Stagecoach (San Juan County, Utah)

Stagecoach
North aspect
Highest point
Elevation	6,302 ft (1,921 m) [1] [2]
Prominence	322 ft (98 m) [1]
Parent peak	Castle Rock (6,340 ft) [1]
Isolation	0.3 mi (0.48 km) [1]
Coordinates	37°02′11″N110°04′22″W / 37.0362953°N 110.0726785°W / 37.0362953; -110.0726785 [3]
Geography
Stagecoach Location in Utah Show map of Utah Stagecoach Stagecoach (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location	Monument Valley San Juan County, Utah, U.S.
Parent range	Colorado Plateau [2]
Topo map	USGS Monument Pass
Geology
Rock age	Permian
Mountain type	Butte
Rock type	Sandstone
Climbing
First ascent	1995

Stagecoach is a 6,302-foot-elevation (1,921-meter) summit in San Juan County, Utah, United States.

Description

Stagecoach is situated 4.4 miles (7.1 km) north-northeast of the Monument Valley Tribal Park Visitor Center, on Navajo Nation land. It is an iconic landform of Monument Valley and can be seen from Highway 163. Precipitation runoff from this landform's slopes drains into the San Juan River drainage basin. ^[2] Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 900 feet (274 meters) above the surrounding terrain in 0.35 mile (0.56 km). This landform's toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names. ^[3] It is so named because the butte resembles a stagecoach. ^[4] The first ascent of the summit was made in 1995 by John Middendorf, Carl Tobin, and Dan Langmade. ^{[5] [6]}

Geology

Stagecoach is composed of two principal strata. The bottom layer is slope-forming Organ Rock Shale and the upper stratum is cliff-forming De Chelly Sandstone. The rock was deposited during the Permian period. The buttes and mesas of Monument Valley are the result of the Organ Rock Shale being more easily eroded than the overlaying sandstone. ^[7]

Climate

Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit the Stagecoach. According to the Köppen climate classification system, it is located in a semi-arid climate zone with cold winters and hot summers. Summers average 54 days above 90 °F (32 °C) annually, and highs rarely exceed 100 °F (38 °C). Summer nights are comfortably cool, and temperatures drop quickly after sunset. Winters are cold, but daytime highs are usually above freezing. Winter temperatures below 0 °F (−18 °C) are uncommon, though possible. This desert climate receives less than 10 inches (250 millimeters) of annual rainfall, and snowfall is generally light during the winter. ^[8]

Gallery

• 
  Stagecoach (left), Bear and Rabbit, Castle Rock
• 
  Northeast aspect of Castle Rock (centered) and Stagecoach (right).
• 
  L→R: King-on-his-Throne, Stagecoach, Bear and Rabbit, Castle Rock
• 
  L→R: Brighams Tomb, King-on-his-Throne, Stagecoach, Bear and Rabbit, Castle Rock
• 
  Castle Rock left, Stagecoach, King-on-his-Throne (center) Brighams Tomb to right.
  View looking southwest from Highway 163.
  Forrest Gump was here. (culmination of cross-country running scene)
• 
  Stagecoach centered
• 
  L→R: Brighams Tomb, King-on-his-Throne, Stagecoach, Bear and Rabbit, Castle Rock
• 
  Northeast aspect of Castle Rock (left), Bear and Rabbit, and Stagecoach

See also

• List of appearances of Monument Valley in the media

References

1. "Stagecoach - 6,302' UT". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
2. "Stagecoach, Utah". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
3. "Stagecoach". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2024-08-30.
4. Monument Valley, City of Aztec, aztecnm.com, Retrieved 2024-08-28.
5. First Ascent Timeline, deserttowersbook.com, Retrieved 2024-08-28.
6. North America, United States, Utah, Monument Valley, The Stagecoach, Bandito Route, John Middendorf, americanalpineclub.org, 1996.
7. Monument Valley, Arizona, Arizona Geological Survey, Retrieved 2024-08-24.
8. Climate Summary for Kayenta, Arizona

External links

• Weather: Stagecoach