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| | | Mazatzal Mt Peeley - Sheep Mtn - Peak 6910, AZ | | | |
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Mazatzal Mt Peeley - Sheep Mtn - Peak 6910, AZ
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| Hiking | 9.20 Miles |
2,588 AEG |
| | Hiking | 9.20 Miles | 7 Hrs 47 Mns | | 1.54 mph |
| 2,588 ft AEG | 1 Hour 49 Mns Break | | | |
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[ show ]
| partners | | I was back in the Mazatzals for the second straight weekend, and Sheep Mountain was the main destination, with a stop at Peeley on the way. There was one other vehicle in the parking lot when we set out from Mt. Peeley TH around 8AM, and the "missing" sign for GPS Joe was inside the trailhead sign, albeit tipped sideways inside the plastic covering.
Mazatzal Divide Trail is in good shape with minimal overgrowth, so the first two miles went quickly. We took the turnoff up to Mt. Peeley, and the informal trail was well-cairned and easy to follow. Near the top, we passed a group of five on their way down, and they promised that the flies weren't so bad at the summit. The views from Peeley were very nice--Mt. Catherine and Peaks 7539 and 7579 to the north, and Saddle Mountain, Peak 6910, and Sheep Mountain to the south. [ youtube video ]
The summit register was located in a rock outcropping ~20 yards east of the Tonto benchmark, not at the actual summit...someone must've assumed the outcropping was slightly higher. The original register log that @PrestonSands placed in 2011 was in a jar inside a plastic box with a newer notebook. Peeley gets plenty of visitors, and more than a few of them complained about bugs/flies in their entries  . After a short break at the top, we started the trek over to Sheep Mountain, dropping down the west side of Peeley. The west side was much steeper than the approach had been from the north, with a lot of loose rock.
The next stretch along the ridgeline involved plenty of bushwhacking and scrambling. I'd brought loppers, and they came in handy cutting through the manzanita. We repeatedly made our way up and over various rock outcroppings along the ridge...none of them were particularly high in elevation, but it was a rollercoaster of countless ups and downs. We stayed just to the west of Peak 6910, and after a few more obstacles, we finally made the last ascent to the top. [ youtube video ]
Once again, great views with Bartlett and Horseshoe Reservoir visible, the Superstitions and Weaver's Needle, Humboldt Mountain, Mt. Ord, and the other Mazatzal Peaks. One of the nice things about this hike is that the major peaks and landmarks are visible along nearly the entire route, so it's easy to see where you came from and what you're aiming for. We signed the "In Honor of GPS Joe" register, which was full of SSAR entries and familiar HAZ names. There was a lot of insect activity at this summit, too, especially lady bugs. We took a long break at the top and let the sweat dry a little before we started down...it was a warm day despite the elevation.
The hike back along the ridgeline went a little faster, and we had the benefit of the clearing I'd done on the way in when we managed to stay on the same track. I detoured over to the summit of 6910 along the way, and we took a different route on the hike out, swinging farther west of Peeley through an area with a lot of fallen trees. We ended up coming across an SSAR supply cache with a laminated note saying that the supplies were for the ongoing search for GPS Joe. It looked like they'd been out there for years--the plastic bottles were cracked and brittle.
We reconnected with Mazatzal Divide Trail and followed that around the west side of Peeley and back to the trailhead, and there were no other cars when we got back. Overall, the relatively short hike felt more strenuous than the mileage and AEG would suggest. No individual part of the hike was overly difficult, but the accumulated effect of the ups and downs scrambling along the ridgeline made it feel tougher, but it was a fun one. GPS Joe's disappearance remains a mystery...it's incredible--and sad--that no one has found any sign of him after all the extensive search efforts over the years. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
is what I felt. It is such an awesome area. Old Baldy was fun but this one is a hat wearing peak. Chums also helped bring the average age down. The Eagle is a generation all to himself.
I cry for joy and I cry for sadness but most of all I pray for Carys.
.Alright I believe him 
Thanks for going,men.
but before Peeley we dropped down to the divide trail and followed that back to the vehicles.
