Mars Hotel (Arches National Park)

Last updated
Mars Hotel
2021 Arches National Park.jpg
South aspect
Highest point
Elevation 4,635 ft (1,413 m) [1]
Prominence 215 ft (66 m) [1]
Isolation 0.3 mi (0.48 km) [1]
Coordinates 38°37′43″N109°35′29″W / 38.62865°N 109.59129°W / 38.62865; -109.59129 [2]
Geography
USA Utah relief location map.svg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Mars Hotel
Location in Utah
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Mars Hotel
Mars Hotel (the United States)
CountryUnited States
State Utah
County Grand
Protected area Arches National Park
Parent range Colorado Plateau
Topo map USGS The Windows Section
Geology
Rock age Jurassic
Rock type Entrada Sandstone
Climbing
First ascent 1989

Mars Hotel is a 4,635-foot-elevation (1,413-meter) summit in Grand County, Utah, United States.

Contents

Description

Mars Hotel is located within Arches National Park, [3] and like many of the rock formations in the park, it is composed of Entrada Sandstone, specifically the Slick Rock Member overlaying the Dewey Bridge Member. [4] It is among the first features that the main park road passes by. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises approximately 250 feet (76 meters) above the surrounding terrain in 500 feet (152 meters) laterally. Precipitation runoff from Mars Hotel drains to the nearby Colorado River via Courthouse Wash. The first ascent of the summit was made in March 1989 by Kyle Copeland and Eric Johnson via If I Only Had A Brain rock-climbing route (class 5.10). [5] Mike Baker and Leslie Henderson climbed a new route in 1992 on the east face, Lost in Space (class 5.10+). [2] [6]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Mars Hotel is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone with cold winters and hot summers. [7] Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to experience Arches National Park, when highs average 60 to 80 °F (15 to 25 °C) and lows average 30 to 50 °F (0 to 10 °C). Summer temperatures often exceed 100 °F (40 °C). Winters are cold, with highs averaging 30 to 50 °F (0 to 10 °C), and lows averaging 0 to 20 °F (−20 to −5 °C). As part of a high desert region, it can experience wide daily temperature fluctuations. The park receives an average of less than 10 inches (25 cm) of rain annually.

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Mars Hotel - 4,635' UT". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  2. 1 2 Mars Hotel Rock Climbing, Mountainproject.com, Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  3. Desert Rock: Rock Climbs in the National Parks, Eric Bjornstad, Chockstone Press, 1996, ISBN   9780934641920.
  4. Stanley William Lohman, The Geologic Story of Arches National Park, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1975, p. 63.
  5. "First Ascent Timeline", deserttowersbook.com, Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  6. North America, United States, Utah, Arches National Park, Eric Bjørnstad, 1994, American Alpine Journal, americanalpineclub.org
  7. Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L. & McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrology and Earth System Sciences. 11 (5): 1633–1644. Bibcode:2007HESS...11.1633P. doi: 10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007 . ISSN   1027-5606. S2CID   9654551.