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| Hiking | 9.08 Miles |
2,192 AEG |
| | Hiking | 9.08 Miles | 4 Hrs 56 Mns | | 2.48 mph |
| 2,192 ft AEG | 1 Hour 16 Mns Break | 15 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | This was a hike up to Red Mountain along the service road that heads up to the communication towers on the peak. This is a 4WD road in fairly good condition but very steep. Pretty much up the whole way with a few downhill stretches but that just means you have to make up the elevation drops. Great views on the top overlooking Patagonia with Mount Wrightson to the north, Huachuca Mountains to the southeast and Patagonia Mountains stretching south to the Border. The look out tower on top is unmanned and boarded up but you can climb the one flight of stairs to the deck around the lookout. The only downside of being on top is the constant humming of the air conditioners that are keeping the transmitters cool.
I took an off trail route back down the south side of the mountain along old mining roads and a user route by illegals or smugglers, lots of clothing and food wrappers in Spanish. It didn't appear to be recent activity though. Fairly easy return trip with the exception of one section where I cliffed out and had to head down a fairly rocky steep section covered in grass. Very slow going. There was water in the unnamed creek that drains into Harshaw Creek on the trek up and also on the route back. On the trek up the water in the creek looked pretty good and thought I could Refill water if needed but on my return trip the water upstream was really colorful, orange, red and even a greenish color (not algae). There is a lot of color in the rocks so I guess the water leaches it out, also a lot of old mining activity. I guess in a pinch it's usable, I didn't notice any of the cattle that use the water glowing or acting weird. Maybe I should say any weirder than they usually act.
Nice hike to a rather unnoticeable peak with a bunch of towers on top. Did notice a couple of other peaks further south that might be interesting to check out, Washington Peak 7221, Guajalote Peak 6490 and two unnamed peaks at about 6600. Lots of history in the Patagonia Mountains and it appears that there is more mining going on so history is still being made. |
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