On Sunday, March 26, I joined Eric Kassan, Michael Berry, and Adam Humphreys in a quite pleasant climb of Apache Peaks in the Tonto National Forest north of Globe, Arizona. Apache Peaks is the highest point of the Blackjack Mountains. It is the 36th most prominent peak in Arizona with 2580 feet of prominence and 6940 feet of elevation. Last April I hiked Aztec Peak and on the drive home I explored the driving access to Apache Peaks. I found the access roads to be in good condition and looked forward to returning again for a summit attempt.
A white gate provides access to the roads leading into Apache Peaks. Eric, Adam, and I camped Saturday night just inside public land beyond the gate. Eric had a quick dinner and we visited in the darkness under the stars as I made dinner for myself. We felt celebratory after climbing Pinnacle Ridge earlier that day. We had a new peak to climb the next morning.
Apache Peaks from FR 220 (April 2016)
After breakfast on Sunday Michael joined us at the gate. We drove in and parked off Forest Road 220 where our climbing route began. The Apache Peaks summit appears as a the forested ridge above the cliff band on the right in the above photo. We climbed up the prominent ridge in front of us and through the cliff band on the left.
