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The Sphinx (Wyoming) facts for kids

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The Sphinx
The Sphinx is located in Wyoming
The Sphinx
The Sphinx
Location in Wyoming
The Sphinx is located in the United States
The Sphinx
The Sphinx
Location in the United States
Highest point
Elevation 13,264 ft (4,043 m)
Prominence 298 ft (91 m)
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)

The Sphinx is a 13,264-foot (4,043 m) mountain in the Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming. 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. The Dinwoody Glacier flows from the north slopes of the peak, while Sphinx Glacier is on the southwest flank of the mountain.

Hazards

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

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

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