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Black Mountain Ruin - 3 members in 7 triplogs have rated this an average 2.7 ( 1 to 5 best )
7 triplogs
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Oct 07 2016
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 Guides 4
 Photos 2,750
 Triplogs 402

60 male
 Joined Nov 13 2005
 Cave Creek, AZ
Black Mountain RuinPayson, AZ
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Oct 07 2016
cabelTriplogs 402
Hiking3.24 Miles 571 AEG
Hiking3.24 Miles
571 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Don't let anyone kid you it is steeper and harder than you think. Ruins are very poor.
_____________________
All who wander are not lost...just me.
 
Sep 13 2012
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 Guides 1
 Routes 38
 Photos 3,193
 Triplogs 467

55 male
 Joined Jul 26 2008
 San Tan Valley,
Black Mountain RuinPayson, AZ
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Sep 13 2012
TheNaviG8RTriplogs 467
Hiking0.80 Miles 571 AEG
Hiking0.80 Miles
571 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Shoe Tree
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Black Mountain
_____________________
  4 archives
Oct 25 2010
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 Guides 4
 Photos 542
 Triplogs 573

46 male
 Joined Oct 19 2010
 Mesa, AZ
Black Mountain RuinPayson, AZ
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Oct 25 2010
Charger55Triplogs 573
Hiking0.80 Miles 571 AEG
Hiking0.80 Miles   1 Hour      0.80 mph
571 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
We did this hike as a near-trifecta of Upper Tonto Basin ruins that included Jake's Corner Ruins and an attempt at the Gisela Ruins.

As mentioned in the hike description there is no trail, you just beeline up the side of the hill, dodging hedgehog and prickly pear cactus along the way. The hardest part of the ascent was crawling under the barbed wire fence just above the wash. There doesn't appear to be an easy way around it.

The ruins are much bigger than expected. There are several rock walls still intact and even some gourds growing around the room on the northenmost section of the ruins. Could gourds that were planted several hundred years ago still be growing to this day? Great views of the Mazatzals and down into the Tonto Basin.

On the return we headed west to investigate the smaller peak with the rocky outcropping but didn't see any ruins there. Be careful on the way down. Loose rock caused me to lose my footing and the left side of my body became a human pincushion. Still, it was worth it to take the brief step back in time.
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Tarantula
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Black Mountain
_____________________
"I've driven across deserts, driven by the irony, that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
- Frank Turner "The Road"
 
Jan 25 2009
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 Triplogs 5

68 female
 Joined Nov 08 2005
 Payson,Az
Black Mountain RuinPayson, AZ
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jan 25 2009
arizonadreamingTriplogs 5
Hiking0.80 Miles 571 AEG
Hiking0.80 Miles
571 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Nice day for this exploring hike. Great weather,views,and great birdwatching. Dogs had a blast.
_____________________
Life is not measured by the breaths that we take ... but by the moments that take our breath away.
 
Jan 14 2009
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 Triplogs 129

64 male
 Joined Dec 17 2004
 Gilbert, AZ
Black Mountain RuinPayson, AZ
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jan 14 2009
azpeavyTriplogs 129
Hiking1.30 Miles 571 AEG
Hiking1.30 Miles      41 Mns   1.90 mph
571 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Parked truck along road just east of Black Mtn. I followed a dirt road and stream bed to the north side of the mountain and went up. The summit is covered with many rooms. Century plants now occupy most rooms. Although the walls are only a couple of feet high, the layout is pretty obvious. Summit also provides great views of the Tonto Basin and Mazatzals.
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Dec 21 2007
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 Guides 177
 Routes 249
 Photos 10,213
 Triplogs 2,215

74 male
 Joined Feb 12 2002
 Gold Canyon, AZ
Black Mountain RuinPayson, AZ
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Dec 21 2007
AZLOT69Triplogs 2,215
Hiking2.00 Miles 571 AEG
Hiking2.00 Miles   3 Hrs      0.67 mph
571 ft AEG
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
I did this hike with a different approach. It made the hike longer but eliminated much of the bushwhack. Just to the east of Black Mountain on Gisela Road you will find FR 554A. A 4 X 4 road, follow this road north past Black Mountain Tank and around the rear of Black Mountain and then it makes a U turn and heads straight for the north side of the mountain. The road ends and a cairned trail takes you the rest of the way up the steep mountain to the ruins. Check out the GPS route. A great day of exploring.
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Black Mountain
_____________________
It's best for a man to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open his mouth and remove all doubt.
--Mark Twain
 
Jan 06 2006
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 Guides 170
 Routes 148
 Photos 5,914
 Triplogs 2,097

48 male
 Joined Apr 12 2004
 Tucson, AZ
Black Mountain RuinPayson, AZ
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jan 06 2006
PrestonSandsTriplogs 2,097
Hiking0.80 Miles 571 AEG
Hiking0.80 Miles   1 Hour      0.80 mph
571 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
A fun lunch break exploration of the ruin, on the way back home from working in Gisela. The ruin is in good shape. I did see a modern campfire ring in one of the rooms, though :x
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Black Mountain
_____________________
"…you never know when a hike might break out" -Jim Gaffigan
 
average hiking speed 1.04 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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