Arizona peak-bagging, county by county

[azdesertfather]

Just saw an old article in Arizona Highways listing the highest peaks in every county ... which counties have you done?

• • Maricopa: Browns Peak (7,657)
  • Coconino: Humphreys Peak (12,633)
  • Gila: Myrtle Point, Promontory Butte (7,470)
  • Mohave: Hualapai Peak (8,417)
  • Santa Cruz: Mt. Wrightson (9,453)
  • Yuma: Signal Peak (4,877)
  • Yavapai: Mt. Union (7,979)
  • Pima: Mt. Lemmon (9,081)
  • Navajo: Unnamed Point on Black Mesa, near Kayenta (8,168)
  • Cochise: Chiricahua Peak (9,759)
  • Apache: Mt. Baldy (11,403)
  • Graham: Mt. Graham (10,720)
  • Greenlee: Unnamed Point less than 0.25 mi off US 191, just N of mile marker 227 (9,441)
  • La Paz: Harquahala Mtn. (5,681)
  • Pinal: north slope of Rice Peak (7,575)

[azbackpackr]

I don't know which was first, but the Post Office also discourages apostrophes and periods.

Way way way WAY on topic: There's a County Highpointer organization, but from what I've heard, the owner of the website has removed quite a number of really good hike descriptions because he wants it to look like he hiked all those peaks before the people who posted the descriptions before he did. So, beware of that club, because if the guy doesn't like you, he'll delete your excellent hike description. However you can use their interactive map if you want to, to keep track of your high points. A friend of mine "did" Nevada in two trips, as I recall. (And that state does have some pretty darned good mountains!) Trouble you run into in places that are extremely flat, where it is difficult even with a GPS to determine the high point of a county. The other big problem is Mt. McKinley. (That is still the official name of the mountain. The park is called Denali.) I'd probably be committing suicide to attempt it, so I won't. I know we have at least one person on this thread who's done it, right?

[FOTG]

@azbackpackr

if the guy doesn't like you, he'll delete your excellent hike description

Yikes should I be worried?

Re: Best Backpacking Libation
Postby chumley » Apr 28 2014 12:04 pm
@friendofThundergod
Joe hates you. ;)
2 members like this... like it too!

[azbackpackr]

@azbackpackr

if the guy doesn't like you, he'll delete your excellent hike description

Yikes should I be worried?

Re: Best Backpacking Libation
Postby chumley » Apr 28 2014 12:04 pm
@friendofThundergod
Joe hates you. ;)
2 members like this... like it too!

Haha! But did you look up the organization I mentioned?

[sbkelley]

Took me quite awhile to finish the County Highpoints - finally got my lazy butt up to Greenlee to complete them last July. It's - as chumley notes - a 6 hour drive! Was hard to justify that for awhile. Really liked Navajo County (Black Mesa) - just such different terrain.

And the organization you mention is simply called the County Highpointers Organization (cohp.org) - I have a few friends that are quite active there, but I don't frequent much. As you note, some of the county high points across the country are flat/have access issues, etc.

[mazatzal]

@sbkelley
Night hike on Mt Graham

[BobP]

@mazatzal
MT. Graham....It was previously Yeti land...and luckily I was able to get up there before he vacated the area....It was wicked cool.

[CannondaleKid]

I am the lone Navajo County voter, so far.

I guess that means Joe and JJ haven't voted on it yet... (both have posted triplogs)

[mazatzal]

@BobP Yes, the "Pinaleno Grand Tour" sounds pretty cool but did you really summit Mt Graham?

[big_load]

I've got four so far. I might get another four, but that's probably about it.

[azbackpackr]

I've got four so far. I might get another four, but that's probably about it.

Since I'm living out here in Williams I've been thinking about going down to Kingman to hike Hualapai Peak. It sure does look interesting! It's one of few "sky islands" in that region, with pine trees on top.

[SpiderLegs]

I just bought Surgent's book "The County Highpoints of Arizona" a few months ago. Figured that chasing county highpoints will give me a chance to see some corners of Arizona that I haven't seen yet.

[PatrickL]

Scott Surgent's website is very helpful for CHPs as well as a ton of other peaks across the SW/W. Highly recommended.

[SpiderLegs]

Scott Surgent's website is very helpful for CHPs as well as a ton of other peaks across the SW/W. Highly recommended.

I keep his website bookmarked. Plus he will email you back if you have any questions about the book or website. Always like it when a guidebook author is willing to clarify an approach or other trail related question.

[PhilMW]

I've done Humphry's and Brown's officially. I have been up Lemon and Baldy for ski trips, so I didn't mark those off...yet.

[FOTG]

@PhilMW

and Baldy for ski trips

Wait ski trip? Implying you took a chair lift?

[PhilMW]

@friendofThundergod

Sorry, I'm thinking of sunrise...my bad.

[azbackpackr]

Black Mesa, Navajo County, is going to be the hard one to get now, since the locals don't want anyone up there, apparently. Perhaps a permit could be obtained? Not sure anyone has tried that angle.

[neilends]

I've decided to target the 15 county highpoints. This thread prompted me to buy Scott's book too. Almost knocked out Mohave's Hualapai Peak last week but the work trip taking me there got postponed.

[RowdyandMe]

@neilends
Which breweries?

[Jim]

Well, I think we should all go hike Black Mesa!