Fish Creek Peak • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Nov 15 2023

pseudalpine

Guides 59
Routes 1,100
Photos 1,191
Triplogs 1,290

male

Joined Jan 01 2023
Arizona

Black Cross Fishiness, AZ

Hiking		Nov 15 2023
		pseudalpine • Triplogs 1,290

Hiking	16.83 Miles	4,805 AEG

Hiking	16.83 Miles	7 Hrs 52 Mns	2.30 mph
	4,805 ft AEG	32 Mns Break

Linked

6 linked trail guides

Fish Creek Peak

Black Cross Butte 4806

Fish Creek Mountain

Fish Creek via Lost Dutch

JF Trail #106

Tortilla TH to Tortilla Well

Partners

none

no partners

Route Recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

Completed the triplet today also, but didn't drive between three peaks, just kept walking. I thought the bushwackiness was minimal, but almost the entire hiking area I strolled through appears to have been burned fairly recently and I didn't follow the official route from the beginning. Settled into a bunch of sheep trails on many of the miles covered. Two hours to Fish Creek Peak, another hour to Black Cross Butte and four hours total to Fish Creek Mountain. From that third summit, I wasn't quite sure dropping into Fish Creek was possible, but the steep and unique ridge descent worked out. I was only cliffed out a few times and had to bypass downclimb a few times. The section of Fish Creek that I did hike has been filled with gravel and sand since I'd hiked it last September. What a beautiful canyon! Awesome Arizona Sycamores, Cottonwoods, giant Saguaros, caves and boulders. I also chose the Lost Dutch exit to Tortilla instead of Fish Creek Canyon since I plan on hiking that another time soon.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Saguaro

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Apache Lake Bronco Butte Fish Creek Canyon Fish Creek Mountain Fish Creek Peak Four Peaks Four Peaks Wilderness Horse Mesa Painted Cliffs Tortilla Mountain

	Lost Dutch Canyon	Dry	Dry
	But a few quality pools above where the spring is map labeled.

8 archives

Feb 22 2014

joebartels

Guides 264
Routes 2,797
Photos 14,494
Triplogs 5,894

55 male

Joined Nov 20 1996

BCB 4806 - Fish Peak Loop & BCB 3351, AZ

Hiking		Feb 22 2014
		joebartels • Triplogs 5,894

Hiking	8.80 Miles	4,600 AEG

Hiking	8.80 Miles	9 Hrs 30 Mns		1.04 mph
	4,600 ft AEG	1 Hour Break	12 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Black Cross Butte 4806

Fish Creek Peak

Black Cross Butte 3351

Partners

partners

	johnlp	The_Eagle
	Tortoise_Hiker

Last week I mentioned one of my favorites near SRC. Unfamiliar with the area Bruce sent back a hike ( option A ) he would unlikely willingly attempt if he knew the terrain. Clinging onto a myth of hope I responded I'd be ecstatic to jump on option A. Yet had to be honest. Instead of describing the difficulty of a couple segments I touched on the mundane aspect of one long stretch. The long stretch could be fascinating @ 72 degrees with puffy clouds floating to and fro. On the same token it feels like you are in WTF land @ 85 if tired and cranky.

With that I suggested two other options ( options B & C ). Both of which should fill up 2/3rds of a day. Please understand, throw out anything too large ( in his mind ) it gets cut off at the throat.

Why not both... the response. Imagine that. Hook, line & sinker... ha ha. Just kidding, that scenario never entered my mind. Option C was flexible and could be a 2, 4 or 6 hour jaunt.

Denny & LP made an appearance and we were off like a herd of turtles heading up to BCB 4806. We worked the standard cairned route up to the break. Then followed the inner ridge out east planning on the full circle ridge to BCB 4806. One look at the task at hand sent the trail architects back to the drafting table.

4806 went down without out trouble. We did notice the circle ridgeline looks very doable and should offer up stellar views. Someday I'll get that opportunity. Hopefully it never happens. I fear once tackled the fever to return will subside.

We journeyed down the ridgeline to Fish Creek Peak 3910. Rather easy. LP had ambitions of tagging 3910 then returning to finish the circle ridge. While certainly doable, the terrain, even though nothing technical, wears your mind down quicker than miles or aeg.

On the SE corner of 3910 is a good slot to ascend. Currently just one agave to hurdle. Fair holds in the crumbly rock and little chance of mishap. Other slots looked more exciting for those interested.

Heading back down to Lewis and Pranty Denny slipped landing on an Ocotillo. The thorns on that bad boy went from two inches at the base down to an inch further out. He never whimpered. The situation looked bad yet it didn't bleed as much as imagined. He brushed it off and we carried on.

With a few hours of light we opted to just hit BCB 3351. There wasn't enough time or energy to go beyond cairns.

4 quarts carried, 2 consumed. Found a horseshoe on the first loop. For reference have found them on route to 3042 and above Skeleten Cave in the past.

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Medicine Wheel

Wildflowers Observation Light
Dichelostemma capitatum, Chuparosa

_____________________

- joe

Feb 22 2014

johnlp

Guides 1
Routes 14
Photos 7,202
Triplogs 5,208

68 male

Joined Mar 16 2008
chandler,az

BCB 4806 - Fish Peak Loop & BCB 3351, AZ

Hiking		Feb 22 2014
		johnlp • Triplogs 5,208

Hiking	8.80 Miles	4,600 AEG

Hiking	8.80 Miles	9 Hrs 30 Mns	1.04 mph
	4,600 ft AEG	1 Hour Break

no routes

Linked

linked

Black Cross Butte 4806

Fish Creek Peak

Black Cross Butte 3351

Partners

partners

	joebartels	The_Eagle
	Tortoise_Hiker

Fun beautiful hike with great company. See the other's triplogs (Joe's anyway) for details.

