Sleeping Sexton

Sleeping Sexton
East aspect
Highest point
Elevation	13,457 ft (4,102 m)[1]
Prominence	420 ft (128 m)[1]
Parent peak	Maroon Bells[1][2]
Isolation	0.59 mi (0.95 km)[1]
Coordinates	39°05′11″N 106°59′29″W[3]
Naming
Etymology	Sexton
Geography
Sleeping Sexton Location in Colorado Show map of Colorado Sleeping Sexton Sleeping Sexton (the United States) Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Colorado
County	Pitkin
Protected area	Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness
Parent range	Rocky Mountains Elk Mountains[4]
Topo map	USGS Maroon Bells
Geology
Rock age	Permian
Rock type	Maroon Formation[5]
Climbing
Easiest route	class 3+ scrambling[1]

Sleeping Sexton is a 13,457-foot (4,102 m) mountain ridge in Pitkin County, Colorado, United States.

Description

Sleeping Sexton is set 22 miles (35 km) west of the Continental Divide in the Elk Mountains which are a subrange of the Rocky Mountains. The mountain is located 11 miles (18 km) southwest of the community of Aspen in the Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness, on land managed by White River National Forest.^[4] The summit of Sleeping Sexton ranks as the 19th-highest peak within the wilderness, 29th-highest in Pitkin County, and 287th-highest in Colorado.^[1] Precipitation runoff from the mountain's east slope drains into West Maroon Creek and the west slope drains into Snowmass Creek, which are both tributaries of the Roaring Fork River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises nearly 3,400 feet (1,036 m) above West Maroon Valley in approximately one mile (1.61 km) and 1,900 feet (579 m) above Snowmass Creek in one-half mile (0.8 km). The Maroon Bells and Sleeping Sexton viewed from Maroon Lake is the most-photographed place in Colorado.^[6] The lake was formed when a landslide from the slopes of Sievers Mountain slid into the valley and dammed West Maroon Creek.^[7]

Etymology

The landforms's toponym was officially adopted in 1975 by the United States Board on Geographic Names.^[3] The name was chosen by local individuals because the feature resembles the head of a sleeping person and because of its proximity to Maroon Bells.^[3] A sexton is a church officer whose many duties include bell-ringer and graveyard custodian.^[8]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Sleeping Sexton is located in an alpine subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers.^[9] Due to its altitude, it receives precipitation all year, as snow in winter and as thunderstorms in summer, with a dry period in late spring. Visitors can expect afternoon rain, hail, and lightning from the seasonal monsoon in late July and August.

Gallery

• 
  Maroon Bells centered, Sleeping Sexton to the right, from Maroon Lake
• 
  Sunrise on Maroon Bells (center) and Sleeping Sexton (right)
• 
  Maroon Bells and Sleeping Sexton reflected in Maroon Lake
• 
  Maroon Bells (left) and Sleeping Sexton (right) viewed from Crater Lake
• 
  East aspect
• 
  Sleeping Sexton partially covered by an F-16 jet.
  Summit of Sleeping Sexton above jet's tail.

See also

• Mountains portal
• Mountains of Pitkin County, Colorado
• Thirteener

References

1. "Sleeping Sexton - 13,457' CO". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
2. "Sleeping Sexton, Peakvisor.com". Retrieved June 19, 2023.
3. "Sleeping Sexton". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
4. "Sleeping Sexton, Colorado". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
5. Bruce Bryant, Geologic map of the Maroon Bells quadrangle, Pitkin and Gunnison Counties, Colorado, U.S. Geological Survey, 1969.
6. Susan Joy Paul, Stewart M. Green (2022), Best Lake Hikes Colorado, Rowman & Littlefield, ISBN 9781493046836, p. 56.
7. Marty Bartholomew (2010), Great Places: Colorado, Wilderness Adventures Press, ISBN 9781932098686, p. 182.
8. Sexton, Merriam-webster.com Retrieved October 19, 2023.
9. Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN 1027-5606.

External links

• Sleeping Sexton: weather forecast