Picture Mountain • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

Payson, AZ

Hiking		May 08 2020
		jtaylor • Triplogs 512

Hiking	3.85 Miles	700 AEG

Hiking	3.85 Miles
	700 ft AEG

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Chapman

I had a childhood chock full of exploring the Eastern Sierra Anchas, but this was my first time on the Western side. John had the idea to head up here and, with Sam wanting to break-in his new (to him) Tundra, it was the perfect destination. It was a pretty quick trip up to the trailhead from the Tonto Basin side. I would call at least part of the road 4wd, although a high-clearance vehicle with good tires could make it work. We kicked things off with lunch before heading up the trail. Most of the kids balked, so only three of us made the summit for grand views. Hiking back down was perilous due to the steepness and loose scree.

Back at the vehicles we had a beer and then the grand idea to continue on FR609 across to the 288. Based on some pictures and videos, we assumed it was a graded road and would add only a half-hour to our day. We were dead wrong on that. We spent the next 3-4 hours on a fun, 4wd road through an unpopulated gem! Macy drove most of the way. I was impressed by her skills by Andrew was less than amused near the sheer drop-offs.

By the time we reached 288 the kids were mutinous. We saw John and his boys off near Reynold's Creek and Macy gamely took over for the curvy trip down to Globe (this time even I was a little intimidated by the cliffs). We rolled into Phoenix around dinner time. Our reward was Thai food and much-needed showers and a car wash. I look forward to exploring this area again!

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Benchmark

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“...wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, and as vital to our lives as water and good bread.”
-Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire

May 01 2016

PrestonSands

Guides 170
Routes 148
Photos 5,914
Triplogs 2,097

48 male

Joined Apr 12 2004
Tucson, AZ

Payson, AZ

Hiking		May 01 2016
		PrestonSands • Triplogs 2,097

Hiking	3.50 Miles	700 AEG

Hiking	3.50 Miles
	700 ft AEG

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After a long rainy night, Shauna and I left our campsite a couple of miles below Picture Mountain, near Juniper Spring, around mid morning. We drove up to the flats above Red Rock Spring on the Picture Mountain road, which was in the best condition I have ever seen it in. My 2wd truck had no problems. Under stormy skies we hiked up the 875 road, which is now marked with signposts, and were soon on the summit. Saw Joe, Bruce and Flying Fliver as recent entries in the summit log. Yay HAZ crew! Had lunch on the rocks with a view and then headed down, as gathering storms over the Mazatzals were heading our way. Being the "pottery magician", I found a random, colorful sherd on the way down. We examined the roadside ruin before making the brake-baking, first gear descent down the steep Picture Mountain road. Hundreds (seriously!) of off road vehicles hauling pumpkin on the Sierra Ancha roads this weekend.
A great trip to one of the seven sacred summits of Preston country!

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"…you never know when a hike might break out" -Jim Gaffigan

Mar 05 2016

The_Eagle

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

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Picture - Bear Head - Copper Mountain, AZ

Hiking		Mar 05 2016
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	20.66 Miles	3,326 AEG

Hiking	20.66 Miles	9 Hrs 10 Mns		2.51 mph
	3,326 ft AEG	57 Mns Break	16 LBS Pack

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Copper Mountain - Copper Mtn Quad

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joebartels

I had some concerns about crossing Tonto Creek east of Punkin center on Greenback Rd, not knowing how deep it was. Luckily a pickup crossed in the other direction, showing me the depth. It was fine with HC 2wd.

Picture Mountain
This is a walk up FR875 which is steep and loose. The views are the payoff here. We saw the Fliver disks, added our names to Peak register, and started for Bear Head Mountain.

Bear Head Mountain
The views change tremendously. We continued down FR875 looking towards the 2012 Mistake fire scarred Bear Head Mountain. When FR875 abruptly ends we continued up hill to the peakish area. Climbing up the west face, we had little trouble finding a path. In 5 years, that'll be a different story. The views up top are 360. We originally had plans to hit the other peak to the east. Unfortunately. the eastern side of Bear Head Mountain 6610' was too slow going through the mine field of downed trees. We headed down the drainage towards FR609.

