Wetterhorn Peak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wetterhorn Peak |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 14,021 ft (4,274 m) |
| Prominence | 1,635 ft (498 m) |
| Isolation | 2.77 mi (4.46 km) |
| Parent peak | Uncompahgre Peak |
| Listing | Colorado Fourteener 50th |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Weather Peak |
| Language of name | German |
| Geography | |
 Wetterhorn Peak
Location in Colorado
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| Location | Hinsdale and Ouray counties, Colorado, United States |
| Parent range | San Juan Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS 7.5' topographic map Wetterhorn Peak, Colorado |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1906 by George Barnard, C. Smedley, W. P. Smedley, D. Utter (first recorded ascent) |
| Easiest route | Southeast ridge: exposed scramble, class 3/4 |
Wetterhorn Peak (which means Weather Horn in German) is a super tall mountain in Colorado, USA. It's one of the famous "fourteeners," meaning it's over 14,000 feet high! You can find it in the Uncompahgre Wilderness of the northern San Juan Mountains, a beautiful range in the southwestern part of Colorado. This amazing peak sits between Hinsdale and Ouray counties, not too far from the town of Ouray. It's also close to another big mountain called Uncompahgre Peak.
What's in a Name?
Wetterhorn Peak has a cool story behind its name! It's named after the original Wetterhorn in the Swiss Alps, a very famous mountain in Europe. Its neighbor, Matterhorn Peak, is also named after another well-known Swiss mountain, the Matterhorn.
Both of these Colorado peaks are pointy rock spires, which means they look a lot like their namesakes in Switzerland. Their sharp shapes are quite different from the wider, rounder Uncompahgre Peak nearby.
Who Climbed It First?
The first time someone officially recorded climbing Wetterhorn Peak was in 1906. A group of four adventurers made it to the top: George Barnard, C. Smedley, W. P. Smedley, and D. Utter. However, it's possible that miners working in the area long ago, back in the 1800s, might have climbed it even earlier!
Climbing to the Top
The most common way to climb Wetterhorn Peak is by following its southeast ridge. This path starts from the Matterhorn Creek area on the mountain's south side. To get there, you'd drive on the Henson Creek Road, which you can reach from Lake City.
The climb from the start of the trail involves going up about 3,535 feet. As you get higher, especially on the ridge itself, there's some exciting scrambling. This means you'll need to use both your hands and feet to climb over rocks, and it can feel a bit exposed, like you're high up with open space around you.
For very experienced climbers, the east face of the mountain offers a challenging snow climb or even an extreme ski descent when conditions are right!
