This was a fantastic place in the Sonoran Desert to spend New Years Eve. Although, there were at least 100 RVs, it was very quiet all night. This is what I wanted, and why I left the Valley for 3 days. Plus I was going to hike up Peak 4158 in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument.
I like this little town that's far from everything. Ajo, is a former mining town, and now it is a growing artist community. It is also famous for its Spanish colonial architecture. The elevation is 1,798 feet.
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| I do my laundry here when I pass through town. |
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| Historic Train Depot |
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| Used Bookstore is quite nice. |
Pinkley Peak is the highest mountain in the Puerto Blanco Mountains at 3,145 feet. The climb begins off-trail at the picnic area from the west side of Puerto Blanco Drive. I ascended the south ridge, and climbed up the left side of the peak. It was cold and windy on the south ridge, and my desire to climb the peak had faded. I was also trying to shake off some depression too. Several times I stopped and thought about turning back. But if I quit, I would have to come back. I don't like having a failed attempt on a mountain. However, I looked at the peak and decided to go a little further. I kept saying just a little bit more. Finally the winds became calmer, the sun was warming me up, and the peak was closer. Then I became determined to conquer the summit. It took me 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach the top, and I was much happier than earlier. This is why I climb mountains. The hike was 3.6 miles round trip, and took me 4 hours and 40 minutes.
It's days like these when my OCD is mostly gone. My mind is focusing on a tough climb, instead of useless and distracting obsessions.
I followed the route from Debra Van Winegarden's blog.
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| Pinkley Peak |
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| Pinkley Peak |
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| Pinkley Peak |
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| The final scramble to the summit. |
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| On the summit. |
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| Me on the summit. |
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| Looking north from the summit. |
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| Looking west from the summit. |
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| Coming down the mountain. |
At Arch Canyon I followed an unmaintained trail up to a 3,780 foot overlook. The canyon itself and trailhead can be reached by the 21 mile scenic loop drive. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument includes the ancient Pinacate volcanic field which covers more than 1,900 square miles. These volcanic rocks are rhyolite and tuff. Opal and silica veins occur in the rhyolite. The tuff is composed of rhyolitic volcanic ash and small rock fragments ejected during shorter, explosive eruptions.
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| My car down below in the parking lot. |
My campsite at Gunsight Wash is just a few miles north of Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. This is a quiet and clean place that can accommodate many campers.
Sugarloaf Mountain is located near Cave Creek. This is the northern part of the Phoenix basin located at the transition zone where the ecosystems of juniper/grasslands and Sonoran Desert meet.
I left the Tortuga Trail at 2.2 miles and headed off-trail up the
mountain. Near the top I encountered lots of loose rock which slowed my
ascent. I reached the summit at 2.9 miles, and it took me 2 hours and 15
minutes. It was an easy hike until halfway up the mountain. As usual, I got stabbed by cactus. This time I slipped on loose rock, and put my hand on staghorn cholla. Then I spent a few minutes pulling spines out of my flesh. But a small price to pay for great views, and lower blood sugar since I have type 2 diabetes.
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| Sugarloaf Mountain |
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| Sugarloaf Mountain |
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| Sugarloaf Mountain |
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| Sugarloaf Mountain |
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| Summit marker |
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| Me on the summit. |
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| Sugarloaf Mountain |
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| Sugarloaf Mountain |
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| My route from the Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area. |
