username
X
password
register
for free!
help
ArticlesGuidesRoutes
 
Photosets
 
 Comments
triplogs   photosets   labels comments more
2 triplogs
login for filter options
Mar 23 2019
avatar

 Photos 31
 Triplogs 2

58 male
 Joined Nov 23 2018
 Chandler
Montezuma Peak Summit 4354Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix, AZ
Hiking avatar Mar 23 2019
kentlawrence67Triplogs 2
Hiking4.50 Miles 2,700 AEG
Hiking4.50 Miles
2,700 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
I found a road I had never known about that made getting there MUCH easier. From the highway, take the paved road to the landfill by Mobile, AZ and head north, paralleling the dump. Just before you get to the small airstrip there, turn right. That road bends around the end of the runway and heads north. It's a reasonable high clearance road that will eventually join up with the powerline road, but isn't nearly as long as following the powerline road all the way along 7 mile mountain. After the Montezuma Peak turnoff the road gets dramatically rougher as you approach the trailhead. You definitely need 4WD for this one. Not just for the rough sections, but the approach roads cross and sometimes drive directly inside of deep sand.
The only trail is a sketchy one for a short distance to the old Spanish mine and mine shelter. Beyond that, it was a boulder and bramble scramble all the way up. You escape the catclaw and cacti by sticking to the center of the gully (it splits up high. I took the right fork that heads towards the false summit), but there you will also find polished, downward sloping slabs one after the other. Near what looks like the summit (false summit), I headed along the bottom of its cliffs and wrapped around to the left to access a small hanging basin below the real summit. From there, you head up to the ridge and skirt around the summit block until you find a weakness on the north side that allows you to scramble up to the top. This whole route was steeper and rougher than I expected, but still fun! Classic Estrella terrain.
 
Dec 27 2018
avatar

 Photos 31
 Triplogs 2

58 male
 Joined Nov 23 2018
 Chandler
Butterfly Peaks, AZ 
Butterfly Peaks, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Dec 27 2018
kentlawrence67Triplogs 2
Hiking
Hiking   8 Hrs      0.00 mph
 no routes
1st trip
Partners none no partners
My son and I left our neighborhood in Chandler at 6am. Arrived by 7:30am at the trailhead and finished by about 3:30pm. It takes about an hour to traverse from the Quartz Peak trail to Butterfly peaks. Initally we left the Quartz Peak trail from a bit of a notch on the ridge below Quartz summit and followed somewhat of a ramp between cliffs to bypass difficulties and cliffs east of Quartz Peak, then we followed the ridge mostly where we could to obtain the pass between Quartz and Butterfly. The rest was traversing just below the cliffs on the Butterfly-Quartz ridge and boulder, catclaw, and cactus wacking around to Butterfly. It was tedious, but do-able if you're persistent. Wear long pants. The vegetation wants to shred you. West Butterfly can be climbed without a rope with a couple of low, minimally exposed 5th class moves to surmount a somewhat overhung chockstone in a large gash that runs up the south side of the peak (use good sense. Only you know what you're comfortable with. My son and I brought a rope and harnesses and stoppers, but didn't use them.) Once over the chockstone, you can scramble up the gash and exit it just a few dozen feet from the top. Easy scrambling. East Butterfly is an easier, classic (fun!) boulder scramble to the top.
 

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.

helpcommentissue

end of page marker