King Arthur Castle

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King Arthur Castle
King Arthur Castle.jpg
King Arthur Castle upper left with Guinevere Castle. Dox Castle to right. From the west.
Highest point
Elevation 7,344 ft (2,238 m) [1]
Prominence 804 ft (245 m) [1]
Parent peak Elaine Castle (7,431 ft) [1]
Isolation 2.88 mi (4.63 km) [1]
Coordinates 36°15′52″N112°16′17″W / 36.2645481°N 112.2714262°W / 36.2645481; -112.2714262 [2]
Geography
USA Arizona relief location map.svg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
King Arthur Castle
Location in Arizona
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King Arthur Castle
King Arthur Castle (the United States)
CountryUnited States
State Arizona
County Coconino
Protected area Grand Canyon National Park
Parent range Kaibab Plateau
Colorado Plateau
Topo map USGS King Arthur Castle
Geology
Rock type limestone, sandstone, mudstone
Climbing
First ascent 1961, Merrel Clubb

King Arthur Castle is a 7,344-foot-elevation (2,238-meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, US. [2] It is situated one-half mile northwest of Guinevere Castle, one mile west of Excalibur, and two miles east-southeast of Holy Grail Temple, within the Shinumo Amphitheater. Topographic relief is significant as it rises over 5,100 feet (1,600 meters) above the Colorado River in 4.5 miles (7.2 km). According to the Köppen climate classification system, King Arthur Castle is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone, with precipitation runoff draining west to the Colorado River via Shinumo Creek. [3]

Contents

History

R.T. Evans, 1957 Richard T. Evans.jpg
R.T. Evans, 1957

Clarence Dutton started the tradition of naming features in the Grand Canyon after mythological deities and heroic figures. [4] King Arthur Castle was named in 1902 by Richard Tranter Evans (1881–1966), a cartographer who was mapping the Grand Canyon in the early 1900s, after the legendary fortress Camelot of the Legend of King Arthur, in keeping with his naming theme for other geographical features in the vicinity, e.g. Guinevere Castle, Elaine Castle , Excalibur, Gawain Abyss, Bedivere Point, Lancelot Point, Holy Grail Temple, and Galahad Point. [5] This feature's name was officially adopted in 1908 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. [2] Evans Butte, located three miles southwest of King Arthur Castle, is named after this same Richard T. Evans, who was a François E. Matthes protégé. [6]

Guinevere Castle (elevation 7,281 ft), connected to King Arthur Castle by a high ridge, is named for Guinevere, the wife and queen of King Arthur. It was also named by Evans, and officially adopted in 1908. [7]

The first ascent of King Arthur Castle was made in 1961 by Merrel Clubb, on his third attempt at it. [8] It took him four days to climb it and was his final climb in the canyon. [9] Harvey Butchart climbed both King Arthur Castle and Guinevere Castle on August 25, 1965, marking the 34th and 35th of the 83 summits he would climb in the Grand Canyon. [10]

Geology

King Arthur Castle centered, Guinevere to right, Dox Castle to left. circa 1901 Dox, King Arthur, Guinevere.jpg
King Arthur Castle centered, Guinevere to right, Dox Castle to left. circa 1901

The summit is composed of Permian Kaibab Limestone and cream-colored Permian Coconino Sandstone. This sandstone, which is the third-youngest stratum in the Grand Canyon, was deposited 265 million years ago as sand dunes. Below the Coconino Sandstone is reddish slope-forming, Permian Hermit Formation, which in turn overlays the Pennsylvanian-Permian Supai Group. Further down are strata of the cliff-forming Mississippian Redwall Limestone, Cambrian Tonto Group, and finally Proterozoic Unkar Group at creek level. [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

Excalibur is a formation on the north rim of the Grand Canyon in Coconino County, Arizona. It was named by cartographer and geologist François E. Matthes in 1908 for Excalibur, the legendary sword of King Arthur which was given to him by the Lady of the Lake. Other features in the area include the Holy Grail Temple, King Arthur Castle, Guinevere Castle, Elaine Castle, and Galahad Point whose names refer to the Arthurian legend. The name probably refers to a spire near the summit of the promontory which might resemble the handle of Excalibur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wotans Throne</span> Landform in the Grand Canyon, Arizona

