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| Buzzards Roost from Peralta, AZ | |
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| | Buzzards Roost from Peralta, AZ | | | |
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Buzzards Roost from Peralta, AZ
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| Hiking | 15.77 Miles |
2,901 AEG |
| | Hiking | 15.77 Miles | 9 Hrs 45 Mns | | 1.84 mph |
| 2,901 ft AEG | 1 Hour 12 Mns Break | 18 LBS Pack | | |
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none
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| no partners | | I’ve been eying this one for years, especially a year after a half-hearted attempt as a (insane) side trip along Red Tanks super loop. Shawn and I got an unavoidable late start (9:45am when we arrived) and had to park at the lower lot for Peralta TH – no biggie. Following JuanJaimeiii’s route, choosing Peralta due to vehicle, we set out on Lost Dutchman 104 to Coffee Flat 108 just passed Reed’s Water (6-6.08 miles in) before finding a reasonable ‘opening’ to make the approach, gain and ride a ridge toward the gulley/ravine to the summit. I ended up skirting the creek bed and cutting toward the base of the mountain much earlier than JJ’s route which stays a little higher on the ridge and cuts up much later. By the time we’d had to do more bushwhacking and warm up scrambling than necessary it was apparent referencing the route how much we could’ve avoided, though I’m not gonna lie, you will bushwhack and weave still. Short version: When you cut over from CF 108, ride that ridge to where the creek stops on the topo before turning (R) to approach the gully/ravine to the summit or things get a little more ‘fun’ – you want to avoid being up against the cliffed out mountain side only to end up descending then over to get to the better turning point.
The gully/ravine was super choked with various shrubs/trees. I took the L side approach, Shawn took the R and I think Shawn’s was the better choice. Once we got through that part, it was time to scramble a few short class 3ish sections with loose soil and scree in areas, but doable. When you get to the alcoves area, you need to veer L across a large bouldered area and then turn R/up, where you will shortly encounter the infamous ‘cabled section’. As ssk44 says, “The cable section is a 25 foot +/- crowned rolling bolder climb with very small holds for your hands and feet.” That cable is only a pencil thick and while the bare cable looked fine, the covering was cracked, looking suspect. We just scrambled up to the R into a quick/narrow ‘chute’ finally greeted with a flat bench below the dome like summit you’ve seen along the way (amazing 360 views already). The summit of the Roost is self-explanatory. We hung out on top strategizing our down route of the other side toward the 4X4 road in Whitlow Canyon while enjoying tasty craft trail suds and lunch. The views… wow.  Randolph, Fraser, and Whitlow Canyons, Superstition Mountain, Miners/Weaver’s Needle, Cathedral Rock, Coffee Flat and too many other mountains to name in the distance… and that’s just 120 degrees or so NW-ENE. The Hewitt Canyon views are spectacular, San Tans, Tucson... You get the idea – One of the best views in the Superstitions (okay, a mile outside of).
We returned down the same way, though considered trying at least on other. After rounding the summit base, we sort of winged it, tapping into a game trail once or twice, but I’d follow anyone else’s route, but the one we took. I slipped no less than 4 times on loose scree or loosed dirt or both, one of them required a 20 min. break to remove the teddy-bear cholla arm from my left hip area. However… our route cut time off getting to the 4X4 road in Whitlow Canyon, which is an awesome area. The creek was flowing strong and tasted awesome. Saw a cool, working trough along the way and the best profile view of Buzzards Roost, I’ve seen. We quickly reached 108 without any major obstacles (b/c there’s a trail almost the entire way) and took it back to Peralta TH, enjoying twilight views of Miners Needle, Cathedral Rock and Superstition Mountain (late start required a head lamp for a couple miles at the end). |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
Wildflowers were still around, but noticeably dying down. |
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Milk Ranch Creek |
Medium flow |
Medium flow |
| | | There was tons of cool, crisp water that tasted awesome (yes, I filter). Almost put Heavy flow. | | _____________________
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