The Sphinx (Wyoming)

The Sphinx is a 13,264-foot (4,043 m) mountain in the Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming.^[3] The summit is on the Continental Divide in both Shoshone and Bridger-Teton National Forests and it is .38 mi (0.61 km) east-southeast of Mount Woodrow Wilson.^[1] The Dinwoody Glacier flows from the north slopes of the peak, while Sphinx Glacier is on the southwest flank of the mountain.^[3]

The Sphinx
The Sphinx Location in Wyoming Show map of Wyoming The Sphinx Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Highest point
Elevation	13,264 ft (4,043 m)[1]
Prominence	298 ft (91 m)[1]
Coordinates	43°09′56″N 109°38′53″W[2]
Geography
Location	Fremont / Sublette counties, Wyoming, U.S.
Parent range	Wind River Range
Topo map	USGS Gannett Peak
Geology
Mountain type	Batholith
Climbing
First ascent	1929 (Kenneth Henderson and Robert Underhill)

Hazards

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.