Ives Peak 4072 - Arrastra Wilderness • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

login for filter options

Feb 09 2013

joebartels

Guides 264
Routes 2,797
Photos 14,494
Triplogs 5,894

55 male

Joined Nov 20 1996

Shiprock Violas & Ives Peak - Arrastra, AZ

Hiking		Feb 09 2013
		joebartels • Triplogs 5,894

Hiking	15.75 Miles	3,650 AEG

Hiking	15.75 Miles	10 Hrs 10 Mns		1.72 mph
	3,650 ft AEG	1 Hour Break	12 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Shiprock - Black Mountains

Ives Peak 4072 - Arrastra Wilderness

Partners

partners

johnlp

The_Eagle

Shiprock was remarkable. Violas was a pimple. Ives was enchanting. The hike to the base of Ives was nice. We wanted to hike through Joshua Trees and we did. However they were on the lower part alongside the jeep road, not in the wilderness portions.

The adventure began at the base of Ives. The scramble up was fun. A saguaro plastered with snow greeted us right when we topped out. It was a little windy and cold so we forged on.

Bruce wanted to return on the jeep road. John eyed a shortcut canyon. I had an idea of where I wanted to go and somehow worded it in a way to convince Bruce and John.

Luck worked over a blind horizon a time or two before we cliffed out. True luck IMO was that we were far enough away from backtracking that we could concentrate on the adventure ahead of us.

We took turns looking for a route off the cliff edge. This is called sending out a "test hiker". I jumped on the 1st and bombed. John checked an option that looked impossible yet came within 20 feet of victory! Then surprise of the day, year or life happened when BRUCE took the lead down a scree slide. It sounded like wind chimes descending!

We brought it home via the Santa Maria and Black Canyon Wash. It's been a while since I was so exhausted.

2 minutes and 46 seconds in the Arrastra Wilderness
[ youtube video ]
Route Fly Over
[ youtube video ]

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Joshua Tree

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Raccoon

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Benchmark

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Ives Peak Shiprock South Fork Santa Maria River Violas Peak

	Black Canyon Wash	Dry	Dry
	just a trace in spots, like quicksand drying out it wouldn't be worth your time trying to filter with Santa Maria nearby

	Doable Spring	Dripping	Dripping
	difficult to gauge, perhaps just runoff judging by the nearby growth, something trickles often

	South Fork Santa Maria River	Light flow	Light flow
	flowing nice over the ankles, typically 10-20 feet wide

_____________________

- joe

Feb 09 2013

The_Eagle

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

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Viola-Ives-Santa Maria Loop, AZ

Hiking		Feb 09 2013
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	16.30 Miles	3,928 AEG

Hiking	16.30 Miles	10 Hrs 8 Mns		1.78 mph
	3,928 ft AEG	1 Hour Break	16 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Ives Peak 4072 - Arrastra Wilderness

Shiprock - Black Mountains

Partners

partners

joebartels

johnlp

Another run out to the Arrastra wilderness. Attacking Ives Peak had been the last of our three original goals one of our there. I drew up a track that kept us on old jeep roads for the first 4+ miles, then a bushwhack to Violas Peak and finally Ives Peak. I had this planned as an out and back, because to me, none of the routes off to the West, North, or East, looked "DOABLE" (Phrase for the Day Alert)

The hike started just off Rt93, in the Joshua trees. 2 miles in, the focal point is a formation called Shiprock. We contemplated trying to find a way up it, but nothing was obvious, the rock was crumbly, and we were on another mission at the time. The jeep road we were on, starting at Shiprock, is one steep SOB. The road ends 4+ miles out, at the site of 3 tall old water tanks. The steepness does not end, just the road.

We made it up to the area of Violas Peak, but it was another one we were not getting up. It's a small spire with steep walls.

The views to the South at this point were just incredibly vast.

Ives next... The route I'd suggested from TOPO and Satellite views, did not look all that good in person. Joe and John took over and it was time to climb the side. It was not to bad for me, except one spot where I had "A Moment", but before you knew it, we were atop Ives. Luckily the forcasted snow the night before, did not materialize, there was just a dusting on top.

Now it's decision time. In lieu of the planned out and back, Joe talked John and I into making this a loop. Being the Lemurs we are, we followed. "Doable" was heard many times over the next 4 hours. Also the words, "Maybe Not". We headed north off of Ives.

There were were probably 3 "Doable" areas, that I never would have attempted by myself, but Lemur's John and Bruce followed on. After numerous areas of getting cliffed out, we finally made it to a ravine that took us out to the Santa Maria River. In the 3.5 miles, from the high point on Ives, to the Santa Maria River, we'd dropped 2400'.

Time to get wet again. We followed the Santa Maria for 3 miles, in and out of the water. We passed a couple of mining areas on the way. Once out of the Santa Maria, it was all dry land for the next 3.5 miles back to the van.

Video ==> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFB-8CntuXM

Another excellent adventure! It was Doable!

Thanks for driving John.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Joshua Tree

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Benchmark Mine Shaft Reference Mark

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Ives Peak Santa Maria River Shiprock Violas Peak

Black Canyon Wash

Dry

	Doable Spring	Dripping	Dripping
	Grassy Wet area with a little pooling. Could have been from recent rains

	South Fork Santa Maria River	Light flow	Light flow
	Cold Clear Water

_____________________

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

Feb 09 2013

johnlp

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

68 male

Joined Mar 16 2008
chandler,az

Viola-Ives-Santa Maria Loop, AZ

Hiking		Feb 09 2013
		johnlp • Triplogs 5,208

Hiking	16.30 Miles	3,928 AEG

Hiking	16.30 Miles	10 Hrs 8 Mns	1.78 mph
	3,928 ft AEG	1 Hour Break

no routes

no photosets

Linked

linked

Ives Peak 4072 - Arrastra Wilderness

Shiprock - Black Mountains

Partners

partners

joebartels

The_Eagle

Another awesome hike in the Arrastra Wilderness. The route we took up to Violas and Ives peaks was a good one, but I don't reccomend our route back down unless you like very steep and loose with some exposure. This hike has interesting geology, mountains, canyons, springs, mines, and a flowing river. Very cool. Thanks Bruce for putting together the route, and Joe for the nonstop entertainment (in between whines).

_____________________

“Good people drink good beer.” Hunter S Thompson

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

username		X
password		X