On Saturday morning, December 23, I left Linda and our dogs at the Twin Peaks Campground in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument for a climb of nearby Pinkley Peak. Pinkley Peak is the highpoint of the Puerto Blanco Mountains. It has 1345 feet of topographic prominence and has a rocky and complex structure that provides interesting climbing. Linda later took the dogs out to explore the monument on their own.
![An afternoon view of Pinkley Peak from the Puerto Blanco Drive](https://www.glassmountains.us/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/pinkley01_600.jpg)
I drove past the Kris Eggle Visitor Center and north onto the Puerto Blanco Drive, admiring views of and photographing Pinkley Peak as I approached it. I parked at a picnic area immediately east of Pinkley Peak.
![A morning view of Pinkley Peak from the Puerto Blanco Picnic Area](https://www.glassmountains.us/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/pinkley02_600.jpg)
My friend Scott Peavy had provided a GPS track of his route up Pinkley Peak. I also had waypoints for another route from the Southern Arizona Climbing Club. To document an alternative route for peakbagger.com I decided to follow the SAHC route.
![I approach the Southeast Ridge. My route leads left below the high cliff into a gully then up to a saddle higher](https://www.glassmountains.us/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/pinkley03_600.jpg)
I hiked directly towards the peak across the desert, then climbed onto the lower southeast ridge. I followed this ridge towards cliffs ahead, then traversed left below the cliffs and climbed a gully to a lower saddle. With all the rain the previous day soil and rocks were a bit loose but this would be more concerning on my descent, later.
![From the lower saddle I can view the Pinkley Peak summit. My next goal is to traverse across slopes then climb up the gully to the higher saddle below the summit to the left.](https://www.glassmountains.us/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/pinkley04_600.jpg)
![I climb up towards the upper saddle](https://www.glassmountains.us/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/pinkley05_600.jpg)
From the lower saddle I could see the summit high above me to the right and a higher saddle below it to the left. The higher saddle was my next destination.
![From the upper saddle the ridge leads straight up towards the summit](https://www.glassmountains.us/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/pinkley13_600.jpg)
I traversed into a wide gully below the summit cliffs and climbed to the high saddle. From the high saddle I climbed the ridge leading directly towards the summit above me. The climbing was easy, but fun.
![The Pinkley Peak summit with the PUERTO Benchmark to the left](https://www.glassmountains.us/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/pinkley15_600.jpg)
The summit provided nice views and a roomy spot for me to enjoy lunch. I found the summit registry well hidden beneath a large rock and added my name to it. I took several photos.
![Quitovaguita Benchmark, the highpoint of the Agua Dulce Mountains](https://www.glassmountains.us/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/pinkley20_600.jpg)
I identified Quitovaguita Benchmark, the highpoint of the Agua Dulce Mountains. I would like to climb it sometime, but it would require a long hike across the desert near the porous USA/Mexico border; I would prefer not to hike this one alone.
![Kino Peak, Gro Benchmark, and Growler Peak lie to the NNW](https://www.glassmountains.us/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/pinkley23_600.jpg)
I recognized Kino Peak, Gro Benchmark, and Growler Peak to the NNW. I climbed Kino Peak, on the left in the above photo, with Dave Kohnke last March. It was a memorable and satisfying climb with a good companion.
Someday I would like to hike Gro Benchmark in the center of the photo, but it would be a very long hike.
Growler Peak lies further in the distance on the right of the photo. I climbed Growler Peak with Matthias Stender in December 2020. While we relaxed on the summit Matthias shared stories of the Growler Valley with me. I subsequently read about some of those events.
![Diaz Peak lies just left of center in this view from the Pinkley Peak summit](https://www.glassmountains.us/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/pinkley29_600.jpg)
Mount Ajo and the Ajo Range were obscured in clouds to the ENE. But Diaz Peak, just left of center in the above photo, was visible. I climbed Diaz Peak last January solo.
![Twin Peaks lies in the center of this view southeast](https://www.glassmountains.us/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/pinkley31_600.jpg)
To the southeast I recognized Twin Peaks. The Twin Peaks Campground lies just beyond it out of view in the above photo.
![I begin my descent to the upper saddle from the Pinkley Peak summit](https://www.glassmountains.us/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/pinkley33_600.jpg)
![Looking down towards the lower saddle near the center of this view from the upper saddle](https://www.glassmountains.us/wp/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/pinkley34_600.jpg)
After a brief stay, I began my careful descent. I descended my ascent route on sometimes loose ground back to the picnic area without incident. Pinkley Peak seemed a very worthwhile and fun climb.
Paul,
I climbed Pinkley Peak over the 2024 MLK weekend, not long after your hike. I often consult your trip reports on Peakbagger as I knock off Arizona mountain range highpoints. I noticed above that you are interested in climbing the Agua Dulce Mountains on the CPNWR. I climbed to the highpoint in the mid-90s, and wouldn’t mind a repeat visit. I was able to drive on the admin road to Agua Dulce Pass because I was on official business for the Refuge, but this time I’d have to slog down from the Camino like everyone else. Let me know if you’re interested. There are a couple of other peaks out there that I need to do that will require long approach hikes.