Williams Mountains
{{short description|Mountain range in Pitkin County, Colorado, United States}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Williams Mountains
| photo =
| photo_caption =
| highest = Bill Williams Peak
| elevation = {{convert|13389|ft|abbr=out}}
| elevation_ref = {{cite peakbagger|pid=16642|name=Williams Mountains Highpoint, Colorado|access-date=December 13, 2023}}
| location = Pitkin County, Colorado, U.S.
| parent = Sawatch Range
| map = Colorado#USA
| relief = 1
| map_caption = Location in Colorado##Location in the United States
| coordinates = {{coord|39.1806|-106.6102|type:mountain_region:US-CO_scale:100000|name=Williams Mountains|format=dec|display=it}}
| coordinates_ref = {{cite gnis|id=202690|name=Williams Mountains|access-date=December 19, 2023}}|topo=USGS Mount Champion}}
The Williams Mountains are a subrange of the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of the United States and Canada. The mountains are located in Pitkin County, Colorado. The apex of the range is {{convert|13389|ft|abbr=out|adj=on}} Bill Williams Peak located {{convert|12.2|mi|abbr=out}} east of Aspen, Colorado, in the Hunter–Fryingpan Wilderness of White River National Forest.{{Cite map|publisher=TopoQwest (United States Geological Survey Maps)|title=Mount Champion, CO|url=https://www.topoquest.com/map.php?lat=39.18056&lon=-106.60948&datum=nad83&zoom=2&map=auto&coord=d&mode=zoomin&size=m|access-date=July 10, 2017}}
Etymology
The Williams Mountains are named for William Sherley "Old Bill" Williams (1787–1849), prominent American mountain man and frontiersman who frequented the region.
In November 1848, John C. Fremont hired Williams to guide his ill-fated fourth expedition through the Southern Rocky Mountains.{{cite web |last1=Meehan |first1=James |title=Williams, William Sherley |url=https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/williams-william-sherley |website=ncpedia.org |publisher=NCPedia |access-date=3 December 2023 |date=December 2021}} Fremont sought to find a railroad route through the Rockies along the 38th parallel north. Williams warned Fremont against following his intended route through the La Garita Mountains in winter, but Fremont proceeded with his 35 men and 150 mules. The expedition eventually became hopelessly mired in deep snow and 11 men and all but a few of the pack animals died.{{cite web|url=https://taoscountyhistoricalsociety.org/images/AyerYHoy/051987Summer.pdf|title=Trail to Disaster: John C. Frémont's Fourth Exhibition into the San Juan Mountains of Southern Colorado|first=Patricia Joy|last=Richmond|series=Ayer y Hoy en Taos|publisher=Taos County Historical Society|date=Summer 1987|access-date=December 21, 2023}} Williams led a rescue party south towards Taos, and the survivors of the expedition eventually managed to follow.{{cite web |title=Williams, William Sherley |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/reference/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/williams-william-sherley |website=encyclopedia.com |publisher=The Columbia Encyclopedia |access-date=3 December 2023 |date=November 16, 2023}}
In March, Williams and Dr. Benjamin Kern returned to the La Garita Mountains in hopes of finding more survivors. On March 14, 1849, Ute warriors murdered Bill Williams and Dr. Kern in the mountains by for trespassing on Ute lands.
{{clear}}
See also
{{portal|United States|Colorado|Mountains}}
- Bibliography of Colorado
- Geography of Colorado
- History of Colorado
- Index of Colorado-related articles
- List of Colorado-related lists
- List of mountain ranges of Colorado
- Outline of Colorado
{{clear}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{sister project links|Colorado|auto=yes}}
{{Colorado}}
{{Mountains of Colorado}}
{{authority control}}