Payson Peak | |
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![]() Payson Peak (center) from Valentine Lake | |
Highest point | |
Elevation | 11,717 ft (3,571 m)[1] |
Prominence | 197 ft (60 m)[1] |
Coordinates | 42°49′33″N 109°13′06″W / 42.82583°N 109.21833°W[2] |
Geography | |
Location | Fremont County, Wyoming, U.S. |
Parent range | Wind River Range |
Topo map | USGS Lizard Head Peak |
Payson Peak is a 11,717-foot (3,571 m) mountain located in the southern Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming.[3] Payson Peak was named after Henry A. Payson, a former Forest Ranger.[2] Payson Peak is in the Popo Agie Wilderness of Shoshone National Forest.
Main articles: Hazards of outdoor recreation and Mountaineering § Hazards |
Encountering bears is a concern in the Wind River Range.[4] There are other concerns as well, including bugs, wildfires, adverse snow conditions and nighttime cold temperatures.[5]
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,[6] 2007 (involving an experienced NOLS leader),[7] 2015[8] and 2018.[9] Other incidents include a seriously injured backpacker being airlifted near SquareTop Mountain[10] in 2005,[11] and a fatal hiker incident (from an apparent accidental fall) in 2006 that involved state search and rescue.[12] The U.S. Forest Service does not offer updated aggregated records on the official number of fatalities in the Wind River Range.