Wind River Peak

Wind River Peak
Wind River Peak (center) seen from a distance in July 2010.
Highest point
Elevation13,197 ft (4,022 m)[1]
Prominence2,552 ft (778 m)[1]
Listing
Coordinates42°42′31″N 109°07′41″W / 42.70861°N 109.12806°W / 42.70861; -109.12806[2]
Geography
Wind River Peak is located in Wyoming
Wind River Peak
Wind River Peak
Location in Wyoming
Wind River Peak is located in the United States
Wind River Peak
Wind River Peak
Location in the United States
LocationFremont / Sublette counties, Wyoming, U.S.
Parent rangeWind River Range
Topo mapUSGS Temple Peak
Climbing
First ascent1873, Theodore Comstock, L. Hardy
Easiest routeHike, scramble

Wind River Peak (13,197 feet (4,022 m)) is the highest point in the southern end of the Wind River Range that is located in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The peak straddles the Continental Divide and is surrounded by National Forest lands.[3] The west slopes are in the Bridger Wilderness of Bridger-Teton National Forest, while the east side is in the Popo Agie Wilderness of Shoshone National Forest. In a cirque on the northeast slopes of the peak lies Wind River Glacier.[3]

Climate

Climate data for Wind River Peak 42.7092 N, 109.1254 W, Elevation: 12,661 ft (3,859 m) (1991–2020 normals)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 18.8
(−7.3) 		18.4
(−7.6) 		24.0
(−4.4) 		29.4
(−1.4) 		38.2
(3.4) 		48.8
(9.3) 		58.1
(14.5) 		56.7
(13.7) 		48.3
(9.1) 		36.2
(2.3) 		24.6
(−4.1) 		18.3
(−7.6) 		35.0
(1.7)
Daily mean °F (°C) 9.8
(−12.3) 		8.9
(−12.8) 		13.8
(−10.1) 		18.5
(−7.5) 		26.7
(−2.9) 		36.9
(2.7) 		45.2
(7.3) 		44.5
(6.9) 		36.1
(2.3) 		25.3
(−3.7) 		16.1
(−8.8) 		9.6
(−12.4) 		24.3
(−4.3)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 0.9
(−17.3) 		−0.7
(−18.2) 		3.6
(−15.8) 		7.6
(−13.6) 		15.1
(−9.4) 		25.0
(−3.9) 		32.3
(0.2) 		32.3
(0.2) 		23.9
(−4.5) 		14.5
(−9.7) 		7.5
(−13.6) 		0.9
(−17.3) 		13.6
(−10.2)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.39
(86) 		3.37
(86) 		3.92
(100) 		5.09
(129) 		5.46
(139) 		3.23
(82) 		1.81
(46) 		1.80
(46) 		2.39
(61) 		3.00
(76) 		2.99
(76) 		3.61
(92) 		40.06
(1,019)
Source: PRISM Climate Group[4]

Hazards

Wind River Peak near its base above Leg Lake in 2008
Wind River Peak, as seen from near Chimney Rock on the ascentwiki
Main articles: Hazards of outdoor recreation and Mountaineering § Hazards

Encountering bears is a concern in the Wind River Range.[5] There are other concerns as well, including bugs, wildfires, adverse snow conditions and nighttime cold temperatures.[6]

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,[7] 2007 (involving an experienced NOLS leader),[8] 2015[9] and 2018.[10] Other incidents include a seriously injured backpacker being airlifted near SquareTop Mountain[11] in 2005,[12] and a fatal hiker incident (from an apparent accidental fall) in 2006 that involved state search and rescue.[13] 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. ^ a b "Wind River Peak, Wyoming". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  2. ^ "Wind River Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  3. ^ a b Temple Peak, WY (Map). TopoQwest (United States Geological Survey Maps). Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  4. ^ "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University". PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University. Retrieved October 12, 2023. To find the table data on the PRISM website, start by clicking Coordinates (under Location); copy Latitude and Longitude figures from top of table; click Zoom to location; click Precipitation, Minimum temp, Mean temp, Maximum temp; click 30-year normals, 1991-2020; click 800m; click Retrieve Time Series button.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ MacDonald, Dougald (August 14, 2007). "Trundled Rock Kills NOLS Leader". Climbing. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Dayton, Kelsey (August 24, 2018). "Deadly underestimation". WyoFile News. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  11. ^ Funk, Jason (2009). "Squaretop Mountain Rock Climbing". Mountain Project. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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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