(2.9) 		28.1
(−2.2) 		19.3
(−7.1) 		12.9
(−10.6) 		26.3
(−3.1)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 0.1
(−17.7) 		−0.6
(−18.1) 		3.4
(−15.9) 		7.9
(−13.4) 		16.5
(−8.6) 		25.5
(−3.6) 		30.3
(−0.9) 		29.6
(−1.3) 		24.2
(−4.3) 		15.6
(−9.1) 		7.9
(−13.4) 		1.2
(−17.1) 		13.5
(−10.3)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.63
(67) 		2.98
(76) 		3.73
(95) 		4.26
(108) 		2.99
(76) 		1.37
(35) 		4.52
(115) 		4.37
(111) 		2.86
(73) 		2.33
(59) 		2.90
(74) 		2.79
(71) 		37.73
(960)
Source: PRISM Climate Group[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Culebra Peak, Colorado". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d "Culebra Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  3. ^ "Culebra Peak Routes". 14ers.com.
  4. ^ "Culebra Peak". SummitPost.org. Retrieved 2011-02-22.
  5. ^ "Cielo Vista Ranch — and its fourteener — in San Luis Valley sells after listing for $105 million". DenverPost.com. August 14, 2017. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  6. ^ Climbing and Hiking
  7. ^ "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University". PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University. Retrieved October 2, 2023. To find the table data on the PRISM website, start by clicking Coordinates (under Location); copy Latitude and Longitude figures from top of table; click Zoom to location; click Precipitation, Minimum temp, Mean temp, Maximum temp; click 30-year normals, 1991-2020; click 800m; click Retrieve Time Series button.

External links

More
Mountains of Colorado
The 126 highest major summits of greater North America
The 55 highest major summits of Colorado
Colorado Fourteeners
State of Colorado
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