Ervin Peak


Ervin Peak is a mountain summit in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States.

Description

Ervin Peak is set approximately east of the Continental Divide in the Collegiate Peaks which are a subrange of the Sawatch Range. The mountain is located southeast of La [Plata Peak] on land managed by San Isabel National Forest. It ranks as the 234th-highest summit in Colorado. Precipitation runoff from the mountain's south slope drains into Clear Creek, whereas the north slope drains to Lake Creek, and both are tributaries of the Arkansas River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises over above Clear Creek in.

Etymology

The mountain's toponym was officially adopted in 2003 by the United States Board on [Geographic Names] to remember William Fulton Ervin who climbed every peak over 14,000-feet-elevation in Colorado. In 1923, Bill Ervin and climbing partner Carl Blaurock became the first to climb all of Colorado's 46 fourteeners that were known at that time. Mount Blaurock lies less than one mile northwest of Ervin Peak.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Ervin Peak is located in an alpine subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers. Due to its altitude, it receives precipitation all year, as snow in winter and as thunderstorms in summer, with a dry period in late spring. Climbers can expect afternoon rain, hail, and lightning from the seasonal monsoon in late July and August.