The Mountains of Arizona
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Devils Cash Box • Peak 5012 Devils Cash Box is a ridge of limestone at the western base of the Santa Rita Mountains. There are three main peaks, the northern peak which gets the name "Devils Cash Box", a middle peak (elevation 4910 feet, prominence about 200 feet) and a southern peak, at 5,102 feet, the highpoint of this compact ridge. Each of these peaks has sheer cliffs facing east, with steep slopes coming in from the west. I suspect, but have no way to verify, that the name comes from the appearance of these cliffs when viewed from the east, akin to an old cash register with the pop-up tabs. Other than a couple trips to Madera Canyon to climb Mounts Wrightson (1998) and Hopkins (2011), I have never explored the western foothills and peaks of the Santa Rita Mountains. This would be my first time here and I was curious what I would find, what kind of access there is, and the condition of the roads. I saw a useful report, with photographs, on the Earthline site (linked from my main page) which got me interested to drive all this way for some hikes. I settled on a plan to hike the two main peaks of the ridge, then also look at Diablito Mountain, a peak directly west at the north tip of the Tumacacori Mountains After a very mild December and a start of winter, we had our first big storm blow through the state on Wednesday and Thursday. For about 24 hours, from mid-day Wednesday to mid-day Thursday, there was a light but steady snow in Bisbee and Sierra Vista, accruing a couple inches in Bisbee (at least in my back yard in Bisbee). But once the clouds parted and the sun came through, all the snow was melted by dusk, even though the temperatures never got above the low 40s. I wanted a hike somewhere for today (Friday), and the weather forecasts were for clear skies everywhere, but very cold, high teens in the mountains, mid twenties in the lower elevations. The Devils Cash Box peaks have good road access so mud would not be a concern. Whatever snow they got would also be gone.
Date: January 10, 2025
• Elevation: 4,964 feet
• Prominence: 444 feet
• Distance: 1.7 miles
• Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
• Gain: 915 feet
• Conditions: Very cold, intense sun, no clouds
Arizona
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PB
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LoJ
I left Bisbee at 6 a.m. and followed routes AZ-80 into Sierra Vista, AZ-90 to Whetstone, AZ-82 to Sonoita with a stop for snacks, and AZ-83 north to Sahuarita Road, where I had just been five days ago. I followed Sahuarita Road about twenty miles west to Interstate-19 in the city of Grass Valley, thereby avoiding Tucson altogether.
On Interstate-19, I went south to the Canoa Ranch Road exit, got onto the southbound frontage on the east side of the highway, passed a super-slowpoke, then followed Elephant Head Road to the Mount Hopkins Road. I drove Mount Hopkins Road a few miles until I was abeam of the north end of the peaks. I eased onto Coronado Forest Road 183 and followed it about a mile, then went right a few yards onto FR-4077.
These roads were in pretty good shape, high clearance would be necessary. On FR-4077, there is a lovely pullout, but at this very moment, some cattle were here, just standing, but blocking me and blocking the pullout I wanted to back in to. I drove a little farther on FR-4077, which wasn't too bad, but it was narrow and I did not want to take any chances. Plus, the sun was in my eyes. So I reversed and pulled into the spot I wanted. The two cattle in that spot slowly ambled to the side.
It was sunny and clear and very cold, about 30°, but calm and dry so that the cold did not feel so biting. I bundled up and got my pack and poles together, and started the short hike at 8:30 a.m..
I walked FR-4077 a little less than a quarter mile, to where it widens up again. Had I known about this wide spot, I could have got the Subaru here. This is also below a lowpoint in the ridge above me. I found a path and started up, gaining about 200 feet to put me on this ridge.
The sun was vicious. It was exactly in the bearing I was headed and super intense. It did not matter if I wore sunglasses or blocked it with my hat or hands, it glared everything out. I had to look at the ground in front of me, only looking up to gather my bearings.
Fortunately, I was soon in the shade afforded by the actual peak I was aiming for. It was backlit, so I could not make out much detail except that it looked steep. Up to now, the walking had been easy, but now on the ridge, the brush closed in and the limestone rocks and rubble made each step an adventure.
Navigation was easy. I just walked up hill, keeping on the ridge as best as I could. I even followed what seemed like paths in places. The ground is covered in lechuguilla, and I stabbed my ankles repeatedly, even trying to be careful. Sometimes, I had no choice but to walk through a patch. For the shins and knees, there was plenty of prickly-pear cactus, and for the upper body and head, ocotillo.
