| Mt. Lindsey |
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Geology (Mt. Lindsey)Title: Mt. Lindsey Geology Entered by: rockdoc53 Added: 10/19/2010, Last Updated: 10/19/2010 Sources: Johnson, B.R. and Bruce, R.M., 1991, Reconnaissance geologic map of parts of the Twin Peaks and Blanca Peak Quadrangles, Alamosa, Costilla, and Huerfano counties, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-2169 Blanca, Ellingwood,Little Bear and Mt. Lindsey are part of a granitic batholith formed over 1.7 billion years ago (Early Proterozoic). The top of Mt. Lindsey is the upper plate of a thrust composed predominantly of Early Proterozoic tonalite gneiss and metagabbro with a few Proterozoic mafic dikes intruding the tonalite gneiss. Metagabbro is a dark gray to very dark green, metamorphosed igneous rock of gabbroic composition, typically with phenocrysts of hornblende and plagioclase. Tonalite gneiss is a white to light gray green metamorphosed igneous rock of tonalite composition, typically 60% plagioclase, 30% quartz 2% potassium feldspar, and 8% percent mafic minerals altered to epidote, chlorite and muscovite. The lower plate, exposed on the north side of Lindsey is composed of Early Proterozoic hornblende gneiss. |
Name History (Mt. Lindsey)Title: Naming of Mt. Lindsey Entered by: 14erFred Added: 5/14/2010, Last Updated: 5/14/2010 Sources: Borneman, W.R., & Lampert, L.J. (1978). A climbing guide to Colorado's Fourteeners. Boulder, CO: Pruett Publishing Company. Eberhart, P., & Schmuck, P. (1970). The Fourteeners: Colorado's great mountains. Chicago: The Swallow Press. Hart, J.L.J. (1977). Fourteen thousand feet: A history of the naming and early ascents of the high Colorado peaks (Second Edition). Denver, CO: The Colorado Mountain Club. The mountain was originally called "Old Baldy" because of the pronounced absence of trees on much of the peak. It rises from such a low altitude that about half of it lies below timberline -- a situation unique to Colorado Fourteeners. For years, it remained one of the least known of the Fourteeners until Malcolm Lindsey, for whom the mountain was eventually renamed, arrived on the scene. Malcolm Lindsey was born in Pennsylvania in 1880, but grew up in Trinidad, Colorado, about 55 miles southeast of Old Baldy. Lindsey joined the Colorado Mountain Club (CMC) in 1922 and became the driving force behind junior activities in the Club. Over the next 20 years, he led many groups of teenagers to the summit of Old Baldy. He was President of the CMC from 1943-1946. He died on November 12, 1951. Old Baldy was Malcolm Lindsey's favorite mountain, and it is doubtful that any other person has climbed it as many times or has known it as well. He had a deep love for the mountain and considered it a special, sacred place. In remembrance of Malcolm Lindsey's many years of service to the CMC, the Club's members submitted a proposal to the U.S. Board of Geographic Names to change the name of the peak from Old Baldy to "Mount Lindsey." On July 30, 1953, this name change was approved. Formal dedication ceremonies were held on July 4, 1954, with 64 climbers reaching the summit that day in commemoration of Malcolm Lindsey. In May 1955, a memorial marker was placed at the southern foot of the peak in a roadside park off State Highway 160, 3 miles east of Fort Garland. Unfortunately, this marker was stolen within the next month and was never recovered. |
