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| Hiking | 15.73 Miles |
4,423 AEG |
| | Hiking | 15.73 Miles | 10 Hrs 13 Mns | | 1.77 mph |
| 4,423 ft AEG | 1 Hour 19 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | Be it life or anything new, you subconsciously create your opportunities. In trying to figure out Brown's Peak, the bases were loaded for decades. The Wata Ridges grace USGS topo maps diagonal and vertical. Specifically what it represents is pretty clear.
After 25 years of daydreaming about hiking The Wata Ridges, I figured it was best to get out while possible. I quietly added the loop as an option on Dec 11th. After being ignored, the response solidified to Wata-what on multiple occasions. On my third try, Zeus, I mean Bruce converted one evil from Pandora's box and granted the hike of the century.
Access is through a break in the tail of the SW ridge off Mine Mountain. A mini-adventure in itself.
While the north drops to Cottonwood Creek, getting to the base of Wata south ridge is an extra 1.6 miles. Part of it is sketchy side skirting a slope.
Based on grade I choose to ascend the main south ridge and descend the north ridge. The north eases down over more distance to a 700ft/mile followed by a 900ft/0.9-mi. The south has two 1k/1-mi ascents with a breather between. All I needed to do was sucker the geezer up to the breather as not following through would be worse.
A far-fetched option to continue further up wasn't in the cards. We couldn't see the peaks due to clouds, it was windy and cold. For the best or it would have been too much with my slow descending. The final 900ft drop is through intense healthy cholla among other cacti.
Our return over the break in the tail of the SW ridge off Mine Mountain was much easier. Bruce suggested we go over a saddle at 2,800 ft. Half of the ascent was a flat packed creek, then easy ascending compared to the previous 8+ hours. The flipside played the same smooth jazz.
Synopsis
An excellent annual hike in itself. Currently, not as popular as the Four Peaks Circumference. The net reward won't fulfill the masses. Like Woods Canyon and countless others, the highlight can be attained much easier by crybabies sniffling up a storm about overcrowding. Cry less, hike more! |
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Wildflowers Observation Moderate
Desert Marigold, Dichelostemma capitatum, wiry lotus, lupine, primrose, poppies, fairy duster, gnarly stalks growing for Arizona Thistle, chia, brittlebush, several others |
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