Checkerboard Mesa is an iconic 6,520+ ft (1,990+ m) elevation Navajo Sandstone summit located in Zion National Park, in Kane County of southwest Utah, United States.[3] Checkerboard Mesa is situated immediately southwest of the park's east entrance, towering 900 feet (270 meters) above the Zion – Mount Carmel Highway. Its nearest neighbor is Crazy Quilt Mesa, one-half mile immediately west, and separated by Checkerboard Mesa Canyon. This canyon holds pools of rainwater which provide a vital source of water for resident bighorn sheep.[4] This peak was originally named Checkerboard Mountain by the park's third superintendent, Preston P. Patraw.[5] The landform's toponym was officially adopted in 1935 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.[3] The descriptive name stems from the cliff's distinctive multitudinous check lines in cross-bedded white sandstone which give the impression of a checkerboard. The horizontal lines are caused by cross-bedding, a remnant of ancient sand dunes. The vertical and sub-vertical lines formed by the contraction and expansion of the sandstone caused by temperature changes, freezing and thawing cycles, in combination with wetting and drying. Precipitation runoff from this mountain drains into tributaries of the Virgin River.
Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Checkerboard Mesa. 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.[6]
^"Zion National Park, Utah, USA - Monthly weather forecast and Climate data". Weather Atlas. from the original on January 27, 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
External linksedit
Zion National Park National Park Service
Checkerboard Mesa rock climbing: mountainproject.com
Weather forecast: National Weather Service
Media related to Checkerboard Mesa: Wikimedia Commons (category)
January 01, 1970
checkerboard, mesa, iconic, elevation, navajo, sandstone, summit, located, zion, national, park, kane, county, southwest, utah, united, states, situated, immediately, southwest, park, east, entrance, towering, feet, meters, above, zion, mount, carmel, highway,. Checkerboard Mesa is an iconic 6 520 ft 1 990 m elevation Navajo Sandstone summit located in Zion National Park in Kane County of southwest Utah United States 3 Checkerboard Mesa is situated immediately southwest of the park s east entrance towering 900 feet 270 meters above the Zion Mount Carmel Highway Its nearest neighbor is Crazy Quilt Mesa one half mile immediately west and separated by Checkerboard Mesa Canyon This canyon holds pools of rainwater which provide a vital source of water for resident bighorn sheep 4 This peak was originally named Checkerboard Mountain by the park s third superintendent Preston P Patraw 5 The landform s toponym was officially adopted in 1935 by the U S Board on Geographic Names 3 The descriptive name stems from the cliff s distinctive multitudinous check lines in cross bedded white sandstone which give the impression of a checkerboard The horizontal lines are caused by cross bedding a remnant of ancient sand dunes The vertical and sub vertical lines formed by the contraction and expansion of the sandstone caused by temperature changes freezing and thawing cycles in combination with wetting and drying Precipitation runoff from this mountain drains into tributaries of the Virgin River Checkerboard MesaNorth aspect viewed from Highway 9Highest pointElevation6 520 ft 1 990 m 1 Prominence520 ft 160 m 1 Parent peakCrazy Quilt Mesa 6 760 ft 2 Isolation0 55 mi 0 89 km 2 Coordinates37 12 56 N 112 52 49 W 37 215553 N 112 880181 W 37 215553 112 880181 1 GeographyCheckerboard MesaLocation in UtahShow map of UtahCheckerboard MesaCheckerboard Mesa the United States Show map of the United StatesCountryUnited StatesStateUtahCountyKaneProtected areaZion National ParkParent rangeColorado PlateauTopo mapUSGS Springdale EastGeologyAge of rockJurassicType of rockNavajo sandstoneClimbingEasiest routeclass 2 scrambling 2 Contents 1 Climate 2 See also 3 Gallery 4 References 5 External linksClimate editSpring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Checkerboard Mesa 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 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 6 See also edit nbsp Mountains portal Geology of the Zion and Kolob canyons area Colorado PlateauGallery edit nbsp Checkerboard Mesa detail nbsp West aspect viewed from Highway 9 nbsp nbsp Cross bedded Navajo Sandstone with subvertical expansion contraction cracks nbsp West aspect viewed from Highway 9 nbsp Zion National Park s East Entrance Checkerboard Mesa to left nbsp Checkerboard Mesa left and Crazy Quilt Mesa right nbsp The south end of Checkerboard Mesa Parunuweap Canyon side References edit a b c Checkerboard Mesa Utah Peakbagger com a b c Checkerboard Mesa 6 680 UT listsofjohn com Retrieved 2020 09 09 a b U S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System Checkerboard Mesa Scott Turner Hike the Parks Zion amp Bryce Canyon National Parks 2019 The Mountaineers Books National Park Service nps gov zion Zion National Park Utah USA Monthly weather forecast and Climate data Weather Atlas Archived from the original on January 27 2019 Retrieved 31 August 2020 External links editZion National Park National Park Service Checkerboard Mesa rock climbing mountainproject com Weather forecast National Weather Service Media related to Checkerboard Mesa Wikimedia Commons category Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Checkerboard Mesa amp oldid 1221328486, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
