Wolfs Head

Wolfs Head is a (12,165-foot (3,708 m)) mountain located in the southern Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming.^[3] Wolfs Head is on the northwest side of the Cirque of the Towers, a popular climbing area. The peak is just north of Overhanging Tower and connected to Pingora Peak by a narrow arête. The East Ridge route on the Wolf's Head is recognized in the historic climbing text Fifty Classic Climbs of North America and considered a classic climb.^[4] Wolfs Head is situated on the Continental Divide.

Wolfs Head
Wolfs Head from southeast
Highest point
Elevation	12,165 ft (3,708 m)[1]
Prominence	80 ft (24 m)[1]
Coordinates	42°46′50″N 109°13′58″W[2]
Geography
Wolfs Head Location in Wyoming Show map of Wyoming Wolfs Head Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Fremont and Sublette Counties, Wyoming, U.S.
Parent range	Wind River Range
Topo map	USGS Lizard Head Peak

Hazards

Main articles: Hazards of outdoor recreation and Mountaineering § Hazards

Encountering bears is a concern in the Wind River Range.^[5] There are other concerns as well, including bugs, wildfires, adverse snow conditions and nighttime cold temperatures.^[6]

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,^[7] 2007 (involving an experienced NOLS leader),^[8] 2015^[9] and 2018.^[10] Other incidents include a seriously injured backpacker being airlifted near SquareTop Mountain^[11] in 2005,^[12] and a fatal hiker incident (from an apparent accidental fall) in 2006 that involved state search and rescue.^[13] The U.S. Forest Service does not offer updated aggregated records on the official number of fatalities in the Wind River Range.

Cirque of the Towers. Left to rightː Watch Tower, Sharks Nose, Overhanging Tower, Wolfs Head, Bollinger Peak, Pingora Peak.

References

1. "Wolfs Head, Wyoming". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
2. "Wolfs Head". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
3. Lizard Head Peak, WY (Map). TopoQwest (United States Geological Survey Maps). Retrieved March 23, 2014.
4. Roper, Steve; Steck, Allen (1979). Fifty Classic Climbs of North America. San Francisco: Sierra Club Books. pp. 177–183. ISBN 0-87156-292-8.
5. Staff (April 24, 2017). "Bear Safety in Wyoming's Wind River Country". WindRiver.org. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
6. Ballou, Dawn (July 27, 2005). "Wind River Range condition update - Fires, trails, bears, Continental Divide". PineDaleOnline News. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
7. Staff (1993). "Falling Rock, Loose Rock, Failure to Test Holds, Wyoming, Wind River Range, Seneca Lake". American Alpine Club. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
8. MacDonald, Dougald (August 14, 2007). "Trundled Rock Kills NOLS Leader". Climbing. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
9. Staff (December 9, 2015). "Officials rule Wind River Range climbing deaths accidental". Casper Star-Tribune. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
10. Dayton, Kelsey (August 24, 2018). "Deadly underestimation". WyoFile News. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
11. Funk, Jason (2009). "Squaretop Mountain Rock Climbing". Mountain Project. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
12. Staff (July 22, 2005). "Injured man rescued from Square Top Mtn - Tip-Top Search & Rescue helps 2 injured on the mountain". PineDaleOnline News. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved May 31, 2022.
13. Staff (September 1, 2006). "Incident Reports - September, 2006 - Wind River Search". WildernessDoc.com. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2022.