GlassMountains Trip Reports

Exploring the backcountry and wilderness of the Western USA.

Trip Reports

  • SITE HOME
  • ALL
  • BICYCLING
  • CLIMBING
  • HIKING
  • SKIING
  • FAMILY

South Mountain (Pima), Arizona, February 2019

February 23, 2019 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On Saturday, February 16, Eric Kassan, Stacey Samuels, Adam Humphreys, and I hiked up South Mountain of Pima County west of Sells, Arizona. South Mountain has about 4160 feet of elevation and 2020 feet of topographic prominence, making it the 70th most prominent peak in Arizona. This was my second visit to South Mountain.

South Mountain from Arizona Highway 86 northeast of Sells
South Mountain from Arizona Highway 86 northeast of Sells

We met on Arizona Highway 86 and I led our drive in on primitive roads through a lush and green desert. On the way I spooked four jackrabbits at different points. I had last visited South Mountain in November 2017 and had driving notes from that drive. But I was surprised how a recently graded road then had become eroded in only two years.

[Read more…] about South Mountain (Pima), Arizona, February 2019

Filed Under: Hiking Tagged With: Arizona, Pima County, South Mountain

Harcuvar Peak, Arizona, February 2019

February 14, 2019 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

In early February Linda and I and our dogs camped in the open desert near Vicksburg, Arizona, east of Quartzsite. We were boondocking, which meant we had no hookups but did have a lot of room for ourselves and dark nights. We spent three nights there. Linda spent February 6 and 7 hiking and mountain biking from our campsite. On the morning of February 7 I left camp to climb Harcuvar Peak.

Harcuvar Peak from the road hike
Harcuvar Peak from the road hike. My climbing route ascended the steep rib just left of where the road curves out of view.

From camp I drove to Salome on US 60. Here I left US 60 and followed roads northwest to near the base of Harcuvar Peak. Harcuvar Peak lies in the Harcuvar Mountains, but is not the highpoint of the range. The highpoint of the Harcuvar Mountains is Smith Peak further north, which I hiked last November. Harcuvar Peak does, however, have 2048 feet of prominence making it the 66th most prominent peak in Arizona.

[Read more…] about Harcuvar Peak, Arizona, February 2019

Filed Under: Climbing, Family Tagged With: Arizona, Harcuvar Mountains, Harcuvar Peak

Harquahala Mountain, February, 2019

February 13, 2019 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

In early February Linda and I and our dogs camped in the open desert near Vicksburg, Arizona, east of Quartzsite. We were boondocking, which meant we had no hookups but did have a lot of room for ourselves and dark nights. We spent three nights there. Linda spent February 6 and 7 hiking and mountain biking from our campsite. On the morning of February 6 I left camp to hike Harquahala Mountain.

The view from the Harquahala Pack Trail which climbs over the high saddle ahead
The view from the Harquahala Pack Trail which climbs over the high saddle ahead

From camp I drove through Salome on US 60, then followed a dirt road to the Harquahala Pack Trail trailhead. The trail climbs from the McMullen Valley floor to the summit of Harquahala Mountain. Harquahala Mountain (Yavapai: ‘Hakhe:la), the highpoint of the Harquahala Mountains, is the 17th most prominent peak in Arizona with 3461 feet of topographic prominence and 5681 feet of elevation.

[Read more…] about Harquahala Mountain, February, 2019

Filed Under: Family, Hiking Tagged With: Arizona, Harquahala Mountain, Harquahala Mountains, Harquahala Pack Trail

Early Glacier Climbing with Linda

February 3, 2019 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

Linda and I met in the Spring of 1990 through the Chemeketans, a climbing club based in Salem, Oregon. That summer we started climbing together on rock, snow, and ice. Here I describe some of the mixed climbs we shared while getting to know each other. These were club climbs and I have fond memories of our experiences and those we shared them with.

Mount Jefferson, Oregon Cascades

Mount Jefferson, Oregon Cascades, from the Whitewater Trail
Mount Jefferson, Oregon Cascades, from the Whitewater Trail

In June of 1990 Linda and I joined Betsy, Nancy, Bill, Darcy, Debra, Leah, Roy, George, and Tom on a Chemeketan climb of Mount Jefferson, the second-highest peak in Oregon.

[Read more…] about Early Glacier Climbing with Linda

Filed Under: Climbing, Family Tagged With: Eliot Glacier, Glacier Climbing, Kautz Glacier, Mount Jefferson, Mount Rainier, Sloan Peak

« Previous Page
Next Page »

RECENT POSTS

  • Glacier Mountain, Oregon, July 2026
  • Baldy Mountain, Oregon, June 2026
  • Cookes Peak, New Mexico, February 2026
  • Tandem Skydiving, Oregon, August 2025

MONTHLY ARCHIVES

Blogroll

  • Arizona Peaks (Peavy)
  • Cycle Uphill (Sharp)
  • Desert Mountaineer (Kasian)
  • Earthline: The American West (Van Winegarden)
  • jessb.org (Beauchemin)
  • New Bohemians (Rogers)
  • OtherHand (Tom)
  • Stav is Lost
  • The Mountains of Arizona (Surgent)
  • The Zenith (Baker)

Site content Copyright © 2026 Paul J. McClellan. All rights reserved.
Copyright Details
Log in