Isolation Peak is a mountain in the Sangre de Cristo Range of south-central Colorado. At an elevation of 13,148 feet, it offers spectacular views and a challenging climb. Here are 55 riddles about this amazing peak along with the answers.
Riddles about getting to Isolation Peak
Q: To reach Isolation Peak’s trailhead, through what National Forest would you drive?
A: Rio Grande National Forest
Q: The trailhead sits at the end of what road north of Fort Garland?
A: Forest Road 250
Q: Prior to 1937, Isolation Peak went by a different name coined by locals. What was that earlier name?
A: San Luis Peak
Q: Roughly how many miles round trip is the hike from the Isolation Peak trailhead to the summit?
A: 16 miles
Q: Other than hiking, what is another way some visitors get to the top of Isolation Peak?
A: By riding horses
Riddles about the trail and hike
Q: The trail is marked by what shapes nailed to trees?
A: Arrows
Q: During the early miles, the trail switchbacks up through a section of dead what?
A: Dead lodgepole pines
Q: Other than arrows, cairns also mark sections of the trail. What are cairns made of?
A: Stacks of rocks
Q: About two miles in, the trail crosses a creek named what?
A: Anderson Creek
Q: Hikers will pass by four alpine lakes. What are their names?
A: Mirror Lake, Crater Lake, Heart Lake and Dragonfly Lake
Q: As you near treeline, the trail levels out and crosses a large field called what?
A: Far Meadow
Q: Roughly how long does it take most hikers to reach the summit from the trailhead?
A: 8-12 hours round trip
Riddles about the peak itself
Q: True or false – Isolation Peak is one of the so-called fourteeners of Colorado?
A: False. It is over 200 feet shy of 14,000 ft elevation.
Q: Isolation Peak sits along the northern edge of the Sangre de Cristo subrange called what?
A: The Crestones
Q: The standard route up Isolation Peak is considered what climbing class by mountaineers?
A: Class 2 – simple scrambling, occasional use of hands
Q: Isolation Peak is less visited than other area peaks due to its remoteness. Roughly how many people typically summit it each year?
A: 300-500
Q: The northwest ridge that comprises the standard route is known by what nickname?
A: Dragon’s Back
Q: When standing at the summit, Rio Grande Pyramid peak is to the what direction?
A: Northwest
Q: There is a large stone windbreak at the very top known colloquially as what?
A: The Throne
Riddles about the summit views
Q: On a clear day hikers at the top can see all the way north to Wyoming’s Medicine Bow Mountains. What river flows north from Colorado’s Never Summer Mountains to the Medicine Bows?
A: North Platte River
Q: Pikes Peak near Colorado Springs is visible to the what direction from Isolation Peak’s summit on a clear day?
A: Northeast
Q: Looking south from the top on a clear day, what is the name of the closest big fourteeners skirted with glaciers?
A: The Crestones (Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle)
Q: The Sangre de Cristo range is the southernmost tip of which longer mountain chain stretching all the way to Canada?
A: The Rocky Mountains
Q: Isolation Peak offers a sweeping 360 degree view of the San Luis Valley. The valley encompasses land in what two U.S. states?
A: Colorado and New Mexico
Riddles about geology and ecosystems
Q: Isolation Peak sits along the Sangre de Cristo Fault, formed when underground tectonic plates collide. What type of fault is it?
A: Reverse fault
Q: The peak and surrounding backcountry are known for colorful wildflowers in summer. Lavender colored Sky Pilots and yellow Alpine Sunflowers are common sights. What month do they typically start blooming?
A: June
Q: Cocoa-colored Zuni Fleeceflower and rusty Indian Paintbrush also blanket the high mountain meadows surrounding Isolation Peak in mid-summer. What ecosystem would ecologists say these alpine tundra meadows are part of?
A: The Southern Rocky Mountains ecosystem
Q: At higher elevations near treeline, coniferous forest transitions to low-lying plants and wildflowers able to withstand the increased UV exposure and harsh winds. This delineation where trees can no longer grow is known as what?
A: Treeline
Q: Light-colored granodiorite is the dominant rock making up Isolation Peak. This igneous rock contains the minerals quartz, plagioclase feldspar, and what darker mineral that gives granite its salt-and-pepper appearance?
