in the contiguous United States. Hiking/Climbing The Mount Sopris Trail ascends to East Sopris via its east ridge. It starts near Dinkle Lake, on the northeast side of the mountain, and passes between the two Thomas Lakes just before reaching timberline. The ascent involves about 4,300 ft (1,300 m) of vertical gain (plus 600 ft/180 m for a round-trip to West Sopris, if desired) and 12 mi (20 km) of hiking (plus 1 mi/1.6 km for West Sopris); it is a strenuous trail hike, with some scree. Historical names "Wemagooah Kazuhchich,”(Ute) or “Ancient Mountain Heart Sits There.” Mount Sopris Sopris Peak Glacial Activity Mount Sopris is famed for its extensive rock glaciers that rest in the mountain's cirques. The cirques on Mount Sopris were formed by ancient ice glaciers. As the mountain has eroded, the cirques have been filled with rock glaciers, a slowing moving mass composed of a mixture of rock and ice. These rock glaciers creep down the mountain at a rate of around 10 inches every year and they provide a water source for creeks coming off the mountain. See also List of Colorado mountain ranges List of Colorado mountain summits List of Colorado fourteeners List of Colorado 4000 meter prominent summits List of the most prominent summits of Colorado List of Colorado county high points References External links Live Mount Sopris webcam. Mount Sopris on Summitpost, an excellent article with many further links Rock Glacier on Mount Sopris at NASA Earth Observatory Mountains of Colorado Mountains of Pitkin County, Colorado White River National Forest Roaring Fork Valley North American 3000 m summits