Froze-to-Death Mountain

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Froze-to-Death Mountain
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Froze-to-Death Mountain
Highest point
Elevation 11,755 ft (3,583 m) [1]
Prominence 160 ft (49 m) [2]
Listing List of mountains in Montana
Coordinates 45°11′25″N109°45′34″W / 45.190278°N 109.759444°W / 45.190278; -109.759444 Coordinates: 45°11′25″N109°45′34″W / 45.190278°N 109.759444°W / 45.190278; -109.759444
Geography
Location Stillwater County, Montana, U.S.
Parent range Beartooth Mountains
Topo map USGS Stillwater County

Froze-to-Death Mountain is a prominent summit among the Beartooth Mountains. It stands in Stillwater County, Montana, United States.

Contents

Geography

Froze-to-Death Mountain rises to an elevation of 11,755 feet (3,583 m) at its peak. [1] It is the highest landform in the Froze-to-Death Plateau, a local name for an area within the Beartooth Mountains. [3]

Surrounding features include Froze-to-Death Lake and Froze-to-Death Creek. The mountain area is part of the Custer National Forest which is itself a part of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. As national forest territory, it is administered by the United States Forest Service. [4] The nearest city is Big Timber (pop. 1,650) in Sweet Grass County, Montana. [5]

Pass to Granite Peak

While it is a challenging summit in itself, most climbers bypass it for the saddle between Froze-to-Death and its neighbor, Prairie View Mountain, to take one of two trailways that lead up to Granite Peak, the highest peak in Montana. [4] [6]

Environment

The name "Froze-to-Death" is said to derive from the experiences of the local Crow tribe of Native Americans. [7] The area can be deadly for unprepared visitors. Its rocky, broken terrain is difficult for travelers and snow is possible at any time of the year. [4]

The imposing conditions of the mountain and the surrounding plateau preclude nearly all wildlife with the exception of a few nesting Golden Eagles and the occasional mountain goat. [8] Stone cairns stand throughout the area in such numbers that their value as position locators is greatly limited, and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) strongly recommends against using them for navigation. [4] Even modern travellers frequently find themselves lost, and rescue is difficult. The USFS keeps no official records regarding the number of deaths in the area, but the risk of fatalities from accidents and exposure is recognized as high. For even the most experienced outdoor enthusiasts, Froze-to-Death Mountain and the other peaks of the Beartooth Mountain range rank among the most challenging and dangerous of all North American parkland. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

Absaroka Range Mountain range in Montana and Wyoming, United States

The Absaroka Range is a sub-range of the Rocky Mountains in the United States. The range stretches about 150 mi (240 km) across the Montana–Wyoming border, and 75 miles at its widest, forming the eastern boundary of Yellowstone National Park along Paradise Valley, and the western side of the Bighorn Basin. The range borders the Beartooth Mountains to the north and the Wind River Range to the south. The northern edge of the range rests along I-90 and Livingston, Montana. The highest peak in the range is Francs Peak, located in Wyoming at 13,153 ft (4,009 m). There are 46 other peaks over 12,000 ft (3,700 m).

Stillwater River (Stillwater County, Montana) River in Montana, U.S.A

The Stillwater River is a tributary of the Yellowstone River. Approximately 70 miles (113 km) long, it runs through southern Montana in the United States.

Granite Peak (Montana) Mountain in Montana, United States

Granite Peak, at an elevation of 12,807 feet (3,904 m) above sea level, is the highest natural point in the U.S. state of Montana, and the tenth-highest state high point in the nation. It lies within the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness in Park County, very near the borders of Stillwater County and Carbon County. Granite Peak is 10 miles (16 km) north of the Wyoming border and 45 miles (72 km) southwest of Columbus, Montana.

Beartooth Mountains Mountain range in Montana and Wyoming, United States

The Beartooth Mountains are located in south central Montana and northwest Wyoming, U.S. and are part of the 944,000 acres (382,000 ha) Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, within Custer, Gallatin and Shoshone National Forests. The Beartooths are the location of Granite Peak, which at 12,807 feet (3,904 m) is the highest point in the state of Montana. The mountains are just northeast of Yellowstone National Park and are part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The mountains are traversed by road via the Beartooth Highway with the highest elevation at Beartooth Pass 10,947 ft (3,337 m)). The name of the mountain range is attributed to a rugged peak found in the range, Beartooth Peak, that has the appearance of a bear's tooth.

Gallatin National Forest National forest in Montana, United States

Founded in 1899, Gallatin National Forest is located in south central Montana, United States. The forest comprises 1,819,515 acres (7,363.32 km2) and has portions of both the Absaroka-Beartooth and Lee Metcalf Wilderness areas within its boundaries. Gallatin National Forest borders Yellowstone National Park on the north and northwest and is part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, a region which encompasses almost 20,000,000 acres (81,000 km2). The forest is named after Albert Gallatin (1761–1849), U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and scholar of Native American languages and cultures.

Absaroka–Beartooth Wilderness Protected wilderness area in Montana and Wyoming, United States

Absaroka–Beartooth Wilderness was created from existing National Forest lands in 1978 and is located in Montana and Wyoming, United States. The wilderness is partly in Gallatin, Custer and Shoshone National Forests and is composed of 944,000 acres (3,820 km2). The wilderness encompasses two distinct mountain ranges, namely the Beartooth and Absaroka ranges. These ranges are completely distinct geologically speaking with the Absarokas composed primarily of volcanic and metamorphic rock, while the Beartooths are made up almost entirely of granitic rocks. The Absarokas are noted for their dark and craggy appearance, lush and heavily forested valleys and abundant wildlife. The highest peak in the range, located in Wyoming, is Francs Peak at 13,153 feet (4,009 m). The Beartooths are more alpine with huge treeless plateaus and the highest peak in the state of Montana. The wilderness contains 30 peaks over 12,000 feet (3,700 m). The wilderness is an integral part of the 20-million-acre (81,000 km2) Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and borders Yellowstone National Park.

