On February 5 I climbed Newman Peak, the highest point in the Picacho Mountains north of Tucson, Arizona. With 2529 feet of topographic prominence it is also the 38th most prominent peak in Arizona.
Newman Peak has a reputation for difficult access and brushy and rocky slopes. So I did my homework beforehand. I researched the driving route from online reports, USGS topo maps, and satellite images.
The previous afternoon I drove in to below Newman Peak from the south on primitive roads. I carried my driving notes with me, updating them as I worked my way in. My drive crossed the Central Arizona Project Canal without issue in two places. As I passed through the first of three gates I entered Arizona State Trust Land. I carried my annual Arizona State Land recreational permit.
[Read more…] about Newman Peak, Arizona, February 2016