Split Mountain (Utah) Explained

Split Mountain
Elevation Ft:7657
Elevation Ref:[1]
Prominence Ft:1980.
Isolation Mi:4.24
Parent Peak:Limber Flag (9,510 ft)
Country:United States
Region Type:County
Part Type:Protected area
Map:Utah#USA
Map Size:230
Label Position:left
Range:Uinta Mountains[2]
Coordinates:40.4833°N -109.22°W
Topo:USGS Split Mountain
Age:Permian-Pennsylvanian
Easiest Route: hiking

Split Mountain is a 7657feet summit in Uintah County, Utah, United States.

Description

Split Mountain is located 13miles east of Vernal, Utah, in Dinosaur National Monument and the eastern Uinta Mountains. Precipitation runoff from this double summit mountain drains into the Green River. Topographic relief is significant as the west summit rises 2800abbr=offNaNabbr=off above the river in 1.3miles. The lower east summit reaches an elevation of 7519feet.[3] Split Mountain is composed of Permian-Pennsylvanian cliff-forming Weber Sandstone with Permian slope-forming Park City Formation around the lower base.[4] The reason that the older Weber Sandstone is seemingly above the younger Park City Formation is because Split Mountain is a nearly symmetrical anticline.[5] This landform's toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names. It is named in association with Split Mountain Canyon, in turn named by John Wesley Powell in 1869 as his expedition passed through this mountain which the Green River split via erosion.[6]

Climate

Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Split Mountain. According to the Köppen climate classification system, it is located in a semi-arid climate zone, with temperatures averaging between 0 °F to 30 °F in January, and 50 °F to 100 °F in July.[7] Typical of high deserts, summer temperatures can be exceedingly hot, while winter temperatures can be very cold. Snowfall is common, but the snow melts rapidly in the arid and sunny climate. Rainfall is very low, and the evaporation rate classifies the area as desert, even though the rainfall exceeds 10 inches.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Split Mountain, West - 7,657' UT. listsofjohn.com. 2024-09-21.
  2. 18401. Split Mountain, Utah. 2024-09-21.
  3. 67532. Split Mountain - East Peak, Utah. 2024-09-21.
  4. https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/DownloadFile/598822 Geologic Map of Dinosaur National Monument
  5. https://books.google.com/books?id=tlwWEXxuKX4C&pg=PA37&dq=split+mountain+dinosaur&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjYyt2TxNWIAxW4EDQIHeefM484FBC7BXoECAgQBw#v=onepage&q=split%20mountain%20dinosaur&f=false The Geologic Story of the Uinta Mountains
  6. https://geology.utah.gov/map-pub/survey-notes/powell-1869-river-journey/ Major John Wesley Powell's 1869 Journey Down the Green and Colorado Rivers of Utah
  7. https://www.nps.gov/dino/planyourvisit/weather.htm Weather Dinosaur National Monument. National Park Service.gov