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Mount Ord from Bushnell Tanks TH - 3 members in 4 triplogs have rated this an average 2.7 ( 1 to 5 best )
4 triplogs
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May 22 2024
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 Guides 59
 Routes 1,100
 Photos 1,191
 Triplogs 1,290

male
 Joined Jan 01 2023
 Arizona
Cloudburst Canyon, AZ 
Cloudburst Canyon, AZ
 
Hiking avatar May 22 2024
pseudalpineTriplogs 1,290
Hiking17.49 Miles 5,126 AEG
Hiking17.49 Miles   8 Hrs   39 Mns   2.21 mph
5,126 ft AEG      45 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
Srv Rd 22
There was a guy out there today plowing this road with a massive bulldozer. They've also dumped gravel into a huge pile before the first Sycamore Creek crossing, so I'm assuming they may be prepping this road for reopening. That would reduce the mileages for a few of the hikes that currently are completed from Bushnell Tanks at SR 87.

FR 524
More overgrown since I last hiked this road in late March 2023. This road near Reno Pass is blocked with some large boulders, but OHV users have created a bypass route. I'm not sure why you would continue down this horrible road west of Reno Pass since there's a nearly impassable wash and gate with a road closed sign near the rebuilt corrals in Ram Valley. More examples of why most recreators despise the side-by-side crowd (making their own roads and not following rules). We had an OHV guy on Saturday complain that the smoke from our campfire was exasperating his asthma. Oh geez, the freaking irony dust boy! This area will be worse if it's reopened to vehicle traffic.

Cloudburst Canyon
A Deep Search comes up blank on HAZ for this wild canyon. I've had this on my to do list for a while. It's a steep, granitic canyon that's somewhat squishy in the lower part and overgrown some in the upper elevations. The canyon's flora is diverse. There are Cottonwood, Sycamore, Willow and Salt Cedar trees (to name a few). The wildflowers are also currently substantial. There are a few bushwacky sections, but it wasn't as bad as I was expecting since most of the plants don't have spines (except a few thick berry brambles). I'd guess bears would enjoy these areas. This was a challenging route to Peak 6361, but worth it. I'd guess most hikers would only prefer to explore the lower narrows and call this canyon done.

Mount Ord and Eagle Peak
I wasn't planning on summiting Mount Ord, but the temperature above 6k was just so noice! Why not add it on to the hike along with Eagle Peak? From Peak 6361, I completed them in reverse from my previous trip. Mount Ord is just ok because of the views. All that crap on the top ruins the summit though. Eagle Peak is a weird pile, I think it's pinkish Granite mixed with Slate. Its highpoint is a single sharp boulder that one may carefully balance atop. None of the peaks today had registers, which would seem unnecessary anyway (especially Ord).

This triple peak bag, challenging lasso loop has comparable off-trail Grand Canyon terrain attributes and similar AEG. It kicked my butt. It would be unwise to mimic this hike without extensive hiking experience. I should have brought the life straw since three liters was almost inadequate. Surprisingly, I only took one spill descending below the power poles on the steep southern aspect of Mount Ord, even with my new shoes, which I was satisfied that I had decided to use for the first time. The fresh tread was helpful smearing the Cloudburst Canyon boulders, narrows and upper elevation scrambling. I also had quite a few cactus spines to remove from my legs once home and my pants, boots and socks are full of foxtails.
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[ checklist ]  Antenna Farm
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Substantial
  30 archives
Mar 24 2023
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 Guides 59
 Routes 1,100
 Photos 1,191
 Triplogs 1,290

male
 Joined Jan 01 2023
 Arizona
Mount Ord from Bushnell Tanks THPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Mar 24 2023
pseudalpineTriplogs 1,290
Hiking16.55 Miles 4,644 AEG
Hiking16.55 Miles   7 Hrs   26 Mns   2.49 mph
4,644 ft AEG      47 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
The goal was Eagle Peak. Done. Mount Ord was a nice spot to have a beer afterwards. Most definitely will be back to this area. Waterfalls galore, which is likely an anamoly. So squishy.
  4 archives
Aug 22 2009
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 Guides 14
 Routes 115
 Photos 4,830
 Triplogs 3,536

