Usery Rd to Meridian • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Sep 02 2024
		pseudalpine • Triplogs 1,290

Hiking	9.86 Miles	2,206 AEG

Hiking	9.86 Miles	3 Hrs 29 Mns	3.02 mph
	2,206 ft AEG	13 Mns Break

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Aug 07 2024

mt98dew

Guides 69
Routes 37
Photos 3,010
Triplogs 2,387

55 male

Joined Oct 24 2010
Phoenix,Az

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Aug 07 2024
		mt98dew • Triplogs 2,387

Hiking	10.09 Miles	524 AEG

Hiking	10.09 Miles	3 Hrs 4 Mns	3.29 mph
	524 ft AEG

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Early morning hike at Usery. It’s been awhile since I’ve done Pass Mountain loop. Thought I would do that and add on the Meridian and Usery “tails”. Parked at the Meridian TH and was on the trail by 5am. Did the loop CCW. Little dark at first, but lightened up within 20 minutes. I was hoping for another spectacular sunrise, but the trail did not lend itself to ideal viewing conditions. Still a pleasant morning with a decent breeze to start the hike (and temps were in the 80’s

). There are two opportunities to connect to Usery. One is marked as the Maricopa Trail. The other is marked as the Talon Trail. I did the Talon as an out and back and then continued CCW on the Pass Mountain. Pretty quiet trails. 5 hikers and 3 bikers. Did see a Javelina early in the hike

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Apr 19 2020

rayhuston

Guides 1
Routes 447
Photos 4,407
Triplogs 938

68 male

Joined Mar 09 2012
Gilbert, AZ

Pass Mountain Pass, AZ

Hiking		Apr 19 2020
		rayhuston • Triplogs 938

Hiking	6.26 Miles	837 AEG

Hiking	6.26 Miles	2 Hrs 24 Mns	2.61 mph
	837 ft AEG

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Out for some exercise on a beautiful morning. I started at a cutout on Usery Rd and followed the well used trail to the Maricopa Trail segment and followed that to the Pass Mon Loop trail. I followed the loop in a clockwise direction to the Pass.

This was going to be my turn around point but I wanted A little more so I went down the hill on the Peak 3004 Loop trail. When I reached the bottom of the ravine, I turned around and headed back. I was tired in the last half mile of the hike so that little extra turned out to be enough.

A little bit of haze in the distance but not a cloud in the sky. Tons of people out. It was awkward trying to provide enough room on the single track trail. I was trying to push it a little but couldn't really, not with so many people out in this new era of social distancing.

Enjoyable nonetheless.

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Oct 19 2018

jochal

Guides 2
Routes 25
Photos 1,890
Triplogs 604

41 male

Joined Sep 13 2009
Mesa, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Oct 19 2018
		jochal • Triplogs 604

Hiking	5.00 Miles	600 AEG

Hiking	5.00 Miles
	600 ft AEG

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Only went from Usery Rd. to Saddle and back.

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Apr 27 2017

syoung

Guides 6
Routes 23
Photos 1,125
Triplogs 593

46 male

Joined May 23 2012
Mesa, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Apr 27 2017
		syoung • Triplogs 593

Hiking	8.13 Miles	1,926 AEG

Hiking	8.13 Miles	2 Hrs 28 Mns	3.30 mph
	1,926 ft AEG

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Meridian Washes

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I have been wanting to get this one checked off for awhile now. I headed to the Usery Rd trailhead and made my way towards the mountain. The other day, I shot up to the Wind Cave from here in a really quick fashion. I felt horrible upon reaching the cave however. Today I took it slow on the ascent there.

Upon passing the cave I traveled about a hundred yards or so and just decided to head straight up from there. It is the most common area that I tend to come down from when descending from Peak 3127. I typically blaze a path upwards towards this peak that is different each time. I forgo the switchbacks and the confusion and it was nice.

I changed into my approach shoes at this point and proceeded onto the ridgeline. The first few up and downs were kind of gnarly in that I was expecting to see at least something that resembles a trail; nope. Cruising up here is just not possible. Ankle busting rocks are hidden by tall grass. This also leads you to not getting to fully enjoy the views unless you come to a complete stop.

