Draft:East Crestone Peak
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East Crestone Peak is a mountain summit located in the southern portion of the US state of Colorado, in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, straddling Saguache and Custer counties.[1]
It lies just about 418 feet (127 m) east of the summit of Crestone Peak, which has traditionally been considered the primary summit of the massif.
Elevation and status
[edit]According to a recent ground-survey study led by engineer and mountaineer Eric Gilbertson, East Crestone Peak was measured at approximately 14,299.3 ft (±0.1 ft) and Crestone Peak at about 14,299.0 ft (±0.1 ft). The survey concluded that, with greater than 99% confidence, East Crestone is marginally higher than Crestone Peak.[2]
Despite these findings, it is important to note that this change has not yet been officially recognized by federal agencies. The designated summit of Crestone Peak remains listed in many sources as the primary peak, and East Crestone is still commonly treated as its subsidiary.[3]
Location and geography
[edit]- Coordinates: approximately 37.96724 °N, 105.58401 °W.[1]
- The peaks lie within the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness area, which covers over 220,000 acres and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.[4]
- The massif rises steeply from the San Luis Valley on the west side of the range.[3]
Significance
[edit]East Crestone Peak's potential status as the true highest point in that summit grouping is of particular interest to the mountaineering community, especially those who seek to climb the so-called "14ers" (peaks above 14,000 ft) in Colorado. The difference in elevation is small (about 0.3 ft or roughly 3–4 inches) but could affect rankings if officially adopted.[5]
Notes and caveats
[edit]- While the survey data favors East Crestone as higher, the prominence of the summit (i.e., the drop to the connecting saddle) is modest, and so whether it qualifies as a fully independent "ranked" peak remains under discussion.[6]
- Until official topographic data are updated by agencies such as the United States Geological Survey (USGS) or the National Geodetic Survey (NGS), many guidebooks and peak-lists will continue using Crestone Peak as the main summit listing.
Summary
[edit]East Crestone Peak is a high-elevation summit within Colorado's Sangre de Cristo Range, located just east of the well-known Crestone Peak. Recent surveying suggests it may be marginally taller, raising interest among climbers and surveyors alike. However, as of now, the change is not yet officially adopted and therefore remains a subject of emerging debate rather than definitive status.
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Crestone Peak - East Summit - 14,299' Colorado". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
- ^ "New Colorado 14er Discovered- East Crestone". Country Highpoints. 2025-10-14. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
- ^ a b "No, Colorado Doesn't Have a "New 14er" (Yet) — Why Headlines About East Crestone Jump the Gun | The Next Summit: A Mountain Blog". 2025-10-17. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
- ^ "Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands | Sangre de Cristo Wilderness | Forest Service". www.fs.usda.gov. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
- ^ Dapcevich, Madison (2025-10-17). "Did Colorado Really Just Get a New 14er?". Outside. Retrieved 2025-10-31.
- ^ Spencer, Ryan (2025-10-17). "How a mountaineer discovered a potential 3.6-inch discrepancy that could result in a 'new' Colorado 14er". Retrieved 2025-10-31.