Fitzpatrick Wilderness
{{Short description|Wilderness area in Wyoming, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Fitzpatrick Wilderness
| iucn_category = Ib
| photo = File:Wind River Range July 2017 1.jpg
| photo_caption = Fremont Peak (Wyoming) in the Wind River Range near the Fitzpatrick Wilderness
| map = USA
| relief = 1
| map_caption =
| location = Fremont / Sublette counties, Wyoming, United States
| nearest_city = Lander, WY
| coordinates = {{coord|43|12|N|109|38|W|region:US|display=inline, title}}
| area_acre = 198,525
| established = 1976
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = U.S. Forest Service
}}
The Fitzpatrick Wilderness is located in Shoshone National Forest in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The wilderness was originally known as the Glacier Primitive Area, but was redesignated a wilderness in 1976.
Overview
U.S. Wilderness Areas do not allow motorized or mechanized vehicles, including bicycles. Although camping and fishing are allowed with proper permit, no roads or buildings are constructed and there is also no logging or mining, in compliance with the 1964 Wilderness Act. Wilderness areas within National Forests and Bureau of Land Management areas also allow hunting in season.
{{multipleimage |header=Fremont Peak (Wind River Range; Rocky Mountains; Wyoming, United States)|align=center |direction=horizontal |width= |image1=Upper Fremont Glacier.jpg |caption1=Upper Fremont Glacier on the north slope of Fremont Peak |width1=300 |image2=|caption2=Upper Fremont Peak viewing south from the south slope of the Peak - during a backpacking trip |width2=300 |footer= }}
Hazards
{{Main|Hazards of outdoor recreation|Mountaineering#Hazards}}
Encountering bears is a concern in the Wind River Range.{{cite news |author=Staff |title=Bear Safety in Wyoming's Wind River Country |url=https://windriver.org/bear-safety-in-wyomings-wind-river-country/ |date=April 24, 2017 |work=WindRiver.org |url-status=live |archivedate=July 26, 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726133155/https://windriver.org/bear-safety-in-wyomings-wind-river-country/ |access-date=May 31, 2022 }} There are other concerns as well, including bugs, wildfires, adverse snow conditions and nighttime cold temperatures.{{cite news |last=Ballou |first=Dawn |title=Wind River Range condition update - Fires, trails, bears, Continental Divide |url=http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2005/07/WindRiverRangecondit.htm |date=July 27, 2005 |work=PineDaleOnline News |url-status=live |archivedate=April 21, 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421050551/http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2005/07/WindRiverRangecondit.htm |access-date=May 31, 2022 }}
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,{{cite news |author=Staff |title=Falling Rock, Loose Rock, Failure to Test Holds, Wyoming, Wind River Range, Seneca Lake |url=http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/13199308300/Falling-Rock-Loose-Rock-Failure-to-Test-Holds-Wyoming-Wind-River-Range-Seneca-Lake |date=1993 |work=American Alpine Club |url-status=live |archivedate=July 26, 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726124452/http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/13199308300/Falling-Rock-Loose-Rock-Failure-to-Test-Holds-Wyoming-Wind-River-Range-Seneca-Lake |access-date=May 31, 2022 }} 2007 (involving an experienced NOLS leader),{{cite news |last=MacDonald |first=Dougald |title=Trundled Rock Kills NOLS Leader |url=https://www.climbing.com/news/trundled-rock-kills-nols-leader/ |date=August 14, 2007 |work=Climbing |url-status=live |archivedate=July 26, 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726131458/https://www.climbing.com/news/trundled-rock-kills-nols-leader/ |access-date=May 31, 2022 }} 2015{{cite news |author=Staff |title=Officials rule Wind River Range climbing deaths accidental |url=https://trib.com/outdoors/officials-rule-wind-river-range-climbing-deaths-accidental/article_eca43632-2f91-519f-bb81-0c59ed52e07e.html |date=December 9, 2015 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url-status=dead |archivedate=July 26, 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726124448/https://trib.com/outdoors/officials-rule-wind-river-range-climbing-deaths-accidental/article_eca43632-2f91-519f-bb81-0c59ed52e07e.html |access-date=May 31, 2022 }} and 2018.{{cite news |last=Dayton |first=Kelsey |title=Deadly underestimation |url=https://www.wyofile.com/deadly-underestimation/ |date=August 24, 2018 |work=WyoFile News |url-status=live |archivedate=July 26, 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726124437/https://www.wyofile.com/deadly-underestimation/ |access-date=May 31, 2022 }} Other incidents include a seriously injured backpacker being airlifted near SquareTop Mountain{{cite web |last=Funk |first=Jason |title=Squaretop Mountain Rock Climbing |url=https://www.mountainproject.com/area/106521163/squaretop-mountain |date=2009 |work=Mountain Project |url-status=live |archivedate=July 26, 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726095630/https://www.mountainproject.com/area/106521163/squaretop-mountain |access-date=May 31, 2022 }} in 2005,{{cite news |author=Staff |title=Injured man rescued from Square Top Mtn - Tip-Top Search & Rescue helps 2 injured on the mountain |url=http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2005/07/Injuredmanrescuedfro.htm |date=July 22, 2005 |work=PineDaleOnline News |url-status=live |archivedate=July 26, 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726131552/http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2005/07/Injuredmanrescuedfro.htm |access-date=May 31, 2022 }} and a fatal hiker incident (from an apparent accidental fall) in 2006 that involved state search and rescue.{{cite news |author=Staff |title=Incident Reports - September, 2006 - Wind River Search |url=http://www.1.wildernessdoc.com/Report.aspx?IN=13 |date=September 1, 2006 |work=WildernessDoc.com |url-status=dead |archivedate=January 27, 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127232916/http://www.1.wildernessdoc.com/Report.aspx?IN=13 |access-date=May 31, 2022 }} 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
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- {{cite web |url=https://wilderness.net/visit-wilderness/?ID=185 |title=Fitzpatrick Wilderness |work=The National Wilderness Preservation System |publisher=Wilderness.net |access-date=2006-08-16}}
- {{cite web |url=http://www.topoquest.com/map.asp?z=12&n=4785996&e=609940&s=100&size=l&u=7&datum=nad83&layer=DRG25 |title=USGS Gannett Peak (WY) Topo Map Quad |format=map |publisher=TopoQuest |access-date=2008-06-30}}
- {{cite web |url=https://wilderness.net/learn-about-wilderness/key-laws/wilderness-act/default.php |title=Wilderness Legislation: The Wilderness Act of 1964 |work=The National Wilderness Preservation System |publisher=Wilderness.net |access-date=2006-08-16}}
{{Protected Areas of Wyoming}}
{{Mountains of Wyoming}}
{{Wyoming}}
{{Portal bar|Geography|Geology|Mountains}}
Category:Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Category:1976 establishments in Wyoming
Category:Protected areas of Fremont County, Wyoming
Category:Protected areas of Sublette County, Wyoming
Category:Shoshone National Forest
Category:Wilderness areas of Wyoming
{{Wyoming-protected-area-stub}}