{{Short description|American mountain}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox mountain | name = The Sphinx | image = | image_caption = | elevation_ft = 13264 | elevation_ref = <ref name=pb>{{cite peakbagger|pid=5363|name=The Sphinx, Wyoming|access-date=December 8, 2013}}</ref> | prominence_ft = 298 | prominence_ref = <ref name=pb/> | location = Fremont / Sublette counties, Wyoming, U.S. | range = Wind River Range | map = Wyoming#USA | map_relief = 1 | map_caption = Location in Wyoming##Location in the United States | coordinates = {{coord|43|09|56|N|109|38|53|W|type:mountain_region:US-WY_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_ref = <ref name=gnis>{{cite gnis|id=1603621|name=The Sphinx|access-date=December 8, 2013}}</ref> | topo = USGS Gannett Peak | type = Batholith | first_ascent = 1929 (Kenneth Henderson and Robert Underhill) | easiest_route = }} '''The Sphinx''' is a {{convert|13264|ft|adj=on}} mountain in the Wind River Range in the U.S. state of Wyoming.<ref name=topo>{{Cite map|publisher=TopoQwest (United States Geological Survey Maps)|title=Gannett Peak, WY|url=http://www.topoquest.com/map.php?lat=43.16551&lon=-109.64793&datum=nad83&zoom=4|access-date=December 8, 2013}}</ref> The summit is on the Continental Divide in both Shoshone and Bridger-Teton National Forests and it is {{convert|.38|mi|abbr=on}} east-southeast of Mount Woodrow Wilson.<ref name=pb/> The Dinwoody Glacier flows from the north slopes of the peak, while Sphinx Glacier is on the southwest flank of the mountain.<ref name=topo/>
==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.
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Mountains of Wyoming}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sphinx}} Category:Mountains of Wyoming Category:Mountains of Fremont County, Wyoming Category:Mountains of Sublette County, Wyoming Category:Bridger–Teton National Forest Category:Shoshone National Forest
{{Wyoming-geo-stub}}