Pinnacle Peak - Ajo

On my way back from Puerto Peñasco on Friday evening I camped off of Darby Well Road in Ajo. On Saturday morning at 6:53 AM, I climbed up Pinnacle Peak. After walking down the dirt road for 0.73 miles I had reached a nice starting point at the base of Pinnacle Peak. I reached the 2,487-foot summit at 8:00 AM after hiking 1.1 miles. My hike was 2.1 miles round-trip and it took me 2 hours and 11 minutes. I was back at my van at 9:04 AM. The ascent up Pinnacle Peak was 489 feet.

Pinnacle Peak on Friday night.

Pinnacle Peak on Friday night.

Saturday morning at camp.

Ajo Peak

North Ajo Peak

North Ajo Peak

Ajo Peak and North Ajo Peak

North Ajo Peak from the summit.

My 2.1 mile hike.

Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) - Mexico

In the morning I walked to Playa Mirador to look at the tide pools at low tide. The tide was very far out and the rocky shoreline was exposed. When I found a sandy patch I followed that to the breaking waves. I stood waist deep in the ocean and let the big waves crash into me.

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

I had room #7 at The Cove.

Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point) - Mexico

On this trip to Puerto Peñasco I stayed for one night at a small hotel called The Cove. This was the first time I spent the night in a foreign country.

The Cove

Playa Mirador

Darby Well Road - Ajo

I camped off of Darby Well Road the night before driving into Mexico.

North Ajo Peak

My camp and North Ajo Peak.

North Ajo Peak

Caving - Coconino National Forest

This was my second time visiting this cave. The entrance is at 7,300 feet elevation. We entered the cave at about 10 AM, and exited the cave about 2:30 PM.

 

Ittindi Rock - Canyon Lake

My hike up Ittindi Rock was 2 miles round-trip. It was 108 degrees when I started at 6:25 PM. It was 29 minutes to the summit, and 43 minutes to the edge. I returned to my car at 8:01 PM, and it was 98 degrees.

Tortilla Creek Massif - Tortilla Flat

At 6:56 PM it was 104 degrees when I started my hike up Tortilla Creek Massif. The walk to the trailhead in the campground was 0.73 miles, and it took me 18 minutes from Tortilla Flat.  I reached the summit at 7:40 PM. From the trailhead the elevation gain to the summit is about 460 feet in a half mile. The summit is a 1.3 mile hike from Tortilla Flat, and it took me 44 minutes. It was quickly getting dark when I head back down. When I reached Tortilla Creek a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake crossed my path. It got in the strike position and rattled. Fortunately it moved away, but I could no longer see it, and it was still rattling. I had hoped it wasn't too close as I walked cautiously past the buzzing sound on my right. I was close to the campground and eager to get out of the brush. My round-trip hike was 2.8 miles, and it took me 1 hour and 45 minutes.