Sunbeam Peak

{{Infobox mountain

| name = Sunbeam Peak

| photo =

| photo_caption =

| elevation_ft = 13446-13486

| elevation_ref = {{cite peakbagger|pid=5359|name=Sunbeam Peak, Wyoming|access-date=May 26, 2013}}

| prominence_ft = 560

| prominence_ref =

| location = Fremont County, 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|10|14|N|109|37|04|W|type:mountain_region:US-WY_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| coordinates_ref = {{cite gnis|id=1603437|name=Sunbeam Peak|access-date=May 26, 2013}}

| topo = USGS Fremont Peak North

| type = Batholith

| first_ascent = 1938

| easiest_route =

}}

Sunbeam Peak ({{convert|13446|-|13486|ft|abbr=on}}) is located in the Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming.{{Cite map|publisher=TopoQwest (United States Geological Survey Maps)|title=Fremont Peak North, WY|url=http://www.topoquest.com/map.php?lat=43.17051&lon=-109.61765&datum=nad83&zoom=4|access-date=May 26, 2013}} The peak is the 13th highest summit in Wyoming.{{cite peakbagger|lid=21344|title=Wyoming 13,000-foot Peaks|access-date=May 26, 2013}} The summit is located in Shoshone National Forest and the Heap Steep Glacier lies on the north slopes of the mountain.

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.

References

Category:Mountains of Wyoming

Category:Mountains of Fremont County, Wyoming

Category:Mountains of Sublette County, Wyoming

Category:Shoshone National Forest