|
| | | Buckhorn Mtn 6612 - Camelback Peak 5663, AZ | | | |
|
|
Buckhorn Mtn 6612 - Camelback Peak 5663, AZ
| | |
| |
|
| Hiking | 14.29 Miles |
4,968 AEG |
| | Hiking | 14.29 Miles | 7 Hrs 57 Mns | | 1.95 mph |
| 4,968 ft AEG | 37 Mns Break | | | |
|
|
| |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | I'd had Buckhorn and Camelback on the wish list for a few years wanted to combine them into one hike. I started from Mills Ridge TH just after 7AM with an empty parking lot and mostly cloudy skies. Lots of flowers and nice views climbing along the first mile of Four Peaks Trail. The clouds started to clear off after about an hour, and it was quick, straightforward AZT hiking over the first four miles, with quite a bit of elevation gain.
I planned to tackle Buckhorn first and had a few route options mapped out but ended up following DF's Nov'25 route, which looked less brushy than the other ridge/drainage options. I left the trail ~8:30AM to start following the ridge northeast of the peak. The slope was moderate and consistent most of the way, and brush wasn't bad--there were a few isolated areas, especially higher up, where it was thicker, but generally nothing too sharp. Views of Four Peaks started opening up along the way, and this was one of the rare times when I kept expecting a false summit but realized I was looking at the actual peak. Overall, Buckhorn was easier than expected, both the brush and steepness.
There's a lot of dead stuff on top, and with a tree directly on the summit, you can’t really get 360° views from any single spot, but the views are tough to beat. I knew the Four Peaks view would be spectacular, but the unique vantage point to the southwest overlooking the Superstitions, the Salt River, and Hell’s Hip Pocket was a nice bonus.
[ youtube video ]
I wandered northwest along the ridge to get more unobstructed views of Four Peaks before starting down. It looked pretty straightforward to continue along the ridgeline directly over to Camelback, but I stuck with the original plan and headed back on Four Peaks Trail to approach Camelback from the southeast.
I left the trail again just after passing Buckhorn Crossing, and the brush was terrible from the start. I hoped it would open up more as I gained a little elevation...it didn't. I guess things had to even out after Buckhorn was easier than expected, and Camelback was the opposite. It was just under a mile to the peak and miserable most of the way--lots of manzanita and other dense branches, much of it shoulder height. The grade was a nonissue, especially with the glacial pace thanks to the brush. Scratches were plentiful...at times, I was standing completely on branches and not touching the ground. I did cross a few areas with some high concentrations of pottery but didn't see much in the way of old walls.
The brush finally opened up a little about a quarter mile from the peak, but the final approach up the SE side was very steep. It felt great to rest the top and enjoy the views while getting a break from relentless scratches. Camelback is ~1,000 feet lower than Buckhorn and lacks the open views to the south/west, but it's still a scenic spot with impressive views of Four Peaks, Buckhorn, Roosevelt, etc.
[ youtube video ]
I followed the same painful route down--slow and scratchy. The greatest sense of satisfaction from the day wasn't reaching either of the peaks, but getting back on Four Peaks Trail after coming down from Camelback. I took a break at the hilltop ruin and then finished of the hike, and the poppies had opened up over the last mile, with some other flowers joining the colorful party.
Nice to finally visit these two peaks...Buckhorn I would do again, Camelback would take some convincing after the bloodshed. I saw two backpackers all day, but other than three deer on the drive in, no interesting wildlife. I'd planned to drive over to Vineyard TH and do the short hike up to Vineyard Mountain, but the slow off-trail up and down Camelback was going to make it a later night than I wanted, so I ended up going with a shorter stop at Jake's Corner ruin on the way home. |
| | |
|
|
|
Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
. Moving on the off-trail to Camelback was brutal. The route off was good for about .25 miles and then was brutal. It was.... in the drainage out of the drainage snow traverses hellish manzanita and mean Holly. Finally, Buckhorn creek made for a nice way down. Next I went to the ruins and then did a little double time on the ridge. And pretty much stayed on trail until I was startled by a bright light down canyon. Next thing I know a aircraft is hovering with yellow/goldish lights. I got freaked out and realized I was off-trail but quickly fixed it. Very freaky night. Maybe it was some spaceship like drone that is being tested. 
or maybe it was aliens.
