| |
| Mazatzal Suicide Ridge Peak 7403, AZ | | -
| 1 label |  |
|
2 |
-
-
| 1 label |  |
|
|
-
-
| 1 label |  |
|
1 |
-
-
| 2 labels |  |
|
|
-
-
| 2 labels |  |
|
|
-
| 1 label |  |
|
|
-
| 1 label |  |
|
|
-
| 1 label |  |
|
|
-
-
-
| 1 label |  |
|
|
|
| | Mazatzal Suicide Ridge Peak 7403, AZ | | | |
|
|
Mazatzal Suicide Ridge Peak 7403, AZ
| | |
|
| Hiking | 7.05 Miles |
3,369 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.05 Miles | 9 Hrs 1 Min | | 1.00 mph |
| 3,369 ft AEG | 1 Hour 57 Mns Break | | | |
|
|
| |
| Partners |
|
[ show ]
| partners | | I hadn't seen ishamod since a hike to Sheep Mountain last spring, and it worked out return to the Mazatzals today. We started ~7:15AM from Barnhardt Trailhead, and there were a few hunters in the parking lot scoping the hills. We started up Y Bar--my first time on that trail--and it wasn't as bad as I expected after reading so many complaints about the rockiness in triplogs, but I'm sure low expectations helped with the experience.
Around 1.8 miles in, we left the trail to head up toward Suicide Ridge, following a ShatteredArm route from a few years ago...we were encouraged by his mention of "reasonably kind vegetation." The brush was dense over the first few tenths of a mile and included some catclaw, but it opened up a little more as we gained elevation, and the foliage transitioned into more friendly manzanita. We pulled gloves and clippers out to deal with the thicker areas, and it was a steep stretch from Y Bar up to Suicide Ridge, with ~1,700' of elevation gain in just under a mile. I felt bad about suggesting this for ishamod's first hike in six months...he was going on four hours of sleep and tired legs after multiple sports activities in the past few days, so I don't think he'd describe this as his most enthusiastic or energetic hike  .
It was a slow climb up to Suicide Ridge, and we started working our way over toward Mazatzal Peak, but it was clear that we weren't going to get there before turnaround time at our pace, and I had no interest in taking any chances that we'd have to drop down off Suicide Ridge in darkness. We continued a little farther and made Peak 7403 our turnaround spot...not the same popular and scenic destination as Mazatzal Peak, but 7403 still had an impressive quantity of ladybugs worthy of a Mazatzal summit, and we could see Mazatzal Peak ~1.2 miles to the southwest. I somehow lost a glove somewhere near 7403 but didn't find it on the way back, so I guess I have an added incentive to return this way another day...
After a short lunch break, we worked our way back down Suicide Ridge and descended the 1,700 feet the same way we'd come up. The clipping we'd done on the way up helped a little, but it was still very slow...the footing felt less stable on the way down. On the hike in on Y Bar in the morning, ishamod mentioned how rocky the trail was, and I told him by the end of the day we'd be grateful to be back on Y Bar after what was in store, and that was certainly true.
Other than the hunters in the morning, we didn't see anyone all day, and there were two other trucks in the parking lot when we finished. Disappointing we didn't get to Mazatzal Peak, but the route we took really wasn't bad...no major obstacles, and I think with fresher legs and more sleep for ishamod, time wouldn't have been an issue. In hindsight, we should've stayed on Y Bar longer to shorten the slower off-trail portions and accessed the ridge just south of Mazatzal Peak, but it was still a fun day--great catching up with ishamod, and the weather was perfect. We'll be back to reach the peak another day... |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 