Copper Mountain
We decided to attack this one attempting to follow the dashed "Trail" line to the top. There were hints of trail every now and then, but that was about it. It was thick and slow going through the Manzanita, but the payoff was worth it. One of the best lunch spots ever. It was hard to leave the views after lunch. On the return, we opted for a much shorter steep bushwhack down a ravine. After all, it couldn't be worse than what we came up.... It worked out.

On the way down we stumbled on a plane wreck from 1970.

It was a fun day exploring a new area.

Video from the top of Bear Head Mountain and Copper Mountain :next:

https://youtu.be/Yw ... ImMs

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Benchmark Fraley Pose Height of Light Reference Mark

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Picture Mountain

_____________________

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

1 archive

Mar 05 2016

joebartels

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

55 male

Joined Nov 20 1996

Picture - Bear Head - Copper Mountain, AZ

Hiking		Mar 05 2016
		joebartels • Triplogs 5,894

Hiking	21.00 Miles	3,421 AEG

Hiking	21.00 Miles	9 Hrs 8 Mns		2.50 mph
	3,421 ft AEG	45 Mns Break	14 LBS Pack

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Copper Mountain - Copper Mtn Quad

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The_Eagle

Preamble
A recent trip to Gun Creek combined with a nearby FLIVER triplog prompted me to suggest this area to Bruce. He threw it together and off we went. This route is primarily forest roads. Pines galore and the opportunity to see Malicious Gap was the appeal.

Approach
Just under a 2 hour drive from Desert Ridge seemed reasonable for the tall pines and nice views. The drive in shakes your noggin. Doable in 2wd high clearance if the road is dry.

Action
The road heading up Picture Mountain is steep. Soon we found what Bruce calls FLIVER dust on the disc markers. The Mazzies north and south looked impressive. FR 875 fizzles out just heading up Bear Mountain 6610. Bear is nice but no reason to return. We skipped plans for 6650 since the off trail was more involved than anticipated. Dropped down an upper tributary of Bear Head Canyon to FR 609 ( she's real fine, 200 more in fact ). The creek was semi scenic for a stretch due to nice granite? or such.

After 2 hours and 5 miles we jumped onto a trail that ascends Copper Mountain. There is no trail, just stretches of use-trail. Views off Copper Mountain are spectacular. This is a return destination in my opinion.

Synopsis
The day was a hit by temps alone. Wispy clouds and a constant cool breeze. The off trail wasn't horrible, just had the hike registered as a road hike.

1m 16s
https://youtu.be/LV ... LT3s

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- joe

Feb 27 2016

FLYING_FLIVER

Guides 1
Routes 259
Photos 10,458
Triplogs 293

male

Joined Jan 28 2010
Fountain Hills,

Picture Mountain and Picture, AZ

Hiking		Feb 27 2016
		FLYING_FLIVER • Triplogs 293

Hiking	3.16 Miles	783 AEG

Hiking	3.16 Miles	4 Hrs 23 Mns	2.08 mph
	783 ft AEG	2 Hrs 52 Mns Break

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[ checklist ] Benchmark Cairn Height of Light Reference Mark Summit Register Log

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Years ago, while traveling on Rte 188 to the Roosevelt Reservoir area, I took notice of a mountain to the north that appeared to have ‘etchings’ on its vertical, southwest face. It turns out I was looking at Picture Mountain. After a bit of planning, I decided I’d find the way to the top and look around. I also knew there was a benchmark atop the mountain, and an azimuth mark off the mountain somewhere..

I hiked up a faint resemblance of a road (FR875) that goes up the mountain from the north. The makeshift road will get you part way to the high point, before it meanders to the east and goes over to Bear Head Mountain.
For a short stretch, the narrow, rock-filled road is as steep as the Thompson Pk road. I was laughing at its steepness while I huffed and puffed going up.

I actually did three hikes the day I climbed up Picture Mountain.
One hike before going up the mountain, and one hike after. Both of those hikes were my futile attempts to locate the azimuth mark associated with the actual benchmark located on top of the mountain. My information stated that the azimuth mark is located - “Off the mountain - In a boulder, on the west bank of a wash”. Which wash ? - Who knows? (There are three washes out there in the direction of the azimuth mark).
I do know I got all scratched up on both failed azimuth hunts. Hiking through and near three vegetation filled washes, while looking at all the boulders, tends to be a pain in the … arms ….

