Whitecross Mountain
Whitecross Mountain is a summit in Hinsdale County, Colorado, United States.
Description
Whitecross Mountain is set west of the Continental [Divide of the Americas|Continental Divide] in the San Juan Mountains which are a subrange of the Rocky Mountains. It is located north-northeast of Handies Peak on land administered by the Bureau of Land Management. Whitecross Mountain is the seventh-highest peak in the Handies Peak Wilderness Study Area. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises above Lake Fork in 0.8 mile. The mountain's toponym has been officially adopted by the United States [Board on Geographic Names]. The mountain's name is attributable to white quartzite in the shape of a cross near the summit.
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Whitecross Mountain 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. Hikers can expect afternoon rain, hail, and lightning from the seasonal monsoon in late July and August.