King-on-his-Throne is a 6,165-foot-elevation (1,879-meter) summit in San Juan County, Utah, United States.[1]
| King-on-his-Throne | |
|---|---|
 North aspect | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 6,165 ft (1,879 m)[1] |
| Prominence | 200 ft (61 m)[2] |
| Parent peak | Brighams Tomb (6,739 ft)[2] |
| Isolation | 0.4 mi (0.64 km)[2] |
| Coordinates | 37°02′24″N 110°04′44″W / 37.0398989°N 110.0790021°W[1] |
| Geography | |
  King-on-his-Throne Location in Utah  King-on-his-Throne King-on-his-Throne (the United States) | |
| Location | Monument Valley San Juan County, Utah, U.S. |
| Parent range | Colorado Plateau[3] |
| Topo map | USGS Monument Pass |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Permian |
| Mountain type | Butte |
| Type of rock | Sandstone |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1967 |
Description
editKing-on-his-Throne 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.[3] Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 565 feet (172 meters) above the surrounding terrain in 0.2 mile (0.32 km). This landform's toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.[1] It is so named because the butte resembles a king sitting on a throne looking south to the valley.[4] The first ascent of the summit was made in 1967 by Fred Beckey, Marlene Dalluge, Joe Brown, and Don Liska.[5]
Geology
editKing-on-his-Throne 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.[6]
Climate
editSpring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit King-on-his-Throne. 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.[7]
Gallery
edit-
West aspect -
West aspect, with dusting of autumn snow -
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, 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) -
Brighams Tomb (left), King-on-his-Throne, Castle Rock (center), Big Indian (right) -
L→R: Brighams Tomb, King-on-his-Throne, Stagecoach, Bear and Rabbit, Castle Rock -
Left to rightː Big Indian, Brighams Tomb, King-on-his-Throne, Castle Rock.
Camera pointed north.
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See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "King-on-his-Throne". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ a b c "King-on-his-Throne - 6,180' UT". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ a b "King-on-his-Throne, Utah". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
- ^ Monument Valley, City of Aztec, aztecnm.com, Retrieved 2024-08-28.
- ^ First Ascent Timeline, deserttowersbook.com, Retrieved 2024-08-28.
- ^ Monument Valley, Arizona, Arizona Geological Survey, Retrieved 2024-08-24.
- ^ Climate Summary for Kayenta, Arizona
External links
edit- Weather: King-on-his-Throne
