{{Short description|Mountain in the American state of Wyoming}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Squaretop Mountain | image = Squaretop Mountain, WY.jpg | image_caption = Squaretop Mountain, northwest aspect | elevation_ft = 11695 | elevation_ref = <ref name=pb>{{cite peakbagger|pid=5341|name=Squaretop Mountain, Wyoming|access-date=2021-07-26}}</ref> | prominence_ft = 655 | prominence_ref = <ref name=pb/> | isolation_mi = 2.17 | isolation_ref = <ref name="listsofjohn">{{cite web|url=https://listsofjohn.com/peak/7229|title=Squaretop Mountain - 11,695' WY|website=listsofjohn.com|accessdate=2021-07-26}}</ref> | parent_peak = Peak 11830<ref name="listsofjohn"/> | location = Sublette County, Wyoming, U.S. | range = Wind River Range | map = Wyoming#USA | label_position = right | map_size = 270 | map_caption = Location in Wyoming | coordinates = {{coord|43|13|25|N|109|47|27|W|type:mountain_region:US-WY_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_ref = <ref name=gnis>{{cite gnis|id=1609160|name=Squaretop Mountain|access-date=July 26, 2021}}</ref> | topo = USGS ''Squaretop Mountain'' | type = | rock = Migmatite<ref>Joe Kelsey, 2013, ''Climbing and Hiking in the Wind River Mountains'', Falcon Guides, {{ISBN|9781493001354}}, page 33.</ref> | first_ascent = < 1921 by William Stroud<ref name=pb/> | easiest_route = {{YDS|2}} hiking<ref name="listsofjohn"/> SE ledges }}
'''Squaretop Mountain''' is an {{convert|11,695|ft|meter|adj=mid|-elevation|abbr=off|sp=us}} mountain summit located in Sublette County of Wyoming, United States.<ref name=gnis/>
== Geography == The peak is the emblematic geographical feature of the remote Wind River Range and is set seven miles west of the Continental Divide.<ref>Joe Kelsey, 2013, ''Climbing and Hiking in the Wind River Mountains'', Falcon Guides, {{ISBN|9781493001354}}, page 37.</ref> It is situated in the Bridger Wilderness on land managed by Bridger-Teton National Forest. Topographic relief is significant as the northeast aspect rises {{convert|3,700|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} above the Green River in one-half mile. The iconic view of Squaretop and Green River Lakes has been on the Wyoming license plate since 2016.
== Climate == According to the Köppen climate classification system, Squaretop Mountain is located in an alpine subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers.<ref name=Peel>{{cite journal | author = Peel, M. C. |author2=Finlayson, B. L. |author3=McMahon, T. A. | year = 2007 | title = Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification | journal = Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. | volume = 11 | issn = 1027-5606}}</ref> Due to its altitude, it receives precipitation all year, as snow in winter, and as thunderstorms in summer. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains north into the Green River.
== Climbing ==
The first ascent of Squaretop was made sometime before 1921 by William John Stroud (1854–1946), via the {{YDS|2}} southeast ledges. Fred Beckey and Layton Kor climbed the Northeast Face in 1960.<ref>[http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12196138001/North-America-United-States-WyomingWind-River-Range-Northeast-Face-Squaretop Fred Beckey, 1961, ''North America, United States, Wyoming—Wind River Range, Northeast Face, Squaretop'' Americanalpineclub.org]</ref>
Other established climbing routes on Squaretop's walls:<ref>Joe Kelsey, 2013, ''Climbing and Hiking in the Wind River Mountains'', Falcon Guides, {{ISBN|9781493001354}}, pages 110–115, 419.</ref>
* West Gully – 1937 – {{YDS|3}} – H. H. Bliss * East Face Center – 1958 – (IV 5th) – Bill Byrd, Dave Dingman, Roland Wyatt * North Buttress – 1960 – (III 5.7) – Ed Cooper, Ron Niccoli * East Face Right – 1965 – (V 5.8) – Fred Beckey, Jerry Fuller * Southeast Face – 1971 – (II 5.6) – Vince Lee, E. Park, M. Stephens, C. Zukowski * West Couloir – 1972 – (II 5.5) – Vince Lee, Bo Beckham, Greg Smith * West Face Dihedral – 1974 – (V 5.10) – Greg Lowe, Jeff Lowe, Kent Christensen * East Face Left – 1984 – (V 5.10d) – Jeff Lowe, Renato Casarotto * West Face Right – 1992 – (IV 5.9 A2) – Scott Cole, John Malken * ''AC/DC'' – 1998 – (IV 5.10) – Andy Carson, Dan Carson * ''Miscreant Line'' and ''Conveyor Belt'' (East Face) – 2001 – (V 5.10d) – Tod Anderson, Skyler Crane, James Donnell, Ernest Moskovics * ''Marginally Orange'' – 2009 – (IV 5.10) Norm Goltra, Steve Walker
==Hazards== {{Main|Hazards of outdoor recreation|Mountaineering#Hazards}} Encountering bears is a concern in the Wind River Range.<ref name="WR-20170424">{{cite news |author=Staff |title=Bear Safety in Wyoming's Wind River Country |url=https://windriver.org/bear-safety-in-wyomings-wind-river-country/ |date=April 24, 2017 |work=WindRiver.org |url-status=live |archivedate=July 26, 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726133155/https://windriver.org/bear-safety-in-wyomings-wind-river-country/ |access-date=May 31, 2022 }}</ref> There are other concerns as well, including bugs, wildfires, adverse snow conditions and nighttime cold temperatures.<ref name="PD-20050727">{{cite news |last=Ballou |first=Dawn |title=Wind River Range condition update - Fires, trails, bears, Continental Divide |url=http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2005/07/WindRiverRangecondit.htm |date=July 27, 2005 |work=PineDaleOnline News |url-status=live |archivedate=April 21, 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421050551/http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2005/07/WindRiverRangecondit.htm |access-date=May 31, 2022 }}</ref>
