Watch Tower (mountain) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Watch Tower |
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Highest point | |
Elevation | 12,331 ft (3,758 m) |
Prominence | 246 ft (75 m) |
Geography | |
Location | Fremont and Sublette Counties, Wyoming, U.S. |
Parent range | Wind River Range |
Topo map | USGS Lizard Head Peak |
Watch Tower is a (12,331-foot (3,758 m)) mountain located in the southern Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Watch Tower is on the west side of the Cirque of the Towers, a popular climbing area and is just southeast of Block Tower. Watch Tower is immediately east of the Continental Divide.
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.