Humphreys Peak (, "its summit never melts") is the highest mountain and the second most prominent peak after Mount Graham in the U.S. state of Arizona. With an elevation of ,

Geology

Humphreys Peak is a dormant volcano that rises from the San Francisco Volcanic Field. A gravity induced landslide or blast eruption similar to the 1980 eruptions of Mt St. Helens created the large open-bowl shape on the eastern half of the mountain. Before this collapse, the USGS estimated the volcano could have been 15,000 to 16,000 feet in elevation. During the ice ages of the Pleistocene Epoch, small glaciers carved narrow valleys just below the summit. Much of the mountain is composed of Trachyte, a gray volcanic rock.

Climate

The climate at the top of the mountain belongs to the dry-summer subarctic climate (Köppen: Dsc), close to the tundra climate (Köppen: ET), and the climate a little further down the mountainside is Hemiboreal climate (Köppen: Dsb) or warm dry-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csb). Six months of the year average temperatures below , and only July averages temperatures above . No month has a dew point higher than .

Due to its prominence and isolation, Mt Humphreys is often subject to lightning, especially during the monsoon months in the summer. Additionally, the upper half of the mountain is above the treeline and composed of steep rocks, making hikers more exposed to sudden changes in weather.

Recreation

The Arizona Snowbowl ski resort, which operates 8 lifts and 55 ski runs with a total vertical drop of 2,300 ft, is located on the western slope of Mount Humphreys.

Due to its proximity to Flagstaff and the US 180, the trail to the summit is relatively popular. In the summer, when there is no snow, the climb is a strenuous, steep hike with lower oxygen levels at altitude. In the winter, avalanche risk or blizzards is a possible hazard. The trail to the summit is 9 miles (14.5 kilometers) roundtrip with 3400 ft of elevation gain (1 km). The trailhead starts below the tree-line in a dense forest and ends well above the tree-line with unobstructed, 360 degree views, where the Grand Canyon can be seen in the distant north and Flagstaff just to the south.

See also

  • List of U.S. states by elevation
  • List of Ultras of the United States
  • List of mountains and hills of Arizona by height
  • San Francisco Peaks

Notes

References

  • "Kachina Trail #150". U.S. Forest Service.
  • "Humphreys Peak Trail #151." HikeArizona.com.
  • "Kachina Peaks Wilderness." U.S. Forest Service.