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| Hiking | 5.60 Miles |
907 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.60 Miles | 2 Hrs 27 Mns | | 2.29 mph |
| 907 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | I think I've settled on a pattern of one hike near Wilhoit, followed by one near Payson, repeat until January when the temp drops below 100°. So, yesterday afternoon, I looked around Payson for something I could do with my wife. I thought about the Houston Mesa lasso, but four miles is a bit much for her. Then I remembered I had not checked this out. So, I set it up so that we could do the loop together, then I would go off on my own to climb Monument Peak, and perhaps do some exploring.
The entirety of the Monument Peak loop is a jeep trail. The surface is granite pebbles, but not really slippery as there is no real elevation change to speak of. It would make a great, fast, MTB run. Now that I think about it, an MTB criterium would be really fun. Anyway, we passed a trio of ladies on nice looking horses. And two guys in one of those golf cart-like ATVs, just toodling along. Enjoying their beer and not tearing anything up.
At one point, on the north end of the loop, a spring literally sprang from the middle of the path. It wasn't just a wet spot in the path, I could see the flowing trickle of water (which eventually ran down to join up with the creek which feeds the Star Valley pond).
After completing the loop, my wife headed back to the car to do crosswords, while I continued up towards Monument Peak. What you have there is basically, though not exactly, a four-way intersection: Left is the clockwise loop, right is the counter-clockwise loop, and straight ahead is up a drainage between Monument Peak and the unnamed 4900-foot hill to it east. About half way up the jeep trail turns away from the drainage, but as elsewhere in the area, the bushwhacking is very mild due to pine needle beds and lack of under growth. When you reach the saddle between the two hills, you will be on the northeast slope of Monument Peak. That is the easiest way up. I dumped my pack and poles for the final 30 foot scramble. (A mild one, but I wanted my hands free.) Having previously lost my pack and poles -- maroon tends to blend in with terrain -- I wrapped my light blue Mickey Mouse bandanna ( the one I found two years ago on Walkin' Jim) around the handle then stuck it up in a rock. Ended up working like a charm.
While Monument Peak looks pointy, it is actually flat on top. And area of about 20' x 40' feet, with a boulder in the middle. I noticed some orange bee-like things kept landing on me, or trying to mate with my ear. They did not sting, or bite, so I carried on. I found a benchmark that was not noted on the topo. Great views from up there. I shot a 360° video pan. Then I noticed all the bugs hovering by the high point spike on the boulder ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztdefyyTvZo ). 
After 15 minutes on top, I climbed down, traversing the ridge to the northeast. The top of the far little hilltop actually showed evidence of motorcycle visitation. From there, I proceeded east down an obviously cut path, with many ribboned markers. |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
and found them: 60 at the start, 70 at the end! Not many people in the first 10 miles, saw 5 people and 5 squirrels 
Boulders loop and Monument Peak loop).
HAZ
