GlassMountains Trip Reports

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 Leave a 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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Pinkley Peak, Arizona, December 2023

January 5, 2024 by Paul McClellan 1 Comment

On Saturday morning, December 23, I left Linda and our dogs at the Twin Peaks Campground in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument for a climb of nearby Pinkley Peak. Pinkley Peak is the highpoint of the Puerto Blanco Mountains. It has 1345 feet of topographic prominence and has a rocky and complex structure that provides interesting climbing. Linda later took the dogs out to explore the monument on their own.

An afternoon view of Pinkley Peak from the Puerto Blanco Drive

I drove past the Kris Eggle Visitor Center and north onto the Puerto Blanco Drive, admiring views of and photographing Pinkley Peak as I approached it. I parked at a picnic area immediately east of Pinkley Peak.

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Navajo Nation Peaks, Arizona, November 2023

November 26, 2023 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

In November I visited the Navajo Nation in northeast Arizona to hike three prominent Navajo Nation peaks before winter settled in. My goal was to hike the highpoint of Black Mesa and the summits of Pastora Peak and Roof Butte.

On Thursday, November 9, I drove from Tucson to Chinle, Arizona. I stopped at the “Tseyi Heritage Cottonwood Campground at Canyon De Chelly” and purchased a Navajo Nation hiking permit for the next three days. During the previous phone calls and when I arrived the people there were friendly and helpful. A young woman issued my Navajo Nation hiking permit for Black Mesa, Pastora Peak, and Roof Butte and checked me in to the campground where I spent that night.

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