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| Hiking | 5.50 Miles |
1,634 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.50 Miles | 6 Hrs 42 Mns | | 1.88 mph |
| 1,634 ft AEG | 3 Hrs 46 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | There are quite a few ‘stories of lore’, as to the naming of Dutchwoman Butte. It was named ‘Island Butte’ on some very early military maps, then later maps called it by its present name.
Dive onto the web and explore the various ‘origins’ if interested.
The top of Dutchwoman Butte has been studied quite a bit, due to the fact it’s inaccessible to cattle, while the area around the butte has been used by ranchers for well over 100 years. Some consider the butte a throwback to what all grasslands in the area looked like prior to cattle ranching.
All I know is, I like the name, its location, its majesty, and the fact that there should be four little disks atop the butte.
From A-Cross Rd, the ascent to the top looks laughable, but ‘from the other end’ of the butte, it’s very doable. Heck, if I can do it anybody can. Driving to a good start point was part of the fun.
The first part of the climb was gradual and easy. Then the fun begins, with more steepness, more vegetation to plow through, and alot of unfriendly boulders to maneuver around or over. The top of the butte is very sloped at the north end, where my approach took me. There’s another 200 ft ‘up’ to the mid high point, once you’ve convinced yourself you’re actually on top.
Photo ops are all over the place, from all sides of the .9 mile by .3 mile top. (approx)
Since I came up from the north end and the benchmark is at the far edge to the south end, my first ‘mission’ was to locate the all elusive Dutchwoman Azimuth Mark. It was placed somewhere ‘mid-butte’, supposedly near the actual high point of the butte, which is on the far west edge and midway between the N and S end.
The surveyors, in 1946, state “THE AZIMUTH MARK IS SET FLUSH, 100 YARDS SOUTH OF THE HIGHEST POINT OF RIDGE NORTHEAST OF STATION”. Sounds easy enough.
The problem is, I now know from experience that the “100 yards south” part is a guesstimate on the surveyor’s part. I also know that “set flush” probably means set ‘flush-with-the-ground’ in a boulder. With the top of the butte covered in ankle to calf high grasses, I had my doubts in locating the little azimuth disk.
Perseverance pays off I guess. I finally found the little guy, but not even close to where the surveyors stated. I located it 255 ft and on a 211 degree course from the high point (not 100 yds 180 degrees). As I walked up and down my GPS produced imaginary azimuth line, my hiking track looks like someone trying to walk a straight line after drinking a quart of vodka. It’s not pretty.
As mentioned, the high point is not where the benchmark is located. The high point is mid-butte near the west edge. I found a summit log register there, with only the ‘log-originators’ listed. Most have heard of these guys.
I was the first entry since their original placement, in 2009.
The butte probably gets few visitors, plus the ones that do go up there, probably go directly to the benchmark, south end, not thinking of the actual high point.
After the azimuth search, I easily located the benchmark and its two reference marks. You can’t miss when equipped with the Lat/Long.
The south end of Dutchwoman Butte is like the bow of a ship. You could sit there all day and marvel at the amazing Arizona panoramic views.
The hike down the butte was slow, but uneventful. The drive out, with the long afternoon shadows was a nice ending to a great hike experience. Enjoy the photos. |
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Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost
J.R.R.TOLKIEN |
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