Schiestler Peak

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Schiestler Peak
Schiestler Peak.jpg
Northeast aspect
Highest point
Elevation 11,624 ft (3,543 m) [1] [2]
Prominence 384 ft (117 m) [1]
Parent peak A Cheval Peak (11,763 ft) [3]
Isolation 1.14 mi (1.83 km) [3]
Coordinates 42°43′32″N109°12′03″W / 42.72556°N 109.20083°W / 42.72556; -109.20083 [4]
Naming
Etymology Felix Schiestler
Geography
USA Wyoming location map.svg
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Schiestler Peak
Location in Wyoming
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Schiestler Peak
Schiestler Peak (the United States)
Location Sublette County, Wyoming, U.S.
Parent range Wind River Range
Topo map USGS Temple Peak
Geology
Type of rock granitic
Climbing
First ascent August 11, 1933 by Finis Mitchell [5]
Easiest route class 2 [3] Southwest slope

Schiestler Peak is an 11,624-foot-elevation (3,543-meter) mountain summit located in Sublette County of Wyoming, United States. [4]

Contents

Description

The peak is situated in the remote Wind River Range, three miles west of the Continental Divide, and approximately four miles south of the Cirque of the Towers. It is set in the Bridger Wilderness, on land managed by Bridger-Teton National Forest. Topographic relief is significant as the northeast aspect rises 2,000 feet (610 meters) in one-half mile. Nearby geographic features include Haystack Mountain, 1.9 mile to the east, Big Sandy Lake one mile north, and Temple Peak 2.3 miles to the southeast. Access to the mountain is via the Big Sandy Trail. Molybdenum was discovered on the mountain around 1940, and several claims were staked, but little ore was extracted. [6] [7] Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into headwaters of the Big Sandy River, which is a tributary of the Green River.

Etymology

The peak's name honors Felix Schiestler (1855–1924), pioneer resident of Rock Springs, Wyoming. [8] He immigrated to the United States from Austria, and after spending ten years in the east, he arrived in Rock Springs in 1886. He engaged in sheep raising, succeeding to such an extent that he was considered one of the leading flockmasters of Sweetwater County at the time of his death. [9]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Schiestler Peak is located in an alpine subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers. [10] Due to its altitude, it receives precipitation all year, as snow in winter, and as thunderstorms in summer.

Hazards

Encountering bears is a concern in the Wind River Range. [11] There are other concerns as well, including bugs, wildfires, adverse snow conditions and nighttime cold temperatures. [12]

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, [13] 2007 (involving an experienced NOLS leader), [14] 2015 [15] and 2018. [16] A 54-year-old climber from Durango fell 400–800 feet to his death from nearby Steeple Peak in 2017. [17] Other incidents include a seriously injured backpacker being airlifted near Squaretop Mountain [18] in 2005, [19] and a fatal hiker incident (from an apparent accidental fall) in 2006 that involved state search and rescue. [20] 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">Fremont Peak (Wyoming)</span> Mountain in the state of Wyoming

Fremont Peak is the third highest peak in the state of Wyoming, surpassed only by Gannett Peak and Grand Teton, and straddles the boundary between Fremont and Sublette counties in the Wind River Range. It is named for American explorer John C. Fremont who climbed the peak with Charles Preuss and Johnny Janisse from August 13 to August 15, 1842. Kit Carson had been with the climbing party on its first attempt at the peak, but had gone back for supplies the day Fremont and his men reached the summit. Carson is thought by some to have been the first to climb neighboring Jackson Peak. At that time, Fremont Peak was mistakenly thought to be the highest mountain in the Rocky Mountains, although there are actually over 100 higher peaks in the Rocky Mountain range.

<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">Jackson Peak (Fremont County, Wyoming)</span> Mountain in the state of Wyoming

Jackson Peak 13,523 feet (4,122 m) is the eighth-highest peak in the U.S. state of Wyoming and the seventh-highest in the Wind River Range. The Bull Lake Glacier is located immediately north and east of the mountain. Situated on the Continental Divide, Jackson Peak is .75 miles (1.21 km) southeast of Fremont Peak.

Mount Woodrow Wilson is located in the Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Mount Woodrow Wilson is the eighth-highest mountain in the range and the ninth-highest in Wyoming. The summit is located in the Bridger Wilderness of Bridger-Teton National Forest on the Continental Divide, 1.25 miles (2.01 km) south of Gannett Peak. The flanks of the mountain are covered in snowfields and glaciers, including Dinwoody Glacier to the northeast, Mammoth Glacier to the west and Sphinx Glacier to the south.

