Mount Eolus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Eolus |
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Mount Eolus
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 14,090 ft (4,295 m) |
| Prominence | 1,024 ft (312 m) |
| Isolation | 1.69 mi (2.72 km) |
| Listing | Colorado fourteeners 33rd |
| Geography | |
 Mount Eolus
Location in Colorado
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| Location | La Plata County, Colorado, U.S. |
| Parent range | San Juan Mountains, Needle Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS 7.5' topographic map Columbine Pass, Colorado |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Scramble (Class 3) |
Mount Eolus is a very tall mountain peak in the Needle Mountains range. These mountains are part of the larger Rocky Mountains in North America. Mount Eolus is known as a "fourteener" because it stands over 14,000 feet (about 4,290 meters) high. It is located in the Weminuche Wilderness within the San Juan National Forest in Colorado, United States. It's about 44.1 kilometers (27.4 miles) northeast of the city of Durango.
The mountain got its name from Aeolus, the ancient Greek god of the wind. When it was first surveyed in 1874, it was spelled "Aeolus." Later, in 1878, the spelling changed to "Eolus," which is how we know it today.
Climbing Mount Eolus
Mount Eolus is one of three "fourteeners" found in the Needle Mountains. The other two are Sunlight Peak and Windom Peak. All three of these tall peaks are located around a large, bowl-shaped valley called Upper Chicago Basin. Mount Eolus is on the west side of this basin, while Sunlight Peak and Windom Peak are on the east side. These mountains are some of the most remote and wild "fourteeners" in Colorado.
North Eolus
North Eolus is a smaller peak located just north of Mount Eolus. It stands about 14,045 feet (4,281 meters) tall. Even though it's very high, it's not usually counted as a separate "fourteener." This is because it doesn't rise high enough above the land connecting it to Mount Eolus. Sometimes, climbers will try to reach North Eolus when they are climbing Mount Eolus.
How Tall is Mount Eolus?
Mount Eolus's height is very close to that of nearby Windom Peak. For a while, people wondered if Mount Eolus might actually be taller. If it were, it would be the highest point in the Needle Mountains. It would also be the tallest peak in La Plata County and the entire area drained by the San Juan River.
However, recent measurements using a special GPS device have helped clear this up. These surveys confirmed that Windom Peak is indeed slightly taller.
- Mount Eolus: 14,085.4 feet (about 4,293.2 meters)
- Windom Peak: 14,089.9 feet (about 4,294.6 meters)
See also
In Spanish: Monte Eolus para niños
