Washer Woman

Washer Woman is a 500-foot (150-meter) tall sandstone arch and tower located in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park, in San Juan County, Utah. It is situated 300 feet northwest of the slightly higher Monster Tower. Washer Woman is so named because the feature gives the appearance of a washerwoman bent over a washtub.[4] This geographical feature's name was officially adopted in 1986 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names after previously having similar names such as Washer-Woman Arch and The Washer Woman.[4] Washer Woman and Monster Tower are an eroded fin composed of Wingate Sandstone, which is the remains of wind-borne sand dunes deposited approximately 200 million years ago in the Late Triassic. Airport Tower is set 1.6 mi (2.6 km) to the east, and Mesa Arch is situated 1.5 mi (2.4 km) to the west.[1] A short hike to Mesa Arch provides the easiest view of Washer Woman. Access to this formation is via the four-wheel drive White Rim Road, which is the other option to see it. The top of this geological formation rises 1,300 feet above the road in approximately one mile. Precipitation runoff from Washer Woman drains southeast into the nearby Colorado River via Buck Canyon.

Washer Woman
Washer Woman, west aspect
Highest point
Elevation5,819 ft (1,774 m)[1]
Prominence339 ft (103 m)[1]
Parent peakMonster Tower (5,880 ft)[1]
Isolation0.05 mi (0.080 km)[2]
Coordinates38°23′25″N 109°50′17″W[1]
Geography
Washer Woman is located in Utah
Washer Woman
Washer Woman
Location of Washer Woman in Utah
Washer Woman is located in the United States
Washer Woman
Washer Woman
Washer Woman (the United States)
LocationCanyonlands National Park
San Juan County, Utah, U.S.
Parent rangeColorado Plateau
Topo mapUSGS Musselman Arch
Geology
Age of rockLate Triassic
Type of rockWingate Sandstone
Climbing
First ascent1967
Easiest routeclass 5.10+ In Search of Suds[2][3]

Climbing

The first ascent of Washer Woman was made by Maurice Horn, John Horn, and Pete Carmen on Apr 20, 1967, via the South Face.[5] The first ascent of the classic In Search of Suds route on the West Face was made by Glenn Randall and Charlie Fowler in September 1982.[6]

Climate

Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Washer Woman. 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 −0 °C (32 °F) 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.

  • Washer Woman, Monster Tower, and Airport Tower seen from west
    Washer Woman, Monster Tower, and Airport Tower seen from west
  • Washer Woman and Monster Tower
    Washer Woman and Monster Tower
  • Washer Woman from Mesa Arch
    Washer Woman from Mesa Arch
  • Monster and Washer Woman from ESE at Buck Canyon
    Monster and Washer Woman from ESE at Buck Canyon
  • Washer Woman framed by Mesa Arch
    Washer Woman framed by Mesa Arch
  • Washer Woman centered
    Washer Woman centered
  • Painting of a Washer Woman
    Painting of a Washer Woman

See also

References
  1. "Washer Woman, Utah". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  2. "Washer Woman - 5,819' UT". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  3. Stewart M. Green, Rock Climbing Utah, Falcon Guides, Morris Book Publishing, 2012, page 72.
  4. "Washer Woman". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2020-09-19.
  5. "First Ascent Timeline".
  6. Cameron M. Burns, Selected Climbs in the Desert Southwest Colorado First Edition, The Mountaineers Books, 1999, page 107.
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