Hobbs Peak (Wyoming) Explained

Hobbs Peak
Elevation Ft:11663
Elevation Ref:[1]
Prominence Ft:403
Isolation Mi:0.85
Parent Peak:Lizard Head Peak (12,847 ft)[2]
Country:United States
State:Wyoming
Region:Fremont
Region Type:County
Part Type:Protected area
Part:Popo Agie Wilderness
Range:Rocky Mountains
Wind River Range
Map:Wyoming#USA
Label Position:right
Map Size:270
Coordinates:42.8651°N -109.1246°W
Coordinates Ref:[3]
Topo:USGS Dickinson Park
Rock:granitic
Easiest Route: scrambling

Hobbs Peak is an 11663feet mountain summit in Fremont County, Wyoming, United States.[3]

Description

Hobbs Peak is located in the remote Wind River Range which is a subrange of the Rocky Mountains.[2] It is set 9miles east of the Continental Divide within the Popo Agie Wilderness, on land managed by Shoshone National Forest. Hobbs Peak ranks as the 40th-highest peak in the wilderness and is 2miles west of Hobbs Park.[1] The nearest town is Lander, 18miles to the southeast. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Wind River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises over 1800abbr=offNaNabbr=off above Sand Lake in 0.85 mile (1.37 km). The mountain's toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.[3]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Hobbs Peak has an alpine subarctic climate with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers.[4] Due to its altitude, it receives precipitation all year, as snow in winter and as thunderstorms in summer.Hobbs Park is an elevated plain at the foot of Hobbs Peak. Hobbs Park also has a subarctic climate (Köppen Dfc) but is slightly warmer due to its lower elevation.

Hazards

See main article: Hazards of outdoor recreation. 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]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hobbs Peak - 11,663' WY. listsofjohn.com. 2023-07-21.
  2. Web site: Hobbs Peak, Peakvisor.com. 2023-07-21.
  3. 1589595. Hobbs Peak. 2023-07-21.
  4. Peel, M. C. . Finlayson, B. L. . McMahon, T. A. . 2007 . Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification . Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. . 11 . 1027-5606.
  5. News: Staff . Bear Safety in Wyoming's Wind River Country . April 24, 2017 . . February 17, 2019 .
  6. News: Ballou . Dawn . Wind River Range condition update - Fires, trails, bears, Continental Divide . July 27, 2005 . PineDaleOnline News . February 17, 2019.
  7. News: Staff . Falling Rock, Loose Rock, Failure to Test Holds, Wyoming, Wind River Range, Seneca Lake . 1993 . . February 15, 2019 .
  8. News: MacDonald . Dougald . Trundled Rock Kills NOLS Leader. August 14, 2007. . February 15, 2019.
  9. News: Staff . Officials rule Wind River Range climbing deaths accidental . December 9, 2015 . . February 15, 2019 .
  10. News: Dayton . Kelsey . Deadly underestimation . August 24, 2018 . WyoFile News . February 15, 2019 .
  11. Web site: Funk . Jason . Squaretop Mountain Rock Climbing . 2009 . . March 29, 2019 .
  12. News: Staff . Injured man rescued from Square Top Mtn - Tip-Top Search & Rescue helps 2 injured on the mountain . July 22, 2005 . PineDaleOnline News . February 17, 2019 .
  13. News: Staff . Incident Reports - September, 2006 - Wind River Search . September 1, 2006 . WildernessDoc.com . February 17, 2019 . January 27, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200127232916/http://www.1.wildernessdoc.com/Report.aspx?IN=13 . dead .