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| Hiking | 7.56 Miles |
1,887 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.56 Miles | 3 Hrs 30 Mns | | 2.16 mph |
| 1,887 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Normally, I like to hike for a relatively level mile or two, to warm up my legs, before the climbing begins. Hiking Scott Mountain, it begins right away. Though 600 AEG in the first mile is only moderately steep — basically the same as hiking North Mountain in Phoenix — because the gain starts right away, it really got my heart pumping. I was about a mile into the hike, when I heard several shots behind me. (On the way out, the sign in log to cross Slash S Ranch had several “pig” [javelina] hunters sign in after me.)
I barely noticed the shallower angle of the 400 AEG second mile. Scott Mountain is visible from the trailhead, and throughout most of the hike. At the end of the second mile, the jeep trail passes the base of Scott’s southeast slope. It does not look far up to the summit, and you may be tempted to have a go. The dense prickly pear patch should dissuade you.
On the south summit slope, I spotted a deeply bowl-shaped tank with a good deal of water in it. The berm of the tank was about 10 ft. high, and made of loose gravel. Almost like overburden from a mine. As I approached the tank, I had seen a rusty metal object, so I went to check it out.
Mine Exploration Video: https://vimeo.com/476865203
After spending 50 minutes mine exploring, I got back on the jeep trail. Rather than turning north, along Scott Mountain’s west summit slope, I continued west for a level ⅓ mile, until the jeep trail petered out at the head of Jimmies Luck Gulch, high above Ray Mine. If you don’t like going off trail, or are on this hike just for an elevated view of Ray Mine, that OP is a good spot.
After checking out that view, I backtracked to the intersection, then headed north. In ¼ mile, the jeep trail reaches its high point, before bending to the right. Around that corner, you would have to scale some short vertical wall to summit. Instead, just before the lone tree that marks the bend, turn right (east) and head uphill. It’s steep, and spotted with rocks, cacti and fallen century plants, but the obstacles are easily avoided. Despite having to dodge an angry javelina, I made the summit in 20 minutes.
The Scott Mountain summit is marked by a tall metal pole, painted white and set in cement. The summit is very rocky, and I had to take care with my footing. I was a bit disappointed, as I thought there at least some sort of flat area on top. Camping would be difficult. The views, however, were fantastic.
To the southwest, I could see as far as the Picacho Mountains, 40 miles away. The Catalinas, east of Tucson, were visible 50 miles away. Cake-shaped Picketpost Mountain, only 13 miles northwest, was obvious. In the same direction, 30 miles away, I could make out the Superstition Ridgeline and, just peeking out above some clutter, Miners Needle. To the northeast, Pinal Mountain was so close, it felt like I could reach out and touch it. To the southeast were the Aravaipa Canyon Wilderness and Galiuro Mountains.
Most interesting to me was some large white buildings to the north, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. It didn’t take me long to realize I was looking at the mining operation at Oak Flat, on the top of Apache Leap, above Superior.
Speaking of Scott Mountain’s summit log, it was opened in 1991, and I was the first entry since 2013. After 50 minutes of shooting photos & videos, and reading the summit log, I headed down.
It's a bit of a drive from Phoenix, but Scott Mountain has good ROI. 
Hike Video: https://vimeo.com/476864787 |
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Wildflowers Observation None
El zilcho. |
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| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
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