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El Diente Peak

Coordinates: 37°50′22″N 108°00′19″W / 37.8394383°N 108.0053474°W / 37.8394383; -108.0053474
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El Diente Peak
El Diente Peak from Mount Wilson
Highest point
Elevation14,165 ft (4,317 m)[1][2]
Prominence239 ft (73 m)[2]
Parent peakMount Wilson[2]
Isolation0.75 mi (1.21 km)[2]
Coordinates37°50′22″N 108°00′19″W / 37.8394383°N 108.0053474°W / 37.8394383; -108.0053474[3]
Naming
English translationThe Tooth
Language of nameSpanish
Geography
El Diente Peak is located in Colorado
El Diente Peak
El Diente Peak
LocationDolores County, Colorado, U.S.[3]
Parent rangeSan Juan Mountains[2]
Topo map(s)USGS 7.5' topographic map
Dolores Peak, Colorado[3]
Climbing
Easiest routeSouth Slopes: Scramble, class 3[4]

El Diente Peak is a high summit in the San Juan Mountains range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The 14,165-foot (4,317 m) peak is located in the Lizard Head Wilderness of San Juan National Forest, 10.5 miles (16.9 km) north by east (bearing 8°) of the Town of Rico in Dolores County, Colorado, United States. "El Diente" is Spanish for "The Tooth", a reference to the shape of the peak.[1][2][3]

Climbing

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The topographic prominence of El Diente Peak is only 239 feet (73 m), so by a strict 300-foot (91 m) cutoff rule, it would not be counted as a separate peak from its higher neighbor Mount Wilson. However, the 3/4 mile (1.2 km) connecting ridge is a significant climbing challenge (Class 4/5), making El Diente more independent than its prominence would indicate.[5] Hence, it is often regarded as a full-fledged fourteener.

El Diente is one of the more dramatic peaks in Colorado in terms of local relief and steepness. As a result, it is one of the most challenging climbs among Colorado's fourteeners. All routes involve at least class 3 scrambling on loose talus, and poor route-finding can expose the climber to more difficult and dangerous terrain.

Incidents

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As with all high peaks, El Diente has risks for climbers and mountaineers.[6]

  • In 2010, experienced climber John Arthur Merrill was killed in a rock slide on El Diente's south face while hiking with his dog.[7]
  • In 2019, a climber was rescued after surviving a 600-foot fall from El Diente after landing in an avalanche chute. While seriously injured, the climber was rescued by helicopter after activating an emergency signal on his GPS device.[8]
  • In 2020, climber Regina Stump fell 60 feet from El Diente after a boulder she was scrambling came loose. After breaking a wrist she was able to climb to safety.[9]
  • In 2022, a climber fell from El Diente Peak and broke his leg. He was rescued after calling for help from his inReach device.[10][11]

Historical names

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  • El Diente
  • El Diente Peak [3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b The elevation of El Diente Peak includes an adjustment of +1.906 m (+6.25 ft) from NGVD 29 to NAVD 88.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "El Diente Peak, Colorado". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d e "El Diente Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  4. ^ "El Diente Peak Routes". 14ers.com.
  5. ^ Dawson, Louis W., II (1994). Dawson's Guide to Colorado's Fourteeners. Vol. 1. Blue Clover Press. ISBN 0-9628867-1-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Roberts, Michael. "The Most Dangerous Fourteeners in Colorado". Westword. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  7. ^ Robles, Yesenia (2010-09-28). "2nd climber this year killed by rock slide on El Diente Peak in SW Colorado". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  8. ^ Mimiaga, Jim. "Man rescued after fall from El Diente Peak". The Journal. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  9. ^ "Fort Collins Woman Survives 60-Foot Fall While Climbing 14er Near Telluride, Then Climbs Seven Miles To Safety - CBS Colorado". www.cbsnews.com. 2020-09-11. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
  10. ^ Capron, Maddie (August 2, 2022). "Climber's gear plunges off ledge on Colorado peak — but one device saves him". Sacramento Bee.
  11. ^ Narula, Svati Kirsten (2022-10-11). "Hiking a Colorado Fourteener Becomes a Fight to Survive". Outside Online. Retrieved 2024-12-06.
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