Date: September 3, 2024 • Elevation: 5,166 feet • Prominence: 319 feet (Lidar) • Distance: 2.4 miles • Time: 75 minutes • Gain: 796 feet • Conditions: Sunny and clear

Arizona • Main • PB • LoJ

This peak lies in the Santa Catalina Mountains, rising east of the Molino Basin campground and day-use area along the Catalina Highway. I was driving to Phoenix and wanted a short hike to break up the drive. I did not have to be in Phoenix until early afternoon so I wasn't in a hurry.

This past weekend the weather took a quick turn for the better. The humidity seemed to just disappear all at once, taking the clouds with it. It was actually moderately cool by early-September standards, low 80s in Bisbee, high 90s in the deserts.

Nevertheless, it's still too hot for long hikes so this peak would be perfect, being high enough so that the temperatures would be comfortable. Also, the whole southwest was expected to get hotter this week, the (probable) last big heatwave of the 2024 summer season.

I left Bisbee at 5 a.m. and was in Tucson about 90 minutes later. I followed Houghton Road north toward the Catalina Highway. Traffic was moderate but not bothersome. Once on the Catalina Highway, I followed it upward for five miles to the Molino Basin parking lot. My car's temperature gauge said it was low 80s in Tucson, mid 70s when I rolled in. It was about 7:20 a.m.. There were a few cars already parked here and one woman was ready to get going on her bicycle.

I parked in a spot set aside for the Arizona Trail hikers. I would be following the Arizona Trail partway, which passes over a saddle north of the summit. I dressed in long everything. It was comfortable, but I wanted to avoid sunburn and possible critter bites. I was hiking at 7:30 a.m..

I crossed the road and got onto the Arizona Trail, which is wide and well maintained with a smooth tread. There were two junctions where the trail split. I always followed the path with more footprints, and both times this worked. I marched uphill about a mile and 500 feet of gain to the saddle north of the peak. This was an excellent trail to follow.

The saddle is spanned by a fence with three ways to get through: a gate, a metal grate-like stile, and a walk-through with a tight turn to keep out the bigger animals. I picked the gate.

On the other side, I expected to find a use-path but had no luck. Instead, I picked a spot that looked open, walked up and within thirty feet, found the makings of a path. Sure enough, as I hiked in farther, this path became more distinct. Tall grasses and low brush would cover it at times, and I was mindful of rattlesnakes.

The off-trail portion covers about a quarter mile and 300 feet of gain. The paths are weak but usually easy to follow. Whenever there was a fork, I took it. Any way worked. They would braid then meet up again. I was able to weave through all the brush. I had one fifteen-foot slope that was just gravel on open rock that wasn't easy to manage, but I stayed close to one side and got up it. And that was it. I was soon on top the peak, the one-way hike taking about a half hour.

Views were fantastic! I had blue skies and no humidity so that distant peaks were well defined. I stayed up top and snapped a few images. The big Mica, Agua Caliente and Rincon Peaks rose to the south and east. All sorts of other peaks and rocky ridges rose around me. I studied them for future visits.

I took a drink break, but stayed up top for just five minutes. The hike down went well too. I did not rush things and the whole round trip took a little over an hour. Back at my car, the other cars had left and it was a little warmer, in the low 80s now. I could feel the warmth. But interestingly, the breezes were very refreshing. That's a good sign. When the monsoon is active, the breezes tend to be humid and not-at-all refreshing. I was actually quite comfortable the whole time, and happy to not step on any snakes.

I changed into driving clothes and drove back into Tucson, catching Interstate-10 on the west side via Grant Road. I was in Tempe a couple hours later to do those things that I do. Not wanting to pay for a hotel for this evening, I spent the night at the Jones Water Campground north of Globe and would hike two peaks the following morning.