GlassMountains Trip Reports

Exploring the backcountry and wilderness of the Western USA.

Trip Reports

Hiking Reports

Travel using primarily feet only. Hands might be used with hiking poles for balance or uphill travel.

Reiley Peak, Arizona, January 2018

by Leave a Comment

January 31 I joined the Southern Arizona Hiking Club on a climb of Reiley Peak in the Winchester Mountains northwest of Willcox. Reiley Peak is the 50th most prominent peak in Arizona with 2320 feet of topographic prominence and 7640 feet of elevation.

View of Reiley Peak from low on the northwest ridge
View of Reiley Peak from low on the northwest ridge

Eric Kassan and I attempted to drive in to the “trailhead” for Reiley Peak last February, but we were stopped by very poor road conditions. Eric and I expected that on our next attempt we might have to park several miles short of the trailhead and backpack in to a base camp for the climb. We hoped to time the attempt when treatable water was available.

[Read more…] about Reiley Peak, Arizona, January 2018

Prominence Peaks West of Phoenix, January 2018

by Leave a Comment

On January 15-18 Linda and I camped at the White Tank Mountain Regional Park, located on the west side of Phoenix. The campsites were spacious. Linda enjoyed gravel bike riding and hiking locally and I hiked prominence peaks west of Phoenix.

Barry Goldwater Peak

One of the white tanks below the Mesquite Canyon Trail
One of the white tanks below the Mesquite Canyon Trail

The White Tank Mountains consist of a series of numerous rocky fault ridges and deep canyons. During heavy rainfall water has scoured out a number of depressions or “tanks” in the white granite in canyons near the base of the mountains. These white tanks are the source of the name of this range.

[Read more…] about Prominence Peaks West of Phoenix, January 2018

Three Western Arizona Peaks, November 2017

by Leave a Comment

On November 25-27 I hiked three Western Arizona peaks. Signal Peak and Castle Dome Peak, are located in the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge between Yuma and Quartzsite. I climbed these with old and new Arizona peakbagging friends. On the last day I hiked Cunningham Mountain, located just southwest of Quartzite. This was my first time in this region of Arizona and I enjoyed exploring these peaks.

Signal Peak

Signal Peak from the West, Kofa Mountains
Signal Peak from the West, Kofa Mountains

On Saturday, November 25, Eric Kassan, Stacey Samuels, and I hiked Signal Peak. Signal Peak is located in the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge of Western Arizona. Signal Peak is the highpoint of the Kofa Mountains. It is also the 16th most prominent peak in Arizona with 3477 feet of topographic prominence.

[Read more…] about Three Western Arizona Peaks, November 2017

White Mountains, Arizona, October 2017

by Leave a Comment

On October 26 and 27 I hiked Mount Baldy and Escudilla Mountain in the White Mountains of Eastern Arizona. These two peaks had been on my want list for several years. I wanted to hike them in the autumn before snowfall covered the White Mountains.

Mount Baldy from Escudilla Mountain
Mount Baldy from Escudilla Mountain

Thick smoke filled the air as I drove in towards Mount Baldy on October 25. I hoped for better weather the next day and continued towards the Winn Campground beyond the trailhead. The campground was closed so instead I found a dispersed campsite nearby.

After a pleasant dinner I discovered parts of an elk carcass nearby. It was a breezy and cool evening and after sunset I heard coyotes howling and elk bugling. After the moon set the sky filled with many stars. The White Mountains are far from population centers and the high open country makes for excellent night sky watching.

[Read more…] about White Mountains, Arizona, October 2017