Bill Williams Peak Explained

Bill Williams Peak
Elevation:13389feet
Elevation Ref:[1]
Prominence:1682feet
Isolation:3.71miles
Listing:42nd highest major summit of Colorado
45th highest major summit of the Rocky Mountains
82nd highest major summit of the United States
101st highest major summit of North America
Location:Pitkin County, Colorado, U.S.
Range:Williams Mountains
Map:Colorado#USA
Relief:1
Coordinates:39.1806°N -106.6102°W
Coordinates Ref:[2]
Topo:USGS Mount Champion

Bill Williams Peak, elevation 13389feet, is an (officially unnamed) mountain located in Pitkin County, Colorado, United States. The summit of the mountain is the high point of the Williams Mountains, a subrange of the Sawatch Range. The summit is located 12.2miles east of Aspen, Colorado, in the Hunter–Fryingpan Wilderness of White River National Forest.[3] Bill Williams Peak is the 42nd highest major summit of Colorado and the 45th highest major summit of the Rocky Mountains of the United States and Canada.

Etymology

The mountain and its range are named for William Sherley "Old Bill" Williams (1787–1849), prominent American mountain man and frontiersman who frequented the region.

In November 1848, John C. Fremont hired Williams to guide his ill-fated fourth expedition through the Southern Rocky Mountains.[4] Fremont sought to find a railroad route through the Rockies along the 38th parallel north. Williams warned Fremont against following his intended route through the La Garita Mountains in winter, but Fremont proceeded with his 35 men and 150 mules. The expedition eventually became hopelessly mired in deep snow and 11 men and all but a few of the pack animals died.[5] Williams led a rescue party south towards Taos, and the survivors of the expedition eventually managed to follow.[6]

In March, Williams and Dr. Benjamin Kern returned to the La Garita Mountains in hopes of finding more survivors. On March 14, 1849, Ute warriors murdered Bill Williams and Dr. Kern in the mountains by for trespassing on Ute lands.[4]

See also

Notes and References

  1. 16642. Williams Mountains Highpoint, Colorado. December 13, 2023.
  2. 202690. Williams Mountains. July 10, 2017.
  3. TopoQwest (United States Geological Survey Maps). Mount Champion, CO. July 10, 2017.
  4. Web site: Meehan . James . Williams, William Sherley . ncpedia.org . . 3 December 2023 . December 2021.
  5. Web site: Trail to Disaster: John C. Frémont's Fourth Exhibition into the San Juan Mountains of Southern Colorado. Patricia Joy. Richmond. Ayer y Hoy en Taos. Taos County Historical Society. Summer 1987. December 21, 2023.
  6. Web site: Williams, William Sherley . encyclopedia.com . . 3 December 2023 . November 16, 2023.