White Rock
Northwest aspect, from lower Green River Lakes
Highest point
Elevation11,284 ft (3,439 m)[1][2]
Prominence244 ft (74 m)[1]
Parent peakLost Eagle Peak (11,860 ft)[3]
Isolation1.92 mi (3.09 km)[3]
Coordinates43°15′56″N 109°48′21″W / 43.26556°N 109.80583°W / 43.26556; -109.80583[4]
Geography
White Rock is located in Wyoming
White Rock
White Rock
Location in Wyoming
White Rock is located in the United States
White Rock
White Rock
White Rock (the United States)
LocationSublette County, Wyoming, U.S.
Parent rangeWind River Range
Topo mapUSGS Green River Lakes
Geology
Age of rockCarboniferous
Type of rockdolomite, limestone[2]
Climbing
Easiest routeclass 2+[3] North ridge

White Rock is a cliff with an 11,284-foot-elevation (3,439-meter) summit located in Sublette County of Wyoming, United States.[4]

Description

This geographical feature is part of the remote Wind River Range and is situated six miles west of the Continental Divide. It is set in the Bridger Wilderness, on land managed by Bridger-Teton National Forest. Topographic relief is significant as the west aspect rises 3,300 feet (1,000 meters) above the Green River in approximately one mile. It is between Flat Top Mountain, 2.3 miles to the north-northeast, and Squaretop Mountain, 2.65 miles to the south. The iconic view of White Rock and Squaretop Mountain from Green River Lakes has been on the Wyoming licence plate since 2016.

Geology

The mountain is composed of sedimentary rock that was laid down up to 450 million years ago in an ancient sea. The uppermost stratum is 300 million-year-old Madison Limestone, where seashell fossils are common. The cliff-forming limestone overlays a broken band of Darby Formation, which in turn overlays cliff-forming Bighorn Dolomite.[2] The once sea-level strata were uplifted during the Laramide orogeny. Obsidian chippings have been found near the summit, suggesting the first ascent was possibly made by Native Americans.[5]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, White Rock is located in an alpine subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers.[6] Due to its altitude, it receives precipitation all year, as snow in winter, and as thunderstorms in summer. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into the Green River.

Hazards

Encountering bears is a concern in the Wind River Range.[7] There are other concerns as well, including bugs, wildfires, adverse snow conditions and nighttime cold temperatures.[8]

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,[9] 2007 (involving an experienced NOLS leader),[10] 2015[11] and 2018.[12] Other incidents include a seriously injured backpacker being airlifted near Squaretop Mountain[13] in 2005,[14] and a fatal hiker incident (from an apparent accidental fall) in 2006 that involved state search and rescue.[15] 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

  1. 1 2 "White Rock, Wyoming". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  2. 1 2 3 Joe Kelsey, 2013, Climbing and Hiking in the Wind River Mountains, Falcon Guides, ISBN 9781493001354, page 109.
  3. 1 2 3 "White Rock - 11,284' WY". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
  4. 1 2 "White Rock". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  5. ↑ Joe Kelsey, 2013, Climbing and Hiking in the Wind River Mountains, Falcon Guides, ISBN 9781493001354, page 419.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. ↑ Staff (April 24, 2017). "Bear Safety in Wyoming's Wind River Country". WindRiver.org. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  8. ↑ Ballou, Dawn (July 27, 2005). "Wind River Range condition update - Fires, trails, bears, Continental Divide". PineDaleOnline News. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
  9. ↑ Staff (1993). "Falling Rock, Loose Rock, Failure to Test Holds, Wyoming, Wind River Range, Seneca Lake". American Alpine Club. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  10. ↑ MacDonald, Dougald (August 14, 2007). "Trundled Rock Kills NOLS Leader". Climbing. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  11. ↑ Staff (December 9, 2015). "Officials rule Wind River Range climbing deaths accidental". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  12. ↑ Dayton, Kelsey (August 24, 2018). "Deadly underestimation". WyoFile News. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
  13. ↑ Funk, Jason (2009). "Squaretop Mountain Rock Climbing". Mountain Project. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ Staff (September 1, 2006). "Incident Reports - September, 2006 - Wind River Search". WildernessDoc.com. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
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