Mount Geikie (Wyoming)

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Coordinates: 42°49′44″N 109°19′50″W / 42.8287811°N 109.3306816°W / 42.8287811; -109.3306816
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Mount Geikie
Southeast aspect, left of center
Highest point
Elevation12,378 ft (3,773 m)[1]
Prominence1,078 ft (329 m)[2]
Parent peakRaid Peak (12,537 ft)[2]
Isolation2.08 mi (3.35 km)[2]
Coordinates42°49′44″N 109°19′50″W / 42.8287811°N 109.3306816°W / 42.8287811; -109.3306816[3]
Naming
EtymologyArchibald Geikie
Geography
Mount Geikie is located in Wyoming
Mount Geikie
Mount Geikie
Location in Wyoming
Mount Geikie is located in the United States
Mount Geikie
Mount Geikie
Mount Geikie (the United States)
CountryUnited States
StateWyoming
CountySublette
Protected areaBridger Wilderness
Parent rangeRocky Mountains
Wind River Range[1]
Topo mapUSGS Mount Bonneville
Geology
Type of rockgranitic
Climbing
First ascent1890 William O. Owen[4]
Easiest routeclass 2 hiking[2]

Mount Geikie is a 12,378-foot-elevation (3,773-meter) mountain summit in Sublette County, Wyoming, United States.[3]

Description[edit]

Mount Geikie is located in the remote Wind River Range, which is a subrange of the Rocky Mountains. It is set three miles west of the Continental Divide within the Bridger Wilderness, on land managed by Bridger-Teton National Forest. The nearest town is Pinedale, 26.5 miles (42.6 km) to the west. Geikie ranks as the 113th-highest peak in Wyoming,[2] and topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 2,140 feet (650 meters) above the East Fork River in one-half mile (0.8 km). Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into East Fork and other tributaries of the Green River.

Climate[edit]

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Mount Geikie is located in an alpine subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers.[5] Due to its altitude, it receives precipitation all year, as snow in winter and as thunderstorms in summer.

Climbing history[edit]

The first ascent of the summit was made in 1890 by surveyor William O. Owen. The East Rib was first climbed in 1972 by Steve Bassnett and Nigel Peacock, whereas the south slope was first climbed in 1973 by John Coover, Ward Wickwire, and Eberhard Zeh.[4]

Etymology[edit]

Archibald Geikie

The mountain's toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.[3] The mountain was named in 1900 by the USGS for Sir Archibald Geikie (1835–1924), director general of the Geological Survey of the United Kingdom.[6][7]

Hazards[edit]

Main articles: Hazards of outdoor recreation and Mountaineering § Hazards

Encountering bears is a concern in the Wind River Range.[8] There are other concerns as well, including bugs, wildfires, adverse snow conditions and nighttime cold temperatures.[9]

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,[10] 2007 (involving an experienced NOLS leader),[11] 2015[12] and 2018.[13] Other incidents include a seriously injured backpacker being airlifted near Squaretop Mountain[14] in 2005,[15] and a fatal hiker incident (from an apparent accidental fall) in 2006 that involved state search and rescue.[16] The U.S. Forest Service does not offer updated aggregated records on the official number of fatalities in the Wind River Range.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Mount Geikie, Wyoming". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Geikie, Mount - 12,378' WY". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  3. ^ a b c "Mount Geikie". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  4. ^ a b Joe Kelsey, Climbing and Hiking in the Wind River Mountains, Rowman & Littlefield (2013), ISBN 9781493001354, p. 426.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Marion Isabel Newbigin, Sir John Smith Flett (1917), James Geikie: The Man and the Geologist, Oliver and Boyd, p. 125.
  7. ^ Keith J. Tinkler (2020), A Short History of Geomorphology, ISBN 9781000046588
  8. ^ Staff (April 24, 2017). "Bear Safety in Wyoming's Wind River Country". WindRiver.org. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  9. ^ Ballou, Dawn (July 27, 2005). "Wind River Range condition update - Fires, trails, bears, Continental Divide". PineDaleOnline News. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  10. ^ Staff (1993). "Falling Rock, Loose Rock, Failure to Test Holds, Wyoming, Wind River Range, Seneca Lake". American Alpine Club. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  11. ^ MacDonald, Dougald (August 14, 2007). "Trundled Rock Kills NOLS Leader". Climbing. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  12. ^ Staff (December 9, 2015). "Officials rule Wind River Range climbing deaths accidental". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  13. ^ Dayton, Kelsey (August 24, 2018). "Deadly underestimation". WyoFile News. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  14. ^ Funk, Jason (2009). "Squaretop Mountain Rock Climbing". Mountain Project. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ Staff (September 1, 2006). "Incident Reports - September, 2006 - Wind River Search". WildernessDoc.com. Retrieved February 17, 2019.

External links[edit]

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