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| Hiking | 16.11 Miles |
4,045 AEG |
| | Hiking | 16.11 Miles | 8 Hrs 53 Mns | | 2.18 mph |
| 4,045 ft AEG | 1 Hour 30 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Did this one in the winter and misjudged the melting of the crazy snowfall. The goal was to loop Mazatzal Peak with MDT and Rock Creek and the related falls using the Gila - Yavapai county line ridge to descend back to Barnhardt from the summit. Because of the snow and ice I called it a day after falling behind and without enough energy to get it all done.
The snow above the trail was knee depth or more, and it was covered in a thin layer of ice that I would punch through every few steps. The north drainage and its chutes were iced over along the water and barely passable with spikes. There was deep snow on the banks and for the scrambling up. Absolutely hand numbing. Because the drainage was still mostly frozen the flow wasn't too strong from the falls.
I'd seen cairns in person but nothing online about the county line ridge. It was the last obvious summit route for me to try besides the chutes west of the summit, which I will probably never attempt. Since the ridge gets so much sunlight the snow was only a foot or less. It was the easiest descent I have ever made from Maz Peak, and I would think to summit this way is also relatively easy, though getting to the last mile of Barnhardt certainly adds some distance. It is definitely the least steep approach to the summit. There was no scrambling, minimal bushwhacking. The toughest part, like Suicide Ridge, is the steep and brushy bottom getting onto the ridgetop, though in comparison it's very shortlived. Higher up, there were a couple stands of the best young ponderosa growth in the Mazzies I have seen. What the route makes up for in ease it lacks in excitement. Still awesome views all around inside and out of the mountains, and a good place for some alone time.
It got so frustrating climbing through the snow that I didn't take many pictures, but I'll post what I took if I can find them. |
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