The slopes at first were more open and composed of degraded flakes formed into talus. The gradient was still lenient, and it was just a matter of being careful not to roll with each step.
Higher up, the ridge narrowed and the limestone itself was exposed on the spine. This was both a boon and a hindrance. Sometimes, I could walk directly atop it, avoiding the brush, and make some good time. Other times, it was heaped randomly to where walking on it was difficult. And it was razor-sharp to the touch — and still very cold, too.
Basically, I couldn't move very fast. Each step needed to be tested, I was always trying to avoid something organic and stabby, and once out of the shadow, had to deal with the sun blinding me if I happened to look up. I just moved slowly and carefully, and eventually ran out of mountain to climb. I had made the top. It took me an hour to go less than a mile.
I was glad to be here. The views were quite impressive in all directions. The sun was still low enough to create shadows on all the surrounding peaks and ridges. To the east I could see the buildings atop Mount Hopkins. North I could see the rocky massif of Elephant Head and its subsidiaries. West were the Tumacacoris, the Colorados and way out there, mighty Baboquivari. South was the lone massif of San Cayetano Peak, and more hills in the Santa Ritas. I could not find a register.
I did not stay long. I got what I came for and it was still very cold, so I kept moving. Going down was slightly better due to gravity helping me, but I still had to move slowly through the brush and the chaotic rocks. It took me about 40 minutes to get down off the peak and back to my car. The cattle by now had moved about 50 feet to the north.
I was happy to be done, and happy to have climbed this interesting peak. I enjoyed it, but the combination of the brush, rubble and sun probably added a half-hour total to my time. At no time did I ever scramble, but I used my hands often for balance, to ease up or down a big step and to push aside the brush.
Elevation: 5,012 feet
• Prominence: 492 feet
• Distance: 1.2 miles
• Time: 1 hour
• Gain: 820 feet
• Conditions: Same, but a tad warmer
PB
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LoJ
I did not have far to drive, less than a mile to situate myself at the Whipple Observatory's Visitor's Center. There is a nifty parking lot set aside at the entrance for day hikers and picnickers. I pulled in, the only one here. It was close to 11 a.m. now, and conditions were the same, of course, just ever-so-slightly warmer, maybe 40-something.
Peak 5012 is the highpoint of this small ridge, and it stood directly above me at the parking lot. Whereas the climb up Devils Cash Box had been along the ridgeline istelf, this climb would be on its steep west-facing slope. It looked steep, and it was. It was over 800 feet of elevation gain in about a half mile.
I walked part of the actual Mount Whipple Road, then went up the slopes to gain a weak ridgeline. This knocked out about a hundred feet of gain.
I then angled up toward the peak and started walking, one foot in front of the other. The terrain was about as before, with plenty of loose limestone rocks, a few low cliffs, and lots of lechuguilla, prickly-pear and ocotillo.
The slopes looked very steep, but as I started up them, they lay back well. I tested each step and moved upward slowly, also slowed by the need to work around the plants. Any cliffs could be avoided. These were usually exposed rock outcrops sloping back, maybe ten or fifteen feet of elevation differential. In a few cases, I liked the footing and ascended them directly.
I kept to this process and slowly made my way up. Finally, the steepness suddenly abated and I was on top, the summit being a small bare platform about ten by twenty feet. There were some low rock outcrops, but I could not locate a register here either. I took a few images, but like before, the cold weather made it uncomfortable to stop and relax. I just turned around and started down.
The downhill went well. I took each step slowly and deliberately. It wasn't the most fun I've ever had, but in time, I was down off the slopes and back on the road. I was back to my car, now slightly past noon, a one-hour hike.
There were two more cars in the lot, and two women with a free bible study mobile bookshelf. They were nice, asking how my hike went. They did not try to sell me on Jesus. We had a short chat. I was happy with the two peaks and also happy to be done with these two peaks. I have to admit the combination of terrain and plants made both of these peaks a slight chore, although I still think they're worthy summits. Just dress properly and come prepared.
The third peak on my agenda was Diablito Mountain, a lone outlier at the north tip of the Tumacacori Mountains, directly west of my position. I was expecting a longer hike, about an 8-mile hike, so I wanted to be moving quickly to get to the trailhead as soon as possible.
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