GlassMountains Trip Reports

Exploring the backcountry and wilderness of the Western USA.

Hiking Reports

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

Webster Mountain, Arizona, March 2023

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On Monday, March 20, I hiked to the summit of Webster Mountain, the highpoint of the Salt River Mountains, a few miles northwest of Globe, Arizona. Webster Mountain has 1519 feet of topographic prominence, making it the 150th most prominent peak in Arizona. It lies in the Arizona Transition Zone, a physiographic region of Arizona separating the Colorado Plateau to the north and east and Arizona’s Basin and Range to the south and west.

View NW from the road. I followed the road up around the hill ahead.
View NW from the road. I followed the road up around the hill ahead.

Most of the hike was on a primitive road, sometimes quite eroded, sometimes in good shape, and sometimes a rocky path.

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Horse Peak, Arizona, December 2022

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On Saturday, December 10, Matthias Stender, Scott Peavy, Michael Vincent, and I climbed Horse Peak, the summit of Moreno Mountain. Horse Peak lies just north of the USA/Mexico Border in the Chukut Kuk District of the Tonoho O’odham Nation. Horse Peak has 4343 feet of elevation and 1407 feet of topographic prominence, making it the 178th most prominent peak in Arizona.

Our view of Morena Mountain/Horse Peak off Indian Road 19 at the Chukut Kuk District boundary.
Our view of Morena Mountain/Horse Peak off Indian Road 19 at the Chukut Kuk District boundary

We had been very fortunate to obtain permission to enter and travel through the Chukut Kuk District. Last spring I learned the District had a process for requesting entry, though I was doubtful that permission would be granted. But we were a small group of “avid hikers” and the District Vice Chairman and Chairwoman did generously grant us permission.

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Maricopa Mountains Highpoint, Arizona, December 2022

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On Friday morning, December 2, I met other Southern Arizona Hiking Club members John Ohm, Dave Kohnke, Tom Tutein, and Larry Wippman in Oro Valley. Our goal was to climb Peak 3272, the Maricopa Mountains Highpoint. Peak 3272 has 1432 feet of prominence making it the 172nd most prominent peak in Arizona. This peak is also a SAHC peak, which explained the interest the others had in joining me.

Two saguaros (one a crested saguaro) frame the Maricopa Mountains Highpoint from our drive in
Two saguaros (one a crested saguaro) frame the Maricopa Mountains Highpoint from our drive in

From Oro Valley we drove to the city of Maricopa, then further west to begin driving on primitive roads towards the Maricopa Mountains. As the roads deteriorated Tom and Larry parked their car and joined Dave in his Toyota FJ Cruiser. I drove my Jeep Rubicon with John beside me.

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Tidbits Mountain Lookout, Oregon, October 2022

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On October 6, Bob F. and I visited the Tidbits Mountain Lookout site in the Willamette National Forest of Oregon. This was the first time either of us had visited the lookout site, perched atop a rock pinnacle. I was hopeful we might also visit the higher Lookout Mountain summit atop another rock pinnacle to the east of the lookout site.

The Titbits Mountain Lookout site is on the top of the rock tower ahead
The Titbits Mountain Lookout site is on the top of the rock tower ahead

We followed forest roads from near Tombstone Pass and parked at the Gold Hill Trailhead. The Gold Hill Trail led us west through old growth forest to the Tidbits Mountain Trail. From there we continued west trail through more forest and across talus below the summit rock pinnacle. Finally we climbed up steep western slopes to reach the exposed and tiny lookout site.

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