GlassMountains Trip Reports

Valentine Peak, Arizona, December 2022

December 22, 2022 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On Monday, December 19, I joined Dave Kohnke, Thomas Holt Ward, and Tony Krystoff for a Southern Arizona Hiking Club climb of Valentine Peak above Pima Canyon, near Tucson. Valentine Peak has only 146 feet of prominence, but is a rock pillar requiring some route finding and scrambling on exposed rock high above the canyon. None of us had visited the summit before and the SAHC information on the route was vague. We were a small team of experienced desert mountaineers and were eager to solve the puzzle.

Looking up Pima Canyon, with Valentine Peak on the right

We left the Pima Canyon Trailhead in the blue light before sunrise. We soon entered the canyon and spent most of the morning in the shade cast by the high ridges above us. Following the trail up the bottom of the canyon we eventually spotted the tower of Valentine Peak ahead of us up canyon.

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Horse Peak, Arizona, December 2022

December 16, 2022 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On Saturday, December 10, Matthias Stender, Scott Peavy, Michael Vincent, and I climbed Horse Peak, the summit of Moreno Mountain. Horse Peak lies just north of the USA/Mexico Border in the Chukut Kuk District of the Tonoho O’odham Nation. Horse Peak has 4343 feet of elevation and 1407 feet of topographic prominence, making it the 178th most prominent peak in Arizona.

Our view of Morena Mountain/Horse Peak off Indian Road 19 at the Chukut Kuk District boundary. — Our view of Morena Mountain/Horse Peak off Indian Road 19 at the Chukut Kuk District boundary

We had been very fortunate to obtain permission to enter and travel through the Chukut Kuk District. Last spring I learned the District had a process for requesting entry, though I was doubtful that permission would be granted. But we were a small group of “avid hikers” and the District Vice Chairman and Chairwoman did generously grant us permission.

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Maricopa Mountains Highpoint, Arizona, December 2022

December 9, 2022 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On Friday morning, December 2, I met other Southern Arizona Hiking Club members John Ohm, Dave Kohnke, Tom Tutein, and Larry Wippman in Oro Valley. Our goal was to climb Peak 3272, the Maricopa Mountains Highpoint. Peak 3272 has 1432 feet of prominence making it the 172nd most prominent peak in Arizona. This peak is also a SAHC peak, which explained the interest the others had in joining me.

Two saguaros (one a crested saguaro) frame the Maricopa Mountains Highpoint from our drive in

From Oro Valley we drove to the city of Maricopa, then further west to begin driving on primitive roads towards the Maricopa Mountains. As the roads deteriorated Tom and Larry parked their car and joined Dave in his Toyota FJ Cruiser. I drove my Jeep Rubicon with John beside me.

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Ben Nevis Mountain, Arizona, November 2022

December 1, 2022 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On Saturday morning, November 26, I met Scott Peavy and and Matthias Stender at the Gu Achi Trading Post beside Arizona Highway 86. Our plan was to climb Ben Nevis Mountain located in Pima County, Arizona. Ben Nevis Mountain has 1691 feet of topographic prominence, tying with Whitlock Peak as the 108th most prominent peak in Arizona.

Ben Nevis Mountain to the west from Arizona Highway 86

We have admired Ben Nevis Mountain from nearby South Mountain and traveling the highway and were glad to have a chance to finally visit it.

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