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Sala Benchmark, Arizona, December 2024

December 27, 2024 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On Christmas Eve I hiked to the summit of Sala Benchmark, a peak in the Southern Dragoon Mountains of Arizona. Sala Benchmark has 1264 feet of topographic prominence and rises to the east above Cochise Stronghold.

Cochise Stronghold, China Peak, and Sala Benchmark from Middlemarch Road
Cochise Stronghold, China Peak, and Sala Benchmark from Middlemarch Road

Several of people had visited it before me and had published helpful trip reports. This was to be a short hike, mostly on an unmaintained trail. I expected few surprises.

[Read more…] about Sala Benchmark, Arizona, December 2024

Filed Under: Hiking Tagged With: Arizona, Dragoon Mountains, Sala Benchmark

Johnny Lyon Hills Highpoint, Arizona, December 2024

December 27, 2024 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On Friday, December 20, I climbed the highpoint of the Johnny Lyon Hills, north of Benson, Arizona. The Johnny Lyon Hills highpoint has 1149 feet of topographic prominence. The hills rise above the San Pedro Valley and the highpoint provides nice views of many surrounding Sonoran Desert mountain ranges. So it is a worthwhile peak to visit. The Johnny Lyon Hills are notable from I-10 and surrounding mountain ranges, if you know where to look.

Johnny Lyon Hills from N. Cascabel Road in the San Pedro Valley
Johnny Lyon Hills from N. Cascabel Road in the San Pedro Valley

Several of my peakbagging friends, including Wade Luther, Matthias Stender, and Scott Surgent had climbed the highpoint before. Their trip reports, GPS tracks, and road access notes were helpful – I would not be exploring new routes today.

[Read more…] about Johnny Lyon Hills Highpoint, Arizona, December 2024

Filed Under: Climbing Tagged With: Arizona, Johnny Lyon Hills, San Pedro Valley

Pusch Peak, Arizona, November 2024

December 5, 2024 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

On Saturday, November 30, I climbed Pusch Peak on the western edge of the Santa Catalina Mountains of Southern Arizona. This peak is closed for bighorn sheep lambing season from January 1 through April 30. I needed to visit it soon if at all this winter season.

Morning view of Pusch Peak from the Linda Vista Trail
Morning view of Pusch Peak from the Linda Vista Trail

That morning I drove to the Linda Vista Trailhead. I was fortunate to find a parking spot. From the trailhead I followed the Linda Vista Trail east, then turned to follow the unmaintained Pusch Peak Trail higher towards the peak’s summit.

[Read more…] about Pusch Peak, Arizona, November 2024

Filed Under: Climbing Tagged With: Arizona, Pusch Peak, Santa Catalina Mountains

Grand Wash Cliffs, Arizona, April 2024

May 23, 2024 by Paul McClellan Leave a Comment

After breakfast Sunday morning, April 21, I said goodbye to Eric and Stacey Kassan as they left our campsite to climb nearby Iron Mountain. The slopes of Iron Mountain above seemed steep and I expected they would have a memorable day. I then left our campsite and drove further south to Ray Place, a remote and apparently abandoned homestead in the Iron Spring Wash below the Grand Wash Cliffs.

Duncan Benchmark appears above cliffs from Ray Place
Duncan Benchmark appears above cliffs from Ray Place

My goal was to climb Duncan Benchmark, the highpoint of the Grand Wash Cliffs. Duncan Benchmark has 2209 feet of topographic prominence, making it the 54th most prominent peak in Arizona. I understood it had a reputation for being brushy, but from reports the brush was manageable and I was not expecting it to be a particular problem.

[Read more…] about Grand Wash Cliffs, Arizona, April 2024

Filed Under: Climbing Tagged With: Arizona, Duncan Benchmark, Grand Wash Cliffs

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