Uncompahgre Peak is a mountain summit located in the San Juan Mountains range in southwestern Colorado. At 14,321 feet (4,361 meters) elevation, it is the sixth highest peak in Colorado. Uncompahgre Peak is known for its rugged terrain, beautiful scenery, and challenging climbs that draw hikers and mountaineers from around the world.
In this article, we have compiled 58 riddles and brainteasers related to various facts and trivia about Uncompahgre Peak. The riddles cover topics like geography, geology, history, and more. Each riddle helps provide an engaging way to learn more about this iconic Colorado fourteener while testing your wits.
So put on your thinking cap and see if you can decipher all 58 Uncompahgre Peak riddles! The answers follow each riddle in case you get stumped. Enjoy exploring various facets of this majestic peak through these fun and challenging riddles.
Geography Riddles
Riddle 1: Uncompahgre Peak is located in which U.S. state?
Answer: Colorado
Riddle 2: What is the elevation of Uncompahgre Peak’s summit in feet?
Answer: 14,321 feet
Riddle 3: True or false? Uncompahgre Peak has one of Colorado’s famous 14,000-foot summits.
Answer: True
Riddle 4: Uncompahgre Peak is located in which subrange of the San Juan Mountains?
Answer: San Juan Mountains
Riddle 5: Uncompahgre Peak lies along the border of which two U.S. National Forests?
Answer: Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests
Geology Riddles
Riddle 6: Uncompahgre Peak’s summit and upper slopes are made primarily of which igneous rock?
Answer: Granite
Riddle 7: The word “Uncompahgre” comes from a Ute language word meaning what in English?
Answer: “Dirty water” or “red lake”
Riddle 8: Glaciers during past ice ages sculpted which prominent geological feature found on Uncompahgre’s summit?
Answer: A cirque
Riddle 9: Uncompahgre Peak displays textbook examples of which type of periglacial landform?
Answer: Tarn
Riddle 10: When did the last small glaciers disappear from the northern slopes of Uncompahgre Peak?
Answer: The late 1800s
History Riddles
Riddle 11: Famed explorer Zebulon Pike first recorded seeing Uncompahgre Peak in what year?
Answer: 1807
Riddle 12: The Ute people inhabited areas surrounding Uncompahgre Peak since before which major historical era?
Answer: The Colonial Era
Riddle 13: Uncompahgre Peak first became an iconic climbing destination after the publication of which classic mountaineering book?
Answer: “Scrambles Amongst the Alps in the Years 1860-1869” by Edward Whymper
Riddle 14: Famed mountaineer Frederick Chapin made an unsuccessful solo attempt to climb Uncompahgre in which year?
Answer: 1877
Riddle 15: The first recorded successful ascent of Uncompahgre occurred in what year?
Answer: 1881
Climbing Riddles
Riddle 16: What is the standard climbing route used to ascend to Uncompahgre Peak’s summit?
Answer: South Ridge
Riddle 17: Uncompahgre’s standard South Ridge route would be classified at what overall grade according to the Yosemite Decimal System?
Answer: Class 2+
Riddle 18: Late summer ascents of Uncompahgre’s standard route may encounter residual snow patches above what elevation?
Answer: 13,000 feet
Riddle 19: Which campsite located below treeline serves as the usual basecamp location for Uncompahgre climbs?
Answer: Nellie Creek Campground
Riddle 20: How long does it typically take climbers to ascend from Nellie Creek to Uncompahgre’s summit?
Answer: 8-12 hours round trip
Flora & Fauna Riddles
Riddle 21: Uncompahgre Peak lies within the habitat range of which threatened bird species?
Answer: Gunnison Sage-grouse
Riddle 22: Herds of which mountain ungulate are frequently spotted on Uncompahgre’s slopes?
Answer: Bighorn Sheep
Riddle 23: The upper elevations of Uncompahgre Peak host hardy alpine wildflowers such as sky pilot and Old Man ____?
Answer: Of the Mountain
Riddle 24: Uncompahgre Peak trails pass through forested areas comprised mainly of which two conifer tree species?
Answer: Engelmann Spruce and Subalpine Fir
Riddle 25: Hikers on Uncompahgre’s high ridges may spot which distinctive bird known for riding thermal updrafts?
Answer: Golden Eagle
Weather Riddles
Riddle 26: What is the average yearly snowpack on Uncompahgre Peak’s summit?
Answer: 25 feet
Riddle 27: July and August see the least rainfall on average around Uncompahgre Peak with only ___ inches per month.
Answer: 1-2 inches
Riddle 28: Thunderstorms with lightning strikes are most likely to occur during which range of afternoon hours on Uncompahgre?
Answer: Noon to 6 PM
Riddle 29: What is the average January high temperature on Uncompahgre Peak?
Answer: 19°F
Riddle 30: The peak wind gust speed ever recorded on Uncompahgre Peak is around ___ mph.
