Ekker Butte
{{Short description|Butte in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Wayne Canyon, Utah, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Ekker Butte
| photo = Green River and Ekker Butte (crop).jpg
| photo_caption = Ekker Butte and Green River, from NNE
| elevation_ft = 6260
| elevation_ref = {{cite web|url=https://listsofjohn.com/peak/22509|title=Ekker Butte - 6,260' UT|website=listsofjohn.com|access-date=2020-11-02}}
| prominence_ft = 926
| isolation_mi = 5.34
| parent_peak = Cleopatras Chair (6,520 ft)
| location = Glen Canyon National Recreation Area
Wayne County, Utah, US
| map = Utah#USA
| map_caption = Location in Utah
| map_size = 230
| label_position = top
| coordinates = {{coord|38.2866751|N|109.9847359|W|type:mountain_region:US-UT_scale:100000_source:GNIS|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|coordinates_ref = {{cite gnis|id=1434928|name=Ekker Butte|accessdate = 2020-11-02}}
| range = Colorado Plateau
| topo = USGS Turks Head
| rock = Wingate Sandstone
| age = Late Triassic
| first_ascent = 1987
| easiest_route = {{YDS|5.x}} climbing
}}
Ekker Butte is a {{convert|6,260|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us|adj=on}} elevation summit located in the northern reach of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, in Wayne County of Utah, United States. 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 {{convert|1,400|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} 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.[https://www.nps.gov/cany/learn/historyculture/minersranchers.htm Canyonlands Miners & Ranchers, National Park Service]{{Cite web|url=https://nomadicniko.com/2015/09/28/grand-view-point-trail/|title = Grand View Point Trail at Canyonlands National Park|date = 28 September 2015}} 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.{{Cite web|url=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/|title = Take it or Leave it: Robert Redford, Art Ekker, and Our Complicated Love of Cowboys ...by Jim Stiles|date = 2 February 2020}}
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.S.W. Lohman, The Geologic Story of Canyonlands National Park, US Government Printing Office, 1974. 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 {{YDS|5.11}} South Tower.[http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12198814101/North-America-United-States-Utah-Canyonlands-National-Park Eric Bjørnstad, American Alpine Journal, 1988.]{{Cite web|url=https://www.deserttowersbook.com/first-ascent-timeline|title=First Ascent Timeline}}
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 {{convert|32|°F|°C|abbr=on}}, and at least 50% of the total annual precipitation being received during the spring and summer. This desert climate receives less than {{convert|10|in|mm|abbr=off|sp=us}} of annual rainfall, and snowfall is generally light during the winter.
See also
Gallery
File:Ekker Butte - Green River Overlook.jpg|Ekker Butte from Green River Overlook
(Elaterite Butte to left)
File:Elaterite and Ekker Buttes.jpg|Ekker Butte (right) from Green River Overlook in Canyonlands National Park
(Elaterite Butte to left)
File:Green River Overlook Ekker Butte.jpg|Ekker Butte (upper left), from Green River Overlook
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{stack|{{commons category|Ekker Butte}}}}
- Ekker Butte: [https://www.yr.no/place/United_States/Utah/Ekker_Butte/ weather forecast]{{Dead link|date=February 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
- Art Ekker photos and story: [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/ Canyoncountryzephyr.com]
- [https://calisphere.org/item/a287b0cc2a50847ebf01b4e7a40c69d4/ Art Ekker photo]
Category:Landforms of Wayne County, Utah
Category:Sandstone formations of the United States
Category:Glen Canyon National Recreation Area