Webster Mountain, Arizona, March 2023

Posted on March 27, 2023 by Paul McClellan

On Monday, March 20, I hiked to the summit of Webster Mountain, the highpoint of the Salt River Mountains, a few miles northwest of Globe, Arizona. Webster Mountain has 1519 feet of topographic prominence, making it the 150th most prominent peak in Arizona. It lies in the Arizona Transition Zone, a physiographic region of Arizona separating the Colorado Plateau to the north and east and Arizona’s Basin and Range to the south and west.

View NW from the road. I followed the road up around the hill ahead.
View NW from the road. I followed the road up around the hill ahead.

Most of the hike was on a primitive road, sometimes quite eroded, sometimes in good shape, and sometimes a rocky path.

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Kino Peak, Arizona, March 2023

Posted on March 22, 2023 by Paul McClellan

On Thursday, March 9, I met Dave Kohnke at Bates Well Ranch off of the Bates Well Road in Organ Pipe National Monument. I had spent the previous night camped nearby but Dave has started his day by driving some three hours from Tucson. Our goal this day was to climb Kino Peak, the highpoint of the Bates Mountains.

A late afternoon view of Kino Peak from the north
A late afternoon view of Kino Peak from the north

Winter of last year I viewed Kino Peak from the north along the Bates Well Road and admired its steep and prominent appearance. Kino Peak has 1537 feet of topographic prominence, making it the 143rd most prominent peak in Arizona. More significantly, it has a reputation of difficult route finding to gain the summit above impressive cliffs. Fortunately, we had found good route information online, including descriptions and photos. This gave us some confidence that we should be able to summit the peak.

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Diaz Peak, Arizona, January 2023

Posted on February 7, 2023 by Paul McClellan

On Saturday morning, January 28, I left Tucson and drove west to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. My goal was to climb Diaz Peak. Diaz Peak lies immediately south of Mount Ajo in the Ajo Range. Diaz Peak has 1501 feet of topographic prominence, making it the 153rd most prominent peak in Arizona. It also has a rocky and complex structure. I hoped the GPS track provided by Matthias would guide me as I climbed to the summit.

Diaz Peak from the crest of a ridge, the summit is left of center above a sunlit ramp
Diaz Peak from the crest of a ridge, the summit is left of center above a sunlit ramp

I drove the Ajo Mountain Drive past Mount Ajo and parked off the road at Stop #15. It was later in the morning than I had expected and Diaz Peak looked far away across the desert. So I set a tentative turnaround time for myself. It was going to be a close call as to whether I would be able to summit by then.

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Mohawk Peak, Arizona, January 2023

Posted on January 17, 2023 by Paul McClellan

On Saturday, January 14, I attempted to climb Mohawk Peak in the Mohawk Mountains of Southwest Arizona. Mohawk Peak (Hawk Benchmark) has only 1975 feet of elevation. But it has 1435 feet of topographic prominence and a remarkable summit horn that has drawn my attention as I pass by on Interstate 8.

My view of Mohawk Peak Saturday morning shortly after leaving Interstate 8
My view of Mohawk Peak Saturday morning shortly after leaving Interstate 8

I left Tucson Saturday morning and drove to a parking spot to the north of Mohawk Peak. The weather was overcast with showers expected that evening and overnight.

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