Overhanging Tower Explained
Overhanging Tower is a (12169feet) mountain located in the southern Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Overhanging Tower is on the west side of the Cirque of the Towers, a popular climbing area. The peak is just north of Sharks Nose and south of the peak known as Wolfs Head.[3] Overhanging Tower is situated on the Continental Divide.
Hazards
See main article: Hazards of outdoor recreation. Encountering bears is a concern in the Wind River Range.[4] There are other concerns as well, including bugs, wildfires, adverse snow conditions and nighttime cold temperatures.[5]
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,[6] 2007 (involving an experienced NOLS leader),[7] 2015[8] and 2018.[9] Other incidents include a seriously injured backpacker being airlifted near SquareTop Mountain[10] in 2005,[11] and a fatal hiker incident (from an apparent accidental fall) in 2006 that involved state search and rescue.[12] The U.S. Forest Service does not offer updated aggregated records on the official number of fatalities in the Wind River Range.
Notes and References
- 28852. Overhanging Tower, Wyoming. March 23, 2014.
- 1601957. Overhanging Tower. March 23, 2014.
- TopoQwest (United States Geological Survey Maps). Lizard Head Peak, WY. March 23, 2014.
- News: Staff . Bear Safety in Wyoming's Wind River Country . April 24, 2017 . . live . July 26, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210726133155/https://windriver.org/bear-safety-in-wyomings-wind-river-country/ . May 31, 2022 .
- News: Ballou . Dawn . Wind River Range condition update - Fires, trails, bears, Continental Divide . July 27, 2005 . PineDaleOnline News . live . April 21, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210421050551/http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2005/07/WindRiverRangecondit.htm . May 31, 2022 .
- News: Staff . Falling Rock, Loose Rock, Failure to Test Holds, Wyoming, Wind River Range, Seneca Lake . 1993 . . live . July 26, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210726124452/http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/13199308300/Falling-Rock-Loose-Rock-Failure-to-Test-Holds-Wyoming-Wind-River-Range-Seneca-Lake . May 31, 2022 .
- News: MacDonald . Dougald . Trundled Rock Kills NOLS Leader . August 14, 2007 . . live . July 26, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210726131458/https://www.climbing.com/news/trundled-rock-kills-nols-leader/ . May 31, 2022 .
- News: Staff . Officials rule Wind River Range climbing deaths accidental . December 9, 2015 . . dead . July 26, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210726124448/https://trib.com/outdoors/officials-rule-wind-river-range-climbing-deaths-accidental/article_eca43632-2f91-519f-bb81-0c59ed52e07e.html . May 31, 2022 .
- News: Dayton . Kelsey . Deadly underestimation . August 24, 2018 . WyoFile News . live . July 26, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210726124437/https://www.wyofile.com/deadly-underestimation/ . May 31, 2022 .
- Web site: Funk . Jason . Squaretop Mountain Rock Climbing . 2009 . . live . July 26, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210726095630/https://www.mountainproject.com/area/106521163/squaretop-mountain . May 31, 2022 .
- News: Staff . Injured man rescued from Square Top Mtn - Tip-Top Search & Rescue helps 2 injured on the mountain . July 22, 2005 . PineDaleOnline News . live . July 26, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210726131552/http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2005/07/Injuredmanrescuedfro.htm . May 31, 2022 .
- News: Staff . Incident Reports - September, 2006 - Wind River Search . September 1, 2006 . WildernessDoc.com . dead . January 27, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200127232916/http://www.1.wildernessdoc.com/Report.aspx?IN=13 . May 31, 2022 .