Answer: 175 mph
Records Riddles
Riddle 31: At what age did Anna Wilson become the youngest person to summit Uncompahgre Peak?
Answer: 3 years old
Riddle 32: Who holds the record for the most Uncompahgre Peak ascents, with over ___ summits since 1992?
Answer: Lou Dawson; over 100 summits
Riddle 33: Which competitive ultrarunner ran from Ridgway, CO to Uncompahgre’s summit and back in a record time of under 5 hours?
Answer: Dakota Jones
Riddle 34: Dean Pollack holds the record for the fastest Uncompahgre Summit to Nellie Creek return at 1 hour and ___ minutes?
Answer: 42 minutes
Riddle 35: Peter Bakwin and Scott Jaime jointly hold the record for how many Uncompahgre Peak ascents in one week?
Answer: 7 ascents
Popular Culture Riddles
Riddle 36: Uncompahgre Peak appears on the state quarter representing which U.S. state?
Answer: Colorado
Riddle 37: The character Charley Middleton stargazes atop Uncompahgre Peak in which famous Western novel?
Answer: “Centennial” by James Michener
Riddle 38: Uncompahgre Peak’s striking silhouette can be viewed from which nearby ski resort?
Answer: Purgatory Resort
Riddle 39: What cult outdoor film shot a fly fishing scene in a tarn-filled basin below Uncompahgre’s summit?
Answer: “A River Runs Through It”
Riddle 40: Indie pop band Tennis named a song after which wildflower that blankets Uncompahgre’s mountainsides?
Answer: Sky Pilot
Visitor Resources Riddles
Riddle 41: What government agency manages the majority of recreational areas surrounding Uncompahgre Peak?
Answer: U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
Riddle 42: Uncompahgre Peak trails officially close in winter on what date each year?
Answer: December 1
Riddle 43: The Friends of Uncompahgre Wilderness volunteer organization is based out of which Colorado mountain town?
Answer: Montrose
Riddle 44: Climbers ascending Uncompahgre’s technical routes like the North Buttress require what type of USFS permit?
Answer: Climbing permit
Riddle 45: Visitors camping overnight below Uncompahgre Peak need to store food at what required minimum distance from tents?
Answer: 100 feet
Fun Facts Riddles
Riddle 46: The name “Uncompahgre” means what in the Native American Ute language?
Answer: “Dirty Water” or “Red Lake”
Riddle 47: Uncompahgre Peak appears on the emblem signifying membership in which Colorado mountaineering group?
Answer: The Colorado Fourteeners Initiative
Riddle 48: Climbers on Uncompahgre’s summit sometimes glimpse a mirage of which distant Great Plains state?
Answer: Kansas
Riddle 49: Uncompahgre Peak has one of Colorado’s highest lightning strike densities at __ strikes per square kilometer annually.
Answer: 25
Riddle 50: What was the original name Colonel William Ludlow gave Uncompahgre Peak in his 1874 Hayden Survey notes?
Answer: Big Mountain
Wildlife Riddles
Riddle 51: A conservation success story allowed which mountain ungulate species to return to at-risk levels on Uncompahgre?
Answer: Bighorn Sheep
Riddle 52: Uncompahgre’s high alpine habitat allows one to spot which state bird circling on updrafts?
Answer: The Lark Bunting
Riddle 53: Canyons below Uncompahgre provide ideal terrain for reintroduced herds of which threatened hoofed mammal?
Answer: Desert Bighorn Sheep
Riddle 54: The ptarmigan is one of two grouse species that inhabit terrain above tree line on Uncompahgre Peak in the summer, what is the other species?
Answer: White-tailed Ptarmigan
Riddle 55: Look closely while hiking through evergreen forests on Uncompahgre and you may spot which signature boxy birdhouses?
Answer: Bluebird nest boxes
Climate Change Riddles
Riddle 56: Rising regional temperatures have increased wildfire risks and led to beetle infestations in what prevalent conifer around Uncompahgre?
Answer: Engelmann Spruce
Riddle 57: Climate change has caused once-permanent ice formations like glaciers found on Uncompahgre Peak to retreat at what accelerated recent rate?
Answer: 30 times faster over the past 30 years compared to pre-1980
Riddle 58: Uncompahgre Peak researchers installed measurement devices at what elevation to track vanishing small glacier remnants?
Answer: At 12,700 feet elevation
Conclusion
And there you have it – 58 riddles ranging widely across topics related to the marvelous Uncompahgre Peak! From geography and geology to history, climbing routes, flora and fauna, weather patterns, records, popular culture references and more, these riddles run the gamut in testing your knowledge of this Colorado icon.
Learning about mountains like “Uneva” through fun trivia and brainteasers helps one better appreciate the peak. The riddles also shed light on critical issues like climate change impacts to alpine habitats. We hope unraveling these Uncompahgre riddles has you excited to further explore southwest Colorado while building your mountaineering wit and wisdom. Let the riddle adventures continue!
