Date: October 6, 2024 • Elevation: 5,085 feet • Prominence: 310 feet • Distance: 1.5 miles • Time: 50 minutes • Gain: 435 feet • Conditions: Clear, calm, cool but fastly warming

Arizona • Main • PB • LoJ

I intended to climb three peaks clumped nearby one another along or near Harshaw Road in the Patagonia Mountains. However, I did not have a whole lot of luck and was able to get just one of the three, which was frustrating.

It's been unseasonably warm everywhere, and at the elevations I would be, highs would be into the mid-90s. Thus, I wanted as early a start as possible, to be moving at dawn.

I left Bisbee at 4:10 a.m. and drove up the grade (AZ-80) through the Mule Pass tunnel, then down its west side, intending to catch AZ-90 into Sierra Vista. It was dark and just me. I must have spaced because I missed the junction. I just drove right on by it. I realized it when I saw the mileage sign for Tombstone. Rather than backtrack, I drove into Tombstone, got some drinks and snacks, then followed AZ-82 westbound. This was about the same mileage had I gone through Sierra Vista. Still, I was annoyed at myself for missing the turn.

I continued west through Sonoita and into Patagonia, still dark outside. I got onto Harshaw Road and drove it a few miles. The eastern sky was barely lighting at this point. I stopped in a pullout to change into my hiking clothes, killing some time in the process.

The peaks on the agenda were Saddle Mountain, then two unnamed bumps, Peak 5213 and Peak 5085. Saddle Mountain was the main objective and likely the longest hike. Most of it was along a road, so I chose instead to take a look at Peak 5085 first.

I pulled into a pullout alongside Harshaw Road. The peak rises a little over a half mile to the north. It was 6:15 a.m. now, and cool, in the 50s. I was in shadow while the higher peak tops to the west were being lit by the sun. I went light: I wore a fleece vest and stuffed my items into the pockets.

The route is through tall grass and scattered brush and trees. The grass often was thigh or waist high, but not so dense to where I couldn't see the ground. I walked up a slope, down and up a drainage, then battled up more slope, dealing with some catclaw. I could see the peak the whole time.

I had to sidehill around one intervening hill. The grass was tolerable, but the brush could be thick and grabby at times. The underlying rock tended to roll, as usual. I descended to the saddle below the peak.

The final couple-hundred feet was up a grassy ramp, which was steep but easy. There were a few low rock protrusions along the way, and some interesting formations to the sides. I was on top the peak at 6:40, a 25-minute ascent. I took a couple images with my android, since its low-light feature does a better job than my regular camera.

The top had a small cairn and I signed in, just the third to sign in since the log was placed there in 2022 by Andy Martin and his wife. I snapped a few images, but didn't stay long. Suddenly, it felt ten degrees warmer! I started the downward hike and retraced my route with no difficulties, the round trip taking under an hour.

As peaks go, this one was easy but nothing special. It does have a nice profile and with good views of the surrounding countryside.

But I had an agenda to keep! I drove less then a mile east and looked at Peak 5213. I decided I would save it for last. So I continued east, now aiming for the San Rafael Valley and Saddle Mountain.

I drove about four miles along good road, gaining elevation and topping out on a broad plateau on which sits Saddle Mountain, a couple miles north of the road. This is part of the San Rafael Valley, one of the most scenic areas in the state and used often as filming locations for westerns and movies of a similar genre.

I wanted Forest Road 765, which is supposed to go north and get near to Saddle Mountain. I hoped I could drive most of it. The land-use maps show a couple of private inholdings and I wasn't sure if the road would be gated or if there was an easement allowance.

To my chagrin, the road is gated less than a half mile north of Harshaw/Patagonia Road (the main road I was on). Okay, I guess I'm going to have to walk it. I planned for this, so I got my pack on and stuffed it with drinks. It was already into the high 70s, even this early (about 7:15 a.m.).

I scaled the gate and started walking north along the track. On both sides, the ground was covered in thick waist-high grass as far as I could see. It was lovely, and would make a fine backdrop for a movie, but it meant that walking directly through it was out of the question.

I stayed on the road, which tracked in agreement with the topographical map and the Forest Service's "MVUM" (Motor Vehicle Usage Map; the Forest Service did not mention that this road is gated and locked). About a mile and a half in, the track merged with a wide and graded track that I was not expecting. I stayed on it, but it seemed to arc too far east.

I stayed on this good track but as it continued east and north (but never west, toward the peak), I grew concerned this might not work out for me. The topo maps show a lot of other roads, but I saw absolutely no other roads, just grass. The satellite images also showed these other roads, but not necessarily this newer graded road. This was confounding.

I ended up hiking nearly three miles in, and by this time, still almost two miles east of the peak. It was warming, and I cancelled the rest of the attempt. I'd need to study this some more for a future visit.

I walked out, and saw a guy on a quad rumble by. Where he accessed this road, I would like to have known. Later, when I checked satellite images, it did not show this newer road. I was back to my car at 9 p.m., in what ended up being almost a 6-mile hike. I enjoyed the hike itself, but was bummed that the peak eluded me.

Saddle Mountain. At first the road went yay	Then the road went nyaw	Saddle Mountain and a lone tree
Zoom image of Saddle Mountain	Peak 5213	Partway up, when I bailed. The thorns were nasty