Cloud Peak Wilderness

Last updated
Cloud Peak Wilderness
The Big Horns.jpg
Cloud Peak Wilderness, as viewed from Freezout, off Cold Springs Road.
USA Wyoming relief location map.svg
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Location in Wyoming
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Location in United States
Location Johnson / Big Horn / Sheridan counties, Wyoming, USA
Nearest city Sheridan, WY
Coordinates 44°23′55″N107°12′07″W / 44.39861°N 107.20194°W / 44.39861; -107.20194
Area189,039 acres (765.01 km2)
Established1984
Governing body U.S. Forest Service

The Cloud Peak Wilderness is located in north central Wyoming in the United States. Entirely within Bighorn National Forest, [2] the wilderness was established in 1984 in an effort to preserve the wildest section of the Bighorn Mountains. The wilderness has the highest peaks in the Bighorn Mountains including Cloud Peak and Black Tooth Mountain, as well as Cloud Peak Glacier, the only remaining active glacier in the Bighorn Mountains. The Cloud Peak Wilderness is 189,039 acres (765.01 km2).

Contents

U.S. Wilderness Areas do not allow motorized or mechanized vehicles, including bicycles. Although camping and fishing are allowed with proper permit, no roads or buildings are constructed and there is also no logging or mining, in compliance with the 1964 Wilderness Act. Wilderness areas within National Forests and Bureau of Land Management areas also allow hunting in season.

Climate

Climate data for Shell Creek, Wyoming, 1991–2020 normals: 9580ft (2920m)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Average high °F (°C)22.0
(−5.6)
22.9
(−5.1)
30.8
(−0.7)
37.9
(3.3)
47.1
(8.4)
56.4
(13.6)
65.9
(18.8)
63.9
(17.7)
52.8
(11.6)
38.6
(3.7)
27.9
(−2.3)
21.2
(−6.0)
40.6
(4.8)
Daily mean °F (°C)14.8
(−9.6)
14.8
(−9.6)
21.6
(−5.8)
27.9
(−2.3)
37.2
(2.9)
45.7
(7.6)
54.1
(12.3)
52.6
(11.4)
43.4
(6.3)
30.9
(−0.6)
20.5
(−6.4)
14.2
(−9.9)
31.5
(−0.3)
Average low °F (°C)7.5
(−13.6)
6.7
(−14.1)
12.4
(−10.9)
17.9
(−7.8)
27.4
(−2.6)
35.0
(1.7)
42.3
(5.7)
41.3
(5.2)
33.9
(1.1)
23.2
(−4.9)
13.1
(−10.5)
7.1
(−13.8)
22.3
(−5.4)
Average precipitation inches (mm)2.21
(56)
2.01
(51)
2.39
(61)
3.21
(82)
3.55
(90)
3.26
(83)
1.52
(39)
1.16
(29)
2.31
(59)
2.57
(65)
2.15
(55)
1.77
(45)
28.11
(715)
Source 1: XMACIS2 [3]
Source 2: NOAA (Precipitation) [4]
Climate data for Cloud Peak Wilderness
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Average high °F (°C)35.6
(2.0)
40.4
(4.7)
49.7
(9.8)
59.2
(15.1)
69.2
(20.7)
79.0
(26.1)
86.7
(30.4)
85.6
(29.8)
75.1
(23.9)
62.3
(16.8)
45.2
(7.3)
37.4
(3.0)
60.5
(15.8)
Daily mean °F (°C)24.7
(−4.1)
29.4
(−1.4)
38.1
(3.4)
46.7
(8.2)
56.1
(13.4)
65.5
(18.6)
72.6
(22.6)
71.7
(22.1)
61.6
(16.4)
50.0
(10.0)
35.4
(1.9)
26.9
(−2.8)
48.2
(9.0)
Average low °F (°C)13.7
(−10.2)
18.4
(−7.6)
26.5
(−3.1)
34.2
(1.2)
43.0
(6.1)
51.9
(11.1)
58.4
(14.7)
57.9
(14.4)
48.0
(8.9)
37.6
(3.1)
25.5
(−3.6)
16.4
(−8.7)
36.0
(2.2)
Average precipitation inches (mm)0.5
(13)
0.3
(7.6)
0.9
(23)
1.3
(33)
2.3
(58)
1.8
(46)
0.9
(23)
0.6
(15)
1.4
(36)
1.2
(30)
0.7
(18)
0.6
(15)
12.5
(317.6)
Source: climbingweather.com [5]

See also

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Mount Woolsey is located in the Bighorn Mountains in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The peak is the third highest in the range after Cloud Peak, which is only 1.3 miles (2.1 km) to the south, and the summit is located in the Cloud Peak Wilderness of Bighorn National Forest. Black Tooth Mountain, the second highest mountain in the Bighorns, is an adjacent summit only .20 mi (0.32 km) to the northwest. Mount Woolsey is on a knife-like ridge known as an arête and is connected to both Black Tooth Mountain and Cloud Peak by this ridge. Along the arête is another mountain peak known as The Innominate. A small glacier lies below the arête to the southeast of Mount Woolsey.

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Hallelujah Peak, also known as Peak 12590, is located in the Bighorn Mountains in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The peak is the fifth-highest in the range and it is in the Cloud Peak Wilderness of Bighorn National Forest. Hallelujah Peak is 0.64 miles (1.03 km) northeast of Black Tooth Mountain and connected to that peak by a knife-like ridge known as an arête.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Innominate</span> Mountain in Wyoming, United States

The Innominate is a mountain peak located in the Bighorn Mountains in the U.S. state of Wyoming. Situated along a knife-like ridge known as an arête, the summit is located in the Cloud Peak Wilderness of Bighorn National Forest. The slightly taller Mount Woolsey is .30 miles (0.48 km) to the northwest. A small glacier lies below the arête to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bighorn Peak</span> Mountain in the American state of Wyoming

Bighorn Peak is located in the Bighorn Mountains in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The peak is the seventh highest in the range and it is in the Cloud Peak Wilderness of Bighorn National Forest. Bighorn Peak is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of Darton Peak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darton Peak</span> Mountain in the country of Canada

Darton Peak is located in the Bighorn Mountains in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The peak is the eighth-highest in the range and it is in the Cloud Peak Wilderness of Bighorn National Forest. Darton Peak is 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of Bighorn Peak and 4.5 mi (7.2 km) southeast of Mather Peaks.

Mather Peaks is located in the Bighorn Mountains in the U.S. state of Wyoming. The peak is the sixth highest in the range and it is in the Cloud Peak Wilderness of Bighorn National Forest. Mather Peaks is 4.5 miles (7.2 km) northwest of Darton Peak and 3.2 mi (5.1 km) south of Bomber Mountain.

References

  1. Protected Planet Website- Retrieved March 30, 2023
  2. "Cloud Peak Wilderness" . Retrieved 2019-10-06.
  3. "xmACIS2". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  4. "Shell Creek, Wyoming 1991-2020 Monthly Normals" . Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  5. "climbingweather.com" . Retrieved October 6, 2019.