Wind River Range

Wind River Range. . Postulating the traverse of the Continental Divide the eye climbs to Union Peck, some four airline miles but nearer six by that tortuous route. At ll,491 feet Union Peak is a nondescript rise that draws attention only because it is the final timberline-topping elevation on the northwestern end of the Wind River Range. Appearing slightly behind and more to the right, but actually seven miles further along the traverse of the divide, is Three Waters Mountain. That is as far into the Wind Rivers as can be seen from Union Pass. However, if vision could continue to follow the southeasterly bearing of the divide, the viewer might estimate 20 and 30 miles to where nearer 13,804 foot Gannett Peak and farther 13,745 foot Fremont Peak marker the scope of the heart of that range. , The Wind River Range is the highest mountain map in Wyoming. Basically it is a broad uplift which originated about 60 million years ago during a period of "mountain building" called the Laramide Orogeny. The core of the range reveals Precambrian crystalline rocks, and Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary rocks are upturned on the flanks. The Wind River Range, although south of continental ice caps, was extensively glaciated during the Pleistocene epoch and such sizable lakes and Newfork, Boulder, Fremont, Bull Green River and Dinwoody, filling canyons and valley along its widespread flanks. are dammed behind moraine. Existent glaciers in the highest parts of the Wind Rivers are small by comparison, yet they are often cited as the largest ice fields within the contiguous states of Union. , Boulders strewing Union Pass environs are suffice evidence that this northern margin os the range was subdued by spreading glaciers which have left a blanket of till and moraine material.