Talk:Wellsville Mountains

Steepest mountains?
I've found no confirmation of these mountains being regarded as the steepest in the world. In fact, Guinness claims that the steepest in the USis the northwest face of Half Dome in California. Grutness...  wha?  01:07, 24 September 2005 (UTC)


 * The claim is often repeated in the Cache Valley (where I used to live). I have never seen an "official source" for it. I think the difference is Half-Dome is a single mountain. This claim is for a "chain" of mountains. Taken in that light, I think it's possible.  For example, Half Dome is part of the larger Sierra Nevada chain of mountains, which the western slope is very gradual, not steep at all. The eastern face of the Sierra's is quite steep, but not as steep as some mountains, including the Wellsville mountains. I'm not going to defend the claim that they are the steepest in the world. For all I know it is local lore. Davemeistermoab 03:26, 8 August 2007 (UTC)

Some help on the matter?
I live in Logan, UT (I see the Wellsville Mountains out my front window). This is hardly irrefutable proof, I suppose, but an informational "point of interest" monument is maintained by the state of Utah at an Interstate 15 rest stop just outside of Brigham City, UT, (on the other side of the Wellsville Mountains from Logan). It specifically says the Wellsville Mountains are the steepest mountain *range* in the world. Note that I emphasized the specific word "range." This may be necessary to make the point accurate.

Maybe a local Utah State University professor in geology or natural resources -- someone surely familiar with this claim -- could assist in verifying this through some academic resource?

Here is an interesting site (hosted somewhere at Utah State Univ) stating that the mountains may have been listed at one time in the Guiness Book of World Records.

"Looking west across Cache Valley, one sees the Wellsville Mountains (Image). The Wellsville Mountains were reportedly listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as being the "steepest" mountain range on earth ("steepest" being defined as height divided by width, more accurately, they are one of the narrowest mountain ranges on earth)." http://cc.usu.edu/~sharohl/ft3.html


 * It only says reportedly listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. Has anyone checked a copy to see if it is currently liested, and if we can eliminate the weasel words? RJFJR 00:21, 14 January 2007 (UTC)

Another source of the andectdotal "steepest mountain range"
A small booklet published in the 1970's entitled "Cache Trails" by Ann Schimph" cites Encyclopedia Britannica as the reference. I have searched Britannica for the reference without any luck so far.  One thign is certain, if you ever climb to the top of the Wellsvilles, you will likely find yourself a beleiver!

Re-wording the claim
I hate pages with cleanup tags. I also cannot find any "definitive" source for "steepest mountain range". However, I can find several outdoor enthusiast sites (that appear credible) that state "one of the steepest mountain ranges". If the page is toned down in this fashion (such that it is supported by these sources), is that enough to remove the dubious tags? Davemeistermoab 03:38, 8 August 2007 (UTC)

What appear to be credible sites about the Wellsvilles:
 * The mountains are one of the narrowest and steepest ranges in the Rockies, averaging only about five miles wide at its base and rising to its tallest summits,
 * billed as the steepest mountains in the United States.
 * Wellsvilles are the steepest range in the United States (but with no info to back that up)
 * OK. Nobody objected, so I'm going for it =-) Davemeistermoab 01:56, 22 August 2007 (UTC)