Riding Horseback to 5024

[AZLumberjack]

With all the talk about climbing over, ducking under, squeezing between and just trying to follow the maze of trails up to the summit 5024, I feel compelled to post a photo of Tom Kollenborn and a group of friends that rode horseback up to the summit on five consecutive Memorial Day weekends back in the 1990's to plant a US flag in honor of our military men and women who died while serving our country.

I have had the occasion to talk with Tom about this amazing feat but he refuses to reveal the actual route, saying that it's too dangerous for man or horse to follow and he wouldn't want to be responsible for someone's death or injury while attempting it.
http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=1392
This is quite possibly the route he followed....

[big_load]

That's very interesting. I now recall having seen this published elsewhere, and thinking that he must have been an incredible horseman on a special horse.

I think my problem with 5024 was fatigue and a little overheating. If I hadn't had to get back sooner, I would have rested for a while and then spent more time searching for a good route. It would also have helped to research it a bit more to know whether a good route even existed, but I originally didn't plan on continuing on to the peak. Once I got over the wall, 5024 seemed too good an opportunity to pass up. I just didn't have enough spare gumption to capitalize on it. Now I have to go back, but first I need to forget how sore it made me.

[outdoor_lover]

@big_load
When you decide to hit it again, I'll go with....Just don't pick June....

[big_load]

@big_load
When you decide to hit it again, I'll go with....Just don't pick June....

The top was pretty warm on a clear 70F day. The June sunshine must bring the rocks to tears.