Gannett Peak
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Gannett Peak<ref>Template:Gnis</ref> is the highest mountain peak in the U.S. state of Wyoming at Template:Convert. It lies in the Wind River Range within the Bridger Wilderness of the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Straddling the Continental Divide along the boundary between Fremont and Sublette counties, it has the second greatest topographic prominence in the state (7076') after Cloud Peak (7077'), and is the highest ground for Template:Convert in any direction.
Overview
Geographically, Gannett Peak is the apexTemplate:Clarify of the entire Central Rockies, the largely continuous chain of mountains occupying the states of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. Named in 1906 for American geographer Henry Gannett,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the peak is also the high point of the Wind River Range. The mountain slopes are located in both Bridger-Teton National Forest and Shoshone National Forest.
Gannett is the highest peak within what is better known as the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and is the highest peak in the Rocky Mountains outside of Colorado. The Template:Convert Gannett Glacier, which is likely the largest single glacier in the American portion of the Rocky Mountains, extends across the northern slopes of the mountain. Minor Glacier is situated in the western cirque of the peak while Dinwoody and Gooseneck Glaciers can be found on the southeast side of the mountain.
Gannett Peak is in the heart of a remote and rugged wilderness. Because of this, its elevation, and extreme weather, it is often considered by mountaineers to be one of the most difficult U.S. state high points to reach, after Denali and possibly Granite Peak.<ref>Wilson, Linus, Does Difficulty Affect U.S. State High Points Ascents? (July 20, 2023). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4516746 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4516746</ref>
Climate
The summit has an ET (tundra) climate, with short, chilly summers and very long, very cold winters. Precipitation (mostly snow) is moderate year-round, but the wettest month is April.Template:Weather box
Hazards
{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Encountering bears is a concern in the Wind River Range.<ref name="WR-20170424">Template:Cite news</ref> There are other concerns as well, including bugs, wildfires, adverse snow conditions and nighttime cold temperatures.<ref name="PD-20050727">Template:Cite news</ref>
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,<ref name="AAC-1993">Template:Cite news</ref> 2007 (involving an experienced NOLS leader),<ref name="CLMB-20070814">Template:Cite news</ref> 2015<ref name="TRIB-20151209">Template:Cite news</ref> and 2018.<ref name="WYO-20180814">Template:Cite news</ref> Other incidents include a seriously injured backpacker being airlifted near SquareTop Mountain<ref name="MP-2009">Template:Cite web</ref> in 2005,<ref name="PD-20050722">Template:Cite news</ref> and a fatal hiker incident (from an apparent accidental fall) in 2006 that involved state search and rescue.<ref name="WD-20060901">Template:Cite news</ref> The U.S. Forest Service does not offer updated aggregated records on the official number of fatalities in the Wind River Range.
See also
References
External links
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