Larry the Snail 4431, AZ

Overview
This conspicuous spire can frequently be noticed from many places in the eastern Superstitions. Not to be confused with Gary the Snail, an unofficially named Grand Canyon summit located south of Siegfried Pyre. Larry was SpongeBob's rebound rescue after Gary decided to leave him and live with Patrick. Both of these snails "are really different than Jerry".


Approach
Depicted on the ©1997 Beartooth Maps topographic map, an old road is shown forking north from the Miles Ranch TH road (FR 287A). There's limited space for one vehicle along the road, which is two miles after one turns left from FR 287 of the mine area approach. Larry can easily be observed from this spot because of the road break in the jungly verdure.Hike
Follow the old road north, past a jenky camp, where it transitions to a wash. After some short meanderings, several beaten-down cattle trails switchback up the ridgeline. These trails wander through the Catclaw Acacia and Mesquite, essentially leading to the base of the snail. One may scramble the slope between the Breccia and Rhyolite motifs, passing through a short tunnel before reaching a col that accesses the steep southeastern arete. Fairly solid and relatively easy class three climbing leads to the summit. An angry, barking, and hissing squirrel (Sandy Cheeks?) was near what I think may have been a cairn and I wouldn't be surprised if others have already been to this summit.

Synopsis
A unique peak when compared to the surrounding monotonous landscape with an easy, somewhat off-trail approach hike. The snail's eastern face could sport some minimally chossy technical climbs if one was so inclined to put in some effort.

2024-01-27 pseudalpine