Bollinger Peak

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Bollinger Peak
Bollinger Peak.jpg
West aspect, from Shadow Lake at sunset
Highest point
Elevation 12,232 ft (3,728 m) [1] [2]
Prominence 472 ft (144 m) [1]
Parent peak Pylon Peak (12,383 ft) [3]
Isolation 1.01 mi (1.63 km) [3]
Coordinates 42°46′58″N109°13′58″W / 42.78278°N 109.23278°W / 42.78278; -109.23278 Coordinates: 42°46′58″N109°13′58″W / 42.78278°N 109.23278°W / 42.78278; -109.23278 [1]
Geography
USA Wyoming location map.svg
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Bollinger Peak
Location in Wyoming
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Bollinger Peak
Bollinger Peak (the United States)
Location Sublette County / Fremont County
Wyoming, U.S.
Parent range Wind River Range
Rocky Mountains
Topo map USGS Lizard Head Peak
Geology
Type of rock granitic
Climbing
Easiest route class 3 [3] Northeast ridge

Bollinger Peak is a 12,232-foot-elevation (3,728-meter) mountain summit located on the shared border of Sublette County and Fremont County in the state of Wyoming, United States. [4]

Contents

Description

The peak is situated in the remote Wind River Range, on the Continental Divide, in the renowned Cirque of the Towers. It is set on the common boundary Popo Agie Wilderness shares with the Bridger Wilderness, on land managed by Bridger-Teton National Forest and Shoshone National Forest. Bollinger ranks as the 148th-highest peak in Wyoming, and topographic relief is significant as the west aspect rises 2,000 feet (610 meters) above Shadow Lake in one-half mile. [3] Nearby geographic features include Wolfs Head, 0.16 mile to the south, Sharks Nose one-half mile south, and Pingora Peak 0.44 miles to the southeast. The peak's unofficial name commemorates Karl Bollinger who perished August 11, 1953, from a leader fall on nearby War Bonnet Peak, the day after he climbed this namesake peak. [5] His name has also been reported as Karl Bollinger Jr., [6] and Kent Bollinger. [7]

Climbing

The northeast ridge was first climbed in 1941 by Norman Clyde, Edith and J. Holliday, and B. Pitcher. Other established routes include the West Face by Steven French and Matt Parramore in 1981, and the West Pillar (IV  5.10). [8]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Bollinger Peak is located in an alpine subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers. [9] Due to its altitude, it receives precipitation all year, as snow in winter, and as thunderstorms in summer. Precipitation runoff from the mountain's west side drains to the Green River via Washakie Creek, and the east side drains into Lonesome Lake, thence North Fork Popo Agie River.

Hazards

Encountering bears is a concern in the Wind River Range. [10] There are other concerns as well, including bugs, wildfires, adverse snow conditions and nighttime cold temperatures. [11]

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, [12] 2007 (involving an experienced NOLS leader), [13] 2015, [14] and 2018. [15] A 54-year-old climber fell 400–800 feet to his death from Steeple Peak in 2017. [16] Other incidents include a seriously injured backpacker being airlifted near Squaretop Mountain [17] in 2005, [18] and a fatal hiker incident (from an apparent accidental fall) in 2006 that involved state search and rescue. [19] The U.S. Forest Service does not offer updated aggregated records on the official number of fatalities in the Wind River Range.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wind River Range</span> Mountain subrange of the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming, United States

The Wind River Range is a mountain range of the Rocky Mountains in western Wyoming in the United States. The range runs roughly NW–SE for approximately 100 mi (160 km). The Continental Divide follows the crest of the range and includes Gannett Peak, which at 13,802 ft (4,207 m), is the highest peak in Wyoming; and also Fremont Peak at 13,750 ft (4,191 m), the third highest peak in Wyoming. There are more than 40 other named peaks in excess of 12,999 ft (3,962 m). With the exception of the Grand Teton in the Teton Range, the next 19 highest peaks in Wyoming after Gannett are also in the Winds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cirque of the Towers</span> Landform in Wyoming, US

The Cirque of the Towers is located in the Wind River Range Wyoming, U.S., part of which is in the Bridger Wilderness in Bridger-Teton National Forest, while the remainder is in the Popo Agie Wilderness in Shoshone National Forest. Located in the southern section of the Wind River Range, the cirque is a very popular destination for technical rock climbers. Climber Orrin Bonney gave the area its current name in 1941 after his survey of the cirque. Prior to this, few if any visitors had ventured into the cirque due to the remote location. The cirque is an almost circular hole or valley carved by a glacier that retreated over 8,000 years ago. As is true with the rest of the Winds, the mountains are composed almost entirely of granite. The Continental Divide spans the crest of the main peaks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wind River Peak</span> Mountain in Wyoming, United States

Wind River Peak is the highest point in the southern end of the Wind River Range that is located in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The peak straddles the Continental Divide and is surrounded by National Forest lands. The west slopes are in the Bridger Wilderness of Bridger-Teton National Forest, while the east side is in the Popo Agie Wilderness of Shoshone National Forest. In a cirque on the northeast slopes of the peak lies Wind River Glacier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Sacagawea</span> Mountain in Wyoming, United States

Mount Sacagawea is the eighth-highest peak in the U.S. state of Wyoming and the seventh-highest in the Wind River Range. It was named after Sacagawea, the young Lemhi Shoshone woman who accompanied the Lewis and Clark Expedition as an interpreter and guide. The Upper Fremont Glacier is located southeast and the Sacagawea Glacier is northeast of the mountain. Straddling the Continental Divide, Mount Sacagawea is one mile (1.6 km) northwest of Fremont Peak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pingora Peak</span> Granite peak in Wyoming, USA

Pingora Peak 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.

