This was a very difficult hike to even get to and from the trailhead. I came from North Scottsdale so went through Maricopa. I had read a lot of reviews about the challenges of finding the trailhead. They were all right. It was not easy. We first tried the exit at mile marker 35 off of Highway 238. It was pretty rugged to start with and we decided to go the “easier” route to the turn off at 91st Avenue “around the Waste Management Landfill”. Note that it is very easy to end up in the landfill which is not allowed and I was begging the nice men working there to help us find the way out of it. We finally did find the trailhead. There are tire tracks on the road with a lot of built up sand in the middle. Definitely take a high clearance vehicle. On our way out, the Google Maps directions don't work at all and we ended up on a different dirt road navigating through a gate and in a serious 4-wheel drive necessary situation. Since we had one 4-wheel drive SUV and one 2-wheel drive SUV, we decided best to turn around in the wash on a narrow road and try to make our way back near the landfill. Bottom line is that Google Maps were no help back in this area. The other hikers came from the West valley and said the road was so bad for their 2-wheel drive SUV that they decided to go the long way home through Maricopa and back track. Big rocks in the road making them drive off the road and through the desert.
We followed one other SUV into the parking lot that had 4 hikers in it. We saw a total of 6 hikers on the trail along with the four of us so a total of 10 hikers on the trail all day. We planned to start at sunrise but due to the difficulty of even finding the trailhead, we didn't start until 7:25 AM (also were trying to beat the heat).
The trail starts out flat and very well marked (I think it may be the only trail in the area) and then starts climbing. Up and up you go!!! The trail is very well marked until the last 1/2 mile or so. It is very rocky and continues to climb higher and higher on the ridge line. Short switchbacks exist along the way. As soon as the trail ends, you can see the peak but at this point have no idea how to get to the top. The rock cairns saved me. The last 1/2 mile is also large rocks that you have to maneuver over. I will be honest I was afraid of what was in between the rocks but luckily only saw one snake at the peak and it was a King snake.
Back to the cairns…I would take a few steps and just stop and look for the next place I saw one and would head in that direction. When you get to the peak, it is a little confusing on how to actually get up to it. There are a few areas around the back that looked more like a rock climbing wall. I ended up going up on the right side of the peak and found a place that had at least a place to put my foot where I could pull myself up.
The views from the top were amazing and the white quartz is beautiful (it looks very small from the bottom but a good majority of the top is quartz). I did break out my grippy gloves to make it to the peak and they were also helpful for getting down until the trail started again.
I was afraid I wouldn't get this one in due to not finding many takers given the difficulty of getting to the trailhead (not so much distance but more of logistics). Luckily my uncle and two cousins stepped up (although no one else made it to the peak). I would NOT suggest doing this hike alone. It is remote and desolate with spotty cell coverage. I say this mainly for safety reasons as the top is very technical and if there was a medical emergency, it is not likely that someone will just stumble across you to help.
It is also very exposed to the sun as you are on top of the Ridgeline the majority of it. I ran into someone that had no water asking if I had extra (not a good thing to be doing in 95+ degree temperatures, hiking in Arizona. I brought extra water and needed every drop of it.
When we got back to the parking lot, it was just our two cars. Again, just a super remote and desolate area.
If I was to have a vote as to next years Winter Peak Challenge, I would NOT add this one back in for a few reasons:
- Very difficult trailhead to find and even leave after you do find it
- I would never recommend doing this trail alone and not everyone has someone to always hike with
- Very off the beaten path and if someone has a safety issue, it is unlikely they will be found and cell reception very spotty (for me at least)
Other than the directional challenges and the challenges in the last 1/2 mile, it was a beautiful hike. The quartz at the top is stunning and the views are amazing. In my opinion, this was the second hardest of the Six Pack of Peaks (with Flatiron being the first) but due to how long the day ended up being and the stress of the driving to and from the trailhead, it is right up there.
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