Wotans Throne is a 7,721-foot-elevation (2,353-meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County, Arizona, US. It is situated one mile immediately southwest of the Cape Royal overlook on the canyon's North Rim, 1.7 miles west-southwest of Freya Castle, two miles west-northwest of Vishnu Temple, and five miles east of Zoroaster Temple. It rises 5,200 feet above the Colorado River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tower of Set</span> Landform in the Grand Canyon, Arizona

Tower of Set is a 6,012-foot-elevation (1,832-meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of Arizona, US. This butte is situated four miles north of Hopi Point overlook on the canyon's South Rim, two miles southeast of Tower of Ra, and three miles south-southwest of Shiva Temple, where it towers 3,600 feet above the Colorado River. Tower of Set was originally named Temple of Sett in 1879 by Thomas Moran, for the Egyptian deity of war, Set, because a niche worn into its wall evoked temples in the valley of the Nile. Another source states it was named by George Wharton James, in keeping with Clarence Dutton's tradition of naming geographical features in the Grand Canyon after mythological deities. This mountain's name was officially adopted in 1906 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. In 1919, Harriet Williams Russell Strong proposed connecting Hopi Point and Tower of Set across the river via an aerial tramway, an idea that never came to fruition. The first ascent was made in November 1977 by Bruce Grubbs and Jim Haggart. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Tower of Set is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angels Gate</span> Landform in the Grand Canyon, Arizona

Angels Gate is a 6,761-foot (2,061 m)-elevation summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of Arizona, United States. It is situated seven miles (11 km) due north of the Grandview Point overlook on the canyon's South Rim, three miles (4.8 km) west of Vishnu Temple, and three point five miles (5.6 km) southeast of Zoroaster Temple. Topographic relief is significant as it rises over 4,200 feet (1,300 m) above the Colorado River in three miles. Angels Gate is the place in Paiute mythology where the gods would return to Earth by descending from the shadow world above.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dox Castle</span> Landform in the Grand Canyon, Arizona

Dox Castle is a 4,780-foot-elevation (1,460-meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, US. It is situated four miles north-northeast of Havasupai Point, two miles northwest of Evans Butte, and 2.5 miles southwest of Holy Grail Temple, where it towers 2,500 feet above the Colorado River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy Grail Temple</span> Landform in the Grand Canyon, Arizona

Holy Grail Temple is a 6,711-foot-elevation (2,046-meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, US. It is situated seven miles north-northeast of Havasupai Point, and two miles west-northwest of King Arthur Castle, within the Shinumo Amphitheater. Topographic relief is significant as it rises over 4,500 feet above the Colorado River in three miles. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Holy Grail Temple is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone, with precipitation runoff draining south to Shinumo Creek, which flows west to the Colorado River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mount Huethawali</span> Landform in the Grand Canyon, Arizona

Mount Huethawali is a 6,281-foot-elevation (1,914-meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, US. It is situated 3.5 miles due east of Explorers Monument, 1.5 mile west of Grand Scenic Divide, and immediately southwest of Huxley Terrace. Surrounded by Garnet, Evolution, and Bass Canyons, Huethawali rises over 800 feet above Darwin Plateau, and over 4,000 feet higher than the nearby Colorado River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chuar Butte</span> Landform in the Grand Canyon, Arizona

Chuar Butte is a prominent 6,500-foot-elevation (2,000-meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, US. It is situated 1.5 miles northwest of Cape Solitude on the canyon's East Rim, three miles southeast of Gunther Castle, and immediately west of the confluence of the Colorado River and Little Colorado River. This position also places it where Marble Canyon ends, and the Grand Canyon begins. Topographic relief is significant as it rises nearly 3,800 feet above the river in less than one mile. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Chuar Butte is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gunther Castle</span> Landform in the Grand Canyon, Arizona

Gunther Castle is a 7,199-foot-elevation (2,194-meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, US. It is situated three miles northwest of Chuar Butte, between Kwagunt Valley to the north, and Chuar Valley to the south. Topographic relief is significant as it rises nearly 4,500 feet above the Colorado River in three miles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steamboat Mountain (Coconino County, Arizona)</span> Landform in the Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States

