Airport Tower is a 700-foot (210-meter) tall sandstone butte located in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park, in San Juan County, Utah.[3] It is situated 1.64 mile east of Washer Woman, which is a towering arch similar in height. Each are 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 Monster Tower, 1.6 mi (2.6 km) to the west, Tiki Tower is one-half mile northwest, and Mesa Arch is situated 3.2 mi (5.1 km) to the west.[1] A short hike to Mesa Arch provides the easiest view of Airport Tower. Access to this tower is via the four-wheel drive White Rim Road, which is another option to see Airport Tower. The top of this geological formation rises 1,400 feet above the road in less than one mile. Precipitation runoff from Airport Tower drains southeast into the nearby Colorado River via Buck and Lathrop Canyons. This geographical feature's name was officially adopted in 1986 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. It was so named because the rock formation resembles the appearance of an airport control tower.[3]
The first ascent of Airport Tower was made in July 1994 by Galen Howell, Sonja Paspal, and Steve Swanke, via Wind Shear (5.11, A1, 5 pitches).[4][5]
The second ascent was made in September 1995 by Mike Baker and Leslie Henderson via Sky Pilot (IV 5.9 A3).[6]
The first free ascent of Airport Tower was made in 1998 by Bret Ruckman and Marco Corncchione via Wind Shear (class 5.12a/b), calling it a five-star route.[7]
Climateedit
Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Airport 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 millimeters) of annual rainfall, and snowfall is generally light during the winter.
Galleryedit
Washer Woman and Airport Tower seen from the west at Mesa Arch
Northeast aspect
East aspect from White Rim Road
From the southwest
From the southwest
Washer Woman, Monster Tower, and Airport Tower seen from west
Airport Tower (right) and Island in the Sky
Airport Tower from the east (Monster Tower behind left)
^"AAC Publications - North America, United States, Utah, Canyonlands National Park, Island in the Sky District".
^"AAC Publications - North America, United States, Utah, Canyonlands National Park, Airport Tower, Sky Pilot".
^North Amwerica, United States, Utah, Canyonlands National Park, Tristin's Tower, Airport Tower, Ascents americanalpineclub.org
External linksedit
Canyonlands National Park National Park Service
Airport Tower weather forecast: National Weather Service
Airport Tower from White Rim Road: YouTube
January 01, 1970
airport, tower, canyonlands, airport, tower, foot, meter, tall, sandstone, butte, located, island, district, canyonlands, national, park, juan, county, utah, situated, mile, east, washer, woman, which, towering, arch, similar, height, each, composed, wingate, . Airport Tower is a 700 foot 210 meter tall sandstone butte located in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park in San Juan County Utah 3 It is situated 1 64 mile east of Washer Woman which is a towering arch similar in height Each are 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 Monster Tower 1 6 mi 2 6 km to the west Tiki Tower is one half mile northwest and Mesa Arch is situated 3 2 mi 5 1 km to the west 1 A short hike to Mesa Arch provides the easiest view of Airport Tower Access to this tower is via the four wheel drive White Rim Road which is another option to see Airport Tower The top of this geological formation rises 1 400 feet above the road in less than one mile Precipitation runoff from Airport Tower drains southeast into the nearby Colorado River via Buck and Lathrop Canyons This geographical feature s name was officially adopted in 1986 by the U S Board on Geographic Names It was so named because the rock formation resembles the appearance of an airport control tower 3 Airport TowerSouthwest aspect from White Rim RoadHighest pointElevation5 812 ft 1 771 m 1 Prominence732 ft 223 m 1 Parent peakMonster Tower 5 880 ft 1 Isolation1 61 mi 2 59 km 2 Coordinates38 23 35 N 109 48 29 W 38 39317 N 109 808114 W 38 39317 109 808114 1 GeographyAirport TowerLocation of Airport Tower in UtahShow map of UtahAirport TowerAirport Tower the United States Show map of the United StatesCountryUnited StatesStateUtahCountySan JuanProtected areaCanyonlands National ParkParent rangeColorado PlateauTopo mapUSGS Musselman ArchGeologyAge of rockLate TriassicType of rockWingate SandstoneClimbingEasiest routeclass 5 10 A3 Climbing 2 Contents 1 Climbing 2 Climate 3 Gallery 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksClimbing editThe first ascent of Airport Tower was made in July 1994 by Galen Howell Sonja Paspal and Steve Swanke via Wind Shear 5 11 A1 5 pitches 4 5 The second ascent was made in September 1995 by Mike Baker and Leslie Henderson via Sky Pilot IV 5 9 A3 6 The first free ascent of Airport Tower was made in 1998 by Bret Ruckman and Marco Corncchione via Wind Shear class 5 12a b calling it a five star route 7 Climate editSpring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Airport Tower According to the Koppen 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 millimeters of annual rainfall and snowfall is generally light during the winter Gallery edit nbsp Washer Woman and Airport Tower seen from the west at Mesa Arch nbsp Northeast aspect nbsp East aspect from White Rim Road nbsp From the southwest nbsp From the southwest nbsp Washer Woman Monster Tower and Airport Tower seen from west nbsp Airport Tower right and Island in the Sky nbsp Airport Tower from the east Monster Tower behind left nbsp From Airport Tower Campground nbsp Southeast aspect and star trails nbsp nbsp North aspect Tiki Tower to right See also editColorado Plateau Geology of the Canyonlands areaReferences edit a b c d e Airport Tower Utah Peakbagger com Retrieved 2020 10 03 a b Airport Tower 5 812 UT listsofjohn com Retrieved 2020 10 03 a b Airport Tower Geographic Names Information System United States Geological Survey United States Department of the Interior Retrieved 2020 10 03 First Ascent Timeline AAC Publications North America United States Utah Canyonlands National Park Island in the Sky District AAC Publications North America United States Utah Canyonlands National Park Airport Tower Sky Pilot North Amwerica United States Utah Canyonlands National Park Tristin s Tower Airport Tower Ascents americanalpineclub orgExternal links editCanyonlands National Park National Park Service Airport Tower weather forecast National Weather Service Airport Tower from White Rim Road YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Airport Tower Canyonlands amp oldid 1222643128, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
