Bridger Jack Butte

The Bridger Jack Butte is a sandstone summit located in Bears Ears National Monument, in San Juan County of Utah, United States. This butte, which is set at the northern tip of namesake Bridger Jack Mesa, and above the confluence of Indian and Lavender Creeks, rises to an elevation of 5,890 feet (1,795 meters), and towers over 700 feet (213 meters) above the surrounding terrain and floor of Lavender Canyon to its west.[3] This landmark is situated four miles southeast of 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.[4]

Bridger Jack Butte
Bridger Jack Butte, northeast aspect
Highest point
Elevation5,890 ft (1,800 m) [1]
Prominence280 ft (85 m) [2]
Parent peakCotton Benchmark (6,747 ft)[2]
Isolation1.62 mi (2.61 km) [2]
Coordinates38°05′24″N 109°35′58″W [2]
Geography
Bridger Jack Butte
Location in Utah
Bridger Jack Butte
Bridger Jack Butte (the United States)
LocationBears Ears National Monument
San Juan County, Utah, US
Parent rangeColorado Plateau
Topo mapUSGS Harts Point South
Geology
Age of rockLate Triassic
Type of rockWingate Sandstone
Climbing
First ascent1983
Easiest routeWild Flower class 5.10+ climbing[2]

Geology

Bridger Jack Butte is 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.[5] The next layer below this is Moenkopi Formation.[6] Precipitation runoff drains into nearby Indian Creek, which is part of the Colorado River drainage basin.

Climbing

Bridger Jack Butte is set in the popular Indian Creek climbing area. The first ascent of Bridger Jack Butte was made June 12, 1983, by Ed Webster, Leonard Coyne, and Ellen Figi, via Wild Flower.[7] The "Bridger Jacks" are towers on the connecting ridge between the mesa and the butte. They have names such as "King of Pain", "Hummingbird Spire", "Sunflower Tower", "Easter Island", and "Thumbelina."[2]

Bridger Jacks climbing routes:

  • Wild Flower class 5.10a (3 pitches)[8]
  • Sparkling Touch - class 5.11
  • The Kokanee Corner - class 5.13+
  • Hydrophobic coyote - class 5.10-
  • Rites of Passage - class 5.11+

Climate

Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Bridger Jack Butte. According to the Köppen climate classification system, it is 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.[9] This desert climate receives less than 10 inches (250 millimeters) of annual rainfall, and snowfall is generally light during the winter.

  • Bridger Jacks and Butte, from east
  • Bridger Jacks and Butte, from east
  • Northwest aspect
  • Bridger Jack Butte, north aspect
  • Bridger Jack Mesa and Butte (right)
  • Bridger Jack Butte (left) with Sixshooter Peaks (right)

See also

References
  1. "Bridger Jack Butte, Utah". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  2. ""Bridger Jack Butte" - 6,100' UT". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  3. "Bridger Jack Mesa". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
  4. John W. Van Cott, Utah Place Names: A Comprehensive Guide to the Origins of Geographic Names, University of Utah Press, 1990, page 49.
  5. 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. "First Ascent Timeline". DesertTowersBook.
  8. "Rock Climbing in The Bridger Jacks, Indian Creek". mountainproject.com. Retrieved 2020-11-09.
  9. Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN 1027-5606.
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