Steamboat Mountain is a 7,410-foot-elevation (2,260-meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, US. It is situated four miles northwest of Holy Grail Temple, and 2.5 miles west-southwest of Timp Point on the North Rim. George Wharton James described it as a "majestic butte", nearly encircled by Galloway and Saddle Canyons. Topographic relief is significant as it rises over 5,400 feet above the Colorado River in three miles. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Steamboat Mountain is located in a Cold semi-arid climate zone, with precipitation runoff draining west to the Colorado River via Tapeats Creek and Stone Creek. This feature's name was officially adopted in 1932 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freya Castle</span> Landform in the Grand Canyon, Arizona

Freya Castle is a 7,288-foot-elevation (2,221-meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, US. It is situated one mile southeast of the Cape Royal overlook on the canyon's North Rim, 1.5 mile north of Vishnu Temple, and 1.7 mile northeast of Wotans Throne. Topographic relief is significant as it rises 3,400 feet above the Unkar Valley in one mile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pollux Temple</span> Landform in the Grand Canyon, Arizona

Pollux Temple is a 6,251-foot-elevation (1,905-meter) summit in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, US. It is situated ten miles northwest of Grand Canyon Village, and less than one mile northeast of Jicarilla Point. Castor Temple is one mile northwest, and Diana Temple is one mile southeast. Topographic relief is significant as Pollux Temple rises nearly 4,000 feet above the Colorado River in less than two miles. Pollux Temple is named for Pollux, the divine son of Zeus according to Greek mythology. Clarence Dutton began the practice of naming geographical features in the Grand Canyon after mythological deities. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Pollux Temple is located in a Cold semi-arid climate zone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butchart Butte</span> Landform in the Grand Canyon, Arizona

Butchart Butte is a 7,602-foot (2,317 m)-elevation summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, United States. It is situated on the North Rim, midway between Gunther Castle and Siegfried Pyre, and between the Chuar and Kwagunt Valleys. Topographic relief is significant as it rises 4,900 feet (1,500 m) above the Colorado River in five miles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sinking Ship (Grand Canyon)</span> Landform in the Grand Canyon, Arizona

Sinking Ship is a 7,344-foot (2,238 m) elevation summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, United States. This butte is situated 1.7 miles (2.7 km) southeast of the Grandview Point overlook on the canyon's South Rim, and 1.25 miles (2.01 km) southwest of Coronado Butte. Topographic relief is significant as it rises 4,800 feet (1,500 m) above the Colorado River in 4 miles (6.4 km). According to the Köppen climate classification system, Sinking Ship is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evans Butte (Grand Canyon)</span> Landform in the Grand Canyon, Arizona

Evans Butte is a 6,379-foot-elevation (1,944-meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, US. It is situated at the north end of Sagittarius Ridge, three miles south-southwest of King Arthur Castle, and two miles southeast of Dox Castle. Topographic relief is significant as it rises over 4,100 feet above the Colorado River in 2.5 miles (4.0 km), and the north aspect rises 2,700 feet above Flint Creek in one mile. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Evans Butte is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone, with precipitation runoff draining west to the Colorado River via Shinumo Creek, Hotauta Canyon, and Monadnock Amphitheater. The butte is composed of Pennsylvanian-Permian Supai Group overlaying the cliff-forming Mississippian Redwall Limestone, and Cambrian Tonto Group. Evans Butte was climbed solo by Harvey Butchart on October 11, 1976, thereby making it the 76th of the 83 summits which he climbed in the Grand Canyon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masonic Temple (Grand Canyon)</span> Landform in the Grand Canyon, Arizona

Masonic Temple is a 6,242-foot-elevation (1,903-meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, US. Set below Dutton Point on the Powell Plateau, and overlooking the Shinumo Amphitheater, it is situated three miles west of Holy Grail Temple, 2.7 miles northwest of Dox Castle, and 1.6 miles north-northeast of Fan Island. Topographic relief is significant as it rises 4,000 feet above the Colorado River in four miles (6.4 km). According to the Köppen climate classification system, Masonic Temple is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone, with precipitation runoff draining south to the Colorado River via Hakatai Canyon from the west aspect, Burro Canyon from the south aspect, and Muav Canyon from the east aspect. This butte is an erosional remnant composed of strata of the Pennsylvanian-Permian Supai Group overlaying the conspicuous cliffs of Mississippian Redwall Limestone, in turn overlaying the Cambrian Tonto Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guinevere Castle</span> Landform in the Grand Canyon, Arizona

Guinevere Castle is a 7,281-foot-elevation (2,219 meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, US. It is situated one-half mile southeast of King Arthur Castle, one mile west of Excalibur, and 2.5 miles northeast of Evans Butte, within the Shinumo Amphitheater. Topographic relief is significant as it rises 5,000 feet above the Colorado River in 4.5 miles, and 2,600 feet above Gawain Abyss in one mile. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Guinevere Castle is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone.

