Date: December 1, 2023 • Elevation: 2,077 feet (per Lidar) • Prominence: 305 feet • Distance: 2 miles • Time: 45 minutes • Gain: 325 feet • Conditions: Cool, spotty clouds • Wildlife: About a dozen burros

Arizona • Main • PB • LoJ

This peak lies west of Interstate-17, north of the Pioneer exit, and north of Peak 2165 (Pioneer Peak). On the peak's southwest tip is a prison, the Federal Corrections Institute - Phoenix (FCI-Phoenix). I would come in from the opposite direction, the northeast.

I had little going on today, but needed to handle a couple minor errands that kept me bound to Tempe. By late morning, I was looking at maps and reconsidered this little peak. It's a "soft ranked" summit, meaning its prominence averages out to about 300 feet but may be lower. However, after referring to the new 1-meter Lidar data, it shows a summit elevation of 2,077 feet and a saddle elevation of 1,772 feet, for a prominence of 305 feet. So I got my stuff together and drove out to hike it. I had a couple more nearby hills on the agenda just in case.

The drive went well, and I exited at the Pioneer Road exit, went to the west side and past the Pioneer museum, then north along the paved road to where it bends left toward the prison. I continued north on a gravel track for about a mile, until I was northeast of the peak. I parked alongside the track, just a couple hundred feet from the interstate. The peak rose about a mile to the southwest. This gravel road was pretty good, but with a lot of puddles after last night's rains. Today was cool with puffy clouds, temperatures about 60°.

I started walking old tracks and through low brush until I was at the base of the slopes. I then walked up the lenient slopes through palo verde, grass and a few saguaro. I heard some braying and a ruckus, then saw about a dozen burros running downslope on the opposite side of me. Moments later, I heard some huffs and snorts and saw two more burros, they staring back at me as well. They did not run off, so I took their photo.

It was about this time I head some gunshots. I could see a truck parked in a clearing north of the peak, presumably belonging to the shooters. I kept to the opposite side of the ridge, but I was way above them and far enough back that the likelihood of getting shot was very small. The last slope got steep but it was short, and I was quickly on top the rocky peak, about 20 minutes after starting.

I did not stop. I just walked from one end to the other, tagging rocks. I did not see a cairn or a register. Views were good, with blue skies and puffy clouds, and a gentle breeze. I got a good look down into the prison. I was close enough to the interstate to hear the cars. I stayed up top about two minutes.

I followed the same route back, the burros gone by now, and the shooters far enough so as not to concern me. I was back to my car, a round trip time of just 45 minutes. It was a pretty hike, and easy too, with easy slopes and no inconveniences.

Next, I drove to the other side of the interstate to check out a couple more ranked peaks, but these are surrounded by houses. I drove a few residential roads to see if there was an ad-hoc trailhead or some place to park, but didn't see anything that I liked. I did not want to just park in front of someone's home. I didn't linger, and just got back on the freeway and back to Tempe, my home for just two more weeks. I stopped for a falafel sandwich and some groceries along the way.