Hiking Reports

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

Quijotoa and Artesa Mountains Highpoints, Arizona, January 2020

January 30, 2020 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

There are many little mountain ranges in the Sonoran Desert west of Tucson. They may not have the prominence of other, bigger mountain ranges, but it can be fun to visit them for their views, solitude, and sense of mystery. I recently visited the highpoints of two little mountain ranges, the Quijotoa and Artesa Mountains.

Quijotoa Mountains Highpoint

On Saturday morning, January 18, I drove west through Sells, then north on Arizona Highway 86 looking for a road leading towards the east side of the Quijotoa Mountains and up to the highpoint of the range. I found the road I wanted and followed it through a village and two open gates.

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Tat Momoli and Silver Reef Mountains Highpoints, Arizona, January 2020

January 21, 2020 by Paul McClellan 2 Comments

On Thursday, January 2nd, three friends and I climbed the highpoints of the Tat Momoli and Silver Reef Mountains southwest of Casa Grande, Arizona. These little mountain ranges are visible from the Casa Grande Mountains, a popular hiking area for residents of Casa Grande.

The Silver Reef Mountains and the Tat Momoli Mountains (right) from the Casa Grande Mountains

I was accompanied by Bill Hiscox, June Meyer, and Brian Larson, fellow members of the Southern Arizona Hiking Club. It was the first time on foot in these mountains for all of us.

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Arizona Lookout Towers, November 2019

November 24, 2019 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

In November I visited four Arizona lookout towers located on peaks of interest to me. The autumn had been dry so far, but I expected winter rain and snow to arrive soon and I wanted to visit the peaks before then. I was fortunate to have excellent weather for hiking and camping and the roads were dry. It was a fun and productive trip and I expect to return some day for a few more peaks in the same area.

Hutch Mountain

On Thursday, November 14, I drove from Tucson most of the way up Hutch Mountain to a locked gate at a saddle. From there I walked a short distance beyond the gate to the west summit and its lookout tower.

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Cougar Pond Southeast Peak, Oregon, August 2019

August 31, 2019 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On Friday, August 23, Linda and I drove up Pine Creek Road on the east side of the Elkhorn Mountains of Northeast Oregon. My intent was to hike Cougar Pond Southeast Peak, an unofficially named peak in the nearby Elkhorn Mountains. Linda’s intent was to ride her mountain bike back to our campsite in the Baker Valley, then ride her road bike on a loop out of camp. It had been four years since I last drove this steep, rocky, and narrow road. I was glad to have my high-clearance, 4WD Jeep.

Linda prepares to descend the steep, rocky, and narrow road on her bike

Linda wondered why I had suggested she ride down on such a treacherous road. The previous day I had thought she would enjoy exploring this nearby part of the Elkhorn Mountains but this morning I wondered whether I had made a such a good suggestion.

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