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| Hiking | 10.27 Miles |
3,008 AEG |
| | Hiking | 10.27 Miles | 6 Hrs 9 Mns | | 2.08 mph |
| 3,008 ft AEG | 1 Hour 13 Mns Break | 15 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | This is one of those peaks that is in view from my house but I have never been up. It is not one of the more famous and often hiked peaks around Tucson but it is the highest northern most peak of the Santa Rita Mountains. Checked for routes up to the peak and found two, one from the west and another from the southeast. I decided to do it from the south starting at the Arizona Trail on Helvetia Road. Picked my route with the aid of Google Earth. Loaded it in my GPS and figured I would wing it when I got out in the field.
Started at the Arizona Trail along Helvetia Road, had not been here in 6 years when I was doing this portion of the Arizona Trail. Continued on the Arizona for 2.3 miles then started the off trail portion. Started up a creek that is one of the upper branches of Scholefield Canyon and then cross over a saddle to Papago Canyon. I would pretty much follow the ridge west of Papago up to the peak. My plan from Google Earth was to follow the creek bottom of these canyons as much as possible but knew that this probably wasn't going to be the best route once I got boots on the ground. In reality staying on the west facing slopes just above the creek and once in Papago Canyon following the ridge line to the west up was the easiest approach. Also found that if you could catch a cattle trail that was heading in the proper direction it made the going easier. Once on the ridge that heads up from the south to Mount Fagan it is a steady steep climb up. Encountered two barbed wire fences along the ridge heading up the south side of Mount Fagan. The first doesn't need to be crossed as it follows the ridge and I followed along it staying on the east side of it. The second fence comes in from the east and bisects the first. At this intersection is a good place to cross, If you aren't really short you can swing a leg over the top strand and gingerly swing your other leg over without much problem (If you are short have your partner throw you over). Saw two Deer in this area, the only wildlife I saw other than cattle. From this point to the top was steep and slow going for me. The footing isn't bad but the grasses hide the rocks and shin daggers. Being extremely exhausted didn't help much either as it made me more susceptible to tripping. Took a short 5 minute breather just below the summit at a place where it appears a mountain lion got a deer, looked fairly recent with the bones picked clean. I was wondering if the rock pile behind me had had a mountain lion waiting for me, I was too tired to care. Checked my GPS and I had less than a quarter of an inch to go and the peak was in sight so I continued on. Once at the top the views were as I expected, spectacular. Wednesday's storm made for viewing mountain ranges many miles away. There was still a little snow on the west and north facing slopes that the sun had not yet had the chance to melt. There was water in both creeks that I crossed due to the recent storms. Not sure how much longer they will be flowing but some of the pools may have water for a bit longer.
The hike down was pretty much the same way I came up with the exception I now knew the best route, having made the mistakes on the way up. I can now view Mount Fagan from my house and say "been there done that" but also say "I don't think I will do that again". |
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