Route Editor
Route Scout
Honestly, because it's there. by Mountain_Rat Over the first couple of month of 2016, I've been intrigued by a book entitled "The Rocks Begin To Speak". This books attempts to shed some light on the fundamentals of rock writing by native cultures. In testing some of the authors claims and theories, I set out to the Sutherland Wash, north of Catalina State Park, where I knew of a huge sampling of petroglyphs. After a number of visits to the area, and some basic interpretation of some of the simpler writings, it was obvious that the prominent hill, to the east was of some importance. I counted no fewer than 6, obvious references to it in the, over 250 pictures I had taken. So now, all I knew, was that this hill was important, but had no clue why. The next logical thing to do, seed to be climbing it. I picked a pleasant days to climb the hill, and used the basic routes that the rocks writings had suggested. One to ascend and the other to descend. Upon reaching the peak, I was no more enlightened by it's importance than before, but the views from up there are amazing. It required a notable blood donation, over some of the loosest terrain I've seen to bag this little guy, but I think I would do it again if I were out that way. If for no other reason, just because it's there. The track I've posted is but the way I chose to approach this hill. There are no trails to or from the hill in any direction that I could see. I do feel that the routes that I utilized were the best ways to approach it and I believe that those routes are recorded in rock writings on the boulders below. Check out the Triplogs. Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike & climb trip to support this local community.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.
Most recent Triplog Review
Hohokam Hill
I rolled out a little late today, as I haven’t slept-in in forever. I wanted to do something substantial, but was ill prepared, behind the ball and, well, I had no plan :/
I had wanted to get this particular monkey off my back for awhile now, as it worked out, I had time to do it and get my chores done. I started walking just as my phone chimed 10:00. The weather could not be beat. Never once was I chilly and only a time or two did I break the slightest sweat. I made great time out to the base of the hill, but from there it went to a crawl. I’m used to some sort of information, in a scaled form, to base my routes on, but this time, I chose them based on rock maps drawn by the long gone Hohokam. Call it coincidence, but the routes seemed to get me there and back through the only two potential pathways that I was able to see from anywhere along my hike. After a good bloodletting, I headed back to the car, the whole while wondering why the Hohokam held that hill in such high regard. I’ll probably never know.
I had wanted to get this particular monkey off my back for awhile now, as it worked out, I had time to do it and get my chores done. I started walking just as my phone chimed 10:00. The weather could not be beat. Never once was I chilly and only a time or two did I break the slightest sweat. I made great time out to the base of the hill, but from there it went to a crawl. I’m used to some sort of information, in a scaled form, to base my routes on, but this time, I chose them based on rock maps drawn by the long gone Hohokam. Call it coincidence, but the routes seemed to get me there and back through the only two potential pathways that I was able to see from anywhere along my hike. After a good bloodletting, I headed back to the car, the whole while wondering why the Hohokam held that hill in such high regard. I’ll probably never know.
2016-03-02 Mountain_Rat
