View source for Tooth of Time

{{short description|Geological feature in New Mexico, US}}

{{use mdy dates|date=May 2012}}

{{infobox mountain
| name              = Tooth of Time
| photo             = Philmont Scout Ranch Tooth of Time 2004.jpg
| photo_caption     = Tooth of Time from the South
| elevation_ft      = 9003
| elevation_ref     = <ref name="peakbagger">[http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=21394 Tooth of Time - Peakbagger.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
| prominence_ft     = 203
| prominence_ref    = <ref name="peakbagger" />
| map               = USA New Mexico#USA
| location          = [[Colfax County, New Mexico|Colfax County]], [[New Mexico|New Mexico, US]]
| range             = [[Sangre de Cristo Mountains#Cimarron Range|Cimarron Range]], [[Sangre de Cristo Mountains]]
| coordinates       = {{coord|36|26|53|N|105|0|29|W|type:mountain_region:US_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| range_coordinates = 
| coordinates_ref   = <ref name="peakbagger" />
| topo              = [[United States Geological Survey|USGS]] Tooth of Time
| first_ascent      = antiquity
| easiest_route     = [[Scrambling|Scramble]]
}}

The '''Tooth of Time''' is a geological feature on the [[Philmont Scout Ranch]] located {{convert|5|mi|km|spell=in}} southwest of [[Cimarron, New Mexico]], United States, and is one of Philmont's most popular sights. It is an [[igneous intrusion]] of [[dacite]] [[Porphyry (geology)|porphyry]] formed in the [[Paleogene]] Period of the [[Cenozoic]] Era some 22-40 million years ago.

== Santa Fe Trail ==

The Tooth rises prominently from the valley floor, some {{convert|2500|ft|m}} below, creating a sheer vertical face unable to support substantial plant life. Both its pinkish-gray color and its unusual shape make it a particularly notable geological landmark. It was well known among the overland traders on the [[Santa Fe Trail]], who used it to mark the final seven-day push to [[Santa Fe, New Mexico]].

== Geology ==

The Tooth was formed when [[magma]] from deep within the Earth rose through older rock layers and slowly cooled. Over many thousands of years, the older [[sedimentary rock]] eroded and left the harder igneous formation. The sedimentary rock acted as a mold for the intrusive magma, causing it to harden and cool where the sedimentary rock was strongest.

The Tooth sits atop a prominent ridge created through the process mentioned above.

== Climbing ==

[[file:Philmont Scout Ranch Tooth of Time panoramic view.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|alt=Panoramic view from Tooth of Time|Panoramic view from top of the Tooth of Time.]]

The Tooth of Time is located on the east end of Tooth of Time Ridge, while Shaefer's Peak is located on the west end of the ridge. A trail extends about 3.5 miles from Shaefer's Pass to the [[Philmont Scout Ranch camps|Tooth Ridge campsite]], located at the base of the Tooth of Time, with a short scramble ascending the Tooth. Another trail, known as the Stockade Trail, extends along the steeper back side and terminates at an animal [[stockade]] along a road.<ref name="summitpost">[http://summitpost.org/tooth-of-time/151117 Tooth of Time : Climbing, Hiking & Mountaineering : SummitPost]</ref> The first roped ascent of the main face was completed in July 1972 by Lee Davis, Rick Barrett, and Randy Wright.<ref>Climbing Magazine, Sept/Oct 1972</ref>{{verify source|date=December 2017}}

== See also ==

{{portal|Scouting}}
* [[Baldy Mountain (Colfax County, New Mexico)]]
* [[Mount Phillips (New Mexico)]]
* [[Geography and ecology of Philmont Scout Ranch]]

== References ==

{{reflist}}

== External links ==

* [http://scouting.org/philmont Official website of Philmont Scout Ranch]

{{Philmont Scout Ranch}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tooth Of Time}}

[[category:igneous intrusions]]
[[category:landforms of Colfax County, New Mexico]]
[[category:Philmont Scout Ranch|Cimarron, New Mexico]]
[[category:rock formations of New Mexico]]
[[category:Santa Fe Trail]]