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| Hiking | 7.15 Miles |
2,114 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.15 Miles | 5 Hrs 48 Mns | | 2.03 mph |
| 2,114 ft AEG | 2 Hrs 17 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | This peak has been in the back of my head for awhile now, I see it often being in the area around Lake Pleasant and also know she has a stubborn history of not letting many people stand on top of her so it was time to see what I could do. I headed on out early since I wanted to start hiking at first light to beat the afternoon heat and was indeed ready to hike at 6am.
I came in on Castle Spring Rd and didn't exactly know where to start from, I just turned on the gps to see what it said and how far away she was. After I passed the mine I saw a prominent wash heading right towards her and from here it was 1.61 direct miles away according to Mr. Garmin, looks like this was my trailhead for the day. I got everything together including my 60m rope with the thought of climbing up and being able to set up an anchor and rappel on down. I start in the wash and could see the top of Red P sticking out and with the early morning light hitting her she just looked so beautiful. The wash was sandy and winding with fresh land mines everywhere, I knew it would be a matter of minutes before I would see the culprits. I turn a corner and see some massive cattle in the wash ahead, all but one hurried up the hillside out of the wash when they turned and saw me, the one that didn't follow was the littlest one, go figure. I asked if he was going to let me by and when he heard my voice that's when he ran the other way. Thanks buddy. After a few more minutes I decide to exit the wash myself and get up and over the first hill to evaluate my exact approach.
Once on the top of the hill I could see the ridge leading on up that looked great so I had my route on up laid out in my mind. I head down the hill to get to the base of the ridge and that is when I heard my first of many gunshots going off during the day. It sounded pretty close and even seemed to get louder the higher I went as the sound bounced off the rock on up the mountain. As long as nothing was whispering on by me it was all good, this area is pretty common for target practice. The ridge leading up was pretty loose and with the extra weight of the rope I was carrying didn't make me too excited to go fast, but the constant looking up at the peak was getting me more and more excited.
I arrived up on the ridgeline and at the base of the peak right before 7:30, now the puzzle to solve was given to me, where to climb up? I looked over the first pitch I saw once on the ridgeline but it included a cliff hanger move with exposure so that one was out. The next section I looked over looked promising and would probably involve a chimney move to get up. I think I could do better, and that is when I spot a section that looked like the way up. I get to the base of it, put on my harness and attach the rope to me. I know i'm not protected but getting the rope up with me would allow me to rappel off to get down easier. I make the first move and it was still looking good, but then I hit a loose hand hold on my right side and on my left the hold crumbled on out of my hand. Those were needed to make the one move I wanted which would allow me to get up in my mind. I get down from this spot and look over to my right about 20 feet and notice an area that looked much better. I scope it out, shake my head yes and start to climb. It wasn't too bad, just a bad foothold where I was slipping a bit but had solid hand holds to get up the tricky middle section. Once I make my move i'm to the point I knew would be good and I would be able to get up, just one problem here. A darn catsclaw was in the way and snagged my hat, ear, and left shoulder and held me up for a few seconds. I get loose from this darn thing and continue on up, I see the ridge leading right to the summit and knew I was good. I pull the rope on up but knew I could down climb this easier than climbing up once I take my revenge on out of that darn catsclaw. I untie the rope from my harness and start to shake with summit adrenaline. I get to the top of Red Picacho and let out my screaming emotions, it was such a great rush for me that lasted probably five minutes or so. (And people still ask me why I climb up mountains) After I calm myself down I find the summit register where it seems like people think you must be nuts getting up this peak. I enjoyed reading the lines they all left. I enjoyed some time up there and looked over the traverse to White Picacho. It looked pretty gentle and decided to head on over there where I would enjoy my summit brew. I kissed the top of the peak and asked for safe passage down. As I thought, it was much easier on the down climb and I did indeed take my revenge on out of a certain catsclaw plant. I had to toss my pack down about 10 feet to make the climb a little easier. Whoops, I forgot my bottle of beer and camera was in there. I get down and check immediately on my beer, it was still good. I put the rope away and laugh at the fact I carried this thing on up here and didn't have to use it. Oh well, time to head on over to White.
Oh yeah, let me check my camera. It's good. The traverse on the ridge over to White is pretty straight forward and easy to do. I arrived at the base of White in no time and left the rope here knowing I wouldn't need it. There are several spots that seemed would work well to get up and I picked a brushy chute towards her NW side. I got on up to the top of White and let out another scream, although this one was not as good as the one on Red. But it was time for my summit brew which I was craving. Looks like some HAZers were the last ones up here, you know who you are. I looked over the possible descending routes and thought it would be better to head back on the ridge towards Red and drop off and head down a ridge adjacent to the one I came up. I kiss the top of White to show I had no favorites for the day and enjoy my final views from up top.
On the exit route down I came across a noisy burro and two deer who took off once I got a little closer. The burro just held his ground and kept on yacking away at me, I had to tell him I wasn't his mate for the day. I drop on in the opposite wash I came in on knowing it would lead me right into the main one and on out to the road. I came across a few more cattle that just ran off when they saw me coming. Back on Castle Spring Rd. and to the Jeep. "Base" the customary yell once getting back from another adventure. Awesome day! |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
. We went back to the saddle and Patrick was trying a route I had eyed on my first pass by. Todd tried the same route and then decided it was time to head to White Pistachio. We parted ways with the two P's.
I dropped Patrick back off at his ride, then headed home via Highway 74 and I-17. Fun afternoon.
