GlassMountains Trip Reports

Exploring the backcountry and wilderness of the Western USA.

Trip Reports

Mundo Perdido, Arizona, March 2019

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On Wednesday, March 27, I joined the Southern Arizona Hiking Club for a climb of Mundo Perdido, a peak in the Baboquivari Mountains north of Sasabe, Arizona. Mundo Perdido (“Lost World”) lies along the spine of the Baboquivari Mountains about a mile NNE of Baboquivari Peak. It has 7111 feet of elevation but only 631 feet of topographic prominence. Nevertheless, it is a strenuous and memorable climb.

Baboquivari Mountains from near the Brown Canyon Environmental Education Center
Baboquivari Mountains from near the Brown Canyon Environmental Education Center

Mundo Perdido is one of the Southern Arizona Hiking Club 45 “Emblem” peaks, so I was pleased to join John Ohm, who led the outing, June Meyer, and Tom Tutein who completed the team on the peak. June had hiked the peak several years before, but this was the first time for the rest of us. Most of the route was on the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge and John had obtained a permit from the Refuge in advance. We had the peak to ourselves.

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Picketpost Mountain, Arizona, March 2019

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On Wednesday, March 6, I joined the Southern Arizona Hiking Club (SAHC) for a climb of Picketpost Mountain, a peak rising to the west above Superior, Arizona. Picketpost Mountain has only 4375 feet of elevation but 1455 feet of topographic prominence, making it the 160th most prominent peak in Arizona.

Picketpost Mountain from the Arizona Trail
Picketpost Mountain from the Arizona Trail

From US Highway 60 the mountain appears surrounded by high cliffs and steep, narrow gullies. I have wanted to visit it since Linda and I visited the nearby Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park a few years ago.

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Mesquite Benchmark, Arizona, March 2019

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On Saturday, March 2, I joined Matthias Stender, Scott Peavy, and Michael Vincent on a climb of Mesquite Benchmark, the highpoint of the Mesquite Mountains of Pima County southwest of Sells, Arizona. Mesquite Benchmark has 3789 feet of elevation and 1769 feet of topographic prominence, tying it as the 98th most prominent peak in Arizona.

Saguaro cactus are joined by organ pipe cactus as we enter the canyon below Mesquite Benchmark.
Saguaro cactus are joined by organ pipe cactus as we enter the canyon below Mesquite Benchmark.

I met the others where Indian Road 21 heads south off AZ 86 Saturday morning. From there we drove south through the village of Pisinimo and by a few isolated residences. We encountered very little traffic south of Pisinimo except for several Border Patrol vehicles heading in both directions. The paved road deteriorated quickly.

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Cimarron Peak, Arizona, February 2019

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On Sunday, February 17, I joined Eric Kassan, Stacey Samuels, and Adam Humphreys on a hike of Cimarron Peak in Southern Arizona. Cimarron Peak lies west of the village of Kaka and north of the village of Hickiwan, Arizona. The peak has been of interest to me for several seasons in Arizona. It has only 4124 feet of elevation, but 1984 feet of topographic prominence, making it the 74th most prominent peak in Arizona.

Cimarron Peak from Rabia Benchmark
Cimarron Peak is the broad peak in the center horizon in this view from Rabia Benchmark (Sierra Blanca highpoint)

Cimarron Peak also has 26 miles of isolation, meaning the nearest peak higher than it is 26 miles away. This makes it the 36th most isolated peak in Arizona. It certainly feels isolated, as it is miles from paved roads and the road providing best access to it has some nasty erosion in spots. Cimarron Peak has few visitors and visiting it seems an adventure in exploration.

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