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| Isolated BM and Pistol Hill, AZ | |
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| | Isolated BM and Pistol Hill, AZ | | | |
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Isolated BM and Pistol Hill, AZ
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| Hiking | 5.43 Miles |
941 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.43 Miles | 2 Hrs 35 Mns | | 2.47 mph |
| 941 ft AEG | 23 Mns Break | | | |
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| no linked trail guides |
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| no partners | | Hike #2
After Sentinel Butte, I drove back up Pistol Hill Road and pulled into another of the area’s super sweet washes to park for my next hike, a ‘bifecta’ to the Isolated BM followed by Pistol Hill. From my parking spot in the wash, it was about 0.20 up the dirt portion of Pistol Hill Road followed by another 0.13 miles on the paved portion before my patience with road hiking ran out and I simply proceeded to head off-trail toward the Isolated BM, pretty much as-the-crow-flies. The off-trail was very easy going with modest margin for error between the brush, [which consisted of a beautiful variety of cactus, so some caution / ‘finesse’ was definitely required in order not to get nailed].
From the time I departed from the paved road, it was just under 0.60 miles to the base of the Isolated BM and then just under 0.10 miles to the top. For lack of a better way of describing it, there is literally this large, phallic-looking structure on top. I’ll get my photos up as time permits, but in the meantime, there are some good photos here, along with a more *detailed description regarding this structure [*see entry from 8/20/2004] – https://geocaching. ... 1820. There is also a logbook / register on top… but it is definitely geo-catcher focused [and actually placed by the same person who wrote the 8/20/2004 entry I referenced above]. I signed in anyways and figured I would give the geo-catchers something to laugh at, stating that: ‘I have no clue what geo-catching is; I was just out to bag the Isolated BM.
Next up was Pistol Hill. After a short, easy bushwhack of just under 0.20 off the Isolated BM, I picked up a trail for 0.40 miles that led me back out to the paved portion of Pistol Hill Road, which I followed for 0.20 miles before picking up a route that headed toward Pistol Hill. I stayed on the route for about 0.20 miles before connecting with the official trail that is shown on CalTopo, which leads all the way to the summit of Pistol Hill. Interesting enough, in two places en route to the peak, [one located along the route and the other shortly after having picked up the official trail], I came across the remains of what looked like old structures of buildings. I’ll definitely have to read up on the history of Pistol Hill…
Although not very long /steep, the trail leading to the summit of Pistol Hill is in great shape, especially given how overgrown things are this time of year. It was really nice to be able to cruise on autopilot at a faster pace than I normally go while bushwhacking and get my legs/lungs working a bit more. Sitting at just over 4,100’, Pistol Hill, [the highest of the three ‘summits’ I did today] is still nothing more than a ‘molehill’ compared to the multitude of nearby Rincon peaks that tower over it. Nonetheless, for such a short hike/small climb, the views are really stunning. There is also a structure right on the summit in the area of the highpoint, perhaps an old lookout of some sort? And best of all, [awesome summit views / neat structure aside], I was in for a very special treat: upon summiting and setting foot on the highpoint, I prepared to take my first summit shot [of the survey marker], when suddenly I spotted a pretty, red, white, & black stripped snake that almost seemed to be posing for me… right by/around the survey marker. Let’s just say it made for some really neat photos. 
For my descent, I followed a well-defined route that headed off the NE ridgeline of Pistol Hill…, then down to a saddle area…, then almost due East up to another prominent point [at which point the route becomes faint / almost non-existent but luckily visibility ranged from good to excellent]…, then down the South-most ridge of the two ridges that form a small horseshoe…, and finally out to Old Spanish Trail road. From there, it was just over 1 mile of easy ‘road hiking’ back to the vehicle. |
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| God save the Prom Queen, cuz [reality check!] AEG's King...! |
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