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Torreys Peak

 
Dictionary: Tor·reys Peak   (tôr'ēz, tŏr'-) pronunciation


A mountain, 4,351.4 m (14,267 ft) high, in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains in central Colorado.

 

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Torreys Peak

Torreys Peak on right, Grays Peak on left
Elevation 14,267 feet (4,349 m)
Location Colorado, USA
Range Front Range
Prominence 560 ft (171 m)[1]
Coordinates 39°38′34″N 105°49′15″W / 39.64278°N 105.82083°W / 39.64278; -105.82083Coordinates: 39°38′34″N 105°49′15″W / 39.64278°N 105.82083°W / 39.64278; -105.82083
Topo map USGS Grays Peak
First ascent 1861 by Charles C. Parry
Easiest route 4½ mile hike

Torreys Peak is a mountain in the Front Range region of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. It is one of 54 fourteeners in Colorado. Its nearest major city is Denver. The first man to ascend Torreys Peak, botanist Charles C. Parry, named the peak for his botanist colleague John Torrey. Torrey actually did not see the peak until 1872, 11 years later. It is nearly always mentioned in conjunction with nearby Grays Peak. Torreys Peak is located along the Continental Divide, as well as the division between Clear Creek County and Summit County.

There are three main trails used to reach the summit. The first is actually a continuation of the main trail to the summit of Grays Peak, which starts in Stevens Gulch. See the Grays Peak article for more information on accessing that trail.

A popular and challenging variation of this trail follows class-3 Kelso Ridge. This route splits from the Grays Peak trail two miles from the trailhead, climbs to the 12,400-foot saddle between Torreys and 13,164-foot Kelso Mountain, then follows the rugged ridge about a mile to the summit.

The third trail starts at Loveland Pass about 4½ miles to the northwest. To reach Loveland Pass, follow I-70 west from Denver 55 miles to where US Route 6 breaks off and heads south. Follow the meandering Route 6 approximately seven miles to the trailhead at Loveland Pass, at an elevation of 11,990 feet.

Torreys Peak as seen from Grays Peak Trail

The steepest part of the trail actually begins right away with a half mile climb of 1,000 feet. The trail follows the Continental Divide gently taking the climber down into three saddles and up two more peaks, including Grizzly Peak (13,427 feet). The final saddle rests at approximately 12,600. From this saddle, it is a mile-long ascent of 1,800 feet to the final summit.

Once at the summit, many opt to continue on to Grays Peak, 0.75 miles away. The trail from Torreys Peak to Grays Peak dips down to a 13,707-foot saddle and then climbs back up to 14,270 feet.

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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Torreys Peak" Read more