Sixshooter Peaks

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Sixshooter Peaks
Day Time in Indian Creek.jpg
Six-shooter Peaks, east aspect
Highest point
Elevation 6,379 ft (1,944 m) [1]
Prominence 679 ft (207 m) [1]
Isolation 4.37 mi (7.03 km) [1]
Coordinates 38°08′15″N109°40′05″W / 38.1375419°N 109.6681427°W / 38.1375419; -109.6681427 [2]
Geography
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Sixshooter Peaks
Location in Utah
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Sixshooter Peaks
Sixshooter Peaks (the United States)
CountryUnited States
State Utah
County San Juan
Protected area Bears Ears National Monument
Parent range Colorado Plateau
Topo map USGS North Six-shooter Peak and South Six-shooter Peak
Geology
Age of rock Late Triassic
Type of rock Wingate Sandstone
Climbing
First ascent 1962
Easiest route class 5.7 climbing

The Sixshooter Peaks are two iconic sandstone summits located in Bears Ears National Monument in San Juan County, Utah, United States. [2] [3] The larger and higher North Sixshooter Peak rises to an elevation of 6,379 feet (1,944 meters), whereas South Sixshooter Peak rises to 6,154 feet, with approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) separation between the two. [4] These buttes tower nearly 1,400 feet (430 meters) above the surrounding terrain, and are historic landmarks visible from State Route 211 between Newspaper Rock and the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. They are situated 1.5 mile outside the boundary of the park, and four miles northwest of Bridger Jack Butte. Variant names for the peaks include "North Six-Shooter Peak", "South Six-shooter Peak", "Six Shooter Peaks", and "Six-shooter Peak". [2] They are so named because of their resemblance to a pair of revolvers pointing skyward. [5]

Contents

Geology

Sixshooter Peaks are composed of hard, fine-grained Wingate Sandstone, which is the remains of wind-borne sand dunes deposited approximately 200 million years ago in the Late Triassic. This Wingate sandstone forms steep cliffs as it overlays softer layers of the Chinle Formation which formed conical mounds beneath the Wingate towers. [5] The layer below this is Moenkopi Formation. [6] In the early 1980s, land surrounding South Sixshooter Peak was considered for the nation's first high-level nuclear waste repository, because thick salt beds 3,000 feet below the surface were potential host rocks for storing radioactive materials. [7] [8] Precipitation runoff drains into nearby Indian Creek, which is part of the Colorado River drainage basin.

Climbing

The first ascent of North Sixshooter Peak was made April 14, 1962, by Maurice Horn, Huntley Ingalls, and Steve Komito via Southwest Chimney. [9] South Sixshooter Peak was first climbed in September 1969 by Billy Roos, Burnham Arndt, and Denver Collins. The popular south peak is a good climb for beginners and has one of the easiest tower routes in the Indian Creek climbing area. [10]

North Sixshooter Peak climbing routes

South Sixshooter Peak climbing routes

Climate

Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit the Sixshooter Peaks. According to the Köppen climate classification system, they are located in a Cold semi-arid climate zone, which is defined by the coldest month having an average mean temperature below 32 °F (0 °C), and at least 50% of the total annual precipitation being received during the spring and summer. This desert climate receives less than 10 inches (250 millimeters) of annual rainfall, and snowfall is generally light during the winter.

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Rectory (Utah)</span>

The Rectory is a 6,565-ft sandstone summit in Grand County of Utah, United States. The Rectory is located at Castle Valley, Utah, near the city of Moab. The Rectory is a thin 200 feet wide, and 1,000 feet long north-to-south butte with 200 ft vertical Wingate Sandstone walls tower standing on a 1,000 foot Moenkopi-Chinle base. Precipitation runoff from The Rectory drains into the nearby Colorado River. The nearest higher peak is Castleton Tower, 0.35 miles (0.56 km) to the south. Priest and Nuns are towers immediately north and part of The Rectory. Further northwest along the connecting ridge is The Convent, with a rock tower called Sister Superior between the two. The first ascent was made May 22, 1962, by Harvey Carter and Cleve McCarty via Empirical Route. Harvey Carter named this geological feature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monster Tower</span>

