| |
| Flat Top Benchmark Elfrida, AZ | |
|
| | Flat Top Benchmark Elfrida, AZ | | | |
|
|
Flat Top Benchmark Elfrida, AZ
| | |
|
| Hiking | 3.89 Miles |
1,050 AEG |
| | Hiking | 3.89 Miles | 3 Hrs | | 1.30 mph |
| 1,050 ft AEG | | | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | The previous day I hiked Black Mt via the Turtle Mountain trail which was a real tough one, especially the final bushwhack/scramble to the top. I camped after that hike North of Rucker canyon road, a few miles West of the lake.
I got up early and planned on driving back to Tucson because I was using my spare tire and didn't want to risk getting stranded anywhere. On the way out, I noticed that Rucker canyon road passed within a mile of this peak. I decided it shouldn't be a problem to drive an extra mile of pretty good dirt road with minimal rocks. Along the final 1.3 mile drive to the area where I parked I saw 2 groups of cattle near the road. The first group of cattle were scared and ran off the road then looked back to see what I was doing. The calves, which are very cute, get the most scared and run before any of the larger cattle.
About 1/4 mile later, I saw another group of cattle. This time, some of them were standing in the road. As I approached one larger cow with horns stayed in the road and didn't want to move. I got within 10 feet and had to honk my horn, then he finally ran off. Another 30 feet beyond that cow was a smaller cow doing the same thing. Again I got within 10 feet and had to honk my horn again, and the cow finally ran off.
From my parking area I walked North and had to cross through some trees and brush, and then go down into what looked like a man made tank/pond area. There was no water here at this time. Perhaps it was no longer used as the drinking source for the cattle that were out here. I did see evidence of cattle in this area. I continued North, climbing up an embankment and through more trees and brush and then down the other side. From here, I had a good view of the Flat Top Benchmark which was North of me. But, because of the contour, I decided to hike Northwest to get to a saddle and then hike East from there to get to the summit.
I walked NW across the sandy terrain. There weren't too many rocks here and it was easy to hike through this desert area because there wasn't much brush here. As I hiked Northwest, after about 1/3 mile, I ran into a barbed wire fence. I followed the fence West and within a few minutes found a left turn in the fence near a tree and there was a lot spot where it looked like other people have crossed before. I stepped over the barbed wire fence here and continued North from here. I was aiming for the low saddle that was West of the benchmark. The terrain got very rocky but there were some decent cattle and animal trails which I was able to follow for much of the way. I eventually got to the low saddle, then started heading East up to the top. I had to zig zag because of the steepness and rockiness. About halfway up I remember seeing a good sized tree all by itself. I walked right by this tree and kept going until the steepness leveled off. At that point, I wasn't yet at the summit. I still had to walk another 500 feet with a slight grade increase to get to the high point.
At the high point, I search a few rock piles and did not see a registry. I eventually found an ammo box on the North side of a huge thorn bush, inside the bush. It wasn't obvious and I was lucky that I saw it. Luckily, I had a small branch cutter with me so I cut a few thorny branches that were in the way so that the anno box could be seen easier. I signed the registry, took my photos, had a light lunch, and started heading down. On the way down, I took a similar route, heading further East. When I reached the fence, I had to back track a little to get to the same crossing area, but it didn't take more than 5 minutes to get back to this area again. At least I got to see a slightly different area of the desert on the way back.
Plants/flowers seen: flowered cholla (specifically candelabrum), flowered prickly pear cactus, ragged nettlespurge, flowered ocotillo, Arizona fishhook cactus, saltmarsh fleabane, Dakota mock vervain (also known as verbena), Apricot globe-mallow, Texas palafox
Directions: From the Willcox area, take US-191 S to Rucker Canyon Rd and turn left. There's a border patrol checkpoint on the corner of US-191 and Rucker canyon rd. Take Rucker canyon road East for 6.6 miles then take a sharp left on an unmarked road going Northwest. I took this road for roughly 1.3 miles until it ended near a cul-de-sac. A hundred feet North of this cul-de-sac it appeared there was an old cattle tank/pond that was dried up. Park off the cul-de-sac leaving room for any other vehicles to turn around. A high clearance vehicle is needed to get here. I didn't need to use 4x4 but there was some brush in the middle of the road that grazed the bottom of my truck.
Stats:
-------
Distance (round trip) = 3.89 miles
AEG = 1,050 feet
Strava moving time = 2 hrs 18 mins
Strava elapsed time = 4 hrs 36 mins |
|
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
flowered cholla (specifically candelabrum), flowered prickly pear cactus, ragged nettlespurge, flowered ocotillo, Arizona fishhook cactus, saltmarsh fleabane, Dakota mock vervain (also known as verbena), Apricot globe-mallow, Texas palafox |
|
| _____________________
Michael Williams
IT Professional
Rocky Point Vacation Rentals
Ocean Front Condo in Rocky Point, Sonora, Mexico
www.beachfrontmexico.us
 |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