Elaine Castle is a 7,431-foot-elevation (2,265 meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, US. It is situated three miles north-northwest of King Arthur Castle near the head of Shinumo Creek, and immediately southwest of Lancelot Point. Topographic relief is significant as it rises 2,800 feet above Merlin Abyss in one mile. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Elaine Castle is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kibbey Butte</span> Landform in the Grand Canyon, Arizona

Kibbey Butte is a 7,801-foot-elevation (2,378-meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon, in Coconino County of northern Arizona, US. It is situated two miles south of the Point Imperial viewpoint on the canyon's North Rim, where it towers over 3,000 feet above Nankoweap Canyon. Its nearest higher neighbor is Brady Peak one mile to the southeast, Hancock Butte is one mile to the north-northeast, and Alsap Butte is two miles to the east. The summit of this butte is composed of dark reddish Permian Hermit Shale overlaying the Pennsylvanian-Permian Supai Group, in turn overlaying the cliff-forming Mississippian Redwall Limestone. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Kibbey Butte is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone. Precipitation runoff from this feature drains east into the Colorado River via Nankoweap Creek. Cross-country access to Kibbey Butte starts at the parking area for Greenland Lake. The first ascent of the summit was made by Harvey Butchart and Allyn Cureton on May 31, 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colter Butte</span> Landform in the Grand Canyon, Arizona

Colter Butte is a 7,254-foot-elevation (2,211-meter) summit located in the Grand Canyon in Coconino County of northern Arizona, US. It is situated four miles southeast of Point Imperial, where it towers 3,600 feet above Nankoweap Canyon. Its neighbors include Brady Peak, 2.5 miles to the west-northwest, Alsap Butte two miles to the northwest, and Swilling Butte one-half mile to the east. Colter Butte is named after James G. H. Colter (1844–1922), born in Nova Scotia, Canada, he came to the Arizona Territory in 1872 as a pioneer, farmer, cattleman, Apache and desperado fighter. He was the father of Arizona state senator Fred Colter. This geographical feature's name was officially adopted in 1932 by the United States Board on Geographic Names. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Colter Butte is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone. This butte is composed of Pennsylvanian-Permian Supai Group which overlays cliff-forming Mississippian Redwall Limestone, which in turn overlays slope-forming Cambrian Tonto Group. Precipitation runoff from this feature drains east to the Colorado River via Nankoweap Creek on the north side and Kwagunt Creek from the south slope.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "King Arthur Castle – 7,344' AZ". Lists of John. Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  2. 1 2 3 "King Arthur Castle". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  3. Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11 (5): 1633. Bibcode:2007HESS...11.1633P. doi: 10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007 . ISSN   1027-5606.
  4. Randy Moore and Kara Felicia Witt, The Grand Canyon: An Encyclopedia of Geography, History, and Culture, 2018, ABC-CLIO Publisher, page 151.
  5. Gregory McNamee, Grand Canyon Place Names, 1997, Mountaineers Publisher, ISBN   9780898865332, pages 50, 71.
  6. Gregory McNamee, Grand Canyon Place Names, 1997, Mountaineers Publisher, ISBN   9780898865332, page 53.
  7. "Guinevere Castle". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  8. Elias Butler (2007). Grand Obsession: Harvey Butchart and the Exploration of Grand Canyon. Puma Press. p. 222. ISBN   9780970097354.
  9. "Grand Canyon Photos by Merrill Clubb – 1951".
  10. Harvey Butchart’s Hiking Log – Detailed Hiking Log (January 22, 1965 – September 25, 1965)
  11. N.H. Darton, Story of the Grand Canyon of Arizona, 1917.