GlassMountains Trip Reports

Nose Benchmark, Arizona, February 2024

February 19, 2024 by Paul McClellan 2 Comments

On Friday, February 16, I met John Ohm and Dave Kohnke in Oro Valley for a climb of Nose Benchmark, a prominent peak north of Gila Bend, Arizona. This would be my second climb of the peak, but the first for them, who were considering proposing it as an addition to the long list of Southern Arizona Hiking Club peaks. Not only would this be a new peak for SAHC, but a new mountain range for SAHC as well, as the peak lies in the Gila Bend Mountains.

Nose Benchmark from the northeast. Our route climbs the steep NE Gully just right of center.

John drove us from Oro Valley to Gila Bend, then north to an unmarked dirt road which we followed to a parking spot below the peak. I had learned two years earlier of this access road from a local farm hand who told me it was the only road open to the public.

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Tinajas Altas Mountains, Arizona, January 2024

February 8, 2024 by Paul McClellan 1 Comment

On Saturday, January 27, Michael Vincent and I visited the Tinajas Altas Mountains in southwest Arizona. This rugged mountain range lies within the B arry M. Goldwater Air Force Range (BMGR). Our goal was to climb the highpoint of Tinajas Altas Mountains. The highpoint has only 2764 feet of elevation, but has 1724 feet of prominence, making it the 103rd most prominent peak in Arizona. The rugged and rocky Tinajas Altas Mountains lie in a remote and quite arid portion of the Sonoran Desert, adding to the challenge. I was glad to have Michael, a competent desert mountaineer and Jeep owner who I have climbed with in the past, as a companion.

Saturday morning I met Michael just east of the Tinajas Altas off El Camino del Diablo

That morning I met Michael near the Tinajas Altas (“High Tanks”) parking area. The Tinajas Altas lie just west of El Camino Del Diablo, an important travel route for indigenous people, Spaniard explorers, and settlers/miners over the centuries.

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Black Mesa (La Paz), Arizona, December 2023

January 9, 2024 by Paul McClellan 1 Comment

On Saturday morning, December 30, I left my dispersed campsite south of Bouse to climb Black Mesa east of Quartzsite. As best I can tell, there are at least nine Black Mesas in Arizona. One each in La Paz, Yavapai, Pima, and Gila counties, two in Navajo County, and three in Maricopa County. Last November I climbed the higher Black Mesa in Navajo County. This time I planned to visit the only Black Mesa in La Paz County.

Black Mesa to the east from Road BLM-0059

Black Mesa (La Paz) is the highpoint of the Plomosa Mountains, with 3639 feet of elevation and 1659 feet of topographic prominence, making it the 117th most prominent peak in Arizona. It is also the highpoint of the New Water Mountains Wilderness. I often see Black Mesa when Linda and I migrate to Arizona. It was time to visit.

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Planet Peak, Arizona, December 2023

January 5, 2024 by Paul McClellan 1 Comment

I first noticed Planet Peak from the summit of Buckskin Benchmark in April 2020 and thought I should visit it some day. Planet Peak lies in the western extension of the Buckskin Mountains. It has 1541 feet of topographic prominence, making it the 141st most prominent peak in Arizona. It also has 20 miles of isolation, so it dominates the peaks around it for a radius of twenty miles.

Planet Peak distinctly rising about 22 miles west of the summit of Buckskin Benchmark in April 2020

Recently I researched access to the peak using USGS topographic maps and recorded GPS waypoints to follow the correct roads. I studied the roads using Google satellite views to verify the road conditions and open passage across the Hayden-Rhodes Aqueduct. I looked forward to finally visiting this remote peak.

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