Bastion Peak-Northeast Peak 13,476 ft (4,107 m) is located in the Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The peak is one of the highest in Wyoming, and is connected to its taller neighbor Bastion Peak by an arête to the southwest. An unnamed glacier lies below the precipitous east flank of the mountain, while Gannett Glacier is to the south.

Mount Washakie is located in the Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The mountain is on the Continental Divide in the Bridger Wilderness of Bridger-Teton National Forest and Popo Agie Wilderness of Shoshone National Forest. Washakie Glacier lies .50 mi (0.80 km) to the southeast of the peak.

Bair Peak is located in the Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The mountain is on the Continental Divide in the Bridger Wilderness of Bridger-Teton National Forest and Popo Agie Wilderness of Shoshone National Forest. Washakie Glacier lies on the north slopes of the peak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Payson Peak</span>

Payson Peak is a 11,717-foot (3,571 m) mountain located in the southern Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Payson Peak was named after Henry A. Payson, a former Forest Ranger. Payson Peak is in the Popo Agie Wilderness of Shoshone National Forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cathedral Peak (Wyoming)</span>

Cathedral Peak is a mountain located in the southern Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Cathedral Peak is 1.5 mi (2.4 km) southwest of Mount Chauvenet in the Popo Agie Wilderness of Shoshone National Forest.

Mount Chauvenet is a mountain located in the southern Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Mount Chauvenet is 1.5 mi (2.4 km) northeast of Cathedral Peak in the Popo Agie Wilderness of Shoshone National Forest. Mount Chauvenet was one of the earliest peaks climbed by white explorers to the Wind River Range.

Valentine Mountain is a 11,147-foot (3,398 m) mountain located in the southern Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Valentine Mountain is .42 mi (0.68 km) northwest of Valentine Peak. Valentine Mountain is in the Popo Agie Wilderness of Shoshone National Forest.

Valentine Peak is a 11,361-foot (3,463 m) mountain located in the southern Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Valentine Peak is 0.42 mi (0.68 km) southeast of Valentine Mountain and 2.2 mi (3.5 km) northwest of Mount Chauvenet. Valentine Peak is in the Popo Agie Wilderness of Shoshone National Forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squaretop Mountain</span>

Squaretop Mountain is an 11,695-foot-elevation (3,565-meter) mountain summit located in Sublette County of Wyoming, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">White Rock (Wyoming)</span>

White Rock is a cliff with an 11,284-foot-elevation (3,439-meter) summit located in Sublette County of Wyoming, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haystack Mountain (Wyoming)</span> Mountain peak in Wyoming, US

Haystack Mountain is an 11,978-foot-elevation (3,651-meter) mountain summit located in Sublette County of Wyoming, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schiestler Peak</span>

Schiestler Peak is an 11,624-foot-elevation (3,543-meter) mountain summit located in Sublette County of Wyoming, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steeple Peak</span>

Steeple Peak is a 12,040-foot-elevation (3,670-meter) summit located in Sublette County of Wyoming, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spider Peak</span>

Spider Peak is a 12,234-foot-elevation (3,729-meter) mountain summit located in Fremont County of Wyoming, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Lester</span> Mountain of Sublette County, Wyoming

Mount Lester is a 12,342-foot-elevation (3,762-meter) mountain summit located in Sublette County of Wyoming, United States.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Bollinger Peak, Wyoming". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
  2. ↑ Orrin H. Bonney, Lorraine G. Bonney, 1965, Guide to the Wyoming Mountains and Wilderness Areas, Sage Books, page 181.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Bollinger Peak - 12,232' WY". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
  4. ↑ Joe Kelsey, 2013, Climbing and Hiking in the Wind River Mountains, Falcon Guides, ISBN   9781493001354, page 30.
  5. ↑ C. L. Rawlins, Sky's Witness: A Year In The Wind River Range, 2014, Henry Holt and Company, ISBN   9781466882416
  6. ↑ Chicago Tribune, August 14, 1953
  7. ↑ Accidents in American Mountaineering: Annual Report of the Safety Committee of the American Alpine Club, 1954, page 7.
  8. ↑ Joe Kelsey, 2013, Climbing and Hiking in the Wind River Mountains, Falcon Guides, ISBN   9781493001354, page 428.
  9. ↑ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN   1027-5606.
  10. ↑ Staff (April 24, 2017). "Bear Safety in Wyoming's Wind River Country". WindRiver.org . Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  11. ↑ Ballou, Dawn (July 27, 2005). "Wind River Range condition update - Fires, trails, bears, Continental Divide". PineDaleOnline News. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  12. ↑ Staff (1993). "Falling Rock, Loose Rock, Failure to Test Holds, Wyoming, Wind River Range, Seneca Lake". American Alpine Club . Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  13. ↑ MacDonald, Dougald (August 14, 2007). "Trundled Rock Kills NOLS Leader". Climbing . Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  14. ↑ Staff (December 9, 2015). "Officials rule Wind River Range climbing deaths accidental". Casper Star-Tribune . Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  15. ↑ Dayton, Kelsey (August 24, 2018). "Deadly underestimation". WyoFile News. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  16. ↑ Nick Learned, Climber Falls to His Death in Wyoming's Wind River Range, August 31, 2017, k2radio.com
  17. ↑ Funk, Jason (2009). "Squaretop Mountain Rock Climbing". Mountain Project . Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  18. ↑ Staff (July 22, 2005). "Injured man rescued from Square Top Mtn - Tip-Top Search & Rescue helps 2 injured on the mountain". PineDaleOnline News. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  19. ↑ Staff (September 1, 2006). "Incident Reports - September, 2006 - Wind River Search". WildernessDoc.com. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
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