8. VABM
Nipple and Nipple Butte. Explored 16 Oct 87. Concerning Maps:
- Both are named as such on the Nipple
Butte Quad (Utah, 7.5-Min). Coordinates 425176 and 425160, and elevations 5879
and 52l0-ft, respectively.
- Nipple Butte is named on the Nipple
Butte Quad (Utah, 15-Min, 1953). Elevation 5222-ft. Good topography but current
roads/towns not shown.
- Summary of pertinent roads is given by
"Southwestern Utah Map" (Map Section D-5). For map, see item 3
above.
VABM Nipple, ironically, is not
a nipple formation at all, out simply a VABM at the surface and edge of a flat,
level, high and isolated mesa. Nevertheless, accessing it could be a challenge
since the mesa is capped with an 80+ft layer of red sandstone whose
circumscribing vertical wall seems unclimbable except possibly at an apparent
breach on the north side (see topos). This was viewed from afar without
binoculars from the jeep road that goes past Tibbet Spring (see "Southwestern
Utah Map" or Tibbet Bench Quad (Utah, 7.5min), but the afternoon sun subdued
all details and I couldn't decide climability at the apparent breach area. VABM
Nipple merits a revisit as a good adventure. Helicopter access would be
ideal.
Nipple Butte is a steep, highly-weathered, isolated cone
rising 210 ft above a highland. Seen close-up from the south side, it rises
successively as these layers: steep soil (base layer); vertical yellow
sandstone; steep gray soil: and vertical, yellow, crumbly sandstone (capstone
layer). Seen from vantage points a mile or more away to the east, the top two
layers form an aptly-named nipple that sits on a pedestal-of the bottom two.
Expansive views from the Nipple include: the high mesa supporting VASM Nipple,
Navajo Pith to the east, the expansive flat Nipple Bench, and Nipple Creek's
long canyon proceeding south.
ipple Butte was approached starting at
Big Water City, Utah. 4WD is necessary no matter what route you take since the
jeep roads follow stream beds at places and there may be mud. The shorter
direct jeep-route up Lone Rock Canyon (Nipple Creek) was not attempted because
the "Southwestern Utah Map" indicated an alternate graded or gravel (but
longer) route to the Nipple area. A laugh since the road turned out to be a
jeep road anyway in Tibbet Canyon including some benign mud. But just as good
since the alternate passed superb, colorful cliffs in Glen Canyon National
Recreation Area and in Tibbet Canyon. Starting at the junction of US HWY 89 and
the road leading into Big Water City:
- Take the graded road east (posted
immediately north of HWY 89 for Glen Canyon National Recreation Area) for about
13.2 miles to a road junction in the GCNRA. Turn left.
- Take the generally-northward trending
read for shout 3.7 miles to another road junction (i.e., the Smokey Hollow Road
Junction not identified because the sign was partly destroyed). Turn
left.
- Drive to the edge of the nearby, wide,
shallow stream bed cross it at right angle (even though it looks like the
graded road ends at the edge and you can't see the jeep road on the other side)
pick up the jeep road immediately after crossing, and follow it generally
northwestward through Tibbet Canyon for about 7.4 miles to the junction with
the jeep road that goes to the right and passes Tibbet Spring. Continue
left.
- Drive about 2.3 miles to Nipple
Butte.
To Climb Nipple Butte, first scramble
up the south side easily to the top of its second layer (a platform). Then
climb to the top of the obstinate but beautiful earth slope by kicking steps
(probably best from the north side). Then climb the weathered capstone
(10-15ft?) where its east side is somewhat breached and slanting (dangerous and
best done with a companion). There is a rock cairn on top. |