Black Mountain 3306 - Table Top Wilderness, AZ

Overview
A point-to-point (one-way) summit route that more than likely will be hiked as an approximately 7.5-mile lasso loop, considering that the Lava Flow Trail (Vekol) can be used in any number of ways, for a more efficient approach to / return from any of its three starting trailheads.


Hike
The most direct route is from the Lava Flow West TH, where one will follow the Vekol La HAZ (black official route) east. Busters Revenge splits off north (left) after a half mile. Stay on Vekol La HAZ, hiking east for 1.2 miles total, where you'll bear southeast (left), off-trail into the open desert, working your way up to Black Mountain's northwest basaltic slopes. It becomes a boulderdash acclivity, literally requiring hopping up thousands of black rocks that have been deposited over time with the occasional, white-stained perches from pooping Aves.You'll perhaps pass over the 2543 rise and reach the summit after ascending 2.63 miles total. After your break, pretend you're an effusive and inviscid lava droplet and slowly descend the steep south ridge without wiping out. Eventually, you'll get to a saddle and then angle southeast into a wash that links into the Lava Flow Trail after about 3.72 miles total. From this point, it's an easy stroll west and north through some dramatic Sonoran Desert landscape, 3.84 miles back to the Lava Flow (West) TH.

Synopsis
Less bushwhacky and a better-than-expected mountain summit. Fighter jets will pass fairly high, directly above (usually going southeast) throughout the day and one can hear constant rumbles of them to the west over the Barry M Goldwater Air Force Range. There's ample evidence of migrant activity in many areas, both on and off trail.

2024-03-06 pseudalpine