| |
|
| | |
|
| Hiking | 8.10 Miles |
1,833 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.10 Miles | 3 Hrs 50 Mns | | 2.11 mph |
| 1,833 ft AEG | | | | |
|
|
| |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | I plan on finally tackling Picacho Peak during this spring flower season. As Picacho is a 1,200 ft. climb in just under a mile (a very steep 25% grade), and my knee has been feeling better, I figured I ought to do at least some climb training. Maricopa Peak is what I chose. ⛰
On my previous Maricopa Peak summit, six years ago, I hiked Alta Trail east from 35th Ave. This time, Central Ave. was open — if you don’t count the construction zone all the way from downtown — so my trailhead was the intersection of San Juan Rd. and Summit Rd., in the middle of South Mountain Park. (I actually got stuck behind a bum & his junk on a recumbent bike hogging the only lane!) 
I went a ½ mile west on Bajada Trail, then crossed San Juan Rd. onto Alta Trail, which rises a leisurely 100 ft. in a ⅓ of a mile, before the real climb begins in earnest.
Alta Trail climbs 700 ft. in a hair over a mile to the top of the Ma Ha Tauk ridgeline. There’s a ton of switchbacks along the way. About halfway up, there is a stone bench, which I somehow didn’t see until I was on my way back down. 
From the Warrior Trail intersection, Alta Trail descends 200 ft. in the next mile, as it snakes along the ridgeline. Being mostly on the northside of the ridgeline, Alta Trail still had decent shade, even late morning. On my return trip, two hours later, the shade was gone but for one small spot. Alta Trail then climbs 250 ft. in the next ½ mile to the spur which marks the trail’s highpoint.
The ¼ mile long Maricopa Peak summit trail may at first appear obvious, but you may lose it: Keep heading east, towards the obvious high point. Take care with your footing going over the various rocky outcroppings. The summit will appear as two rocky knobs: The right knob may appear higher, but the left one is the summit.
There is a small, shady, flat between the two knobs. I left my hiking poles there, so I would have my hands free for the short, but tricky, scramble to the summit. I did not have a great deal of confidence negotiating the graffiti rock, but I went right, edging face-first along a ledge, maintaining three points of contact. (Except when my shirt go caught on a rock, and I had to very carefully unhook it, so I could continue.) Slipping would have resulted in a long tumble down the mountain.
There’s no shade on the Maricopa Peak summit, unless you count a small palo verde. But I took what I could get while I ate lunch. The smog over Phoenix was so bad, I could not see Camelback Mountain. 
Even though I took a summit photo of my hiking beer, I did not drink it until I was back on Alta Trail, as I wanted all my faculties while descending the summit knob: I went around the opposite side of the dark graffiti rock, butt scootching along that ledge.
I took two breaks on the way back down Alta Trail: The first in the one bit of shade remaining on the ridgeline, to swap liquids, the second in the one bit of mid-afternoon shade on the switchbacks (hour long business call I had to take). 
I took 16th St. back to Sunnyslope, which went pretty quick, especially by rush hour standards. *MUCH* less stressful than driving to Sky Harbor at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday (of all things)!
Hike Video: https://vimeo.com/512297321 |
|
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
One blooming ocotillo. |
|
| _____________________
| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