American Legion Peak is located in the northern Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Situated 1 mi (1.6 km) east of Bow Mountain and a couple miles west of Mount Helen, American Legion Peak is the 17th tallest peak in Wyoming. The small American Legion Glacier descends from the east slopes of the mountain and Henderson Peak lies to the south.

Brown Cliffs North is located in the northern Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Brown Cliffs North is the 18th tallest peak in Wyoming. The summit is at the northwestern end of a ridge known as Brown Cliffs which are in the Fitzpatrick Wilderness of Shoshone National Forest.

Harrower Peak is located in the northern Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming, and it is the 28th tallest mountain in the state. Harrower Peak is in the Bridger Wilderness of Bridger-Teton National Forest and the Harrower Glacier is less than .50 mi (0.80 km) northeast of the peak.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Temple Peak</span> Mountain in the state of Wyoming

Temple Peak is located in the southern Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Temple Peak is a little over 1 mile (1.6 km) southwest of East Temple Peak. Temple Peak is in the Bridger Wilderness of Bridger-Teton National Forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Temple Peak</span> Mountain in the state of Wyoming

East Temple Peak is located in the southern Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming. East Temple Peak is a little over 1 mile (1.6 km) northeast of Temple Peak and 1.5 mi (2.4 km) west of Wind River Peak. A small glacier clings to the northeast slopes of East Temple Peak. East Temple Peak is in the Bridger Wilderness of Bridger-Teton National Forest.

Big Sandy Mountain is located in the southern Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Big Sandy Mountain sits along the Continental Divide, less than 1 mi (1.6 km) southeast of Dog Tooth Peak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Squaretop Mountain</span> Mountain in the American state of Wyoming

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> Cliff in the American state of Wyoming

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">Steeple Peak</span> Mountain in the country of Canada

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> Mountain in the American state of Wyoming

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bollinger Peak</span> Mountain summit in Wyoming, USA

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.

References

  1. 1 2 "Schiestler Peak, Wyoming". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  2. ↑ Ben Adkison, Hiking Wyoming's Wind River Range, 2018, Falcon Guides, ISBN   9781493034642, page 157.
  3. 1 2 3 "Schiestler Peak - 11,660' WY". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  4. 1 2 "Schiestler Peak". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2021-07-28.
  5. ↑ Joe Kelsey, 2013, Climbing and Hiking in the Wind River Mountains, Falcon Guides, ISBN   9781493001354, page 430.
  6. ↑ Geological Survey Bulletin, US Government Printing Office, 1971, page B33.
  7. ↑ Schiestler Peak molybdenum prospect, Westernmininghistory.com
  8. ↑ Orrin H. Bonney, Lorraine G. Bonney, 1965, Guide to the Wyoming Mountains and Wilderness Areas, Sage Books, page 209.
  9. ↑ Rock Springs Rocket, January 18, 1924, wygenweb.com
  10. ↑ 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.
  11. ↑ Staff (April 24, 2017). "Bear Safety in Wyoming's Wind River Country". WindRiver.org . Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  12. ↑ Ballou, Dawn (July 27, 2005). "Wind River Range condition update - Fires, trails, bears, Continental Divide". PineDaleOnline News. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  13. ↑ Staff (1993). "Falling Rock, Loose Rock, Failure to Test Holds, Wyoming, Wind River Range, Seneca Lake". American Alpine Club . Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  14. ↑ MacDonald, Dougald (August 14, 2007). "Trundled Rock Kills NOLS Leader". Climbing . Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  15. ↑ Staff (December 9, 2015). "Officials rule Wind River Range climbing deaths accidental". Casper Star-Tribune . Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  16. ↑ Dayton, Kelsey (August 24, 2018). "Deadly underestimation". WyoFile News. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  17. ↑ Nick Learned, Climber Falls to His Death in Wyoming’s Wind River Range, August 31, 2017, k2radio.com
  18. ↑ Funk, Jason (2009). "Squaretop Mountain Rock Climbing". Mountain Project . Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  19. ↑ 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.
  20. ↑ Staff (September 1, 2006). "Incident Reports - September, 2006 - Wind River Search". WildernessDoc.com. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
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