ambassador magma - Apr 10, 2024 8:30 am Date Climbed: Mar 17, 2024
My kind of mountain.
Route-finding was a challenge here. Approach road is fine, but the series of cairns/ducks from the powerline road may or may not lead one to the Big Maria HP. I tried my best to reckon a route approaching the HP from the north, and wound up summiting a 3rd class false summit to the north of the HP. Was epic enough anyway. Rock is very chossy and friable the entire way to the summit ridges and to the very summits; I found it very necessary to go slow and test every hand and foot hold. Route finding back to the powerline road was a bit deceptive. There are multiple vehicle tracks that can be mistaken for the correct route. Be mindful and pay close attention to where you parked. Solitude can be had here- the locals seem indifferent to this range.
aobbard - Mar 15, 2021 9:51 am Date Climbed: Mar 14, 2021
Great peak, solid footing, rough road
Really nice peak. We were tight for time- had to make an afternoon flight out of Phoenix- so only tagged the North (true) summit. Footing- often dicey in these desert ranges- is really solid here, except for the top 100 yards or so of the drainage leading to the big side ridge.
The road required 4WD and some clearance. Would be challenging for a Subaru.
jdmorehouse - Feb 6, 2017 3:23 pm Date Climbed: Feb 4, 2017
2nd Ascent
Again both summits, but via a different route than the first time. A small, private party on a Saturday while the DPS group were climbing Granite South. We then met up with them later to climb Palen via the DPS C route on Sunday.
gimpilator - Dec 20, 2016 12:38 pm Date Climbed: Dec 7, 2016
28 Peaks in 15 Days
Big Maria had one of the best views of this trip. We spent an hour on the summit taking it all in.
Other peaks we did during this trip include; Potosi, Cheyenne, Muddy Mountain, Muddy Peak, Virgin, The Orphan, Silica Dome, Cairn, The Sentinel, East Redstone, Redstone, Mystery Cairn, Vista, Hayford, Clark, McCullough, Spirit, Stepladder, False Maria, Black Butte, Chuckwalla, Pinto, Orocopia, Toro, Santa Rosa, and Thomas.
mstender - Dec 30, 2015 1:07 am Date Climbed: Dec 29, 2015
Cold and windy!
We went to the 3381 summit. It was very cold and windy up on the ridge and the top; temps in the low 40s. It got warmer on the way back down once we dropped into canyon and the wind died down. I really liked this one, quite a contrast to AZ desert peaks.
jdmorehouse - Jan 5, 2015 9:04 am Date Climbed: Dec 19, 2014
Both Summits
A short hike with the Sierra Club. On the way back, we climbed the slightly lower peak as well.
cab - Feb 25, 2013 10:27 am Date Climbed: Feb 24, 2013
Standard Route
A little bit of a letdown after Signal and Castle Dome the day before, but still a nice hike. We also tagged False Maria. Very windy all day and the night before.
Bob Burd - May 20, 2011 10:39 pm Date Climbed: Feb 22, 2008
wet weather
More damp than actual rain, but unusual for this corner of California, one of the driest in the entire southwest. Climbed with Evan Rasmussen. Trip Report.
surgent - May 17, 2011 3:58 pm Date Climbed: Dec 21, 2008
Winter Solstice Hike
Very cold conditions, very windy, temps just in the low 40s at the warmest... this is the desert? Had a good climb to the 3,381-foot peak.
ambassador magma - Apr 10, 2024 8:30 am Date Climbed: Mar 17, 2024
My kind of mountain.Route-finding was a challenge here. Approach road is fine, but the series of cairns/ducks from the powerline road may or may not lead one to the Big Maria HP. I tried my best to reckon a route approaching the HP from the north, and wound up summiting a 3rd class false summit to the north of the HP. Was epic enough anyway. Rock is very chossy and friable the entire way to the summit ridges and to the very summits; I found it very necessary to go slow and test every hand and foot hold. Route finding back to the powerline road was a bit deceptive. There are multiple vehicle tracks that can be mistaken for the correct route. Be mindful and pay close attention to where you parked. Solitude can be had here- the locals seem indifferent to this range.
aobbard - Mar 15, 2021 9:51 am Date Climbed: Mar 14, 2021
Great peak, solid footing, rough roadReally nice peak. We were tight for time- had to make an afternoon flight out of Phoenix- so only tagged the North (true) summit. Footing- often dicey in these desert ranges- is really solid here, except for the top 100 yards or so of the drainage leading to the big side ridge.
The road required 4WD and some clearance. Would be challenging for a Subaru.
jdmorehouse - Feb 6, 2017 3:23 pm Date Climbed: Feb 4, 2017
2nd AscentAgain both summits, but via a different route than the first time. A small, private party on a Saturday while the DPS group were climbing Granite South. We then met up with them later to climb Palen via the DPS C route on Sunday.
gimpilator - Dec 20, 2016 12:38 pm Date Climbed: Dec 7, 2016
28 Peaks in 15 DaysBig Maria had one of the best views of this trip. We spent an hour on the summit taking it all in.
Other peaks we did during this trip include; Potosi, Cheyenne, Muddy Mountain, Muddy Peak, Virgin, The Orphan, Silica Dome, Cairn, The Sentinel, East Redstone, Redstone, Mystery Cairn, Vista, Hayford, Clark, McCullough, Spirit, Stepladder, False Maria, Black Butte, Chuckwalla, Pinto, Orocopia, Toro, Santa Rosa, and Thomas.
Click here to see the trip report with photos.
mstender - Dec 30, 2015 1:07 am Date Climbed: Dec 29, 2015
Cold and windy!We went to the 3381 summit. It was very cold and windy up on the ridge and the top; temps in the low 40s. It got warmer on the way back down once we dropped into canyon and the wind died down. I really liked this one, quite a contrast to AZ desert peaks.
jdmorehouse - Jan 5, 2015 9:04 am Date Climbed: Dec 19, 2014
Both SummitsA short hike with the Sierra Club. On the way back, we climbed the slightly lower peak as well.
cab - Feb 25, 2013 10:27 am Date Climbed: Feb 24, 2013
Standard RouteA little bit of a letdown after Signal and Castle Dome the day before, but still a nice hike. We also tagged False Maria. Very windy all day and the night before.
Bob Burd - May 20, 2011 10:39 pm Date Climbed: Feb 22, 2008
wet weatherMore damp than actual rain, but unusual for this corner of California, one of the driest in the entire southwest. Climbed with Evan Rasmussen. Trip Report.
surgent - May 17, 2011 3:58 pm Date Climbed: Dec 21, 2008
Winter Solstice HikeVery cold conditions, very windy, temps just in the low 40s at the warmest... this is the desert? Had a good climb to the 3,381-foot peak.