Hiking Reports

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

Silver Peak, Southeast Arizona, April 2017

April 29, 2017 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On Saturday morning, April 23, I left my dispersed campsite along Pinery Creek to hike Silver Peak on the east side of the Chiricahua Mountains. As I crested Onion Saddle and began my descent to the east I observed the steep peaks and ridges and deep valleys below me in the morning light. This view curiously reminded me strongly of the North Cascades of Washington State. I descended into Cave Creek Canyon near Portal, Arizona, and parked at the Silver Peak Trailhead.

The east face of Silver Peak from low on the Silver Peak Trail

The Silver Peak Trail leads from the floor of Cave Creek Canyon to the summit of Silver Peak, the site of a former lookout. Silver Peak is the 72nd most prominent peak in Arizona with 2008 feet of prominence and 8008 feet of elevation.

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Black Mountain, Arizona, February 2017

February 28, 2017 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On February 22 I hiked Black Mountain north of Oracle, Arizona. This particular “Black Mountain” is the 85th most prominent peak in Arizona with 1907 feet of clean prominence and 5587 feet of elevation. It also has nearly 20 miles of isolation (distance to any higher peak).

Black Mountain from Willow Springs Road, northwest of Oracle, Arizona

On February 17, Linda and I watched the start of the 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo, a 24-hour mountain bike race held just south of Black Mountain. We drove in north on the Willow Springs Road, northwest of Oracle, Arizona to reach the event. We were surprised by the size of the temporary tent and RV village and enjoyed the start of the event. Afterwards, we drove further north on Willow Springs Road and explored access to Black Mountain. I planned to return soon.

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South Mountain (Pima), Arizona, February 2017

February 21, 2017 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On February 11 Michael Berry, Matthias Stender, and I hiked up South Mountain of Pima County west of Sells, Arizona. South Mountain is the 70th most prominent peak in Arizona, with 2020 feet of prominence and 4160 feet of elevation. It is therefore an important peak for those pursuing Arizona Prominence Peaks.

The east face of South Mountain from the trailhead

I had read in a previous report by Scott Surgent that a miner’s trail led up the east face of the mountain. Matthias had a road GPS track accessing the east side of South Mountain from his friend Scott Peavy. This track helped us navigate the primitive roads off Arizona Highway 86 to reach the trailhead. The east face of South Mountain, lined with cliffs, rose above us.

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Bassett Peak, Arizona, February 2017

February 18, 2017 by Paul McClellan 2 Comments

On February 4th Eric Kassan, Susan Murphy, Darin Wilson, Adam Humphreys, and I hiked Bassett Peak, the high point of the Galiuro Mountains and the Galiuro Wilderness east of Tucson. Bassett Peak is the 23rd most prominent peak in Arizona with 3123 feet of prominence and 7663 feet of elevation. The weather was ideal and the hiking was fun and quite scenic.

Bassett Peak from West Ash Creek Road, north of Wilcox, Arizona

I drove from Tucson to meet the others at 8 a.m. just off Ash Creek Road on FSR 660. Eric and I loaded up the others and drove further in on FSR 660. We drove our vehicles part way along, across, and through rocky Ash Creek until it was prudent to park. Our two cars just fit parked off the road.

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