8/12/2023 0 Comments Tips for 4peaksMost folks would be satisfied with the adventure of getting to the trailhead. The first being the drive up to the trailhead. I classify this hike as a three-part experience. Many books describe the Four Peaks area as a sky island. Depressing to think about, yet nature is making a remarkable comeback. The Lone fire is the result of a careless individual dropping a cigarette at the trailhead of Pigeon Trail #134. However, there are a few streams to cross when water is present and an extreme rocky section just after Mud Springs that'll rattle your mind at first.Īlong the way up, you will drive in and out of the scorched areas caused by the Lone Fire in late April 1996. I have made it up and down several times. I would not recommend the west side 20 mile stretch of forest road #143 to a regular car. The temperature here in midday will be about ten degrees cooler from the desert floor below. Upon reaching the Mazatzal divide, turn right (south) and follow the inline forest road #648 to the end, Lone Pine Saddle. Excellent views of Roosevelt lake open up at several points along the way. Along the way, you quickly pass through the various vegetation zones as if you were going up an elevator in a science project. I usually pass a few grazing cows and an occasional horseback rider. It takes about thirty minutes to reach the saddle on this forest road. In my opinion, the road is very passable to any decent running car. It is about half the distance to the saddle, although much steeper. El Oso Road is the #143 equivalent on the east side of the mountain. Okay, I never made it all the way up on this route until about a year later.Īn easier route is to go all the way around to the Roosevelt ake side. After a few trips on this road, I have come to appreciate the beauty of the desert. The drive would be more reassuring in a 4WD truck. The road is actually in excellent shape for such a remote area. My first attempt proved I was not mentally prepared for the twenty-plus-mile stretch up to the saddle. This forest road is easily identified from State Highway 87 just 21 miles north of Mesa. The unpaved forest road #143 is the only logical route to the saddle from the mountain's west side. This is the parking area for the Brown's Trail #133, Four Peaks Trail #130, and eventually Amethyst Trail #253. Heading out in my trusty Ford Escort I attempt to reach Lone Pine Saddle. Starting at 2,000 feet on the desert floor and jutting up to 7,657 feet at the very top of Brown's Peak, which is the northernmost peak. This section is an extreme rise of jagged rock. The Four Peaks are the southern terminus of the Mazatzal Mountains. My honest thought was that those mountains must be a long way away, like maybe the border of New Mexico. I did find it interesting that a guy could be standing in the middle of the desert, looking over at snow on a mountain. Now that I think about it, I recall several winters when folks would point over to the east from the valley and mention the snow-covered peaks. Funny because I'd heard the name at least a dozen times in the past, but it never really set in. I checked out all the maps and quickly figured out what I was looking at was called the Four Peaks. So I decided to go to the library and see what I could find out about these mountains to the valley's east. 2,597 ft Browns Peak Plus A Bolt and Washer
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |