Great White Throne (mountain)

Summary

The Great White Throne[2] is a monolith, predominantly composed of white Navajo Sandstone in Zion National Park in Washington County in southwestern Utah, United States.[1] The north-west "main" face rises 2,350 feet (720 m) in 1,500 feet (460 m) from the floor of Zion Canyon near Angels Landing. It is often used as a symbol of Zion National Park. The Great White Throne can be seen from most locations along the scenic drive running through Zion Canyon.[citation needed]

The Great White Throne
Zion Great White Throne.JPG
Northwest aspect, seen from Angels Landing
Highest point
Elevation6,747 ft (2,056 m) NAVD 88[1]
Prominence664 ft (202 m)[1]
Coordinates37°15′40″N 112°56′28″W / 37.2610932°N 112.941051°W / 37.2610932; -112.941051[2]
Geography
The Great White Throne is located in Utah
The Great White Throne
The Great White Throne
Location in Utah
LocationZion National Park
Washington County, Utah
United States
Topo mapUSGS Temple of Sinawava

Naming edit

 
The Great White Throne, August 2016

The Great White Throne was named by the Methodist minister of Ogden, Utah, Frederick Vining Fisher, in 1916.[3] On a trip up the canyon with Claud Hirschi, Fisher and Hirschi named many features in Zion Canyon. Later afternoon light gloriously lit up The Great White Throne, prompting Fischer to state:

Never have I seen such a sight before. It is by all odds America's masterpiece. Boys, I have looked for this mountain all my life but I never expected to find it in this world. This mountain is the Great White Throne.[3]

Climbing regulations edit

A bivouac permit is required from the park visitor center for any climbs expected to last overnight.[4]

Climate edit

 
West Face

Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit The Great White Throne. 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.[5]

See also edit

References edit

 
Great White Throne centered and The Organ (right)
  1. ^ a b c "The Great White Throne, Utah". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2016-04-19.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: The Great White Throne
  3. ^ a b A History of Southern Utah and Its National Parks, Angus M. Woodbury (Utah State Historical Society, Vol XII Nos. 3–4, July–October 1944; revised and reprinted, 1950: pages 198-199 OCLC 4084746)
  4. ^ Climbing regulations. Zion National Park.
  5. ^ "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 edit

  • Great White Throne on SummitPost.org
  • Zion National Park National Park Service
  • Weather forecast