A: Biotite mica
Riddles about history and names
Q: Native Americans of the Tewa tribe originally inhabited the San Luis Valley surrounding the Sangre de Cristos. Isolation Peak lies along what was the northernmost edge of their ancestral territory?
A: The Tewa tribal territory
Q: The name Sangre de Cristo means what in English?
A: Blood of Christ
Q: Settlers in the 1800s referred to Isolation Peak as what, referring to its remoteness from other large peaks in the Sangre de Cristos?
A: Lonely Peak
Q: Isolation Peak once marked the north boundary of the historic Medano Ranch, started in the 1800s by settlers named what?
A: The Manzanares
Q: Today, most of the land surrounding Isolation Peak is managed public land overseen by what U.S. government agency?
A: The U.S. Forest Service
Q: The Forest Service allows free backcountry and wilderness camping anywhere at least 100 feet from trails, 200 feet from water sources. What is the general rule for maximum number of nights campers can stay at one backcountry site?
A: 14 days
Riddles about weather and climate
Q: July through September tends to be the rainiest stretch at Isolation Peak. What unique weather phenomenon leads to increased thunderstorms during those months?
A: Summer monsoons
Q: Lightning strikes are more common on mountaintops, so what time of day are hikers urged to be below treeline when hiking Isolation in monsoon season?
A: By early-mid afternoon
Q: Isolation Peak gets bitterly cold in winter. What is the lowest temperature ever officially recorded at nearby Wolf Creek Pass?
A: -62°F (-52°C)
Q: Deep snowdrifts start accumulating by what month most years?
A: October
Q: When spring comes, where does most of the snowmelt at high elevations wind up?
A: Feeding streams and rivers that flow to the Rio Grande River
Q: Isolation Peak has several year-round snowfield patches and small glaciers, mainly clustered on what side?
A: On its northeastern side
Riddles about animals and vegetation
Q: Pika and yellow-bellied marmot sightings are common when hiking to Isolation Peak. What biological classification do these mammals both belong to?
A: Rodentia (rodents)
Q: At high elevations, white-tailed ptarmigan start changing colors in winter, with their plumage turning completely white by when?
A: Late October
Q: Hikers may spot mountain goats high on scree slopes around Isolation Peak. This sure-footed ungulate is unusually comfortable on steep terrain due to feet that give them almost what human ability?
A: The ability to perch
Q: Related to buttercups, white marsh marigolds bloom around small tundra ponds near Isolation Peak in June and July. What do ecologists call these high alpine ponds surrounded by grasses and wildflowers?
A: Tarns
Q: Hardy wildflowers like moss campion and alpine forget-me-nots bloom soon after snow melt through September. What adaptations help tundra plants survive the harsh conditions?
A: Staying low to the ground, growing slowly, storing energy underground
Q: Lichens and tough high-elevation grasses like Tufted Hairgrass grow along the barren upper slopes. How do plants like lichen get their nutrients in such exposed rocky terrain?
A: Through photosynthesis
Riddles about current events and activities
Q: Sections of trail to Isolation Peak sustained erosion damage in the summer 2022 floods that hit parts of Colorado. What was the main cause of flooding?
A: Rapid snowmelt combined with heavy rainfall
Q: The Forest Service discourages building new cairns to avoid confusing hikers. If existing cairns start steering people off trail, the agency may do what?
A: Dismantle confusing cairns
Q: To protect fragile tundra, the Forest Service urges hikers to walk only on durable surfaces on ridges and peaks. What surface types are considered durable?
A: Rock, snow and dry grasses
Q: Warming temperatures have led to increased peak attempts in winter. Most routes become dangerous by December due to what hazard?
A: High avalanche risk on steep slopes
Q: Recently the area has also seen more late spring/early summer hikers. Later snow melt has caused some injuries from people falling into what?
A: Moats and sinkholes around melting snow banks
Conclusion
Those are 55 riddles covering topics spanning history and geology to weather and wildlife around Colorado’s remote Isolation Peak. Exploring and learning about places like this amazing mountain helps one better appreciate nature’s beauty. But it also reminds us of our shared duty to protect vulnerable alpine areas through responsible recreation and conservation stewardship.
