Humphreys Peak
Encyclopedia
Humphreys Peak is the highest natural point in the U.S. state
of Arizona
, with an elevation of 12637 feet (3,851.8 m) and is located within the Kachina Peaks Wilderness
in the Coconino National Forest
, about 11 miles (17.7 km) north of Flagstaff, Arizona
. Humphreys Peak is the highest of a group of extinct volcanic
peaks known as the San Francisco Peaks
. The summit can be most easily reached by hiking the 4.8 miles (7.7 km) long Humphreys Trail that begins at the Arizona Snowbowl
ski resort
in the Coconino National Forest
. The last 1 miles (1.6 km) of the trail traverses the only region of tundra
in Arizona, at an elevation of more than 11500 feet (3,505 m).
Humphreys Peak was named in about 1870 for General Andrew A. Humphreys
, a U.S. Army officer who was a Union
general
during the American Civil War
, and who later became Chief of Engineers
of the United States Army Corps of Engineers
. However, a General Land Office
map from 1903 showed the name San Francisco Peak applied to this feature (apparently borrowed from San Francisco Mountain
on which the peak stands). Thus the United States Board on Geographic Names
approved the variant name in 1911. In 1933, the application of the names was rectified.
The treeline of Humphreys Peak is around 11,400 ft. Hazards of the hike include a steep and rocky trail, risk of lightning strike, snow, and avalanche danger in winter.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, with an elevation of 12637 feet (3,851.8 m) and is located within the Kachina Peaks Wilderness
Kachina Peaks Wilderness
Kachina Peaks Wilderness is a wilderness area located approximately north of Flagstaff within the Coconino National Forest in the U.S. state of Arizona....
in the Coconino National Forest
Coconino National Forest
The Coconino National Forest is a 1.856-million acre United States National Forest located in northern Arizona in the vicinity of Flagstaff. Originally established in 1898 as the "San Francisco Mountains National Forest Reserve", the area was designated a U.S...
, about 11 miles (17.7 km) north of Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff, Arizona
Flagstaff is a city located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2010, the city's population was 65,870. The population of the Metropolitan Statistical Area was at 134,421 in 2010. It is the county seat of Coconino County...
. Humphreys Peak is the highest of a group of extinct volcanic
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
peaks known as the San Francisco Peaks
San Francisco Peaks
The San Francisco Peaks are a volcanic mountain range located in north central Arizona, just north of Flagstaff.The highest summit in the range, Humphreys Peak, is the highest point in the state of Arizona at in elevation. The San Francisco Peaks are the remains of an eroded stratovolcano...
. The summit can be most easily reached by hiking the 4.8 miles (7.7 km) long Humphreys Trail that begins at the Arizona Snowbowl
Arizona Snowbowl
Arizona Snowbowl is an alpine ski resort located on the San Francisco Peaks, 7 miles north of Flagstaff, Arizona. The Snowbowl is a long-standing center of controversy regarding its effect on Native American sacred sites and religious practices...
ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
in the Coconino National Forest
Coconino National Forest
The Coconino National Forest is a 1.856-million acre United States National Forest located in northern Arizona in the vicinity of Flagstaff. Originally established in 1898 as the "San Francisco Mountains National Forest Reserve", the area was designated a U.S...
. The last 1 miles (1.6 km) of the trail traverses the only region of tundra
Tundra
In physical geography, tundra is a biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The term tundra comes through Russian тундра from the Kildin Sami word tūndâr "uplands," "treeless mountain tract." There are three types of tundra: Arctic tundra, alpine...
in Arizona, at an elevation of more than 11500 feet (3,505 m).
Humphreys Peak was named in about 1870 for General Andrew A. Humphreys
Andrew A. Humphreys
Andrew Atkinson Humphreys , was a career United States Army officer, civil engineer, and a Union General in the American Civil War. He served in senior positions in the Army of the Potomac, including division command, chief of staff, and corps command, and was Chief Engineer of the U.S...
, a U.S. Army officer who was a Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
general
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, and who later became Chief of Engineers
Chief of Engineers
The Chief of Engineers commands the US Army Corps of Engineers. As a staff officer at The Pentagon, the Chief advises the Army on engineering matters and serves as the Army's topographer and the proponent for real estate and other related engineering programs....
of the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
. However, a General Land Office
General Land Office
The General Land Office was an independent agency of the United States government responsible for public domain lands in the United States. It was created in 1812 to take over functions previously conducted by the United States Department of the Treasury...
map from 1903 showed the name San Francisco Peak applied to this feature (apparently borrowed from San Francisco Mountain
San Francisco Peaks
The San Francisco Peaks are a volcanic mountain range located in north central Arizona, just north of Flagstaff.The highest summit in the range, Humphreys Peak, is the highest point in the state of Arizona at in elevation. The San Francisco Peaks are the remains of an eroded stratovolcano...
on which the peak stands). Thus the United States Board on Geographic Names
United States Board on Geographic Names
The United States Board on Geographic Names is a United States federal body whose purpose is to establish and maintain uniform usage of geographic names throughout the U.S. government.-Overview:...
approved the variant name in 1911. In 1933, the application of the names was rectified.
The treeline of Humphreys Peak is around 11,400 ft. Hazards of the hike include a steep and rocky trail, risk of lightning strike, snow, and avalanche danger in winter.
External links
- Humphreys Trail, at www.fs.fed.us
- Humphreys Peak Trail #151 from HikeArizona.com, at http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=64
- Kachina Peaks Wilderness, at www.fs.fed.us