Ekker Butte

Ekker Butte is a 6,260-foot (1,910-meter) elevation summit located in the northern reach of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, in Wayne County of Utah, United States.[2] It is situated seven miles southeast of Buttes of the Cross, six miles northeast of Elaterite Butte, and less than two miles outside the boundary of Canyonlands National Park, where it towers over 1,400 feet (425 meters) above the surrounding terrain. Distant views of this remote butte can be seen from the Grand View Point and Green River Overlooks at Island in the Sky of Canyonlands National Park. This geological landmark is named for the pioneering Art Ekker family which operated the nearby Robbers Roost Ranch and grazed cattle on land adjacent to the nearby Maze.[3][4] Arthur Benjamin Ekker (1911–1978) took Robert Redford on a tour of nearby Robbers Roost, the hideout of outlaw Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch.[5]

Ekker Butte
Ekker Butte and Green River, from NNE
Highest point
Elevation6,260 ft (1,910 m) [1]
Prominence926 ft (282 m) [1]
Parent peakCleopatras Chair (6,520 ft)[1]
Isolation5.34 mi (8.59 km) [1]
Coordinates38°17′12″N 109°59′05″W [2]
Geography
Ekker Butte
Location in Utah
Ekker Butte
Ekker Butte (the United States)
LocationGlen Canyon National Recreation Area
Wayne County, Utah, US
Parent rangeColorado Plateau
Topo mapUSGS Turks Head
Geology
Age of rockLate Triassic
Type of rockWingate Sandstone
Climbing
First ascent1987
Easiest routeclass 5.x climbing[1]

Geology

Ekker 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, capped by Kayenta Formation, forms steep cliffs as it overlays softer layers of the Chinle Formation, which is exposed down to a prominent ledge formed by the Moss Back Member. Slopes below this ledge are Moenkopi Formation, down to the White Rim.[6] Precipitation runoff drains into the nearby Green River, which in turn is part of the Colorado River drainage basin.

Climbing

The first ascent of Ekker Butte was made in January 1987, by Tom Thomas and Dan Mathews via the class 5.11 South Tower.[7][8]

Climate

Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Ekker 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. This desert climate receives less than 10 inches (250 millimeters) of annual rainfall, and snowfall is generally light during the winter.

See also
  • Ekker Butte (right) from Green River Overlook in Canyonlands National Park
    (Elaterite Butte to left)
  • Ekker Butte (upper left), from Green River Overlook

References
  1. "Ekker Butte - 6,260' UT". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
  2. "Ekker Butte". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2020-11-02.
  3. Canyonlands Miners & Ranchers, National Park Service
  4. https://nomadicniko.com/2015/09/28/grand-view-point-trail/
  5. https://www.canyoncountryzephyr.com/2020/02/02/take-it-or-leave-it-robert-redford-art-ekker-and-our-complicated-love-of-cowboys-by-jim-stiles/
  6. S.W. Lohman, The Geologic Story of Canyonlands National Park, US Government Printing Office, 1974.
  7. Eric Bjørnstad, American Alpine Journal, 1988.
  8. https://www.deserttowersbook.com/first-ascent-timeline
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