Overhanging Tower
Mountain in Wind River Range, Wyoming
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Overhanging Tower is a (12,169-foot (3,709 m)) 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.
| Overhanging Tower | |
|---|---|
Overhanging Tower (left), Sharks Nose (right) viewed from the northwest. | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 12,169 ft (3,709 m)[1] |
| Prominence | 284 ft (87 m)[1] |
| Coordinates | 42°46′41″N 109°14′12″W[2] |
| Geography | |
  Overhanging Tower Location in Wyoming  Overhanging Tower Location in the United States | |
| Location | Fremont and Sublette Counties, Wyoming, U.S. |
| Parent range | Wind River Range |
| Topo map | USGS Lizard Head Peak |
Hazards
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.
