Mohave Ridgeline, AZ

Note
This trail is not on current park maps. Do not hike if signed do not enter.

Overview
This ridgeline is a lost place in one of the busiest Phoenix parks. Lying in between the legions doing Piestewa Peak on the west and the steady traffic on the Quartz Ridge Trail to the east, this little range is all but ignored. A faint and unmarked trail crosses the summits of this unimposing group of six peaks, all about 2,100' elevation, providing great vistas and surprising challenges.

Hike
I began the hike on the north end for a simple reason. I was not sure where the trail came out on the south. Or if it would come out at all. Or just peter out somewhere in the middle with scary terrain. I came up the Ruth Hamilton Tr (#8B) to the high saddle after parking at the Squaw Pk Drive dead end.

From the Elydia Davis Memorial bench I headed straight up Peak 2141 on the S rather than to continue E on the Hamilton Tr down to the Quartz Ridge (#8A). I was unprepared for the steep up and down and in places a vanishing path that required scrambling through brush and over boulders. From below on Squaw Peak Dr the ridgeline had appeared so mellow. The inner two peaks, #3 and #4, had seen little if any recent traffic. Peak #4 has a flat space on top and ample room to stretch out for a picnic or rest. Someone, apparently coming up from the south, spray-painted the north face of Peak #5 with blue graffiti.

The end of the trail comes out on the high and unmarked Mohave connector above the #202, but getting there wasn't easy. The south face of Peak #6 is very steep with treacherous footing, so it took time getting down. I completed the loop by continuing on the connector trail up a hill and them down to the Mohave Ramada and back on paved Squaw Pk Dr to where I started. The loop measured out at 2.07 miles.

Check out the Official Route and Triplogs.

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2014-05-27 black_toes