Here's a link (see below) to current glaciation infomation in the U.S. Lower 48. Wyoming and Montana, of course, top the Rockies in glacial area (actually, have more square kilometers of glaciers than any other state except Washington, which is in a class by itself). Interesting that the Wyoming glacier total is less than 5 square kilometers more than that of Montana—but note that not all glaciers in those states are in the Wind River Range or GNP. Gannett Glacier, with an area of 3.3 kilometers is currently the largest U.S. Rocky Mountain glacier. I have been unable to locate an accurate glacial area figure isolating a total for either the Winds or GNP.
The consensus (which I don't dispute) seems to be that the Winds have more glacier area than GNP, but I've never seen documented sources on such (although the Winds do NOT have more than the rest of the U.S. Rockies combined—that claim should be removed from the body of the page). Also, the rapid melting of GNP's glaciers has been widely discussed and researched for many years; I know the same is occurring in the Winds, but have never seen information as to the rapidity and extent of glacier disappearance from that mountain range. The elevation in the Winds is higher than in GNP, which one would assume to affect the rate of melting. Anyway, I find all this stuff fascinating....Link to Glacier Research
Matt,
There is an excellent and amazingly comprehensive "Off Trail" hiking Guidebook for the Wind River Range.
"Beyond Trails in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming
Off Trail Routes for the Advanced Backpacker"
By: Nancy Pallister
Here is the direct link to the authors page where she sells it.
http://www.mcreynoldscpa.com/BeyondTrails#Guidebook
Here is a link to buy it directly from the publisher. http://www.graydogpress.com/bookstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=8
Thanks! Yeah I wasn't able to find a photo of Musembeah if you have one feel free to upload it and I'll put it up
Neil Albaugh - Jun 15, 2014 9:00 pm - Hasn't voted
Wildlife
In addition to the native wildlife mentioned here, let me add Mountain Lions. Back in 1968 (the olden days) two friends and I encountered a lion in a clearing just below the saddle of Horse Ridge. The lion sat and stared at us until I made a move to get my camera out of my pack and in a flash he was gone. I don't know if they inhabit the Wind River Range these days; maybe someone can comment on this.
the Wind Rivers look very nice. This section states: 'The 63 glaciers of the range are more than in any other range of the American Rockies and surpassed in the continuous USA only by the Washington Cascades.' I know the Sierra Nevada Range has many too, was pretty sure it had more than 63, so I looked it up on USGS website and it says: 'All perennial bodies of ice in the Sierra Nevada are listed and classified. The inventory includes 497 glaciers covering a total area of 50 square kilometers and 788 small ice bodies which do not meet the definition of a glacier, covering a total of 13 square kilometers.' The Sierra Nevada Range is 400 miles long, and 50 to 80 miles wide, and has quite a few 14ers, and gets large snow fall totals on average, over portions, so it stands to reason it might have more.
Interesting you mention this...one thing to keep in mind is the chance that when the USGS counted glaciers in the Sierra (which was likely over 20-30 years ago), there would have been many small glaciers still sticking around. However today, I would bet many of them are merely just permanent snowfields, and no longer active glaciers. I'll look more into it and see what I can find. Thanks for the comment!
Saintgrizzly - Mar 9, 2009 3:49 pm - Voted 10/10
Lower 48 Glacier Info of InterestHere's a link (see below) to current glaciation infomation in the U.S. Lower 48. Wyoming and Montana, of course, top the Rockies in glacial area (actually, have more square kilometers of glaciers than any other state except Washington, which is in a class by itself). Interesting that the Wyoming glacier total is less than 5 square kilometers more than that of Montana—but note that not all glaciers in those states are in the Wind River Range or GNP. Gannett Glacier, with an area of 3.3 kilometers is currently the largest U.S. Rocky Mountain glacier. I have been unable to locate an accurate glacial area figure isolating a total for either the Winds or GNP.
The consensus (which I don't dispute) seems to be that the Winds have more glacier area than GNP, but I've never seen documented sources on such (although the Winds do NOT have more than the rest of the U.S. Rockies combined—that claim should be removed from the body of the page). Also, the rapid melting of GNP's glaciers has been widely discussed and researched for many years; I know the same is occurring in the Winds, but have never seen information as to the rapidity and extent of glacier disappearance from that mountain range. The elevation in the Winds is higher than in GNP, which one would assume to affect the rate of melting. Anyway, I find all this stuff fascinating....Link to Glacier Research
Matt Lemke - May 10, 2014 1:39 am - Hasn't voted
Re: Lower 48 Glacier Info of InterestFixed everything Saintgrizzly mentioned above
rockthrowjoe - May 12, 2014 6:04 pm - Voted 10/10
Off Trail GuidebookMatt,
There is an excellent and amazingly comprehensive "Off Trail" hiking Guidebook for the Wind River Range.
"Beyond Trails in the Wind River Mountains of Wyoming
Off Trail Routes for the Advanced Backpacker"
By: Nancy Pallister
Here is the direct link to the authors page where she sells it.
http://www.mcreynoldscpa.com/BeyondTrails#Guidebook
Here is a link to buy it directly from the publisher. http://www.graydogpress.com/bookstore/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=8
Matt Lemke - May 12, 2014 6:37 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Off Trail GuidebookThanks Jed! I will add the info to the page
bruceg - Jun 5, 2014 4:22 pm - Hasn't voted
Musembeah or Hooker?Matt: Great update to the Wind River page.
It looks like the photo shown for the West Buttress of Musembeah is actually looking at Mount Hooker.
Matt Lemke - Jun 10, 2014 2:50 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: Musembeah or Hooker?Thanks! Yeah I wasn't able to find a photo of Musembeah if you have one feel free to upload it and I'll put it up
Neil Albaugh - Jun 15, 2014 9:00 pm - Hasn't voted
WildlifeIn addition to the native wildlife mentioned here, let me add Mountain Lions. Back in 1968 (the olden days) two friends and I encountered a lion in a clearing just below the saddle of Horse Ridge. The lion sat and stared at us until I made a move to get my camera out of my pack and in a flash he was gone. I don't know if they inhabit the Wind River Range these days; maybe someone can comment on this.
Regards, Neil Albaugh
NevadaJeff - Jul 11, 2017 7:00 pm - Hasn't voted
glacier countthe Wind Rivers look very nice. This section states: 'The 63 glaciers of the range are more than in any other range of the American Rockies and surpassed in the continuous USA only by the Washington Cascades.' I know the Sierra Nevada Range has many too, was pretty sure it had more than 63, so I looked it up on USGS website and it says: 'All perennial bodies of ice in the Sierra Nevada are listed and classified. The inventory includes 497 glaciers covering a total area of 50 square kilometers and 788 small ice bodies which do not meet the definition of a glacier, covering a total of 13 square kilometers.' The Sierra Nevada Range is 400 miles long, and 50 to 80 miles wide, and has quite a few 14ers, and gets large snow fall totals on average, over portions, so it stands to reason it might have more.
Matt Lemke - Jul 20, 2017 9:25 pm - Hasn't voted
Re: glacier countHey Jeff,
Interesting you mention this...one thing to keep in mind is the chance that when the USGS counted glaciers in the Sierra (which was likely over 20-30 years ago), there would have been many small glaciers still sticking around. However today, I would bet many of them are merely just permanent snowfields, and no longer active glaciers. I'll look more into it and see what I can find. Thanks for the comment!