Candlestick Tower

Candlestick Tower is a 450-foot (140-meter) tall sandstone butte located in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park, in San Juan County, Utah.[3] Its descriptive name is 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. The nearest higher neighbor is Shaft Benchmark, 2 mi (3.2 km) to the east, Upheaval Dome is set 3 mi (4.8 km) to the north, and the Green River Overlook is situated 2.5 mi (4.0 km) to the east.[1] Access to the tower is via the four-wheel drive White Rim Road. Candlestick is situated north of Soda Springs Basin and south of Holeman Spring Basin, and the top of this geological formation rises 1,400 feet above the White Rim Road in approximately one mile. Precipitation runoff from Candlestick Tower drains into the nearby Green River via these two basins.

Candlestick Tower
Candlestick Tower from the southeast
Highest point
Elevation5,867 ft (1,788 m) [1]
Prominence707 ft (215 m) [1]
Parent peakShaft Benchmark (6,329 ft)[1]
Isolation0.93 mi (1.50 km) [2]
Coordinates38°22′51″N 109°55′54″W [1]
Geography
Candlestick Tower
Location of Candlestick Tower in Utah
Candlestick Tower
Candlestick Tower (the United States)
LocationCanyonlands National Park
San Juan County, Utah, U.S.
Parent rangeColorado Plateau
Topo mapUSGS Upheaval Dome
Geology
Age of rockLate Triassic
Type of rockWingate Sandstone
Climbing
First ascent1974
Easiest routeclass 5.10 Climbing[2]

Climbing

The first ascent of Candlestick was made in March 1974 by Jimmy Dunn, Larry Hamilton, Doug Snively, and John Byrd.[4] The first free ascent of Candlestick Tower was made by Glenn Randall and Kent Lugbill in 1982.[5] The established routes on Candlestick are the class 5.10 Southwest Corner, the East Face (5.10), and Two Worlds Route is an aid climb.[6]

Climate

Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Candlestick Tower. 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 −0 °C (32 °F) 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 millimetres) of annual rainfall, and snowfall is generally light during the winter.

  • East aspect
  • Candlestick Tower (left), Shaft Benchmark and Green River Overlook (right), seen from the east
  • Candlestick Tower from Holeman Spring Basin
  • Candlestick Tower (right), Buttes of the Cross to left in the distance

See also

References
  1. "Candlestick Tower, Utah". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
  2. "Candlestick Tower - 5,867' UT". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
  3. "Candlestick Tower". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2020-08-31.
  4. American Alpine Journal, Vol. 20, 1975, page 132
  5. The American Alpine Journal, 1983, page 165.
  6. Candlestick Tower thecrag.com
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