male
 Joined Oct 29 2005
 Scottsdale, AZ
Mount Ord from Bushnell Tanks THPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Aug 22 2009
topohikerTriplogs 3,536
Hiking20.86 Miles 3,284 AEG
Hiking20.86 Miles   10 Hrs   15 Mns   2.04 mph
3,284 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
With the cooler weather in Phoenix, I decided to hike somewhere closer to home. I wanted to further explore the Bushnell Tanks / MT Ord area to find the elusive alternate route to the peak of MT Ord. I started off on FR 22 and then branched off on FR524. Along the way I went past a watermelon patch. I found some wild Arizona watermelons! Either way would have taken me to the backside of MT Ord. I took the route than I knew (FR 524) I climbed a bit and saw an old trail/road across a gully about 1/2 mile out. None of my maps showed this road and the terrain was very open with very little vegetation, so I did an easy bushwhack over and found an old mine shaft. The road ended there. I noticed on my GPS that FR 22/trail was another .6 mile bushwhack from where I was, so I gave it a go. This bushwhack was a bit more harder. Cat's claw made it's appearance. I made it to the road and it was an OK hike to the back side of MT Ord. Along the way I passed another road at the Reno pass. This road I called it "Reno Pass" road. It looked very well defined, but it went away from MT Ord. I would come back and hike this later. By this point, I was back on FR 524 and saw a very well maintained road in the distance. This well defined road wound up being FR 524. I found out that FR 524 go down to 188, right by Pumpkin Center. The road was grated to an electrical pull box. This must be the power that feeds the towers on top of Mt.Ord. I could see an old cut going straight up the mountain side. That must have been the buried power cables. I was dropping elevation and gained heat, so I turned around and headed back to the Reno pass road.

The Reno Pass road was very well defined and climbed to 5,000 feet. One thing that was interesting was that the Reno Pass road was almost exactly on top of the county border according to my GPS. All of a sudden, Reno Pass road disappeared. I walked about 100 more and to my surprise I found a cairn! Then another and another. After about 4 cairns, I was at an overlook looking down on Pumpkin Center. Through out the day it was raining off and on. The rain stopped and the sun came out so, I had lunch. I looked around a bit, but I couldn't find any other cairns or trails.

I started to head back. I hit the intersection of FR 524 & FR 22/trail and decided to try to take FR22/trail back to the other intersection to make it loop. Well this didn't pan out at all. The road's been abandoned for such a long time that nature's taking it. After about 2 miles, the road turned into a trail and this trail was so overgrown, that I had to rely on my GPS 100% of way back. Also at this point it started pouring rain. So I had to deal with fields of cat's claw, rain and trying to keep on trail that was not there. I was soaked and all cut up by the time the 'trail' turned back into a road. I won't take that FR22/trail ever again.

Even with the stress of not being able to se a trail and getting all cut up, it still was a fun hike and I'm getting to know the area a little better.
_____________________
"Everywhere is walking distance...If you have the time"
-Stephen Wright
 
May 03 2009
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 Guides 14
 Routes 115
 Photos 4,830
 Triplogs 3,536

male
 Joined Oct 29 2005
 Scottsdale, AZ
Mount Ord from Bushnell Tanks THPhoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar May 03 2009
topohikerTriplogs 3,536
Hiking20.40 Miles 4,448 AEG
Hiking20.40 Miles   10 Hrs      2.04 mph
4,448 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
This was a challenging hike. Out of the 20 miles, about 7~8 of them were bushwhacking. I'm going to do some more research and see if I can figure where the road from Pumpkin center goes to. I would like to be able to hike from the Bushnell Tanks over to MT. Ord all on trails and roads. The hike started out a bit warm, but at 7,000 feet, the temps turned a bit coolish. We did see a coyote or a fox skeleton on the hike. We saw no other people for the entire day. The Bushnell tanks area is a cool area to go check things out.
_____________________
"Everywhere is walking distance...If you have the time"
-Stephen Wright
 
average hiking speed 2.19 mph

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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