Granite Peak (Montana)

Granite Peak
Highest point
Elevation	12,807 ft (3,904 m)  NAVD 88[1]
Prominence	4,759 ft (1,451 m) [2]
Listing	U.S. state high point 10th
Coordinates	45°09′48″N 109°48′27″W / 45.163426647°N 109.807456247°WCoordinates: 45°09′48″N 109°48′27″W / 45.163426647°N 109.807456247°W [1]
Geography
Granite Peak Park County, Montana, U.S.
Parent range	Beartooth Mountains
Topo map	USGS Granite Peak
Climbing
First ascent	1923 by Elers Koch
Easiest route	Southwest Couloir (class 3 scramble)

Granite Peak, at an elevation of 12,807 feet (3,904 m) above sea level,^[1] is the highest natural point in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the tenth highest state high point in the nation.^[3] It lies within the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, in Park County very near the borders of Stillwater County and Carbon County. Granite Peak is 10 miles (16 km) north of the Wyoming border, 45 miles (72 km) southwest of Columbus, Montana.

Granite Peak is the second most difficult state highpoint after Denali in Alaska, due to technical climbing, poor weather, and route finding.^[4][5] Granite Peak’s first ascent was made by Elers Koch, James C. Whitham and R.T. Ferguson on August 29, 1923 after several failed attempts by others. It was the last of the state highpoints to be climbed.^[5] Today, climbers typically spend two or three days ascending the peak, stopping over on the Froze-to-Death Plateau, although some climbers choose to ascend the peak in a single day. Another route that has gained popularity in recent years is the Southwest Couloir route, a non-technical route from the south starting near Cooke City; climbers generally take two days to complete it.

3D model of Granite Peak and surroundings

See also

• List of mountain peaks of North America
  • List of mountain peaks of the United States
    • List of U.S. states by elevation

References

1. "Granite Peak". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey.
2. "Granite Peak, Montana". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
3. "Elevations and Distances in the United States". United States Geological Survey. April 29, 2005. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
4. "Granite Peak, Montana". SummitPost.org. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
5. Winger, Charlie; Winger, Diane (2002). Highpoint Adventures: The Complete Guide to the 50 State Highpoints. Colorado Mountain Club Press. pp. 140–141.

External links

• "Granite Peak". United States Forest Service.
• "Granite Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
• "Friends of Granite Peak", An organization dedicated to preserving the natural beauty of Granite Peak in Montana.