Custer National Forest

Custer National Forest is located primarily in the south central part of the U.S. state of Montana but also has separate sections in northwestern South Dakota. With a total area of 1,188,130 acres (4,808 km2), the forest comprises over 10 separate sections. While in the westernmost sections, Custer National Forest is a part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the easternmost sections are a combination of forest "islands" and grasslands. A portion of the forest is also part of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and constitutes over a third of the wilderness land. South of Red Lodge, Montana, the Beartooth Highway passes through the forest en route to Yellowstone National Park.

Wolverine Peak

Wolverine Peak is a mountain in the Absaroka Range in the state of Montana, United States. It has a height of 10,479 feet (3,194 m) and is located in the Park County. The summit of Wolverine Peak is located at the triple border point between the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, Custer National Forest and Yellowstone National Park.

Silver Run Peak

Silver Run Peak is in the Beartooth Mountains in the U.S. state of Montana. The peak is one of the tallest in the Beartooth Mountains, the six tallest in Montana, and is located in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness of Custer National Forest. Silver Run Peak is the high point of the expansive Silver Run Plateau, a high-altitude plateau in the eastern Beartooth Mountains.

Granite Peak-Northwest Peak Mountain in Montana, United States

Granite Peak-Northwest Peak is in the Beartooth Mountains in the U.S. state of Montana. Granite Peak-Northwest Peak is also known as Peak 12745, and is only .4 mi (0.64 km) northwest of Granite Peak, the tallest mountain in Montana. With just over 300 ft (91 m) of topographic prominence, Granite Peak-Northwest Peak may be considered a distinct peak from Granite Peak, or merely a lower subpeak due to being part of the same massif. If considered a distinct peak, it is the second tallest mountain in Montana. Granite Peak-Northwest Peak is in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness on the border of Custer and Gallatin National Forests.

Tempest Mountain

Tempest Mountain is in the Beartooth Mountains in the U.S. state of Montana. The peak is one of the tallest in the Beartooth Mountains, the eighth tallest in Montana and is in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness of Custer National Forest. Tempest Mountain is less than 1 mi (1.6 km) ENE of Granite Peak, the tallest mountain in Montana.

Mount Peal

Mount Peal is in the Beartooth Mountains in the U.S. state of Montana. The peak is one of the tallest in the Beatooth Mountains, the ninth tallest in Montana and is in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness of Custer National Forest. The nearest taller mountain to Mount Peal is Tempest Mountain, 1 mi (1.6 km) WNW.

Mount Villard

Mount Villard is in the Beartooth Mountains in the U.S. state of Montana. The peak is one of the tallest in the Beartooth Mountains and is in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness on the border of Custer and Gallatin National Forests. Hidden Glacier lies to the northwest of the peak.

Glacier Peak (Park County, Montana)

Glacier Peak is in the Beartooth Mountains in the U.S. state of Montana. The peak is one of the tallest in the Beartooth Mountains and is in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, on the border of Custer and Gallatin National Forests.

Mount Rearguard

Mount Rearguard is in the Beartooth Mountains in the U.S. state of Montana. The peak is one of the tallest in the Beartooth Mountains and is in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness in Custer National Forest. A small remnant glacier lies to the east of Mount Rearguard, which sits at the western edge of the Hellroaring Plateau.

Cairn Mountain Mountain in United States of America

Cairn Mountain is in the Beartooth Mountains in the U.S. state of Montana. The peak is in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness in Custer National Forest. Cairn Mountain is 1.24 mi (2.00 km) south of Granite Peak, the tallest mountain in Montana.

Snowbank Mountain (Montana)

Snowbank Mountain is in the Beartooth Mountains in the U.S. state of Montana. The peak is in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness in Custer National Forest. The tiny Snowbank Glacier lies immediately southeast of the peak.

Mystic Mountain (Montana)

Mystic Mountain is in the Beartooth Mountains in the U.S. state of Montana. The peak is in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness in Custer National Forest and approximately 1.5 mi (2.4 km) west of Granite Peak.

Metcalf Mountain

Metcalf Mountain is in the Beartooth Mountains in the U.S. state of Montana. The peak is in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness in Custer National Forest and named for Lee Metcalf, former U.S. Senator from Montana.

Wolf Mountain (Montana)

Wolf Mountain is an 11,808-foot (3,599-metre) mountain summit located in Park County, Montana.

References

  1. 1 2 "Froze-to-Death Mountain". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey . Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  2. ↑ "Froze to Death Mountain, Montana". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  3. ↑ Simons, Frank F.; Armbrustmacher, Theodore J. (1979). "Beartooth Area, Montana and Wyoming" (PDF). Geological Survey Bulletin 1391-F. U.S. Department of the Interior: F5. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Custer National Forest: The Top of Montana". U.S. Forest Service. 2003. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  5. ↑ "Froze-to-Death Mountain". Peakery.com. 2011. Archived from the original on 14 July 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  6. ↑ "Granite Peak: Getting There". SummitPost.org. 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  7. ↑ United States War Dept. (1877). Annual report of the Secretary of War. U.S. Govt. Printing Office. p. 1367. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  8. ↑ Schneider, Russ (2004). Hiking Montana (3 ed.). Globe Pequot. p. 414. ISBN   978-0-7627-2564-9 . Retrieved 22 October 2011.
  9. ↑ Timothy Egan (5 October 2005). "In the Beartooth Range, It's Disappearance Season". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 October 2011.
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