Hiking Reports

Travel using primarily feet only. Hands might be used with hiking poles for balance or uphill travel.

South Mountain (Pima), Arizona, February 2017

February 21, 2017 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On February 11 Michael Berry, Matthias Stender, and I hiked up South Mountain of Pima County west of Sells, Arizona. South Mountain is the 70th most prominent peak in Arizona, with 2020 feet of prominence and 4160 feet of elevation. It is therefore an important peak for those pursuing Arizona Prominence Peaks.

The east face of South Mountain from the trailhead

I had read in a previous report by Scott Surgent that a miner’s trail led up the east face of the mountain. Matthias had a road GPS track accessing the east side of South Mountain from his friend Scott Peavy. This track helped us navigate the primitive roads off Arizona Highway 86 to reach the trailhead. The east face of South Mountain, lined with cliffs, rose above us.

Bassett Peak, Arizona, February 2017

February 18, 2017 by Paul McClellan 2 Comments

On February 4th Eric Kassan, Susan Murphy, Darin Wilson, Adam Humphreys, and I hiked Bassett Peak, the high point of the Galiuro Mountains and the Galiuro Wilderness east of Tucson. Bassett Peak is the 23rd most prominent peak in Arizona with 3123 feet of prominence and 7663 feet of elevation. The weather was ideal and the hiking was fun and quite scenic.

Bassett Peak from West Ash Creek Road, north of Wilcox, Arizona

I drove from Tucson to meet the others at 8 a.m. just off Ash Creek Road on FSR 660. Eric and I loaded up the others and drove further in on FSR 660. We drove our vehicles part way along, across, and through rocky Ash Creek until it was prudent to park. Our two cars just fit parked off the road.

Mount Glenn, Arizona, December 2016

December 19, 2016 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On December 7 I climbed Mount Glenn, the highpoint of the Dragoon Mountains in Southeast Arizona. Mount Glenn is the 30th most prominent peak in Arizona with 2840 feet of prominence and 7480 feet of elevation. The morning had high clouds but without threat of rain. The climb was brushy in spots but the summit had nice afternoon views of many surrounding mountain ranges.

Mount Glenn from Ironwood Road

I followed Scott Surgent’s driving directions beyond the water tank and parked at a pullout near an old structure.

Southern Oregon Prominence Peaks, July 2016

July 15, 2016 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

My peakbagging focus since late spring has been Oregon Prominence Peaks. I realized early in this hiking season that I had the opportunity to make very good progress on the list of Oregon’s 100 most Prominent Peaks. After earlier trips to the Siskiyou Mountains and Blue Mountains I identified four Southern Oregon prominence peaks as my next priority. I broke up the project into two trips.

Mount Shasta from Mount Ashland

Mount Ashland

Mount Ashland is the 15th most prominent Oregon peak with 3131 feet of prominence. On July 5 I drove south to the Mount Ashland Ski Area by way of Lake of the Woods. From the Ski Area I followed forest road 20 west and parked in shade near the summit road. I hiked the summit road to the summit located just east of the top of the summit lift. This was a pleasant road hike in ideal weather. I especially enjoyed the views of Mount Shasta and other peaks to the south.

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