The actual hike up Picture Mtn is a fun little hike, with scenic views only on the edges of the mountain. Most of the interior is covered in trees and brush. There are some treeless sections up there however, where the ground is open and covered with red rocks. The Picture Mountain area is known for ruins, but this ‘ruin rookie’ couldn’t verify these open areas were once used as dwelling locations.

The etchings on the mountainside (from afar) are really unique, especially the ‘Horseman-Carrying-a-Spear’. Ironically, the horseman’s spear tip is pointing to the benchmark location atop the mountain.
I wish the spear was pointing to the azimuth mark. If it was, I might have located it.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Prickly Pear

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Four Peaks Juniper Mountain Mount Ord Picture Mountain Saddle Mountain 6,535, Mazatzal

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Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost
J.R.R.TOLKIEN

Oct 06 2012

CannondaleKid

Guides 44
Routes 162
Photos 24,766
Triplogs 2,411

75 male

Joined May 04 2004
Mesa, AZ

[ checklist ] Greenback Peak Juniper Mountain Picture Mountain Tanner Peak Theodore Roosevelt Lake Tonto Basin

Payson, AZ

Hiking		Oct 06 2012
		CannondaleKid • Triplogs 2,411

Hiking	0.48 Miles	101 AEG

Hiking	0.48 Miles	29 Mns		1.80 mph
	101 ft AEG	13 Mns Break	3 LBS Pack

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Tracey was wiped out from the round-trip hike to Bear Head Mountain so I left her with the Cherokee on Forest Road 875 and took the short stroll to the summit of Picture Mountain. I shot a number of photos, checked the summit log (saw Preston's entries November '09 & '11) and shot a 360-degree panoroma video before heading back.

I posted photos on HAZ as well as my web site here:
http://changephoenix.c...

The 65-second summit video is here:
http://changephoenix.c...

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Benchmark Reference Mark

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

_____________________

CannondaleKid

1 archive

Feb 26 2012

mazatzal

Routes 36
Photos 2,658
Triplogs 1,347

67 male

Joined Jul 28 2004
Scottsdale, AZ

Payson, AZ

Hiking		Feb 26 2012
		mazatzal • Triplogs 1,347

Hiking	10.40 Miles	1,840 AEG

Hiking	10.40 Miles	5 Hrs 30 Mns	2.12 mph
	1,840 ft AEG	35 Mns Break

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Went up Picture Mtn and continued along FR 875 to Bear Head Mtn (dual summits 6610 and 6650). The last mile or so is off trail. On the way back we dropped down Bear Head Canyon on an old road and returned along FR 609. A few snow patches on north facing slopes.

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3 archives

Nov 24 2009

PrestonSands

Guides 170
Routes 148
Photos 5,914
Triplogs 2,097

48 male

Joined Apr 12 2004
Tucson, AZ

Payson, AZ

Hiking		Nov 24 2009
		PrestonSands • Triplogs 2,097

Hiking	3.50 Miles	700 AEG

Hiking	3.50 Miles
	700 ft AEG

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Chapman

After meeting John at Butcher Hook in Tonto Basin, we began our long anticipated drive over Forest Road 609 (Malicious Gap Road) to Young. First stop: Picture Mountain. This was John's first and my second trip to the summit. I went to place a register on the summit, but the Southern Arizona Hiking Club had beat me to it last year (they put one on the roof of my house, too). We had lunch on the viewpoint rocks on the south side of the summit, and called a friend in Phoenix to torment him with our beautiful location. Hiking down, we came across quite a few pottery sherds in a new location, which made me wonder if there was a second ruin buried in the brush above Red Rock Spring. It was great to return to ol' Picture Mountain!

_____________________

"…you never know when a hike might break out" -Jim Gaffigan

Feb 10 2007

PrestonSands

Guides 170
Routes 148
Photos 5,914
Triplogs 2,097

48 male

Joined Apr 12 2004
Tucson, AZ