Picketpost Mountain, AZ 4375'

[ColoradoGuy]

I'm curious if anyone else on the 14ers.com forums has climbed this? A week ago, on a visit to Arizona, I finally did it. I kept thinking about how Picketpost would compare to a common 14er climb. My short list:

- A sketchy "social trail" to the top.
- Cliffs.
- Large rocks. (Requiring Class 2+ and a few Class 3 type moves. Nothing too crazy but ...)
- Cactus and thorny plants EVERYWHERE. (If you slip, slide or fall, pray you don't hit a cactus!)
- Only a 1700 foot elevation gain.

Anyway, it was a great hike and I have a lot of respect for this mountain. I'd love to read other people's comments about Picketpost! My personal trip report can be read here: http://coloradoguy.com/picketpost-mountain/arizona.htm.

Four photos:

At the trailhead for the Arizona Trail. A small spur trail leads left and ascends steeply between the break in vertical cliffs.



A guy ahead of us realizes he was way down and off route.



The summit.



Love the saguaros at the base!



-Steve

[WheelerDealer]

Never been there, but it looks stunning! I love hiking in AZ. Tons and tons of visual interest and the plants are just spectacular.

[hornpeak]

I will be in both the TUC and PHX area this weekend is this trail and mountain any where near them?

[Trudger]

30-50 miles E. of Phoenix, I believe.

[ChrisinAZ]

I finally got around to climbing Picketpost a few months ago while visiting family in AZ, and it was definitely one of the better peaks I've done there; it's really a great example of why I love the great outdoors in AZ as much as I do in Colorado! That said, there was a lot less scrambling and more options in the gully than I was expecting, to be honest. The summit views were quite nice and pretty unique compared to most other options in greater PHX. And yeah, it'd be really tough to compare this one to a 14er, by virtue of the fact you're just dealing with a whole different set of issues on these rugged low desert peaks.

Anyone who'd like Picketpost would LOVE the Flatiron! It's a 6-mile roundtrip hike with ~3000' of gain, the majority of that in the last mile or so. I describe it as somewhat analogous to Crestone Needle, albeit less exposed--crazy weird awesome scenery, plentiful scrambling, and fantastic views of metro Phoenix and the rugged Superstition range when you top out. For extra credit, find the route up nearby, hoodoo-infested UN5024. Or if you're feeling really adventurous and have someone to guide you (route-finding can be very tricky), do the full-on Superstition Ridgeline, finishing with a descent from the Flatiron. It only goes at 3+/easy 4, but is as epic a day as they come!

[ColoradoGuy]

I will be in both the TUC and PHX area this weekend is this trail and mountain any where near them?

I think it's about 40 miles east of downtown Phoenix. Nearest town is Superior, AZ on U.S. Highway 60.