As I dotted my way across the ridge the going was very slow. I just wasn't mentally prepared for this kind of slog after a long day at school. And this led directly to me turning this hike into a hellish beast on the descent from the ridgeline. Apparently, I was due east from the gps track of the descent. I was well in a drainage before I realized my error. When I checked to see where I was, compared to the track I had loaded, it was just easier to stay in. The drainage was hard and the most overgrown section of real estate I have ever tread through. I'll be pulling various deceased plant life from my skin over the next several days. On this particular path there was also a couple tricky down climbs. This section was .4 miles in length and took 28:56 to descend 561 feet. My average moving pace through there was .77 MPH..er what? That is definitely not my cup of tea.

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Mar 06 2017

syoung

Guides 6
Routes 23
Photos 1,125
Triplogs 593

46 male

Joined May 23 2012
Mesa, AZ

Usery Spur - Maricopa Trail

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Mar 06 2017
		syoung • Triplogs 593

Hiking	5.74 Miles	774 AEG

Hiking	5.74 Miles	1 Hour 18 Mns	4.42 mph
	774 ft AEG

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The views are pretty incredible along the way. I had never made it out in this direction. It really looks like a mini Monument Valley. The pyramid shaped peak really piqued my interest. Looks like I should plan a trip into the Goldfields. Took some long breaks just to enjoy the views. For such a short jaunt you get that isolated feeling quite quickly out here.

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1 archive

Feb 21 2015

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Pass Wind Ridgeline, AZ

Hiking		Feb 21 2015
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	8.19 Miles	2,192 AEG

Hiking	8.19 Miles	3 Hrs 40 Mns		2.47 mph
	2,192 ft AEG	21 Mns Break	14 LBS Pack

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	johnlp	lil_tortoise_hiker
	Tortoise_Hiker

A fun little in town hike with the Turtle boys and LP. I'd been to the Wind Cave a long time ago, but that was it for this area for me.

Denny decided on the hike and it got revised as we went.
Lil-D (Congrats!) always loves hiking with me and now JohnLP has made his list.

We started at the no pay TH on Usery Pass Rd a little after 6:30 and went CCW on the Pass Mountain Loop Trail to the Wind Cave Trail. We passed a couple of groups.

We saw a few more groups on our way up the Wind Cave Trail and headed past the Wind cave for Peak 3126. Next we had the Ridgeline to ourselves. The spot we dropped down, looked thick and brushy from above, but it was relatively easy to select a path. Going down the Backside, was Denny's favorite part of he hike.

We hit the Pass Mountain Loop trail again and it was clear sailing back to the car.

Lots of people out enjoying the day. There was plenty of poppin' poppies, Brittlebush, Lupine, and a bit of Desert Chicory were also blooming.

youtu.be/Uw1eZecs3HM

Congrats Denny on a 4th DOTY Award!

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Coulter's Lupine Mexican Gold Poppy

Wildflowers Observation Moderate
Poppys, Brittlebush, Lupine, Desert Chicory, Fairy Duster

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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

Feb 21 2015

johnlp

Guides 1
Routes 14
Photos 7,202
Triplogs 5,208

68 male

Joined Mar 16 2008
chandler,az

Pass Wind Ridgeline, AZ

Hiking		Feb 21 2015
		johnlp • Triplogs 5,208

Hiking	8.19 Miles	2,192 AEG

Hiking	8.19 Miles	3 Hrs 40 Mns	2.47 mph
	2,192 ft AEG	21 Mns Break

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	lil_tortoise_hiker	The_Eagle
	Tortoise_Hiker

We got started hiking at the crack of dawn from the free TH at the top of Usury Pass. It's just under a mile until the use trail connects with the Pass Mountain Loop Trail. After 2.7 miles, we began the ascent up to Wind Cave and the ridgeline.

We hit the peak on the south end of the ridgeline then started north. Instead of exiting to the north like JJ and I did a couple years ago, we dropped down off the mountain to the east. Going down the backside made Denny very happy!

Lil D has important business to take care of today so we hightailed it back to the car to get him home on time. Fun hike. Thanks guys.

Wildflowers Observation Moderate

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“Good people drink good beer.” Hunter S Thompson

Feb 21 2015

lil_tortoise_hiker

Routes 8
Photos 143
Triplogs 156

38 male

Joined May 23 2011
Mesa, AZ

Pass Wind Ridgeline, AZ

Hiking		Feb 21 2015
		lil_tortoise_hiker • Triplogs 156

Hiking	8.19 Miles	2,192 AEG

Hiking	8.19 Miles	3 Hrs 40 Mns	2.47 mph
	2,192 ft AEG	21 Mns Break

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	johnlp	The_Eagle
	Tortoise_Hiker

Some of this trail was pretty good and some of it was pretty crappy. My ribs are definitely feeling the spill I took at the end of the off trail portion. Some how we always end up off trail with Bruce or John ](*,)

always good to hike with yall though.

