Pingora Peak
Highest point
Elevation11,889 ft (3,624 m)[1]
Prominence284 ft (86 m)
Listing[1]
Coordinates42°46′45″N 109°13′29″W / 42.77920°N 109.2247°W / 42.77920; -109.2247
Geography
LocationShoshone National Forest, Fremont County, Wyoming, U.S.
Parent rangeWind River Range

Pingora Peak (11,889 ft (3,624 m)) is a prominent granite peak in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The peak is one of the pinnacles that forms the Cirque of the Towers. Pingora Peak is in the Popo Agie Wilderness and part of the Wind River Range within the greater Shoshone National Forest. The Northeast Face route on Pingora Peak is recognized in the historic climbing text Fifty Classic Climbs of North America and considered a classic around the world.[2]

Hazards

Main articles: Hazards of outdoor recreation and Mountaineering § Hazards

Encountering bears is a concern in the Wind River Range.[3] There are other concerns as well, including bugs, wildfires, adverse snow conditions and nighttime cold temperatures.[4]

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,[5] 2007 (involving an experienced NOLS leader),[6] 2015[7] and 2018.[8] Other incidents include a seriously injured backpacker being airlifted near SquareTop Mountain[9] in 2005,[10] and a fatal hiker incident (from an apparent accidental fall) in 2006 that involved state search and rescue.[11] 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 "Pingora Peak, Wyoming". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  2. ^ Roper, Steve; Steck, Allen (1979). Fifty Classic Climbs of North America. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books. pp. 171–176. ISBN 0-87156-292-8.
  3. ^ Staff (April 24, 2017). "Bear Safety in Wyoming's Wind River Country". WindRiver.org. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  4. ^ Ballou, Dawn (July 27, 2005). "Wind River Range condition update - Fires, trails, bears, Continental Divide". PineDaleOnline News. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  5. ^ Staff (1993). "Falling Rock, Loose Rock, Failure to Test Holds, Wyoming, Wind River Range, Seneca Lake". American Alpine Club. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  6. ^ MacDonald, Dougald (August 14, 2007). "Trundled Rock Kills NOLS Leader". Climbing. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  7. ^ Staff (December 9, 2015). "Officials rule Wind River Range climbing deaths accidental". Casper Star-Tribune. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  8. ^ Dayton, Kelsey (August 24, 2018). "Deadly underestimation". WyoFile News. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  9. ^ Funk, Jason (2009). "Squaretop Mountain Rock Climbing". Mountain Project. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  10. ^ Staff (July 22, 2005). "Injured man rescued from Square Top Mtn - Tip-Top Search & Rescue helps 2 injured on the mountain". PineDaleOnline News. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
  11. ^ Staff (September 1, 2006). "Incident Reports - September, 2006 - Wind River Search". WildernessDoc.com. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2022.

External links

Mountains of Wyoming
Categories