Shale Mountain
{{Short description|Mountain in the state of Wyoming}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Shale Mountain
| photo =
| photo_caption =
| elevation_ft = 12405
| elevation_ref = {{cite peakbagger|pid=5334|name=Shale Mountain, Wyoming|accessdate=August 25, 2013}}
| prominence_ft = 319
| location = Sublette and Fremont Counties, Wyoming, U.S.
| range = Wind River Range
| map = Wyoming#USA
| relief = 1
| map_caption = Location in Wyoming##Location in the United States
| coordinates = {{coord|43|22|29|N|109|42|28|W|type:mountain_region:US-WY_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref = {{cite gnis|id=1603864|name=Shale Mountain|accessdate=August 25, 2013}}
| topo = USGS Downs Mountain
| type =
| first_ascent =
| easiest_route = Hike
}}
Shale Mountain ({{convert|12405|ft|abbr=on}}) is located in the northern Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming.{{Cite map|publisher=TopoQwest (United States Geological Survey Maps)|title=Downs Mountain, WY|url=http://www.topoquest.com/map.php?lat=43.37467&lon=-109.70766&datum=nad83&zoom=4|accessdate=August 25, 2013}} Shale Mountain straddles the Continental Divide and is in both Bridger-Teton and Shoshone National Forests. Shale Mountain is {{convert|5|mi|abbr=on}} north of Downs Mountain.
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.
Climate
{{Weather box
|location = Shale Mountain 43.3761 N, 109.7102 W, Elevation: {{cvt|12267|ft}} (1991–2020 normals)
|single line = y
|Jan high F = 19.1
|Feb high F = 18.7
|Mar high F = 23.9
|Apr high F = 29.8
|May high F = 38.7
|Jun high F = 49.0
|Jul high F = 58.8
|Aug high F = 57.8
|Sep high F = 48.9
|Oct high F = 36.3
|Nov high F = 24.7
|Dec high F = 18.4
|Jan mean F = 9.5
|Feb mean F = 8.2
|Mar mean F = 12.8
|Apr mean F = 17.8
|May mean F = 26.6
|Jun mean F = 36.1
|Jul mean F = 45.0
|Aug mean F = 44.1
|Sep mean F = 35.9
|Oct mean F = 24.9
|Nov mean F = 15.2
|Dec mean F = 9.1
|Jan low F = -0.2
|Feb low F = -2.3
|Mar low F = 1.7
|Apr low F = 5.8
|May low F = 14.4
|Jun low F = 23.2
|Jul low F = 31.2
|Aug low F = 30.4
|Sep low F = 22.9
|Oct low F = 13.5
|Nov low F = 5.7
|Dec low F = -0.2
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.23
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.25
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.00
|Apr precipitation inch = 5.20
|May precipitation inch = 4.58
|Jun precipitation inch = 2.95
|Jul precipitation inch = 1.89
|Aug precipitation inch = 1.91
|Sep precipitation inch = 2.70
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.25
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.40
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.26
|source=PRISM Climate Group{{cite web
|url= http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/
|title= PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University
|publisher= PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University
|access-date= October 14, 2023
|quote= To find the table data on the PRISM website, start by clicking Coordinates (under Location); copy Latitude and Longitude figures from top of table; click Zoom to location; click Precipitation, Minimum temp, Mean temp, Maximum temp; click 30-year normals, 1991-2020; click 800m; click Retrieve Time Series button.}}
}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Mountains of Wyoming}}
Category:Mountains of Sublette County, Wyoming
Category:Shoshone National Forest
Category:Bridger–Teton National Forest
{{Wyoming-geo-stub}}