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| Cat Hill - Buckeye HP, AZ | | -
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| | Cat Hill - Buckeye HP, AZ | | | |
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Cat Hill - Buckeye HP, AZ
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| Hiking | 16.30 Miles |
3,694 AEG |
| | Hiking | 16.30 Miles | 9 Hrs 39 Mns | | 1.90 mph |
| 3,694 ft AEG | 1 Hour 4 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | This was a hike to the summit of Cat Hill (elevation of 3,681 feet and prominence of 623 feet), the high point of the city of Buckeye. This peak is in the southern part of the White Tank Mountains.
Some might think that this peak was named after a feline, but actually it was named after the Caterpillar corporation, the maker of construction and mining equipment. Cat Hill is part of a series of hills that for many years was a proving ground for Caterpillar earth movers. If the earth movers could navigate the hills they were deemed good to go; otherwise, it was back to the drawing board. There are a couple of massive pits in the lower foothills that were dug out by the Cat machines. There is also a scar in the road that leads up just to the west of Cat Hill.
About 25 years ago the land was sold to a developer and it is now part of the Verrado community. I had wanted to start hiking from the area, but I had heard that the area was closed to hikers due to construction. I did not want to go all the way over there and not be able to hike, so I hiked from the Goat Camp TH in the White Tanks Regional Park.
I was on the Goat Camp Trail for about 5 miles, then went through a drainage to get to the road that went by Cat Hill. I hiked on the road until I was just to the west of Cat Hill, and then off trail up a steep and rocky slope to the summit. I returned the way that I came.
The Goat Camp Trail was very, very rocky and unenjoyable for about a 3 mile segment. It is a trail that I might hike every 10-12 years, but that might even be one time too many.
There were nice views at the summit and I am glad that I went up there. However, if I was to do the hike again I would explore starting from the Verrado area.
I have now been to the high point of 19 of the 23 municipalities in Maricopa County. Still to go are Avondale, Gila Bend, Guadalupe, and Wickenburg. The first 2 of these are doable, but the last 2 have access issues. |
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| Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there |
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