The Sphinx (Wyoming)
American mountain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Sphinx is a 13,264-foot (4,043 m) mountain in the Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming.[3] The summit is on the Continental Divide in both Shoshone and Bridger-Teton National Forests and it is .38 mi (0.61 km) east-southeast of Mount Woodrow Wilson.[1] The Dinwoody Glacier flows from the north slopes of the peak, while Sphinx Glacier is on the southwest flank of the mountain.[3]
| The Sphinx | |
|---|---|
  The Sphinx Location in Wyoming  The Sphinx Location in the United States | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 13,264 ft (4,043 m)[1] |
| Prominence | 298 ft (91 m)[1] |
| Coordinates | 43°09′56″N 109°38′53″W[2] |
| Geography | |
| Location | Fremont / Sublette counties, Wyoming, U.S. |
| Parent range | Wind River Range |
| Topo map | USGS Gannett Peak |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Batholith |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1929 (Kenneth Henderson and Robert Underhill) |
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.
