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Family Posts

Personal posts noting family events, transitions, or personal reflections.

Harcuvar Peak, Arizona, February 2019

February 14, 2019 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

In early February Linda and I and our dogs camped in the open desert near Vicksburg, Arizona, east of Quartzsite. We were boondocking, which meant we had no hookups but did have a lot of room for ourselves and dark nights. We spent three nights there. Linda spent February 6 and 7 hiking and mountain biking from our campsite. On the morning of February 7 I left camp to climb Harcuvar Peak.

Harcuvar Peak from the road hike
Harcuvar Peak from the road hike. My climbing route ascended the steep rib just left of where the road curves out of view.

From camp I drove to Salome on US 60. Here I left US 60 and followed roads northwest to near the base of Harcuvar Peak. Harcuvar Peak lies in the Harcuvar Mountains, but is not the highpoint of the range. The highpoint of the Harcuvar Mountains is Smith Peak further north, which I hiked last November. Harcuvar Peak does, however, have 2048 feet of prominence making it the 66th most prominent peak in Arizona.

[Read more…] about Harcuvar Peak, Arizona, February 2019

Filed Under: Climbing, Family Tagged With: Arizona, Harcuvar Mountains, Harcuvar Peak

Harquahala Mountain, February, 2019

February 13, 2019 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

In early February Linda and I and our dogs camped in the open desert near Vicksburg, Arizona, east of Quartzsite. We were boondocking, which meant we had no hookups but did have a lot of room for ourselves and dark nights. We spent three nights there. Linda spent February 6 and 7 hiking and mountain biking from our campsite. On the morning of February 6 I left camp to hike Harquahala Mountain.

The view from the Harquahala Pack Trail which climbs over the high saddle ahead
The view from the Harquahala Pack Trail which climbs over the high saddle ahead

From camp I drove through Salome on US 60, then followed a dirt road to the Harquahala Pack Trail trailhead. The trail climbs from the McMullen Valley floor to the summit of Harquahala Mountain. Harquahala Mountain (Yavapai: ‘Hakhe:la), the highpoint of the Harquahala Mountains, is the 17th most prominent peak in Arizona with 3461 feet of topographic prominence and 5681 feet of elevation.

[Read more…] about Harquahala Mountain, February, 2019

Filed Under: Family, Hiking Tagged With: Arizona, Harquahala Mountain, Harquahala Mountains, Harquahala Pack Trail

Early Glacier Climbing with Linda

February 3, 2019 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

Linda and I met in the Spring of 1990 through the Chemeketans, a climbing club based in Salem, Oregon. That summer we started climbing together on rock, snow, and ice. Here I describe some of the mixed climbs we shared while getting to know each other. These were club climbs and I have fond memories of our experiences and those we shared them with.

Mount Jefferson, Oregon Cascades

Mount Jefferson, Oregon Cascades, from the Whitewater Trail
Mount Jefferson, Oregon Cascades, from the Whitewater Trail

In June of 1990 Linda and I joined Betsy, Nancy, Bill, Darcy, Debra, Leah, Roy, George, and Tom on a Chemeketan climb of Mount Jefferson, the second-highest peak in Oregon.

[Read more…] about Early Glacier Climbing with Linda

Filed Under: Climbing, Family Tagged With: Eliot Glacier, Glacier Climbing, Kautz Glacier, Mount Jefferson, Mount Rainier, Sloan Peak

Early Rock Climbs with Linda

February 3, 2019 by Paul McClellan 1 Comment

Linda and I started getting to know each other during the summer of 1990. We met through the Chemeketans, a climbing club based in Salem, Oregon. That summer we started climbing together, both on rock crags and mountains. Here are two of many climbs I shared with Linda that summer.

Rock Climbing at Smith Rock State Park

On October 20 Linda and I climbed “Moscow”, a three-pitch 5.6 route on the “Red Wall” at Smith Rock State Park in Central Oregon.

The Red Wall at Smith Rock State Park, Oregon
The Red Wall at Smith Rock State Park, Oregon
[Read more…] about Early Rock Climbs with Linda

Filed Under: Climbing, Family Tagged With: Mount Washington, Oregon Cascades, Rock Climbing, Smith Rock State Park

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