Monster Tower is a 600-foot (180-meter) tall sandstone tower located in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park, in San Juan County, Utah, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Candlestick Tower</span> Rock formation in Utah, United States

Candlestick Tower is a 450-foot-tall (140 m) sandstone butte located in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park, in San Juan County, Utah. Its descriptive name comes from its resemblance to a candlestick. Candlestick Tower is composed of Wingate Sandstone, which is the remains of wind-borne sand dunes deposited approximately 200 million years ago in the Late Triassic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washer Woman</span> Sandstone arch and tower in Utah, US

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Owl Rock</span> Landform in Navajo County, Arizona

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zeus and Moses</span> Rock formations in Utah, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buttes of the Cross</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chip and Dale Towers</span> Sandstone towers in Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA

Chip and Dale Towers are two 300-foot (91-meter) tall sandstone towers located in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park, in San Juan County, Utah. Dale Tower rises to an elevation of 5,620 feet, whereas the lower Chip Tower is 5,420-feet. Airport Tower is set 2.5 mi (4.0 km) to the southwest, and Dead Horse Point State Park overlook is situated 4.5 mi (7.2 km) to the north-northeast. Chip and Dale Towers are an eroded fin composed of hard, fine-grained Wingate Sandstone, which is the remains of wind-borne sand dunes deposited approximately 200 million years ago in the Late Triassic. This Wingate Sandstone overlays a softer layer of the Chinle Formation. Access to the towers is via the four-wheel drive White Rim Road, and a scramble to reach the base. The top of the towers rise over 1,000 feet above the road in approximately one-half mile. Precipitation runoff from Chip and Dale Towers drains east to the nearby Colorado River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridger Jack Butte</span> Rock formation in Utah, United States

Bridger Jack Butte is a sandstone butte located in Bears Ears National Monument, in San Juan County, Utah, United States. Set at the northern tip of Bridger Jack Mesa and above the confluence of Indian and Lavender Creeks, the summit rises to an elevation of 5,890 feet, and towers over 700 feet above the surrounding terrain and floor of Lavender Canyon to its west. This landmark is situated four miles southeast of the Sixshooter Peaks, and is visible from State Route 211 between Newspaper Rock and the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. "Bridger Jack" was a Paiute medicine man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Window Blind Peak</span> Mountain in Utah, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiki Tower</span>

Tiki Tower is a thin 300-foot (91-meter) tall sandstone pinnacle located in the Airport Tower/Monster Tower/Washer Woman area of the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park, in San Juan County, Utah. It is situated one-half mile northwest of Airport Tower, and is composed of Wingate Sandstone, which is the remains of wind-borne sand dunes deposited approximately 200 million years ago in the Late Triassic. Access to this tower is via the four-wheel-drive White Rim Road. The top of this spire rises 1,100 feet above the road in a little more than one mile. Precipitation runoff from Tiki Tower drains southeast into the nearby Colorado River via Buck and Lathrop Canyons. The first ascent of Tiki Tower was made in November 1991 by Jeff Widen and Mitch Allen, via Brave Little Toaster, with Fred Lifton and Paul Frank working the first pitch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kissing Couple</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pipe Organ (Colorado National Monument)</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sentinel Spire</span>

Sentinel Spire is a 5,500-foot-elevation (1,676-meter) sandstone pillar located in Colorado National Monument, in Mesa County of western Colorado, United States. This 200-foot freestanding tower is situated in Wedding Canyon, one-half mile east of the monument's visitor center, and 9 miles (14 km) west of the community of Grand Junction. It is also immediately south of Window Rock, and north of another climbing destination, Pipe Organ, both of which can be seen from viewpoints along Rim Rock Drive. The first ascent of the summit was made May 3, 1960, by Layton Kor, Harvey Carter, and John Auld via the class 5.10 route, Fast Draw. This was the day before the climbers also made the first ascent of nearby Kissing Couple. The first solo ascent was made by Ron Olevsky in March 1976, and the first free ascent was made by Andy Petefish and John Christenson in 1978. Some climbers refer to Sentinel Spire as Watusi Spear.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand View Spire</span> Sandstone formation in Colorado

