Desolation Peak (Wyoming)

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Desolation Peak
Desolation Peak is located in Wyoming
Desolation Peak
Desolation Peak
Location in Wyoming
Highest point
Elevation13,161 ft (4,011 m)[1]
Prominence915 ft (279 m)[1]
Coordinates43°12′06″N 109°40′46″W / 43.20167°N 109.67944°W / 43.20167; -109.67944Coordinates: 43°12′06″N 109°40′46″W / 43.20167°N 109.67944°W / 43.20167; -109.67944[2]
Geography
LocationSublette County, Wyoming, U.S.
Parent rangeWind River Range
Topo mapUSGS Gannett Peak
Climbing
First ascent1930 (Gustav and Theodore Koven)[1]
Easiest routeScramble

Desolation Peak (13,161 ft (4,011 m)) is located in the northern Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming.[3] Situated .66 mi (1.06 km) west of Rampart Peak, Desolation Peak is within the Bridger Wilderness of Bridger-Teton National Forest and west of the Continental Divide. Desolation Peak is the 22nd tallest peak in Wyoming.[4]

Hazards[]

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.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Desolation Peak, Wyoming". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  2. ^ "Desolation Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  3. ^ Gannett Peak, WY (Map). TopoQwest (United States Geological Survey Maps). Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  4. ^ "Wyoming 13,000-foot Peaks". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved October 19, 2013.
  5. ^ Staff (April 24, 2017). "Bear Safety in Wyoming's Wind River Country". WindRiver.org. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  6. ^ Ballou, Dawn (July 27, 2005). "Wind River Range condition update - Fires, trails, bears, Continental Divide". PineDaleOnline News. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  7. ^ Staff (1993). "Falling Rock, Loose Rock, Failure to Test Holds, Wyoming, Wind River Range, Seneca Lake". American Alpine Club. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  8. ^ MacDonald, Dougald (August 14, 2007). "Trundled Rock Kills NOLS Leader". Climbing. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  9. ^ Staff (December 9, 2015). "Officials rule Wind River Range climbing deaths accidental". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  10. ^ Dayton, Kelsey (August 24, 2018). "Deadly underestimation". WyoFile News. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  11. ^ Funk, Jason (2009). "Squaretop Mountain Rock Climbing". Mountain Project. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  12. ^ Staff (July 22, 2005). "Injured man rescued from Square Top Mtn - Tip-Top Search & Rescue helps 2 injured on the mountain". PineDaleOnline News. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  13. ^ Staff (September 1, 2006). "Incident Reports - September, 2006 - Wind River Search". WildernessDoc.com. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
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