In search of Agaves (Quartz Peak Trail)

[GeeEss]

I am Agave collector/enthusiast/hobbyist, and am currently involved in a personal quest to find and photograph as many AZ native Agaves as I can (there are about 20 in all). In my searches online, I have frequently encountered helpful accounts from HikeArizona and thank you for your efforts. I have hiked some in the recent past, including forays up to the top of Four Peaks and Thompson's Peak, but a badly arthritic knee that needs replacement has slowed my efforts considerably as of late.

My latest quests involve finding A. arizonica (New River Mtns), A. murpheyi (New River Mtns + Lake Pleasant) and A. deserti (Estrella Mtns). Quartz Peak Trail seems as likely a venue as any to find A. deserti, as your report notes "Agave varietals". This leads to some questions: First, I have no aspirations of actually completing this hike (I doubt my knee would tolerate it), but wonder if you might remember how far along before the Agaves showed? Second, might you have any recollection of a less strenuous path toward an Agave population in the Estrellas?

[AndrewAZ]

It's been a few years since I hiked Quartz Peak, but from what I remember and what my pictures show, you have to gain some elevation before you start encountering many agaves. It's not necessary to go all the way to the peak, but some climbing is involved and the trail isn't exactly gentle.

It's also the only officially maintained trail in the Estrellas. A rough road (and then really rough 4wd road) gains some elevation below Montezuma Peak and there's a rough trail to the old stone house that might get you close to some agaves.

[GeeEss]

Thank you sir, that's very helpful. I'm guessing it will be close to a 2 hour drive from Fountain Hills, and I'd hate to make it for nothing. As long as I know they're there, I'll reach them, hopefully at about 3000' or so. If I have to stop and catch my breath a couple times, that's OK too.

I can manage a rough road, my Infiniti FX does surprisingly well off-road, but it isn't really high clearance, so Montezuma Peak may be beyond my reach, unless the Agaves are actually within view of the stone house... Then I'd park at the "wide area with several campfire rings" and definitely give it a shot...

[big_load]

Good luck in your quest. I don't seek them out, but I make note of whenever I see a new one and try to identify it when I get home. After a couple years of talking myself out of it, I finally have the big Agave book handy for reference.

[GeeEss]

Thanks, I actually made the trip early this morning. There were no Agaves until at least 3500', and the population was pretty sparse. That said, I did manage to find exactly what I was looking for, so a very rewarding hike. You'll find an Agave-based photolog here: Habitat: High Above the Desert

Have you encountered A. arizonica in the New River Mountains yet? That one is high on my list right now.

Feel free to post up any ID questions you may have over at Agaveville.