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| Hiking | 6.40 Miles |
2,150 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.40 Miles | 2 Hrs 36 Mns | | 3.05 mph |
| 2,150 ft AEG | 30 Mns Break | 10 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | Living near Lee Mtn. for nearly a year, I finally decided to try the Mule deer trails up metate ridge (I named that one) to Lee Mountain top.
Estimated mileage starts at the jacks canyon trailhead staging area. Head NE over the mellow, gently rising jacks canyon trail. I, however cycled to an old staging area near the pine valley mailboxes, about 0.7 mile in. ( keep that in mind when looking at my gps track).
1.5 Miles On the left will be a hill, which could be mistaken for the ridge to lee mtn. I suspect this route would be unwise in terms of pleasure and efficiency. Pass a 200 foot canyon and this next rise is the start of the ridge to Lee. If I do this route again, I may go upcanyon here or along this ridge.But I continued several hundred feet for probably the easiest route up the base of Lee. It is also possible to continue to the tank at 2.5 miles and then turn back SW taking a gentler gradient towards metate ridge.
2.2 mile mark and turn left up through a moderately steep section of alluvial fan laden with paddle cactus, but fear not as it appears dozens of cows have made way at least one week per year for decades and maybe daily for centuries, traffic which could include deer, elk, bear, lions, and horses. There is no one exact spot to make the turn, and no cairns either. As you rise, Continue through the intermittent cow pasture which has variant permanent trails going both at an angle and straight up hill. As you gain elevation, aim uphill and eventually, towards the left (west). As you get higher there will be juniper and now mesquite which must be navigated by skirting around or at times quickly through the thickets of juvenile mesquite, avoiding their spikes as much as possible. This is a good route for wearing pants. Especially in the spring and summer, I would imagine, when brush and rattlesnakes may be in greater number.
2.8 the cow pasture comes to a close as you approach metate ridge and the gate, sitting safely near a rocky ridge opening up to the first westerly view. Use caution on this ridge as there is rapid looking erosion here due to high winds and falling sandstone ledges. Under one of the 8 foot pines, there is a double metate. I picked a nice clump of pine resin off of clean brown needles to make incense at home but unconsciously left it behind along with a rectangular want to be geode and agate looking rock. I'm envious of miners at times. This could be a good spot for some prospecting, I reckon. And there is nothing but space and time and life up here on Lee Mountain.
Continue up the ridge a hundred yards and pass through an old timber framed door highlighting an opening in a barbed wire fence with no gate to open or close. This next section is wonderfully manicured by nature and an occasional hiker.
3.0 make sure to now gain the steep grade turning momentarily East before sharply north up a steep section
for 100 yards.
3.1 Trail now traverses up this mountainside, WNW.
3.5 Now, the steepest section. Veer more to the North following the way a deer might go up to Lee ridge, Towards the final summit and access to Munds Mtn.
3.6 You've made it to the Saddle I continued toward the summit and turned around at a beautiful ridge side juniper. . From hear I hear it is easy to take it down canyon to the Chapel of the holy cross or along the ridge to Munds. I came down the same way. Use care and gravity while decending. |
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