Date: November 6, 2024 • Elevation: 2,252 feet • Prominence: 320 feet • Distance: 1.5 miles • Time: 45 minutes • Gain: 315 feet • Conditions: Cold and brisk with a strong breeze

Arizona • Main • PB • LoJ • Mine information

This little mound of a peak lies in the extreme northwestern bulge of Maricopa County, bordering the Agua Fria River northwest of the Table Mesa exit off Interstate-17. I was actually interested in two larger peaks to the south, Wild Burro Mesa and its northern appendage. This peak only caught my interest because it was close to a road and a staging area that could also be used for camping.

The area these days is used primarily for off-road vehicles and shooters. It is administered by the Bureau of Land Management. There is a clump of hills bordering the river of which this peak is the highest point. The old Little Pan Mine was located here, a short-lived gold mine from decades ago. The whole area is known as the Little Pan OHV area.

I was done teaching and on the road by 7:30, with a stop for groceries. I drove up the Loop-101 to Interstate-17, exiting at Table Mesa. I went left (west) and then north onto the frontage. The pavement ends but the gravel continuation is wide and in mostly good condition.

The BLM's webiste directions were to go right at the first junction, left at the second. In the dark, I could not tell which junctions these referred to, so I guessed. It did not matter. It was dark and I could not see anything anyway. I found a cleared area and set up my cot and camp. There were some other people in the area.

I did the usual: dinner in the front seat, then pile into the sleeping bag around 9:30. It was very chilly up here, in the 40s, with a cloud cover, but the stars still shone through so the clouds could not have been very thick. In an hour or so, they blew through leaving clear skies with millions of stars.

Around 3 a.m., I hear a foreboding rumble and then a strong woosh. For the next hour or so, it was gusty winds kicking up dust. Anything that wasn't secure got blown away. I was too cold in my bag with the blankets so I sat up front in my car, trying to sleep, with not much luck.

At daybreak, I got out to inspect things. My camp was simple, but a couple items had been blown away. Fortunately, they got caught up on some brush, so I just went and got the things and then took down camp.

I now knew where I was, so I backtracked and found the actual Little Pan OHV Staging Area with no trouble, now being able to see better. I rolled in and parked. The staging area is a big cleared lot of gravel with a single set of vault toilets and a couple picnic tables. There were two cars parked nearby, camping together.

It was still cold and a heavy cloud bank had settled in over us, although it was clear to the north and south. I sat for awhile and hoped it would blow through. Finally, I got my stuff together and started moving. This would be a very short hike, so I just wore my hiking clothes and a fleece jacket, stuffing my things into the pockets. The wind was very strong still, and cold. Temperatures were about 40°.

I walked up the road to a low pass north of the hill's top. This road was marginal. The Subaru might have made it had I gone slow, but the walk covered not even a quarter mile. Once at the pass, I found a path and started following it.

The path ended soon, but the terrain was open and with good footing. I charged up a slope, putting me on the ridge. I angled behind one foreground rock outcrop and saw the summit up ahead.

I walked along the ridge, bypassing the rocky spines. The summit itself is a rock pile. An old mine shaft pit was at the base of the rocks. Was this the Little Pan Mine?

I scampered up the rocks and I was on top, the summit marked by a 4-foot tall shepherd's cairn (what I call them. It may have been a mine claim boundary too). It was cold still, and very windy. I snapped a few images but did not stop. It was too uncomfortable.

I returned via the same route, no variations. I was back to my car soon, a round trip of about 45 minutes. I decided not to stick around. Those other peaks would have to wait another day.

I enjoyed this little peak for what it was, but it's not worth the hassle on its own merits. It's something to do if near the Table Mesa exit as getting to it is easy. At least I got to explore this area and get a sense of the roads. It's not terribly pretty. The shooters and OHV people invariably leave behind a lot of trash. The immediate area around the peak was clean, though.

I got back onto the interstate and drove south, aiming now for Apache Peak in New River.