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The Three
Sisters are iconic De Chelly Sandstone spires on the southeast tip of Mitchell Mesa. The South Sister is the highest (6,269-ft-elevation) with a 449-ft rise. The slightly lower North Sister (6,269-ft-elevation) rises 440-ft, and the Middle Sister (6,100-ft-elevation) has a 280-ft rise. The
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after sunset. Winters are cold, but daytime highs are usually above freezing. Winter temperatures below 0 °F (−18 °C) are uncommon, though possible. This desert climate receives less than 10 inches (250 millimeters) of annual rainfall, and snowfall is generally light during the winter.
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at the top. The strata are nearly horizontal because the mesa is positioned above the crest of a small anticline. The buttes and mesas of
Monument Valley are the result of the Organ Rock Shale being more easily eroded than the overlaying sandstone.
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zone with cold winters and hot summers. Summers average 54 days above 90 °F (32 °C) annually, and highs rarely exceed 100 °F (38 °C). Summer nights are comfortably cool, and temperatures
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410:, Larry Dalke, and Dick Erb. The North Sister was first climbed that same month by Layton Kor and Pete Carmen. The Middle Sister was first climbed on April 20, 1967, by
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321:. Precipitation runoff from this mesa's west slope drains to Mitchell Butte Wash, whereas the east slope drains to West Gypsum Creek, which are both part of the
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is significant as the summit rises 1,300 feet (396 meters) above the surrounding terrain in one-half mile (0.8 km). The nearest higher neighbor is
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were prospectors. They were warned in 1879 to stay away from
Monument Valley but were shot and killed there the following year by Utes. There is also
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Geology and
Uranium-vanadium Deposits of the Monument Valley Area, Apache and Navajo Counties, Arizona
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Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit
Mitchell Mesa. According to the
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composed of three principal strata. The bottom layer is slope-forming
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Southeast aspect of
Mitchell Mesa with the Three Sisters centered
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Mitchell Mesa is situated 0.75 miles (1.21 km) south of the
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Road Log of
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Utah and Arizona
348:. The Mitchell name refers to Hearndon Mitchell, who along with
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North aspect viewed from
Monument Valley Visitors Center area
344:. The landform's toponym has been officially adopted by the
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East aspect of
Mitchell Mesa with Three Sisters to the left
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immediately west of the mesa where
Mitchell was killed.
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of the South Sister was made on December 17, 1966, by
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693:, City of Aztec, aztecnm.com, Retrieved 2024-08-24.
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List of appearances of Monument Valley in the media
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1103:Sandstone formations of the United States
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763:United States Department of the Interior
670:United States Department of the Interior
486:Mitchell Mesa with Three Sisters to left
285:is a 6,586-foot-elevation (2,007-meter)
510:Three Sisters: L→R South, Middle, North
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868:Climate Summary for Kayenta, Arizona
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1088:Landforms of Navajo County, Arizona
831:"Three Sisters, Middle - 6,100' AZ"
754:Geographic Names Information System
661:Geographic Names Information System
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807:"Three Sisters, North - 6,260' AZ"
783:"Three Sisters, South - 6,269' AZ"
16:Mountain in Arizona, United States
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546:North aspect, with the View Hotel
191:Mitchell Mesa (the United States)
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384:. The rock ranges in age from
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1093:North American 2000 m summits
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432:Köppen climate classification
194:Show map of the United States
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49:6,586 ft (2,007 m)
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598:"Mitchell Mesa - 6,586' AZ"
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434:system, it is located in a
319:West and East Mitten Buttes
82:5.29 mi (8.51 km)
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110:36.9707436°N 110.1108200°W
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735:Monument Valley, Arizona
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380:capped by 50-foot thick
115:36.9707436; -110.1108200
59:676 ft (206 m)
422:, and Pat Callis.
931:Oljato–Monument Valley
382:Shinarump Conglomerate
855:First Ascent Timeline
374:De Chelly Sandstone
364:Mitchell Mesa is a
161:Show map of Arizona
158:Location in Arizona
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378:Moenkopi Formation
330:Topographic relief
309:visitor center on
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39:Highest point
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441:drop quickly
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404:first ascent
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270:Type of rock
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225:Parent range
1014:Highway 163
412:Fred Beckey
315:Highway 163
301:Description
113: /
101:110°06′39″W
88:Coordinates
65:Parent peak
33:East aspect
1077:Categories
840:2024-08-24
816:2024-08-24
792:2024-08-24
768:2024-08-24
675:2024-08-24
638:2024-08-24
607:2024-08-24
577:References
408:Layton Kor
338:door posts
334:Eagle Mesa
98:36°58′15″N
72:(6,624 ft)
70:Eagle Mesa
55:Prominence
1043:Geography
275:Sandstone
126:Geography
78:Isolation
45:Elevation
565:See also
238:Topo map
205:Location
1067:Arizona
1055:Geology
1029:Portals
448:Gallery
426:Climate
386:Permian
360:Geology
295:Arizona
252:Geology
287:summit
366:mesa
263:Mesa
243:USGS
289:in
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