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,<ref name="AAC-1993">{{cite news |author=Staff |title=Falling Rock, Loose Rock, Failure to Test Holds, Wyoming, Wind River Range, Seneca Lake |url=http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/13199308300/Falling-Rock-Loose-Rock-Failure-to-Test-Holds-Wyoming-Wind-River-Range-Seneca-Lake |date=1993 |work=American Alpine Club |url-status=live |archivedate=July 26, 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726124452/http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/13199308300/Falling-Rock-Loose-Rock-Failure-to-Test-Holds-Wyoming-Wind-River-Range-Seneca-Lake |access-date=May 31, 2022 }}</ref> 2007 (involving an experienced NOLS leader),<ref name="CLMB-20070814">{{cite news |last=MacDonald |first=Dougald |title=Trundled Rock Kills NOLS Leader |url=https://www.climbing.com/news/trundled-rock-kills-nols-leader/ |date=August 14, 2007 |work=Climbing |url-status=live |archivedate=July 26, 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726131458/https://www.climbing.com/news/trundled-rock-kills-nols-leader/ |access-date=May 31, 2022 }}</ref> 2015<ref name="TRIB-20151209">{{cite news |author=Staff |title=Officials rule Wind River Range climbing deaths accidental |url=https://trib.com/outdoors/officials-rule-wind-river-range-climbing-deaths-accidental/article_eca43632-2f91-519f-bb81-0c59ed52e07e.html |date=December 9, 2015 |work=Casper Star-Tribune |url-status=dead |archivedate=July 26, 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726124448/https://trib.com/outdoors/officials-rule-wind-river-range-climbing-deaths-accidental/article_eca43632-2f91-519f-bb81-0c59ed52e07e.html |access-date=May 31, 2022 }}</ref> and 2018.<ref name="WYO-20180814">{{cite news |last=Dayton |first=Kelsey |title=Deadly underestimation |url=https://www.wyofile.com/deadly-underestimation/ |date=August 24, 2018 |work=WyoFile News |url-status=live |archivedate=July 26, 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726124437/https://www.wyofile.com/deadly-underestimation/ |access-date=May 31, 2022 }}</ref> Other incidents include a seriously injured backpacker being airlifted near SquareTop Mountain<ref name="MP-2009">{{cite web |last=Funk |first=Jason |title=Squaretop Mountain Rock Climbing |url=https://www.mountainproject.com/area/106521163/squaretop-mountain |date=2009 |work=Mountain Project |url-status=live |archivedate=July 26, 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726095630/https://www.mountainproject.com/area/106521163/squaretop-mountain |access-date=May 31, 2022 }}</ref> in 2005,<ref name="PD-20050722">{{cite news |author=Staff |title=Injured man rescued from Square Top Mtn - Tip-Top Search & Rescue helps 2 injured on the mountain |url=http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2005/07/Injuredmanrescuedfro.htm |date=July 22, 2005 |work=PineDaleOnline News |url-status=live |archivedate=July 26, 2021 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726131552/http://www.pinedaleonline.com/news/2005/07/Injuredmanrescuedfro.htm |access-date=May 31, 2022 }}</ref> and a fatal hiker incident (from an apparent accidental fall) in 2006 that involved state search and rescue.<ref name="WD-20060901">{{cite news |author=Staff |title=Incident Reports - September, 2006 - Wind River Search |url=http://www.1.wildernessdoc.com/Report.aspx?IN=13 |date=September 1, 2006 |work=WildernessDoc.com |url-status=dead |archivedate=January 27, 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200127232916/http://www.1.wildernessdoc.com/Report.aspx?IN=13 |access-date=May 31, 2022 }}</ref> The U.S. Forest Service does not offer updated aggregated records on the official number of fatalities in the Wind River Range.
== Gallery == <div style="max-width: 500px;"> <gallery mode=slideshow> File:Squaretop Mountain.jpg File:Squaretop.jpg|from Green River Lakes File:Squaretop Mountain blue sky.jpg File:Green River Lakes, Bridger.jpg|from Green River Lakes with White Rock on left, "Tabletop" on right File:Green River Lakes.jpg|from Green River Lakes File:Squaretop Mountain in WY.jpg|from Green River Lakes File:Green River Lakes Reflection.jpg|White Rock (left), Squaretop Mountain (right) reflected in Green River Lakes.<br />White Rock is a dolomite and limestone cliff that rises 3,300 feet above the lake. </gallery> </div>
==See also== * List of mountain peaks of Wyoming
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * Squaretop Mountain rock climbing: [https://www.mountainproject.com/area/106521163/squaretop-mountain Mountainproject.com] * Weather forecast: [https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/2-5839727/United%20States/Wyoming/Sublette/Squaretop%20Mountain Squaretop Mountain]
{{Mountains of Wyoming}} {{Portal bar|Geography|Geology|Mountains}}
Category:Bridger–Teton National Forest Category:Mountains of Sublette County, Wyoming Category:Mountains of Wyoming Category:Three-thousanders of the United States