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Teva

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] HAZ - Hike HAZard

Wildflowers Observation Light

_____________________

“Good people drink good beer.” Hunter S Thompson

Feb 22 2014

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Black Cross Butte 4806 - Fish Creek Peak Loop, AZ

Hiking		Feb 22 2014
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	7.19 Miles	3,717 AEG

Hiking	7.19 Miles	7 Hrs 35 Mns		1.07 mph
	3,717 ft AEG	50 Mns Break	14 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Black Cross Butte 4806

Fish Creek Peak

Partners

partners

	joebartels	johnlp
	Tortoise_Hiker	Tortoise_Hiker

Collaborative effort to put this one together. Joe suggested the area and laid the framework and I put together the loop track. Long Play and TT joined us to make up the foursome. Perfect weather all around on this one. If you are one that likes to follow a trail, this is not for you. It's all bushwhacking and whacking bushes. Climbing starts right out of the gait.

When you reach the first saddle .75 miles in you reach the pointer showing you your target http://hikearizona.com/photo=396770. We chose to head east before climbing to minimize some of the real thick stuff. The lanscape was just incredible.

There were two main areas that you had to physically beast through. Both are in the wash that runs to the north of the peaks.

Every time I head out to the Supes and climb to the top of a new area, I see somewhere else that I NEED to go to. At the top of Black Cross Butte 4806 I have some more ideas.....
Kinda nice that you can see both Apache and Canyon Lakes from up there.

The route from BCB 4806 to Fish Creek Peak worked out great. Nothing hard at all. Joe choose to scale the Eastern face of the peak; John, Denny, and I choose the SW approach, which was a little more ramp like. Great views of Upper Fish Creek, Tortilla Peak and more.

http://youtu.be/aRTCjhHS1hs

This was a day of "Top That" between me and Denny.
Denny drove a cactus needle into the top of a toe. Extraction caused a good spurt of blood.
Denny's up.
I get a 1/2" long needle embedded completely under the skin on the back of my hand. I had to make it "Stand Up" so Denny could tweezer it out. The geyser followed.
Bruce up
With the truck in sight, Denny slips going downhill and falls hard. When he got up I noticed the Ocotillo spring away from his face revealing one side of his face bleeding a bit (OK...more than a bit), way to close to his eye... He was lucky, and wins.

Great to hike with John Zeppelin and Tommy Turtle again.
Joe always keeps it interesting...

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Velvet Ant

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Azimuth Mark HAZ - Hike HAZard Height of Light

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Bronco Butte Fish Creek Peak

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

Feb 22 2014

Tortoise_Hiker

Guides 1
Routes 148
Photos 9,924
Triplogs 3,652

63 male

Joined Apr 02 2005
Mesa, AZ

Black Cross Butte 4806 - Fish Creek Peak Loop, AZ

Hiking		Feb 22 2014
		Tortoise_Hiker • Triplogs 3,652

Hiking	7.19 Miles	3,717 AEG

Hiking	7.19 Miles	7 Hrs 35 Mns	0.95 mph
	3,717 ft AEG

no routes

Linked

linked

Black Cross Butte 4806

Fish Creek Peak

Partners

partners

	joebartels	johnlp
	The_Eagle	The_Eagle

I enjoyed this one. It was off trail but the views from the two peaks were great. There were a couple rough areas but it went pretty good. Joe found an antler and a horseshoe. The luck was with him. Bruce and I shed a little blood. It was slow going but the boys made it entertaining. Great hike, weather, and company.

P.S. Don't turn
your back on
Bruce.

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

_____________________

Tortoise Hiking. Stop and smell the Petrichor.

Jan 27 2011

AZOutdoorsman

Guides 4
Photos 2,275
Triplogs 128

male

Joined Jan 16 2004
Chandler, AZ

Fish Creek Peak

Phoenix, AZ

Fish Creek Peak

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Jan 27 2011
		AZOutdoorsman • Triplogs 128

Hiking	4.00 Miles	1,000 AEG

Hiking	4.00 Miles	5 Hrs 15 Mns	0.76 mph
	1,000 ft AEG

no routes

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

none

no partners

From the parking spot we went up the slope, through the saddle, and down into the canyon. Then, we headed downstream through the canyon with some bushwhacking, a lot of rock-hopping, and many down-climbs. For us, one down-climb required a little webbing assist for a handhold, and skirted one rappel on canyon left. Once at bottom of canyon walked road back to car. Other that than the road walk, this is all off-trail with a fair amount of down-climbing through large boulders. If you are not skilled at down-climbing or don't enjoy off-trail, this may not be the adventure you are looking for. Although not the technical adventure I was holding for, still a great day in a beautiful little canyon with a wonderful friend - what more could one ask for?! : )

_____________________

Dec 25 2005

joebartels

Guides 264
Routes 2,797
Photos 14,494
Triplogs 5,894

55 male

Joined Nov 20 1996

Fish Creek Peak

Phoenix, AZ

Fish Creek Peak

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Dec 25 2005
		joebartels • Triplogs 5,894

Hiking	3.20 Miles	2,100 AEG

Hiking	3.20 Miles	5 Hrs	0.64 mph
	2,100 ft AEG

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

none

no partners

It's a rough three miles. :sweat:

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Horseshoe

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Bronco Butte Fish Creek Peak

_____________________

- joe

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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