Elephant Head: Hikers Route with Chino Canyon Variation

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Elephant Head

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Elephant Head: Hikers Route with Chino Canyon Variation

Page Type: Album

Image Type(s): Hiking

Page By: sarah.simon

Created/Edited: Feb 15, 2009 / Feb 19, 2009

Object ID: 489971

Hits: 477

Page Score: 88.2% - 12 Votes

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A stroll through the high desert finished with a heavenly scramble

This photo collection documents a delightful day outting to the rocky summit of Elephant Head via the Hikers Route. The Hikers Route treats the visitor first to trails winding through diverse desert flora. The Direct Route variation draws the hiker into Chino Canyon where a small desert stream gurgles and tadpools frolick. After crawling back out of the canyon to the saddle, the hiker can feast the eyes upon a good half-hour of fun, solid scrambling with non-stop views.

The route from the saddle is well-worn and cairned, providing easy route finding for the astute hiker. The route is mostly a mix of Class 2 route-finding and Class 3 scrambling, though a final small wall just below the summit presents a short but sweet Class 4 challenge.

Images

From the Elephant Head Saddle, Hikers Route

Negotiating the Hikers Route, Elephant Head

Into the great wide open

Elephant Head from the Direct Route into the canyon

Cool water in the desert

Views from the ridge of Elephant Head, Hikers Route

Looking up at the final scramble toward the summit

Elephant Head Ridge

Elephant Head looms over the desert

From the Elephant Head Saddle, Hikers Route

Art imitates life

Summit Pachyderm Collection, Elephant Head

Looking back down the ridge of the hikers route, Elephant Head

Along the Hikers Route

Views from the summit of Elephant Head

[ View Gallery - 6 More Images ]

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Viewing: 1-4 of 4

lcarreau

Perfect choice ...

Voted 10/10

While everybody else was indoors eating chocolates, or away on a
wild and crazy ski weekend, you were out enjoying Elephant Head???

Looks like the weather cooperated. You can't always trust the
weather in southern Arizona. Outstanding pictures!

Posted Feb 15, 2009 7:19 pm


	sarah.simon	Re: Perfect choice ...
	Hasn't voted	You betcha! We visit my folks in Green Valley every year this time of year. Elephant Head is just a skip and a jump from their townhome! -Sarah
		Posted Feb 19, 2009 5:04 pm

Andinistaloco

Nice!

Hasn't voted

Glad to see the elephants are still on the summit... that's one of my favorite climbs in the Tucson area. If you haven't already, the west face is a lot of fun (though a routefinding maze) as well!

Posted Feb 20, 2009 4:11 am


	sarah.simon	Re: Nice!
	Hasn't voted	Thanks for the comment! We visit my parents in Green Valley each year and really, really enjoy the hiking in the Tucson area. In another 30 years (oy!) maybe we can spend six months in Colorado Springs and six months in Tucson. ;) Cheers! Sarah
		Posted Feb 20, 2009 10:02 am

Viewing: 1-4 of 4