GlassMountains Trip Reports

Safford Peak, Arizona, February 2021

February 18, 2021 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On Friday, February 12, I climbed Safford Peak in the Tucson Mountains west of Marana. Safford Peak has 1063 feet of topographic prominence; many times I have noted its distinctive profile as I bicycled the bike paths in Marana and Oro Valley.

Friday morning I parked at the Sanctuary Cove located below the northeast face of Safford Peak. Sanctuary Cove is a private property open to the public and intended as “a place of quiet prayer, meditation and self reflection in the undisturbed environment”. Several trails wind through the property.

[Read more…]

Cat Mountain, Arizona, February 2021

February 11, 2021 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On Friday, February 5, I finally climbed Cat Mountain in the Tucson Mountains, just north of Arizona Highway 86 west of Tucson. Many times I have traveled beneath it on my way to or from mountains to the west and noted its steep south face. I’ve often recognized its distinctive profile from our bicycling routes in Tucson.

An afternoon view of the west face of Cat Mountain from the Sarasota Trail.

Friday morning I parked at the Sarasota Trailhead close by to the northwest of Cat Mountain. This is a very popular trailhead for day hikers, but I had no trouble finding a parking spot. I followed the Sarasota Trail towards the peak.

[Read more…]

Crossman Peak, Arizona, January 2021

January 29, 2021 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On Friday, January 22, I drove east through Lake Havasu City on residential roads to find access to Crossman Peak. Crossman Peak, the highpoint of the Mohave Mountains, is the 24th most prominent peak in Arizona with 3120 feet of topographic prominence. It also has 21.7 miles of isolation. Such a peak should provide great views, but I could see very little from the summit this day. Crossman Peak was clouded in and the weather forecast called for afternoon thunderstorms.

My Jeep parked below the steep climb around the ridge leading to a locked gate

The paved residential roads suddenly ended and the road became coarse gravel and rock. It led through a popular 4-wheeling area and then up the Falls Springs Wash towards Crossman Peak. I was glad for my Jeep’s high clearance and sturdy tires and was able to drive to a broad parking area at a steep turn. Beyond here the road reportedly climbed steeply around a ridge to a locked gate. It was the ideal spot to park.

[Read more…]

Peacock Peak, Arizona, January 2021

January 28, 2021 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On January 21 I drove out from Gonzales Canyon near Mohon Peak, over the Aquarius Mountains, and north on US 93. My goal this day was to climb Peacock Peak, the highpoint of the Peacock Mountains northeast of Kingman, Arizona. Peacock Peak is the 60th most prominent peak in Arizona with 2092 feet of topographic prominence. It also has 11.9 miles of isolation.

Just before entering Kingman from the east on I-40 I turned north onto Arizona Highway 66. Soon I turned off the highway, passed by the Mohave Airport, and drove north and east towards the Peacock Mountains over broad dirt roads. I passed through a broad area that appeared to be an abandoned residential development, someone’s dream of many years ago. It now consists of patches of abandoned vehicles and scattered old RVs.

[Read more…]

« Previous Page