Peak 2966 - Jinx BM 2880, AZ

Overview
A circuitous and disreputable counterclockwise lasso loop that integrates six of the major highpoints within the southeastern fringe of the South Maricopa Mountains Wilderness. Past this grouping, there aren't many significant peaks in this area of the range, besides some minor lower foothills and their accompanying bajadas. Half of this guide's summits are not officially marked, but the main three are labeled: Peaks 2955 and 2966; and JINX BM 2880.


Hike
The Official Route integrates walking most of the approach road into the Big Horn Reservoir because not every group will have the vehicle necessary to drive the 3.4 miles of rocky and sandy jeep road to the trailhead. If one has a capable vehicle to complete the standard approach drive, you'll be able to cut off about 4.8 miles of the total 16.2-mile total.Once close to the dry reservoir, beautiful open desert travel northeast allows one to eventually gain a steep bouldery southwest-facing ridge that leads to the first undulating traverse over to Peak 2955. From there, access to Peak 2966 requires a northern lower saddle crossing. From this second official summit, one can pick their poison to descend north into a valley below. The route becomes less bouldery from this 6.5-mile mark, gaining the low saddle to the north, traversing another col, and then more ridging up to Peak ~2912. One must backtrack from this peak a bit and then follow the path of least resistance northwest over many meandering ridges to reach Jinx BM 2880, where several minor scrambles up the southeast side allow access to the weird summit.

For the return, I chose FLYING_FLIVER's westside curving ridgeline descent because it just seemed much more mellow than the direct southwestern berserker slopes. One will then choose to follow the wash or skirt the banks for a while until the sandy arroyo becomes unavoidable where it sweeps through some truly impressive Saguaro stands. If on route, one will encounter the GAME WATER catchment before merging with the closed northern section of the old road. From this point, it's about 4.5 miles of easy, mostly downhill road strolling back to Interstate eight or only 1.8 miles remaining if one parked near Big Horn Reservoir.

Synopsis
Most definitely a fun, anfractuous hike that requires one to break the spell to complete a successful navigation of the multitudes of rough and uneven boulder travel. Not to mention the Cholla forests sprinkled extensively throughout the route.

2024-02-19 pseudalpine