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Copper Mountain High Point - 1 member in 3 triplogs has rated this an average 4 ( 1 to 5 best )
3 triplogs
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Mar 19 2024
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 Guides 73
 Routes 176
 Photos 10,174
 Triplogs 2,324

46 male
 Joined Sep 08 2006
 
Betty Lee Mine, AZ 
Betty Lee Mine, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Mar 19 2024
JimTriplogs 2,324
Hiking4.50 Miles 440 AEG
Hiking4.50 Miles
440 ft AEG10 LBS Pack
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Partners none no partners
Roads to the Copper Mountains remain in excellent shape. Only a few areas of minor sand were encountered. Copper Mount HP access would still be easy, hence the tag. We only hiked roads to the mine accessed in a difference canyon.

After arriving in the range we found a camp location and then set out for the Betty Lee mine. Brian and I explored several mine entrances. These were interesting, but the deep shafts seem to be where the action is at, and we were not getting into those.

Shaft 1 was on the lower terrace on the right side. We entered and quickly found a dead end for us as a deep shaft blocked any progress. The tunnel continued but we have no idea how far.

we then entered a second tunnel higher up and took that a distance until it also ended, also at another deep shaft.

The last tunnel to explore is the entrance on the south side and with a deep shaft near the entrance. This was a long tunnel that followed the ore body, ending several hundred feet back.

This area either changed since I was first out here from 2018 to 2020, or I had good timing back then. I don't remember packs of ATV or those razor dune buggy things. Now, I routinely run into packs of them. A dozen were encountered in December, and 5 this time. They're loud, smelly, and annoying. Then, they get to their destination, and don't do much more than stand there smoking cigarettes. Snowbirds!
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Ajo Lily
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Mine Shaft
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  1 archive
Apr 18 2020
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 Guides 73
 Routes 176
 Photos 10,174
 Triplogs 2,324

46 male
 Joined Sep 08 2006
 
Copper Mountain High PointSouthwest, AZ
Southwest, AZ
Hiking avatar Apr 18 2020
JimTriplogs 2,324
Hiking6.00 Miles 2,000 AEG
Hiking6.00 Miles   6 Hrs      1.09 mph
2,000 ft AEG      30 Mns Break10 LBS Pack
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
I love the white granite! Plus, I thought I would do a ridge traverse to Coyote Peak. It was windy on the ridge, and the terrain is tougher than my memory recalls and pictures let on, so after 1/3 of the distance being covered, I abandoned Coyote and negotiated my way down another canyon to the Betty Lee Mine, which was the joint venture between Betty Crocker and Sarah Lee prior to their fallout when they entered the then noncompetitive home baking market. Only went a short distance in, holes in the earth aren't my thing, and turned back.

Spotted a bighorn ram on the summit as soon as I gained sight of it, which makes me proud as I just glanced at it and noticed it, but my picture shows there were two of them. I did see two run down slope through the boulders, and across the adjacent ridge, but I couldn't tell if the second ram was a ewe by the time I could see them clearly. Also, almost climbed onto a small white-gray juvenile rattle snake. Not my thing and he was coiling up 3 feet from my face and eye level. I backed down from that, fast.

The Copper Mountains are really beautiful, as are most of these ranges out here. I just wish they were not so far away. Even if you hate Quantum of Solace from 2008, you can enjoy the fighter scene that was filmed over white granite mountains and canyons in the northern Baja, doubling for Bolivia. I love that terrain, and this range, as do many here, look almost identical.
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Elephant Tree
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Betty Lee Mine  Sheep Mountain
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  1 archive
Apr 20 2018
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 Guides 73
 Routes 176
 Photos 10,174
 Triplogs 2,324

46 male
 Joined Sep 08 2006
 
Copper Mountain High PointSouthwest, AZ
Southwest, AZ
Hiking avatar Apr 20 2018
JimTriplogs 2,324
Hiking3.50 Miles 1,900 AEG
Hiking3.50 Miles   3 Hrs      1.17 mph
1,900 ft AEG10 LBS Pack
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
This was to be a day 2 summit I thought would be light and easy after Mohawk Mountain, but I didn't want to back track east on I-8 to get to Mohawk, and the winds were still up on the drive, so I decided to hike this first. It ended up being the mountain highlight of the trip, with Sonoran Pronghorn on day 2 being the overall highlight.

Very eroded, hot, sandy, steep, loose, and eroded. Decomposed granite and the severe desert nature give this area a strange phenomenon of little vegetation up high, with saguaro and other very limited vegetation down low where there is scant rocky soil. Albeit eroded. There is no trail, it's choose your own, and it is obvious no one ever really bother with this place. It was an interesting summit with good views, it just takes a long time to access it. Probably due to that erosion. I am unfamiliar with this area and went past the drainage commonly taken, but this may be better as it avoided the large dry falls and this eventually took me up the south slope to the summit. I descended the gps route I found on peakbagger, and I liked my way better. Big dry falls are not my thing.

The open mine shafts are something to behold. Tossing rocks in, it was quite a while before they hit bottom. It was truly vertical and must be associated with the Betty Lee Mine.

After I headed out away from the wind coming down canyon in to the desert and camped. Up in the night after moon set, I did enjoy some stars, maybe some of the best in Arizona, but the large light pools from LA and Phoenix were visible and cut down on that, substantially. Nevada was still the best, so far.

Next day I drove the Mohawk Drag over to that range. Spotted a bout 6 to 8 Pronghorn on the way.
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  4 archives
average hiking speed 1.13 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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