Lake Fork Peak

Lake Fork Peak
North aspect, seen from Kachina Peak
Highest point
Elevation12,881 ft (3,926 m)[1][2]
Prominence652 ft (199 m)[3]
Parent peakWheeler Peak[3]
Isolation1.63 mi (2.62 km)[3]
Coordinates36°33′01″N 105°26′43″W / 36.5503009°N 105.4452753°W / 36.5503009; -105.4452753[4]
Geography
Lake Fork Peak is located in New Mexico
Lake Fork Peak
Lake Fork Peak
Location in New Mexico
Lake Fork Peak is located in the United States
Lake Fork Peak
Lake Fork Peak
Lake Fork Peak (the United States)
CountryUnited States
StateNew Mexico
CountyTaos
Protected areaWheeler Peak Wilderness
Parent rangeTaos Mountains[1]
Sangre de Cristo Mountains
Rocky Mountains
Topo mapUSGS Wheeler Peak
Climbing
Easiest routeclass 2 hiking[3]

Lake Fork Peak is a 12,881-foot-elevation (3,926 m) mountain summit in Taos County, New Mexico, United States.

Description[edit]

Lake Fork Peak is part of the Taos Mountains which are a subset of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It is the second-highest point in the Wheeler Peak Wilderness and ranks as the sixth-highest summit in New Mexico.[3] The mountain is located within the Carson National Forest, 12 miles northeast of the town of Taos and 1.24 miles west-southwest of Wheeler Peak, the highest point in the state.[1] Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains to the Rio Hondo which is a tributary the Rio Grande. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 2,900 feet (880 meters) above the South Fork Rio Hondo in less than one mile (1.6 km). The mountain's toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names,[4] and the name refers to Lake Fork which is a creek that originates between this peak and Wheeler Peak.[5] The peak has also been known as Fairview Mountain.[4]

Climate[edit]

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Lake Fork Peak has an alpine climate with cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers.[6] Due to its altitude, it receives precipitation all year, as snow in winter and as thunderstorms in summer. Climbers can expect afternoon rain, hail, and lightning from the seasonal monsoon in late July and August. This climate supports the Taos Ski Valley area immediately north of Lake Fork Peak.

See also[edit]

Gallery[edit]

  • East aspect of Lake Fork Peak (highest point on skyline left of center)
    East aspect of Lake Fork Peak (highest point on skyline left of center)
  • Vallecito Mountain (center) and Lake Fork Peak (left)
    Vallecito Mountain (center) and Lake Fork Peak (left)
  • Taos Ski Valley with top of Lake Fork Peak visible in upper right corner behind Kachina Peak
    Taos Ski Valley with top of Lake Fork Peak visible in upper right corner behind Kachina Peak

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Lake Fork Peak, New Mexico". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  2. ^ Robert Julyan (2006), The Mountains of New Mexico, University of New Mexico Press, ISBN 9780826335166, p. 323.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Lake Fork Peak - 12,881' NM". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  4. ^ a b c "Lake Fork Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2024-03-22.
  5. ^ Robert Julyan (1996), The Place Names of New Mexico, University of New Mexico Press, ISBN 9780826351142, p. 195.
  6. ^ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN 1027-5606.

External links[edit]

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