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| | | Peak 7147 - Big Lue Mtns HP, AZ | | | |
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Peak 7147 - Big Lue Mtns HP, AZ
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| Hiking | 4.85 Miles |
1,409 AEG |
| | Hiking | 4.85 Miles | 4 Hrs 28 Mns | | 1.28 mph |
| 1,409 ft AEG | 41 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | This was a hike to the unnamed highpoint of the Big Lue Mountains, which is marked with an elevation of 7,147 feet on topo maps. This hike is in the eastern part of Greenlee County, not far from the New Mexico state line. In other words, it is deep in the heart of @PrestonSands stomping grounds.
I started the hike at a pullout on FR212, aka Martinez Ranch Road, about a half mile off of Highway 78. This is the trailhead for the [ Seep Spring Canyon Loop ] hike.
Before the hike I wanted to do some recon for the drive to another hike, so I drove about 11 miles on Martinez Ranch Road to the junction with FR 215. The latter part of this drive definitely requires a high clearance 4WD vehicle -- faux wheel drive won't cut it!
From the parking area I entered Seep Spring Canyon and then went up a slope to a ridgeline that I followed to the summit. I went southwest at first and the ridgeline curved and went to the highpoint from the southeast. The grade was not too steep, but there were LOTS of lava-type rocks littering the ground for almost the entire hike. It was hard to take a step without stepping on an ankle-busting rock. There were also numerous juniper trees to weave around along the way. The combination of the rocks and the junipers made the going much, much slower than I envisioned. It wasn't a real hard hike, but it was a very tedious off-trail hike.
I eventually made my way to the summit, where there were some really nice views to the west. There was a Lilley-MacLeod summit register dating back to 1990. I was the first person to sign the register in 3.5 years, so it is not likely that you'll see a mob of people up there.
I returned to my vehicle the way that I came.
If I was to do the hike again I'd be tempted to start on FR 212A and make my way into and out of Seep Spring Canyon before busting up slopes NE of the summit.
Synopsis
This is a pretty area, but the terrain makes for some slow, off-trail hiking. |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
There were a few flowering cane chollas. |
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| Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there |
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