View source for Humphreys Peak

{{short description|Highest mountain in Arizona}}
{{For|the higher peak in the [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]]|Mount Humphreys}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Humphreys Peak
| other_name = {{langx|hop|Aaloosaktukwi}} {{Langx|nv|Doko'o'osliid}}
| photo = San Francisco Peaks, winter.jpg
| photo_caption = Humphreys Peak in winter 2004
| elevation_ft = 12637
| elevation_ref = {{navd88}}<ref name="ngs">{{cite ngs |id=FQ0624 |name=Frisco |access-date=November 13, 2008}}</ref>
| prominence_ft = 6039
| prominence_ref = <ref name="pb">{{cite peakbagger |pid=3938 |name=Humphreys Peak, Arizona |access-date=November 13, 2008}}</ref>
| range = [[San Francisco Peaks]]
| isolation = {{convert|245.85|mi}}
| listing = {{unbulleted list
  | [[List of the most isolated major summits of North America|North America isolated peaks]] 48th
  | [[List of the most prominent summits of the United States|U.S. most prominent peaks]] 64th
  | [[List of U.S. states by elevation|U.S. state high point]] 12th<ref>{{cite peakbagger |lid=12004 |title=United States State High Points (plus DC) |access-date=2016-08-17}}</ref>
  }}
| location = [[Coconino County, Arizona|Coconino County]], [[Arizona|Arizona, U.S.]]
| map = USA Arizona
| map_caption = none
| map_width = 180
| label_position = bottom
| coordinates = {{coord|35|20|46.8|N|111|40|40.6|W|type:mountain_region:US-AZ_scale:100000_source:NGS|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| range_coordinates =
| coordinates_ref = <ref name="ngs" />
| topo = [[United States Geological Survey|USGS]] Humphreys Peak
| first_ascent =
| type = igneous, volcanic
| volcanic_field = [[San Francisco volcanic field]]
| easiest_route = Humphreys Trail, {{YDS|1}}<ref name=coconino>{{cite web |url=http://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation |title=Humphreys Trail #51 |publisher=[[Coconino National Forest]], [[U.S. Forest Service]] |access-date=February 4, 2014}}</ref>
}}

'''Humphreys Peak''' ({{langx|hop|Aaloosaktukwi}}, {{langx|nv|Dookʼoʼoosłííd}}  "its summit never melts"<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dookʼoʼoosłííd |url=https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Dook%CA%BCo%CA%BCoos%C5%82%C3%AD%C3%ADd |website=Wikipedia}}</ref>) is the highest mountain and the second most prominent peak after [[Mount Graham]] in the U.S. state of [[Arizona]].<ref>{{cite web|date=April 29, 2005 |url=https://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html |title=Elevations and Distances in the United States |publisher=United States Geological Survey |access-date=March 29, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080601170143/http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html |archive-date=June 1, 2008 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> With an elevation of {{convert|12637|ft|m}},<ref name="ngs"/> it is located within the [[Kachina Peaks Wilderness]] in the [[Coconino National Forest]], about {{convert|11|mi|km|1}} north of [[Flagstaff, Arizona]]. Humphreys Peak is the highest of a group of dormant [[volcano|volcanic]] peaks known as the [[San Francisco Peaks]].<ref name=coconino/>

Humphreys Peak was named in about 1870 for General [[Andrew A. Humphreys]], a [[U.S. Army]] officer who was a [[Union army|Union]] [[general]] during the [[American Civil War]], and who later became [[Chief of Engineers]] of the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]]. However, a [[United States General Land Office]] map from 1903 showed the name ''San Francisco Peak'' applied to this feature (apparently borrowed from [[San Francisco Peaks|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.<ref name=GNIS>{{cite gnis |id=30290|name=Humphreys Peak |access-date=June 30, 2021}}</ref>

==Geology==
Humphreys Peak is a dormant volcano that rises from the [[San Francisco volcanic field|San Francisco Volcanic Field]]. A gravity induced landslide or blast eruption similar to the [[1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens|1980 eruptions of Mt St. Helens]] created the large open-bowl shape on the eastern half of the mountain. Before this collapse, the [[United States Geological Survey|USGS]] estimated the volcano could have been 15,000 to 16,000 feet in elevation. During the ice ages of the [[Pleistocene|Pleistocene Epoch]], small glaciers carved narrow valleys just below the summit.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sunset Crater - Humphreys Peak {{!}} U.S. Geological Survey |url=https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/sunset-crater-humphreys-peak |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=www.usgs.gov |date=December 11, 2004 }}</ref> Much of the mountain is composed of [[Trachyte]], a gray volcanic rock.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lucchitta |first=Ivo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lNyMgXdhFMEC |title=Hiking Arizona's Geology |date=2001 |publisher=The Mountaineers Books |isbn=978-0-89886-730-5 |language=en}}</ref>

==Climate==
The climate at the top of the mountain belongs to the [[subarctic climate|dry-summer subarctic climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Dsc''), close to the [[tundra climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''ET''), and the climate a little further down the mountainside is [[Humid continental climate#Warm summer subtype|Hemiboreal climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Dsb'') or [[Mediterranean climate#Warm-summer Mediterranean climate|warm dry-summer Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Csb''). Six months of the year average temperatures below {{Convert|32|F}}, and only July averages temperatures above {{Convert|50|F}}. No month has a [[dew point]] higher than {{Convert|32|F}}.

