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| Hiking | 2.34 Miles |
551 AEG |
| | Hiking | 2.34 Miles | 1 Hour 45 Mns | | 1.34 mph |
| 551 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Brian and I hiked Kino peak the day before and it was a monster. After tent camping that night we were really looking for something relatively easy and this was a great fit! Thanks to @DixieFlyer. for letting us know about this short hike. It wasn't really on our radar but it was in the area where we camped and very convenient, saving us a drive all the way down to Arch canyon via the town of Ajo, the town of Why and AZ-85 South.
We were able to make the drive in with a high clearance van. There were several ruts and small washes but 4x4 was not required. We park off a road and started our hike on flat ground. Thanks to Matthias S. for posting a GPS track which was useful for planning where to start, especially, and knowing the distance and elevation change ahead of time. We realized there were many ways to go and route finding was fairly simple for this hike. There was some light rain when we started which we were thankful for.
We started out heading West and slightly South toward where we thought the peak was. At first we were on flat ground and it was an open Country hike. We had to cross a few really small washes. Then, up ahead we saw what looked like a jungle. This was a huge wide sandy wash with a mass of trees, bushes, some with thorns, lined all along the side. Eventually we found a way through to the sandy wash. Then we noticed the same sort of jungle on the other side of the wash, which we needed to look for an opening and plow through. This large wash was the only part of this hike which I considered to be a bushwhack. Once we made it through, we saw another open Country section leading up to some foothills and a steeper slope covered with lava rock. From here, we kept hiking up diagonally to the West. We couldn't see the summit until we got to the saddle to the East of it. At this point, we traveled for about 3/4 of a mile from the start. We kept weaving our way up and summited after hiking a total of 1 mile.
At the top we found a rock pile and a registry. We also found a lot of migrant trash which we threw into a bag and carried out of there. A lot of the items we found looked old (several cans, a few battery packs, wire, etc.). All I can say is hopefully the border patrol is doing their job...
The rain was coming down light so we just hung out at the peak for a while. When the rain stopped we signed the registry, got our photos and videos and started to head back down, roughly the same way we came.
When we got to the van it was time for lunch so we cooked a few burgers over a small gas burner, and ate right there. After eating we decided to head back to Tucson.
Driving Directions: From the center of Ajo, AZ, drive 2.4 miles South on AZ-85 and then turn right on Darby Well Rd. Darby Well Rd will basically run into Bates Well Rd. From AZ-85 South, continue for 7.6 miles and take the next right. Continue West for 1.6 miles and park. See GPS track for good parking location.
The turn off Bates Well Rd is at this location: 32.262607, -112.868839
Stats:
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Distance (round trip): 2.34 miles
AEG: 551 feet
Strava moving time: 1 hr 16 mins
Strava elapsed time: 2 hrs 40 mins |
| _____________________
Michael Williams
IT Professional
Rocky Point Vacation Rentals
Ocean Front Condo in Rocky Point, Sonora, Mexico
www.beachfrontmexico.us
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