"Turkey" Benchmark by Rincon Peak

[BubbaJuice]

Hey all,

While looking at benchmarks near Rincon Peak I found "Turkey" (https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/ds_mar ... Box=CZ1798). It is a benchmark with an azimuth and two reference marks. The datasheet only has one recovery from when it was monumented in 1936 by the National Coast and Geodetic Survey. There are no logs on the Geocaching page for it. (https://www.geocaching.com/mark/details.aspx?PID=CZ1798) The ridgeline and south part of the ridges seem grassy when looking at aerial images. Looking at Maxar and Bing aerial imagery shows a trail almost to the peak! (Google Maps link: https://goo.gl/maps/3avcPtDL68PMMLKSA) The hike should be less than 2 miles going both ways from the Turkey Creek Trailhead.

So, has anyone ever gone up to the peak/mark? If so, did you find it? What is its condition? Did you get the azimuth? What is it like going up to the peak?
If not, do you know of anyone that could help me? Any knowledgeable benchmark experts?

If you have any questions, please ask them.

Thank you in advance!

[chumley]

Hi @BubbaJuice

A quick search here doesn't show any previous mention of Turkey BM or Turkey Benchmark, and there are no routes posted in that area. See [ custom map :: map ]

As you note, it doesn't look terribly difficult to get to (hahaha, famous last words!) but it is a sporty 800 foot climb off-trail from either Turkey or Miller Creeks.

Our resident benchmark hunter is @flying_fliver (see his hike reports here: profile.php?u=51590&ID=46) but I believe he prefers the cooler months in the desert. Perhaps this one will make his list for this winter!

[BubbaJuice]

@chumley
Thank you for the welcome! I have been following the site for about a year now. Seeing all the backcountry hikes are really interesting. (Probably never going to do them though. I like on trail stuff.)

Who would prefer summer over winter when hiking in the desert?!

I made a little gaiagps route for where the route that was (basically) described by the datasheet as the best route. It says the northern ridges are steeper and they also have a bit more vegetation so I don't think an approach from Turkey Creek would be ideal. (I meant Miller Creek Trailhead in my original post.) [ Route Editor ]

Do you think this route would be ideal? I'm not very experienced with route planning off trail.

[SpiderLegs]

Well this year around Tucson, even the on-trail hikes are like off-trail hikes with all the bushwhacking one needs to do. I've never explored that part of town, but would be up for a little adventure.

[chumley]

Do you think this route would be ideal?

"The best laid plans..." -- you never know til you get out there and take it one step at a time. But that certainly looks like a logical approach on paper.

[BubbaJuice]

@SpiderLegs
Yeah I forgot to ask how much extra grass (if any) there would be because of the amazing monsoon season this year. My assumption is that grass overtook the sort of trail along the ridges.

[SpiderLegs]

@BubbaJuice - It's drying out pretty fast, but a semi-used trail like Soldier Canyon in the Catalina's went from being a decent width to about two inches wide and waist deep in grass last month when I was on it. You'd have no idea where the rattlesnakes are hiding.

[xsproutx]

@SpiderLegs
I've hiked around 180 miles in the last 3 weeks or so on various trails below 5k feet and it's been... special. The trails are insane with overgrowth of grass and catclaw (which is softish now but I think will firm up into blood letting goodness soon). I just got back home from the mazzies and part of what I did was on Barnhardt and there's a solid mile where the only indication of a trail is where the couple of SOBO AZT hikers have walked through so far, I think. I was walking through it at dusk and all I could think of were if the stupid snakes were smart enough to hide in there and ambush a dude who can't see all to well at night