Mount Chirripó

Coordinates: 9°29′2.7″N 83°29′19.2″W / 9.484083°N 83.488667°W / 9.484083; -83.488667
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
(Redirected from
Cerro Chirripó
)

Cerro Chirripó
Country high points
  • Central America highest peaks 5th
  • Coordinates9°29′2.7″N 83°29′19.2″W / 9.484083°N 83.488667°W / 9.484083; -83.488667
    Geography
    Location
    Talamanca Range
    Climbing
    First ascent1904
    Agustín Blessing Presinger
    Easiest routeHiking

    Cerro Chirripó is the highest mountain in

    endemism and extremely high biodiversity. The peaks of these mountains constitute sky islands for many species of plants and animals. Snow has not fallen on the peak in the past 100 years or so, according to the University of Costa Rica, but hail
    is sometimes reported.

    The great height of Mount Chirripó relative to its surroundings is also evidenced by its particularly high

    37th most prominent peak in the world. On clear days it is possible to see across the country from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea.[3]

    Climbing Mount Chirripó is possible by obtaining a permit from the National Park office in San Gerardo de Rivas. From the trailhead, the summit can be reached via a 19.5-kilometer (12.1 mile) hike.[4]

    Geography

    Chirripó is the

    38th most prominent peak in the world. The geography of Mount Chirripó is very irregular, due to its formation as a mountain, it also has a large number of lakes on the top, this is because during the ice age it was covered with snow, but when the ice melted these unique glacial lakes
    were formed.

    Climate

    Temperatures on Mount Chirripo during the day can range between 4 °C and 18 °C, and at night they can drop from 1 °C to −3 °C, with this and the Irazú Volcano being the only places in the country that can report these temperatures, so that in the morning the grass is covered with frost. The coldest temperature ever documented in Costa Rica was recorded here (−9 °C).

    History

    The earliest known civilization to inhabit the area of Chirripó was the indigenous Cabécar people. In 1904, Agustín Blessing Presinger became the first known European to climb the peak.

    The first official hiking trail was constructed in 1965; it led to a small sheet-metal hut five kilometers away from the peak. Today, the hut has been replaced by a concrete building visited by 7,000 people each year. In 1975, Chirripó National Park was founded, enclosing and protecting 500 square kilometers of rain forest and mountains around the peak.[5]

    Since 1953, there have been five major wildfires in the area. Forest fires occurred in 1976,[6] in the 1990s,[7] and in 2012.[8]

    Route

    The hike starts 1,500 meters (4,900 ft) above sea level in the village of

    Talamanca Range. From the valley, the path rises through fields and woodlands before ascending through lush rainforest. The forest gradually turns into scrubland. The trail continuously ascends and descends through ridges and valleys until it reaches the final visitors' refuge at 3,392 meters. From the refuge, there is a remaining two hour hike. Once the last ridge is crossed, there is a remaining 200 meters of steep path. The summit is a 6-meter wide platform of rocks.[5]

    See also

    • Mountain peaks of North America
    • List of Ultras of Central America

    References

    1. ^ a b c "Central America ultra-prominent peaks". PeakList.org. Retrieved April 7, 2007.
    2. ^ "All About Chirripó". www.hikingchirripo.com. [dead link]
    3. ^ "Chirripó National Park". costa-rica-guide.com. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
    4. ^ "notes on climbing Chirripo". peakbagging.com. Retrieved April 9, 2011.
    5. ^ .
    6. ^ Harry Pariser. "First Fire". Explore Costa Rica. Archived from the original on February 8, 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
    7. ^ "Second Fire (Weak)". blog on wordpress.com. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
    8. ^ David Delgado. "Brigadistas combaten últimas llamas en el Chirripó". Diario La Nación. Archived from the original on March 10, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2012.

    External links

    Panoramic