Grand View Spire is a 5,821-foot-elevation (1,774-meter) sandstone pillar located in Colorado National Monument, in Mesa County of western Colorado, United States. This 400-foot tower is situated on the west side of Monument Canyon, one mile southeast of the monument's visitor center, and 9 miles (14 km) west of the community of Grand Junction. It is also 0.32 mile immediately south of Independence Monument, and 0.27 mile northwest of another climbing destination, Kissing Couple. Its unofficial name relates to its position at the tip of Grand View Overlook, one of several scenic viewpoints along Rim Rock Drive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Terra Tower</span> Sandstone pilar in Colorado National Monument, United States

Terra Tower is a 5,790-foot-elevation (1,760-meter) sandstone pillar located in Colorado National Monument, in Mesa County of western Colorado, United States. This 350-foot-high tower is situated on the Redlands escarpment, approximately seven miles west of the community of Grand Junction. Topographic relief is significant as it rises 1,000 feet above the Tiara Rado Golf Course in approximately one-half mile. The first ascent of the summit was made in 1979 by Harvey Carter and Tom Merrill via the class 5.11 route, Way Bazaar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Assembly Hall Peak</span> Mountain in Utah, United States

Assembly Hall Peak is a 6,395-foot-elevation (1,949-meter) summit in Emery County, Utah, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outlaw Spire</span>

Outlaw Spire, also known as "Hardscrabble Spire," is a sandstone pillar located within Canyonlands National Park, in San Juan County, Utah, United States. It is situated in the Island in the Sky District of the park at the top of Hardscrabble Hill at the western tip of Bighorn Mesa. This landform is composed of Wingate Sandstone, which is the remains of wind-borne sand dunes deposited approximately 200 million years ago in the Late Triassic. Precipitation runoff from Outlaw Spire drains into the nearby Green River which is 1,000 feet below, and less than one-quarter mile away from the tower in Labyrinth Canyon. Access is via the White Rim Road which skirts beneath this remote spire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Islet in the Sky</span>

Islet in the Sky is a sandstone pillar located within Canyonlands National Park, in San Juan County, Utah, United States. It is situated in the Island in the Sky District of the park, one mile (1.6 km) east of the Island in the Sky paved road that leads to Grand View Point. This spire is composed of Wingate Sandstone, which is the remains of wind-borne sand dunes deposited approximately 200 million years ago in the Late Triassic. Precipitation runoff from Islet in the Sky drains east to the nearby Colorado River via Buck Canyon. Access is via the White Rim Road which traverses between this remote spire and the river.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "North Six-Shooter Peak - 6,379' UT". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2020-11-07.
  2. 1 2 3 "North Sixshooter Peak". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2020-11-07.
  3. "South Sixshooter Peak". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2020-11-07.
  4. "South Six-Shooter Peak, Utah". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2020-11-07.
  5. 1 2 S.W. Lohman, The Geologic Story of Canyonlands National Park, US Government Printing Office, 1974, page 61.
  6. J.H. Stewart, Stratigraphy and Origin of the Chinle Formation and Related Upper Triassic Strata in the Colorado Plateau Region, US Government Printing Office, 1972, page 296.
  7. Sandra N. Eldredge, Canyon Country: A Geologic Guide to Canyonlands Travel Region, 1996.]
  8. Iver Peterson, Utah Towns Debate Nuclear Wastes, New York Times, March 5, 1984.
  9. "First Ascent Timeline". DesertTowersBook.
  10. Stewart M. Green, Rock Climbing Utah, 2012, Morris Book Publishing, page 221.
  11. North Six Shooter Peak Rock Climbing, Mountainproject.com