Squaretop Mountain Explained

Squaretop Mountain
Elevation Ft:11695
Elevation Ref:[1]
Prominence Ft:655
Isolation Mi:2.17
Isolation Ref:[2]
Parent Peak:Peak 11830
Location:Sublette County, Wyoming, U.S.
Range:Wind River Range
Map:Wyoming#USA
Label Position:right
Map Size:270
Coordinates:43.2236°N -109.7908°W
Coordinates Ref:[3]
Topo:USGS Squaretop Mountain
Rock:Migmatite[4]
First Ascent:< 1921 by William Stroud
Easiest Route: hiking SE ledges

Squaretop Mountain is an 11695feet mountain summit located in Sublette County of Wyoming, United States.[3]

Geography

The peak is the emblematic geographical feature of the remote Wind River Range and is set seven miles west of the Continental Divide.[5] It is situated in the Bridger Wilderness on land managed by Bridger-Teton National Forest. Topographic relief is significant as the northeast aspect rises 3700abbr=offNaNabbr=off above the Green River in one-half mile. The iconic view of Squaretop and Green River Lakes has been on the Wyoming license plate since 2016.

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Squaretop Mountain is located in an alpine subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers.[6] Due to its altitude, it receives precipitation all year, as snow in winter, and as thunderstorms in summer. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains north into the Green River.

Climbing

The first ascent of Squaretop was made sometime before 1921 by William John Stroud (1854–1946), via the southeast ledges. Fred Beckey and Layton Kor climbed the Northeast Face in 1960.[7]

Other established climbing routes on Squaretop's walls:[8]

Hazards

See main article: Hazards of outdoor recreation. Encountering bears is a concern in the Wind River Range.[9] There are other concerns as well, including bugs, wildfires, adverse snow conditions and nighttime cold temperatures.[10]

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,[11] 2007 (involving an experienced NOLS leader),[12] 2015[13] and 2018.[14] Other incidents include a seriously injured backpacker being airlifted near SquareTop Mountain[15] in 2005,[16] and a fatal hiker incident (from an apparent accidental fall) in 2006 that involved state search and rescue.[17] The U.S. Forest Service does not offer updated aggregated records on the official number of fatalities in the Wind River Range.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. 5341. Squaretop Mountain, Wyoming. 2021-07-26.
  2. Web site: Squaretop Mountain - 11,695' WY. listsofjohn.com. 2021-07-26.
  3. 1609160. Squaretop Mountain. July 26, 2021.
  4. Joe Kelsey, 2013, Climbing and Hiking in the Wind River Mountains, Falcon Guides,, page 33.
  5. Joe Kelsey, 2013, Climbing and Hiking in the Wind River Mountains, Falcon Guides,, page 37.
  6. 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.
  7. http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12196138001/North-America-United-States-WyomingWind-River-Range-Northeast-Face-Squaretop Fred Beckey, 1961, North America, United States, Wyoming—Wind River Range, Northeast Face, Squaretop Americanalpineclub.org
  8. Joe Kelsey, 2013, Climbing and Hiking in the Wind River Mountains, Falcon Guides,, pages 110–115, 419.
  9. 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 .
  10. 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 .
  11. 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 .
  12. 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 .
  13. 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 .
  14. 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 .
  15. 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 .
  16. 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 .
  17. 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 .

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