Date: October 31, 2024 • Elevation: 3,060 feet • Prominence: 780 feet • Distance: 8 miles • Time: 3 hours, 20 minutes • Gain: 1,770 (gross) • Conditions: Stunning

Arizona • Main • PB • LoJ

Peak 3060 is the highest peak in the Cave Creek Regional Park, about thirty miles north of Phoenix. The park has a number of excellent trails but none go to the top of any of the peaks. I had climbed the other main peaks in the park already. There are two other ranked summits in the park, and two more just outside the boundaries. I was last here about eighteen months ago when I climbed Go John Mountain & Peak 2850.

I was on campus yesterday for a meeting, but that was over by 5 p.m., and I left immediately thereafter. I had made a reservation for the campground on the Cave Creek Regional Park grounds and wanted to be there sooner than later. I hit traffic which was not unexpected. I stopped for gas and food for the night, and arrived at the park grounds about 6:30 p.m., the sun mostly set by now. The sunset itself was colorful.

The campground is geared toward the big RVs or people pulling trailers. I had a huge space to park my Subaru, and I was just sleeping on my cot in the open. It wasn't very secluded, but it appeared to be a very quiet campground and for my purposes, was good enough. I think the park should consider an addendum to their campground that caters to people with just a car and a tent.

I then sat in the front seat, had a meal, and went to the ESPN website on my device. Tonight was the fifth game of the World Series. The Dodgers were up 3 games to 1, but when I looked in, the Yankees had a 5-0 lead. Bah. I figured this one's in the bag and the Series will then revert to Los Angeles in a couple days. Thoughts of 1977 and 1978 danced in my head. Any Dodgers fan of a certain age will know what I am talking about.

About a half hour later, I looked in and lo, the Dodgers had tied it at 5! Apparently, the Yankees played Little League baseball for an inning and the Dodgers took advantage of the errors and lapses in judgement. But then the Yankees went up 6-5... but then the Dodgers regained the lead 7-6. I was too nervous to watch or listen. I'd turn off my device and put it in my pocket.

Finally, the top of the ninth inning, Walker Buehler on the mound. I see there is one out. No one on base. Then my device would not update. I had to reload the page and that took time. Next time it uploaded, the game was final. The Dodgers had won! I was elated. I texted my peeps including my fellow Dodger fanatic in California, Treetops. We've both been following them since the late 1970s.

I slept well that night. The sky was clear, and the last sliver of the waning crescent moon had appeared last night which meant tonight would be a new moon (or no moon). The stars were abundant and beautiful. I tracked a couple planets too. It appeared Saturn was highest in the sky. It still blows my mind that I'm looking at giant suns hundred and thousands of light years away.

I was up at dawn. I only had to drive a mile to the trailhead. I'd be following the Go John Trail, which circumnavigates Peak 3060 and runs 7.2 miles, going by the park literature. I was the second car in the lot. I got suited up and started walking a 7 a.m., the sun still very low in the east, but conditions very mild, in the low 50s for now and not a cloud in the sky.

The peak rises immediately to the north of the trailhead, its summit less than a mile away. I had a printed copy of Paul McClellan's track from a year ago when he tackled it directly. I figured I would take a look at what he did.

I walked north up the trail. It makes a right bend then a hard left. Here, his track left the trail and charged up a slope. I got about a hundred feet up this slope and did not like it. It was too steep with too much loose angular scree and no grass holding it all together. So I backed off and returned to the trail.

I had all morning available. There was no need to rush this peak. I had no commitments until noon at the earliest. I decided to follow the Go John Trail which loops around to the northeast, to Gunsight Saddle which is northeast of the summit. I had no idea what the terrain would be like from that side, but I had nothing to lose. I figured if the peak cannot be hiked safely, at least I'll get a long hike done. These trails are fantastic and hiking them is a pleasure.

It took me about an hour to hike almost 3 miles to Gunsight Saddle. I wasn't rushing anything, just following the trails in and out of the folds of the terrain. I saw exactly one other person the whole time.

Viewing the peak from the north and northeast, it was clear the slopes appeared friendlier this way. They were not as steep as from the south and also were covered in grass, which meant they'd hold together well. I hiked until I was at the apex of the trail at Gunsight Saddle, a little over 2,600 feet in elevation.

Looking up, the grassy slope aimed toward the lower eastern summit, covered in rocks and small cliffs. It looked steep but manageable, but there was only one way to find out. The first couple hundred feet went well, being just sloping grass.

Soon I was among the rocks. They heaped randomly, forming little cliff bands and tiers, and other random piles. The good news was that there was always some way up or around them, and that they held together solidly too. I took this in twenty-foot segments, hoping it would all go, but half expecting to be blocked by a cliff.

I got up one chute and saw a wonderful ramp that bypassed what looked like some heinous cliffs that had concerned me. This ramp was invisible from below. But once on it, it was wide, pitched gently and sheltered. This fed me onto more rocks where I had to use my hands more. But none of the climbing was technical. One chute I would rate Class-3-minus mainly for some awkward holds and maneuvering. Suddenly, I was on top the eastern bump!

The highpoint was visible to the west. I had one last concern, that cliffs would bar me from descending but then I found yet another ramp that dropped off these rocks. This one was messier but it still worked very well. I was quite pleased that the summit of Peak 3060 was nearby and imminent.

But being a Dodger fan, I know better than to take things for granted. I told myself it's the top of the ninth, a 7-6 lead. I still have three outs to get. I channeled my inner Walker Buehler. I just slowly took my steps, not rushing. Within minutes, I had descended, crossed a tiny saddle, and ascended the lovely slopes to the top of Peak 3060.

The top is flat with a couple rock outcrops and great views in all directions. The day was sunny and clear with no humidity. I had great lighting for photographs. I spent about ten minutes up top, having a break, kicking rocks and looking for a register without any luck.

One rock was inscribed by "RJ" back in 1959. I wonder how he's doing these days. I also found a tiny "benchmark", or more like a cap to a post about an inch in diameter, stamped MOFCD with 2003 and 2004. I had no idea who they are. This was a great summit and I was especially pleased to be here because I was not sure this one would happen for me today.

For the descent, I figured it would be wisest to play it safe and follow my same route out. I reascended the eastern bump, then eased down off the rocks and back to the trail at Gunsight Saddle.

I then walked the remainder of the Go John Trail loop back to the trailhead, this also covering a little over 3 miles and taking me about 45 minutes. I was moving quickly, and the trails are so well done it's easy to put in the miles. I also met up with a few more hikers, about a half dozen overall. I was back to my car at 10:20 a.m., a 3-hour, 20-minute hike. The weather was still mild, temperature now in the low 70s.

I changed into less sweaty clothes and packed everything up. I had got what I came for and was very happy about that, and consider this hike and this climb to be particularly satisfying. Not many people climb this peak. I think most try it from the southwest and hit the ugly slopes I did. But from the northeast, it isn't that bad. Just enough scrambling and use of hands to keep it interesting.

I went on to campus to shower at the gym and get my act together for tonight's classes. Later, I looked up MOFCD. The Google Machine said it's the Somaliland Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Development. That's probably not it. I tried a few more keywords. The best I could find was the FCD stands for Flood Control District. Maybe the M stands for Maricopa. If anyone knows, drop me a line.