Fitzpatrick Wilderness

Fitzpatrick Wilderness
Fremont Peak (Wyoming) in the Wind River Range near the Fitzpatrick Wilderness
Map showing the location of Fitzpatrick Wilderness
Map showing the location of Fitzpatrick Wilderness
LocationFremont / Sublette counties, Wyoming, United States
Nearest cityLander, WY
Coordinates43°12′N 109°38′W / 43.200°N 109.633°W / 43.200; -109.633
Area198,525 acres (803.40 km2)
Established1976
Governing bodyU.S. Forest Service

The Fitzpatrick Wilderness is located in Shoshone National Forest in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The wilderness was originally known as the Glacier Primitive Area, but was redesignated a wilderness in 1976.

Overview

U.S. Wilderness Areas do not allow motorized or mechanized vehicles, including bicycles. Although camping and fishing are allowed with proper permit, no roads or buildings are constructed and there is also no logging or mining, in compliance with the 1964 Wilderness Act. Wilderness areas within National Forests and Bureau of Land Management areas also allow hunting in season.

Fremont Peak (Wind River Range; Rocky Mountains; Wyoming, United States)
Upper Fremont Glacier on the north slope of Fremont Peak

Hazards

Main articles: Hazards of outdoor recreation and Mountaineering § Hazards

Encountering bears is a concern in the Wind River Range.[1] There are other concerns as well, including bugs, wildfires, adverse snow conditions and nighttime cold temperatures.[2]

Importantly, there have been notable incidents, including accidental deaths, due to falls from steep cliffs (a misstep could be fatal in this class 4/5 terrain) and due to falling rocks, over the years, including 1993,[3] 2007 (involving an experienced NOLS leader),[4] 2015[5] and 2018.[6] Other incidents include a seriously injured backpacker being airlifted near SquareTop Mountain[7] in 2005,[8] and a fatal hiker incident (from an apparent accidental fall) in 2006 that involved state search and rescue.[9] The U.S. Forest Service does not offer updated aggregated records on the official number of fatalities in the Wind River Range.

See also

References

  1. ^ Staff (April 24, 2017). "Bear Safety in Wyoming's Wind River Country". WindRiver.org. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  2. ^ Ballou, Dawn (July 27, 2005). "Wind River Range condition update - Fires, trails, bears, Continental Divide". PineDaleOnline News. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  3. ^ Staff (1993). "Falling Rock, Loose Rock, Failure to Test Holds, Wyoming, Wind River Range, Seneca Lake". American Alpine Club. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  4. ^ MacDonald, Dougald (August 14, 2007). "Trundled Rock Kills NOLS Leader". Climbing. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  5. ^ Staff (December 9, 2015). "Officials rule Wind River Range climbing deaths accidental". Casper Star-Tribune. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  6. ^ Dayton, Kelsey (August 24, 2018). "Deadly underestimation". WyoFile News. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  7. ^ Funk, Jason (2009). "Squaretop Mountain Rock Climbing". Mountain Project. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  8. ^ Staff (July 22, 2005). "Injured man rescued from Square Top Mtn - Tip-Top Search & Rescue helps 2 injured on the mountain". PineDaleOnline News. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  9. ^ Staff (September 1, 2006). "Incident Reports - September, 2006 - Wind River Search". WildernessDoc.com. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2022.


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