When was mount elbert formed

I was thrilled to be out but growing deeply concerned at my lack of energy this early in the day. Hoping that some calories would help, I found a nice rock to sit on and proceeded to eat half my lunch as other hikers effortlessly passed me by. Approaching tree line, the trail was occasionally lost in remnant summer snow. A remarkably speedy pair of hikers whiz effortlessly by must be the compression socks!

Around m elevation m above the trailhead , the switchbacks abated atop a high plateau. The steep glacier-carved cirque ahead, however, suggested that this reprieve would only be temporary! Nepali prayer flags flutter in the wind high above Twin Lakes below. These flags filled me with nostalgia as I enjoyed the warmth of the sun in the thin air and recalled similar sights from my prayer flag-filled Himalayan honeymoon years prior.

While there was more snow than is usual for this time of year, the trail up this slope was, surprisingly dry. As I worked my way up the steep scree slope, a tarn at the base of the cirque came into view along with Twin Lakes much farther below. Tarns are classic post-glacial landforms and the lakes below were also formed by moraines which dammed them. Although Elbert no longer features a glacier of any kind, these geological features all provide clues to its much icier past.

A common sight above m elevation: hikers keeled over and sucking wind! Sensing the impending summit, my afterburners kicked in and I passed at least a dozen other hikers as I kicked steps up the delightfully firm sub-summit snow slopes. Rocky Mountain High! As you might expect, the summit of the Rockies is a popular place and I shared it with a dozen or so other hikers in addition to at least one local resident who camouflaged well with the surrounding talus!

To the north, the green valley between Mount Oklahoma center left and Mount Massive center right looks like an inviting place to explore. Appropriately, Middle Mountain can be seen in the mid-ground on the left while Whitney Peak and Galena Mountain occupy the middle ground in the center and right of this photo, respectively. A spectacular summit panorama stretches from French Mountain left to Twin Lakes right.

There are, literally, hundreds of named peaks in between! Elbert Trail South Mt. Elbert, but remember, the elevation gain is still 4, feet. Mount Elbert, mountain in Lake county, west-central Colorado, U. Elbert came to Colorado in as secretary for Governor John Evans. Therefore, I want to have the hiking map having detail routes and information of lodges. Use this relief map to navigate to mountain peaks in the area of Mount Elbert. Simplified plate tectonics cross-section showing how Mount Etna is located above a subduction zone formed where the Eurasian and African plates collide.

Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Press ESC to cancel. Esther Fleming December 29, Table of Contents. Eugene Humphreys et al. Denver: Colorado Geological Survey, You are here Home. Rocky Mountains. View of Rocky Mountains from Mt.

Colorado's central Rocky Mountains, as seen from the top of Mt. Evans 14, feet. Mountain ranges of the Colorado Rockies. This approximately mile stretch of scenic dirt road crosses the diverse habitats within the Park Range of the Rocky Mountains.

It rises from sagebrush and gamble oak habitat to lodgepole pine, quaking aspen, and spruce-fir dominated forests. This road offers spectacular views of the Yampa and North Park valleys below, multiple alpine lakes within walking distance, access to the Mount Zirkel Wilderness, multiple disperse camping sites and Summit Lake Campground with restroom facilities.

Additionally, there are numerous hiking, horseback and motorized vehicle trails to suite a range of outdoor activity needs. The construction of Interstate 70 across Colorado's Rocky Mountains was one of the greatest engineering feats in US history and was essential to the growth of tourism in the high country.

Colorado Before the Rockies Geologists use the term orogeny to refer to mountain-building episodes. When Did the Mantle Warm Up? Additional Information:. Colorado Geology Photojournals. Colorado Geological Survey. Interactive Geology Project. Related Articles. Art Goodtimes. Barger Gulch Site.

Beth Paulson.