Due to its prominence and isolation, Mt Humphreys is often subject to [[lightning]], especially during the [[North American Monsoon|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.<ref name=coconino/> In 2016, a 17-year-old hiker died and two other teens were injured after being struck by lightning on Humphreys Peak.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Update: One Tempe teen dead, two hurt after lightning strike on Humphreys Peak |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-breaking/2016/07/20/arizona-flagstaff-hikers-struck-lightning-humphreys-peak/87359948/ |access-date=22 December 2024 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}}</ref>
{{Weather box
|location = Humphreys Peak 35.3463 N, 111.6779 W, Elevation: {{cvt|11729|ft}} (1991–2020 normals)
|single line = y
|width=auto
|Jan high F = 32.8
|Feb high F = 32.6
|Mar high F = 36.6
|Apr high F = 42.0
|May high F = 50.1
|Jun high F = 61.2
|Jul high F = 64.4
|Aug high F = 62.1
|Sep high F = 57.1
|Oct high F = 48.7
|Nov high F = 40.2
|Dec high F = 33.4

|Jan mean F = 21.6
|Feb mean F = 20.9
|Mar mean F = 24.4
|Apr mean F = 29.0
|May mean F = 36.7
|Jun mean F = 47.0
|Jul mean F = 51.6
|Aug mean F = 50.0
|Sep mean F = 44.6
|Oct mean F = 36.1
|Nov mean F = 28.5
|Dec mean F = 22.1

|Jan low F = 10.5
|Feb low F = 9.2
|Mar low F = 12.2
|Apr low F = 15.9
|May low F = 23.4
|Jun low F = 32.7
|Jul low F = 38.8
|Aug low F = 37.9
|Sep low F = 32.2
|Oct low F = 23.6
|Nov low F = 16.7
|Dec low F = 10.8

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 5.20
|Feb precipitation inch = 5.14
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.79
|Apr precipitation inch = 2.60
|May precipitation inch = 1.45
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.58
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.64
|Aug precipitation inch = 5.34
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.99
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.90
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.21
|Dec precipitation inch = 5.05

|Jan dew point F = 4.0
|Feb dew point F = 5.5
|Mar dew point F = 6.4
|Apr dew point F = 6.9
|May dew point F = 10.6
|Jun dew point F = 11.7
|Jul dew point F = 27.4
|Aug dew point F = 30.9
|Sep dew point F = 26.6
|Oct dew point F = 14.7
|Nov dew point F = 8.5
|Dec dew point F = 4.3

|source=PRISM Climate Group<ref>{{cite web
|url= http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/
|title= PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University
|publisher= PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University
|access-date= September 30, 2023
|quote= To find the table data on the PRISM website, start by clicking ''Coordinates'' (under ''Location''); copy ''Latitude'' and ''Longitude figures'' from top of table; click ''Zoom to location''; click ''Precipitation, Minimum temp, Mean temp, Maximum temp''; click ''30-year normals, 1991-2020''; click ''800m''; click ''Retrieve Time Series'' button.}}</ref>
}}

{{wide image|San Francisco Peaks 3.JPG|x160px|Humphreys Peak right of center from the Humphreys-Agassiz saddle to the south|center}}

==Recreation==
The [[Arizona Snowbowl|Arizona Snowbowl ski resort]], which operates 8 lifts and 55 ski runs with a total vertical drop of 2,300&nbsp;ft, is located on the western slope of Mount Humphrey.

Due to its proximity to [[Flagstaff, Arizona|Flagstaff]] and the [[U.S. Route 180|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&nbsp;ft of elevation gain (1&nbsp;km).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-09-20 |title=Humphrey's Peak Trail |url=https://www.grandcanyontrust.org/hikes/cpe-humphreys-peak-trail |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=Grand Canyon Trust |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hazzard |first=Cris |date=2024-09-03 |title=Humphreys Peak Hike |url=https://hikingguy.com/hiking-trails/best-hikes-in-the-us/humphreys-peak-hike/ |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=HikingGuy.com |language=en}}</ref> 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, Arizona|Flagstaff]] just 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]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{sister project links|auto=1}}
* {{cite summitpost |id=150241 |title=Humphreys Peak}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.rmrs.nau.edu/webcam/ |title=The peaks cam project |publisher=[[U.S. Forest Service]]}}
* [https://www.fs.usda.gov/generalinfo/coconino/recreation/camping-cabins/generalinfo?groupid=92939&recid=55112 "Kachina Trail #150"]. U.S. Forest Service.
* [http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=64 "Humphreys Peak Trail #151."] HikeArizona.com.
* [http://www.fs.usda.gov/r03/coconino/recreation "Kachina Peaks Wilderness."] U.S. Forest Service.

{{NA isolated}}
{{US prominent}}
{{U.S. State Highest Points}}
{{Mountains of Arizona}}

[[Category:Landforms of Coconino County, Arizona]]
[[Category:Mountains of Arizona]]
[[Category:Volcanoes of Arizona]]
[[Category:Extinct volcanoes of the United States]]
[[Category:Highest points of U.S. states]]
[[Category:Coconino National Forest]]
[[Category:Three-thousanders of the United States]]
[[Category:Mountains of Coconino County, Arizona]]
[[Category:Sacred mountains of the United States]]