Peak 5255 - Mule Hoof Bend Quad • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Mar 20 2018

Oregon_Hiker

Guides 9
Routes 473
Photos 8,433
Triplogs 626

79 male

Joined Dec 07 2010
Phoenix, AZ

Peak 5255 - Mule Hoof Bend Quad

Globe, AZ

Peak 5255 - Mule Hoof Bend Quad

Globe, AZ

Hiking		Mar 20 2018
		Oregon_Hiker • Triplogs 626

Hiking	1.40 Miles	906 AEG

Hiking	1.40 Miles
	906 ft AEG

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

partners

Grasshopper

Grasshopper and I headed to the top of this peak to check out a possible ancient Indian hilltop fortress based on a tip from ssk44. The peak turned out to be a small butte with cliffs on all sides. With the help of a planning track supplied from ssk44 we found a nearly vertical chute with just enough hand and foot holds to enable two old geezers to climb to the top. The fortress had just a few crumbled down walls and maybe about 4 to 6 rooms but the views were the real reward for the climb. Those folks who once occupied this fortress had a clear view to the west of the Salt River Canyon and the Sierra Ancha in the distance. To the northeast were views of Ash Creek canyon. The peak also provided the only cell phone service we would have during our 5 day camping/hiking trip to this area.

On the drive back on FR1052 we stopped to check out the site of an old homestead near the Haystack Butte Ranch. The small roofless cabin built with local stone was (or had been) an attractive and solidly built home at one time. The rock construction was very similar to the rock house at the Haystack Butte Ranch. We could find no evidence of when the cabin had been built. When we drove by the ranch two days later the ranch manager drove up so we stopped to talk to him. He said the ranch had passed through many hands over its history and was currently leased from the Forest Service by the Oddenetto's of Globe. He had been told the homestead cabin had been built by a previous owner/lessee of the Haystack Butte Ranch by the name of Sanders for his son with the plan that the son would prove up on the homestead and become an owner of the land included in the homestead application. The son never proved up on the homestead so the land remained under Forest Service ownership. The ranch manager did not know when that occurred but I'm guessing it may have been in the 1920s to early 1930s.

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Stone Dwelling

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Ash Creek Butte Creek Sierra Ancha Wilderness

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1 archive

Mar 20 2018

Grasshopper

Guides 48
Routes 510
Photos 9,555
Triplogs 578

79 male

Joined Dec 28 2006
Scottsdale, AZ

Peak 5255 - Mule Hoof Bend Quad

Globe, AZ

Peak 5255 - Mule Hoof Bend Quad

Globe, AZ

Hiking		Mar 20 2018
		Grasshopper • Triplogs 578

Hiking	1.40 Miles	906 AEG

Hiking	1.40 Miles	5 Hrs	0.56 mph
	906 ft AEG	2 Hrs 30 Mns Break

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

partners

Oregon_Hiker

During Nov - Dec 2012 and March 2013 I spent a number of days and a lot of gas money camping and hike exploring this enjoyable, remote area within the Salt River Canyon Wilderness and along/off-of the main road through- Haystack Butte Road (FR303). I had not been back sense. In Jan'18, our HAZ-ssk44 located some new, interesting areas to hike explore so HAZ-Oregon_Hiker and I planned a return 5 day/4 night vehicle camping-day hiking trip to this area [ Camp Grasshopper - Tonto NF (FR303A) ] .

We had three day hikes planned and this Peak 5255 was #1 and the most difficult and risky one of the 3 for us older geezers to safely complete. This one was a completely off-trail, route finding hike with some difficult cliff face areas to traverse, some bushwhacking, some exposure moments, and a final 30ft cliff wall to scramble up/back down using all fours

. It sounds bad but as with most of these types of exploratory Peak and Butte hikes we enjoy doing, the final destination- "near and distant views" almost always out weigh all the pain and agony we go through to arrive there and this one was no exception!

My posted hike picset with detailed captions, tag notes, geocoded locations, labels, and posted GPS Route tell the remainder of this hike adventure.

On our return hike, one funny happening I must share:
Oregon_Hiker (Larry) really enjoys doing loop hikes and will almost always recommend and/or find a different way back to our start location so the hike will end up being a type of loop.

So, while we were on the summit of this Peak 5255, Larry claims to have spotted a near saddle with a cow trail on it which would allow for us to do a loop hike back to our Park/TH Start and not have to backtrack the somewhat difficult, risky route we came in on. Well, I liked that idea and after we successfully descending the 30ft cliff wall scramble, to begin this loop hike back we were now facing a 60% spree slope to slide down on our fannies for a short distance, then only a 60% loose rocky, brushy slope to continue down a further distance.. [ photo ] but hark there was a saddle soon to be realized with a cow trail back.. Well, to make a long story short, there was no saddle and no cow trail

However, Larry did do another good job navigating the wild for a safe arrival back..and he did get his loop hike in. It's always an adventure!

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Ash Creek Butte Creek Sierra Ancha Wilderness

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(Outside.. "there is No Place Like It!!")

4 archives

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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