Wildflowers Observation Moderate

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Feb 21 2015

Tortoise_Hiker

Guides 1
Routes 148
Photos 9,924
Triplogs 3,652

63 male

Joined Apr 02 2005
Mesa, AZ

Pass Wind Ridgeline, AZ

Hiking		Feb 21 2015
		Tortoise_Hiker • Triplogs 3,652

Hiking	8.19 Miles	2,192 AEG

Hiking	8.19 Miles	3 Hrs 40 Mns	2.47 mph
	2,192 ft AEG	21 Mns Break

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	johnlp	lil_tortoise_hiker
	The_Eagle

Bruce is like a car salesman pulling the ol bait and switch. LiLD isn't big on off trail stuff so we start off just gonna do Wind Cave

Well... we were back when we said

. Great hike, weather, and company. The most flowers I,ve seen so far this year. Thanks, Gents. LiLD I hope you heal up soon!

Wildflowers Observation Moderate

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Tortoise Hiking. Stop and smell the Petrichor.

1 archive

Dec 12 2014

mazatzal

Routes 36
Photos 2,658
Triplogs 1,347

67 male

Joined Jul 28 2004
Scottsdale, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Dec 12 2014
		mazatzal • Triplogs 1,347

Hiking	11.00 Miles	2,980 AEG

Hiking	11.00 Miles
	2,980 ft AEG

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Lone Mountain 2809 - E J Peak

Usery Spur - Maricopa Trail

Brown Road Butte

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Took another day off and went for a few hikes.

#1 Pass Mtn ridgeline - had not done this one. I also went along to the high point 3312 and then down a gully to the NE.

#2 After Pass I took Usery road north and went up Lone Mtn - EJ Peak.

#3 Last and least! On my way back to 202 I took the quick trip up 9L peak :roll:

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2 archives

Oct 12 2014

mt98dew

Guides 69
Routes 37
Photos 3,010
Triplogs 2,387

55 male

Joined Oct 24 2010
Phoenix,Az

Phoenix, AZ

Run/Jog		Oct 12 2014
		mt98dew • Triplogs 2,387

Run/Jog	10.41 Miles	706 AEG

Run/Jog	10.41 Miles	2 Hrs 23 Mns	4.37 mph
	706 ft AEG

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This hike has been on my radar for quite a few months. Today was the day make it happen. I actually drove by Usery Rd without realizing it, so I ended up parking at the Meridian entry point. (Lol). Got on the trail a little after 6am. Went counter clockwise. Erosion was evident throughout the hike, in some spots badly. I still wanted to do this hike completely so when I got to (what I will call) the Usery Entry Spur, I took that down all the way to Usery Rd., turned around and came back up. The spot where this spur joins the Pass Mountain is a little tricky to spot. Where these trails connect, its basically a flat wash heading west (this is the spur to Usery Rd) and what looks to be a very rocky trail heading east up Pass Mountain. When I got back to Pass Mountain I continued counter clockwise to complete the loop. Saw only 4 people all day and all of them on the Wind Cave side. Ok trail for jogging. The north and west side are nice though erosion is making attention to your foot placement more important. The south and east sides are definitely more rocky until you get to the top of the pass where the trail becomes more pleasant for jogging.

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Jun 24 2014

jochal

Guides 2
Routes 25
Photos 1,890
Triplogs 604

41 male

Joined Sep 13 2009
Mesa, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Jun 24 2014
		jochal • Triplogs 604

Hiking	9.00 Miles	1,248 AEG

Hiking	9.00 Miles
	1,248 ft AEG

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Started from Meridian, to Usery, and came back to Meridian.

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Feb 02 2014

AZLOT69

Guides 177
Routes 249
Photos 10,213
Triplogs 2,215

74 male

Joined Feb 12 2002
Gold Canyon, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Feb 02 2014
		AZLOT69 • Triplogs 2,215

Hiking	4.00 Miles	706 AEG

Hiking	4.00 Miles
	706 ft AEG

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Few others out today. Spendid.

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It's best for a man to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open his mouth and remove all doubt.
--Mark Twain

Apr 02 2012

Charger55

Guides 4
Photos 542
Triplogs 573

46 male

Joined Oct 19 2010
Mesa, AZ