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| Peters Mountain and beyond, AZ | |
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| | Peters Mountain and beyond, AZ | | | |
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Peters Mountain and beyond, AZ
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| Hiking | 4.10 Miles |
1,352 AEG |
| | Hiking | 4.10 Miles | 3 Hrs 10 Mns | | 1.37 mph |
| 1,352 ft AEG | 11 Mns Break | | | |
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| no linked trail guides |
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| no partners | | Peters Mountain is a minor highpoint overlooking Roosevelt Lake and attracts few hikers I'm sure. I decided to go because I noticed an interesting-looking stone enclosure in satellite pictures and Peters Mountain was more or less on the way.
I parked off FR445 and just headed up the most direct route/ridge toward Peters Mountain. Though it was overgrown and a little steep at the beginning it was a pretty quick trip to the top, with nice views of Roosevelt Lake to the left and Four Peaks to the right. Nothing much on top (a 2-rock cairn) but I noticed a collapsed, charred "height of light" (blackened stake with guide wires). More interesting was the system for collecting water for wildlife which is near the top.
From here I took the ridge SE toward the enclosure I had spotted. I enjoyed this part of the walk and was a little surprised I saw zero sign that ancient people had been there - no pottery or obvious stacked stone. As I got nearer my target I was a little surprised to see that it was on a small well-defined mesa top and the stone wall was going all the way around the edge - at least the part I could see.
When I got there I confirmed a good sized (2-6' tall) wall completely encircled the mesa edge. The construction was pretty good but probably a little flimsier than most really ancient walls...plus completely enclosing a mesa like this doesn't seem like something the Salado or Hohokam would do. I saw no pottery (though the grass could have been hiding some) but there were 5 or 6 "interior rooms" built against the perimeter wall and some blackened stone which indicated habitation. There was a deliberate opening to the enclosure (perimeter walls offset) which provides strongest evidence that this was used as some sort of corral. If I had to guess I'd go with later natives keeping horses there. Whoever it was they were tough and motivated because all routes to that mesa top are steep and how the heck would you get enough water up there to water animals?
I remember (but can't find) a log from @Flying_Fliver a few years ago where he visited a fairly similar enclosure 20mi SE of here on the other side of the Salt River. I'm thinking the same group of people built both enclosures. I'm curious who they were.
Returned the way I came but detoured to an adjacent ridge for the drop back to the car. |
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