Bald Hill - Arnold Mesa Quad • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Apr 04 2017

FLYING_FLIVER

Guides 1
Routes 259
Photos 10,458
Triplogs 293

male

Joined Jan 28 2010
Fountain Hills,

Bald Mountain Benchmark, AZ

Hiking		Apr 04 2017
		FLYING_FLIVER • Triplogs 293

Hiking	4.37 Miles	1,481 AEG

Hiking	4.37 Miles	5 Hrs 49 Mns	2.03 mph
	1,481 ft AEG	3 Hrs 40 Mns Break

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Bald Hill - Arnold Mesa Quad

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This was one of my favorite benchmark hikes, mostly because so many artifacts are still up there, and intact. Some items have been on Bald Hill for 71 years, and a couple items date back more than 100 years.

Bald Hill is about 10 miles southwest of Camp Verde.
Bald Mtn Triangulation Station is on Bald Hill, and was set in place by the USGS in 1902 - That’s 115 years ago, and the original 115 year old disk still looks brand new.
44 years later (1946), surveyors set more disks, two reference mark disks and an azimuth disk.

These 1946 surveyors are also the ones who put up a still standing, 6 foot ‘instrument stand’ over the benchmark and supported the floor boards with a triangular wall of rock about 2 feet high.
Even the rock cairn the 1946 guys mention is intact. I also found remnants of a ‘spent’ flare or two, possibly used for the Height of Light. The Height of Light was probably on top of the instrument stand, in order to be high enough to be seen over the many juniper trees on Bald Hill.
Bald Hill artifacts seem to be in a time warp.

I made the hike into a loop. The hike up to the BM was straight forward. I just moved across the high side of one mountain, then went straight up Bald Hill. After I was done on Bald Hill, I hiked in an arc to climb up, what surveyors said locals called ‘Little Baldy’. That’s where the azimuth mark was set. The arc approach avoided descending into a deep valley prior to going up Little Baldy.

From the azimuth mark, I continued my loop and ran into thick vegetation that looked very much like catclaw. Whatever it was, it had no ‘claws’. Maps call this catclaw look-alike area, ‘Brushy Basin’. I weaved my way through the thinner areas with only a few backtracks.

This turned out to be a fun hike, and sadly, my last Arizona hike for awhile. I’m heading back to the midwest for the summer. I have to launch a couple boats and do a bit of water skiing.
So, all you HAZers - Hike safe, and have a great summer.

See you in the triplog and photoset comment section.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Juniper

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Azimuth Mark Benchmark Historic survey instrument structure Historical Photograph Reference Mark Unknown Peak Survey Flares or Batteries?

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Bald Hill Bald Hill Tank Number One Humphreys Peak Porcupine Mountain - PNF

_____________________

Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost
J.R.R.TOLKIEN

Nov 22 2014

BEEBEE

Guides 13
Routes 100
Photos 1,794
Triplogs 372

51 male

Joined Jul 27 2011
Mesa AZ

Bald Hill - Arnold Mesa Quad

Camp Verde, AZ

Bald Hill - Arnold Mesa Quad

Camp Verde, AZ

Hiking		Nov 22 2014
		BEEBEE • Triplogs 372

Hiking	2.89 Miles	1,033 AEG

Hiking	2.89 Miles	5 Hrs 36 Mns		0.92 mph
	1,033 ft AEG	2 Hrs 28 Mns Break	18 LBS Pack

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I was looking for an area where I could hit 3 summits in one day and for at least one to be the first time it was on the air for Summits on the Air. Bald Hill W7A/YV-050 fit the bill. The hike and AEG were not to long which would allow enough time to hit 2 other in the area that required minimal hiking. I arrived at my planned Th around 845 and headed up I covered the distance in just over an hour. The brush goes from light to heavy with lots of rock so at times it was slow going. When I arrived at the summit I was greeted by a mostly intact tripod I have never seen one in this condition before it was cool.

I got my HF gear set up and began working contacts. I made a total of 40 contacts and 5 with other SOTA people in 5 different states on other Summits. CA, CO, OK, NM and GA. I spent about 90 min on the peak and headed back to get on to the next one Squaw Peak.

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Benchmark HAZ - SOTA ( Summits on the Air ) Historic survey instrument structure Reference Mark

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Bald Hill

_____________________

"I hope we have once again reminded people that man is not free unless government is limited. There's a clear cause and effect here that is as neat and predictable as a law of physics: as government expands, liberty contracts."

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.

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