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Williams Mountains

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Coordinates: 39°10′50″N 106°36′37″W / 39.1806°N 106.6102°W / 39.1806; -106.6102 (Williams Mountains)
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Williams Mountains
Williams Mountains is located in Colorado
Williams Mountains
Williams Mountains
Location in Colorado
Williams Mountains is located in the United States
Williams Mountains
Williams Mountains
Location in the United States
Highest point
PeakBill Williams Peak
Elevation13,389 feet (4,081 m)[1]
Coordinates39°10′50″N 106°36′37″W / 39.1806°N 106.6102°W / 39.1806; -106.6102 (Williams Mountains)[2]
Geography
LocationPitkin County, Colorado, U.S.
Parent rangeSawatch Range
Topo mapUSGS Mount Champion

The Williams Mountains are a subrange of the Sawatch Range of the Rocky Mountains of the United States and Canada. The mountains are located in Pitkin County, Colorado. The apex of the range is 13,389-foot (4,081 m) Bill Williams Peak located 12.2 miles (19.6 km) east of Aspen, Colorado, in the Hunter–Fryingpan Wilderness of White River National Forest.[3]

Etymology

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The Williams Mountains are named for William Sherley "Old Bill" Williams (1787–1849), prominent American mountain man and frontiersman who frequented the region.

In November 1848, John C. Fremont hired Williams to guide his ill-fated fourth expedition through the Southern Rocky Mountains.[4] Fremont sought to find a railroad route through the Rockies along the 38th parallel north. Williams warned Fremont against following his intended route through the La Garita Mountains in winter, but Fremont proceeded with his 35 men and 150 mules. The expedition eventually became hopelessly mired in deep snow and 11 men and all but a few of the pack animals died.[5] Williams led a rescue party south towards Taos, and the survivors of the expedition eventually managed to follow.[6]

In March, Williams and Dr. Benjamin Kern returned to the La Garita Mountains in hopes of finding more survivors. On March 14, 1849, Ute warriors murdered Bill Williams and Dr. Kern in the mountains by for trespassing on Ute lands.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Williams Mountains Highpoint, Colorado". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  2. ^ "Williams Mountains". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
  3. ^ Mount Champion, CO (Map). TopoQwest (United States Geological Survey Maps). Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Meehan, James (December 2021). "Williams, William Sherley". ncpedia.org. NCPedia. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  5. ^ Richmond, Patricia Joy (Summer 1987). "Trail to Disaster: John C. Frémont's Fourth Exhibition into the San Juan Mountains of Southern Colorado" (PDF). Ayer y Hoy en Taos. Taos County Historical Society. Retrieved December 21, 2023.
  6. ^ "Williams, William Sherley". encyclopedia.com. The Columbia Encyclopedia. November 16, 2023. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
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