Setting Hen

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox mountain

|name = Setting Hen

|photo = Monument Valley with afternoon light (8225361819).jpg

|photo_caption = South aspect

|elevation_ft = 6293

|elevation_ref ={{cite gnis|id=1428678|name=Setting Hen|access-date=2024-08-27}}

|prominence_ft = 440

|prominence_ref ={{cite web|url=https://listsofjohn.com/peak/22334|title=Setting Hen - 6,340' UT|website=listsofjohn.com|access-date=2024-08-27}}

|isolation_mi = 0.71

|isolation_ref =

|parent_peak = Eagle Mesa (6,624 ft)

|map = Utah#USA

|map_caption = Location in Utah

|map_size = 230

|label_position = top

|location = Monument Valley
San Juan County, Utah, U.S.

|range = Colorado Plateau{{cite peakbagger|pid=56504|name=Setting Hen, Utah|access-date=2024-08-27}}

|coordinates = {{coord|37.0527313|N|110.1105839|W|type:mountain_region:US-AZ_scale:100000_source:GNIS|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

|coordinates_ref =

|topo = USGS Monument Pass

|rock = Sandstone

|age = Permian

|first_ascent =

|easiest_route =

}}

Setting Hen is a {{convert|6293|ft|meter|adj=mid|-elevation|abbr=off|sp=us}} summit in San Juan County, Utah, United States.

Description

Setting Hen is situated {{convert|5.5|mi|km}} northeast of Oljato–Monument Valley, Utah, on Navajo Nation land. It is an iconic landform of Monument Valley and can be seen from Highway 163. Precipitation runoff from this butte's slopes drains into the San Juan River drainage basin. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises {{convert|600.|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} above surrounding terrain in 0.25 mile (0.4 km). The nearest higher neighbor is Eagle Mesa, {{convert|0.71|mi}} to the southwest. This landform's toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names, and the descriptive name refers to the profile resembling a sitting hen when viewed from the southeast.[https://www.aztecnm.com/fourcorners/arizona/monumentvalley/MonumentValley.pdf Monument Valley], City of Aztec, aztecnm.com, Retrieved 2024-08-27. Setting Hen should not be confused with another butte named Setting Hen Butte within the same county but further northeast at Valley of the Gods.

Geology

Setting Hen is a butte composed of two principal strata. The bottom layer is Organ Rock Shale and the upper stratum is cliff-forming De Chelly Sandstone. The rock was deposited during the Permian period. The buttes and mesas of Monument Valley are the result of the Organ Rock Shale being more easily eroded than the overlaying sandstone.[https://www.azgs.arizona.edu/photo/monument-valley-arizona Monument Valley, Arizona], Arizona Geological Survey, Retrieved 2024-08-22.

Climate

Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Setting Hen. According to the Köppen climate classification system, it is located in a semi-arid climate zone with cold winters and hot summers. Summers average 54 days above {{convert|90|°F|°C}} annually, and highs rarely exceed {{convert|100|°F|°C}}. Summer nights are comfortably cool, and temperatures drop quickly after sunset. Winters are cold, but daytime highs are usually above freezing. Winter temperatures below {{convert|0|°F|°C}} are uncommon, though possible. 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.[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=875420&cityname=Kayenta%2C+Arizona%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Kayenta, Arizona]

See also

Gallery

File:Monument Valley, Setting Hen.jpg|South aspect, with a dusting of autumn snow

File:Eagle Mesa, Setting Hen.jpg|Eagle Mesa (left) and Setting Hen viewed from the south.

File:Monument Valley, Utah, US - panoramio (16).jpg|Eagle Mesa (left), Setting Hen (right)

File:Over Monument Valley, Navajo Nation - 3815045340.jpg|Aerial view of Setting Hen (right) with Eagle Mesa (center left)

File:Monument Valley, AZ (48566078946).jpg|Eagle Mesa (left), Setting Hen (right)

File:Monument Valley 0.jpg|Setting Hen centered

File:Monument Valley Setting Hen.jpg

File:Over Monument Valley, Navajo Nation - 3814235817.jpg|Aerial view

References

{{reflist}}