Dartmouth Hiker - Apr 1, 2007 4:43 pm Date Climbed: Mar 25, 2007
My first Western mountain
Took the brushy gully up and down on a beautiful March day. Went with my stepdad who had to stop ~500' below the summit. Snow patches in the gully, cacti in the rocks, and loose scree made this climb one of the more challenging of my hiking career, but I at last made the summit in breezy conditions and in the sixties.
If you eschew the Class 3 scree chute as I did, this will still not be an easy hike, and you will need a topo map and some minimal route-finding skills at a minimum. However, if you have the true determination to reach the summit, it is possible.
UnceBanyo - Dec 29, 2006 1:48 am Date Climbed: Dec 28, 2006
Failed Winter Attempt
Knowing about last night's winter storm, i thought i would drive up towards Browns Peak to see what happened. I was the only one on the mountain today! New snow was about 1-2inches at the trailhead and 3-6inches at the summit. So I started off into the dense fog/falling snow following some footprints that i thought was the trail, after the footprints dead ended at about a mile, i realized i wasnt on the trail at all. Broke out the topo map and GPS to find my way up through the snow, i finally found the trail at the junction with the Amethyst Trail. The snow was falling heavy at the pass, and as i stumbled up towards the coulier and climbed my way up the snow was waist deep. I was definately in the wrong coulier (i was on the west face of the summit best could tell) and was forced to turn around due to blizzard conditions and the fact that the cliffs were getting too technical without a rope and a climbing partner. I was at about 7,450ft when i turned back...so close. But one hell of a day indeed for my first day on this magnificent mountain. By the way, i've done many coulier snow climbs before, and this was a VERY difficult climb due to the weather. Dont underestimate this mountain when the weather is bad!
Went up in 1999 following a brushy slope up the north ridges, with some class 2/3 rock scrambles near the top. Exposure this way was never too bad, but route-finding is the key. We descended via the chute. In 2004 my wife and I tried for the top, but I could not find the right route that I took in 1999, and we had to give up about 50 vertical feet short of the top. In December 2006, I went up again with a team of 5, and we followed the route I went on in 1999. Even then we got ourselves up some dead ends before success. I've been on this mountain a handful of other times for various hikes, trainings and rescue missions, including a full-on blizzard in April 2001. My reports
tdoo - May 8, 2006 6:36 pm Date Climbed: May 6, 2006
Great hike
Thanks to the this site, I knew exactly what to expect. While I'm an avid desert hiker, I've never had to rock climb like this. It was very adventerous and an exhilerating feeling! Would recommend this to any experienced and well conditioned hikers. The way down is a severe pain on the knees. My only negative conotation from this hike is that I wish it was a bit longer, it's only 2.5 miles each way. What this site is lacking is the elevation gain of this hike. I'm guessing around 2,000 ft., but can anyone verify?
I just finished a few hours ago and was very impressed the hike. however, I ate a burrito for breakfast not expecting the intensity of the dirt road and felt like vomiting all over myself when I reached the trailhead.
One could say the climb can be divided into two parts: a relatively smooth hiking trail followed by near vertical rocks one must think wisely about. When reaching the top the feeling is very nice and the view is great as well. I laid down against a rock a took a little nap before going back down.
There was a sizeable amount of garbage in the vincinity which was somewhat annoying...if you go remember to pick up your trash. Something about seeing a plastic bag sticking to a sahuaro makes me depressed.
marauders - Feb 13, 2006 11:03 pm Date Climbed: Feb 11, 2006
Route Climbed: Scree Chute - 2/11/06
Fun scramble up the chute. Admittedly the scrambling was shorter than I had hoped for after driving that crappy, 18-mile, dirt road. Remove the driving part and the route was fun and simple. With more time, the traverse to the other peaks looked like fun. I'll have to return soon.
One unfortunate note is that last year the excessive rain made the desert look like a garden--it was gorgeous. This year, 4 months without rain has left the environment barren and dry. Even the catcus looked like they were suffering.
This climb was awesome, I was surprised by all the tree cover. I was worried about the "scree chute" based on what I have read here but it was not really that bad. The hardest part was going down. There are a few spots that are difficult to get past but the hardest part has a walk around to the right of it avoiding the vertical section all together. Once you’re on top you will be able to see the entire valley several lakes and if you have binoculars, Humphreys Peak.
Route Climbed: 1/2 of Four Peaks Ridgeline-the two southern peaks Date Climbed: Dec 20, 2002
Did this with members from Hikearizona.com. This hike was hell. I will never do it again. This is the scariest hike I have ever done. I even came close to having a rock smash my face in. I have now done 3 out of 4 peaks, I'll stay with that and thats fine with me.
Dartmouth Hiker - Apr 1, 2007 4:43 pm Date Climbed: Mar 25, 2007
My first Western mountainTook the brushy gully up and down on a beautiful March day. Went with my stepdad who had to stop ~500' below the summit. Snow patches in the gully, cacti in the rocks, and loose scree made this climb one of the more challenging of my hiking career, but I at last made the summit in breezy conditions and in the sixties.
If you eschew the Class 3 scree chute as I did, this will still not be an easy hike, and you will need a topo map and some minimal route-finding skills at a minimum. However, if you have the true determination to reach the summit, it is possible.
UnceBanyo - Dec 29, 2006 1:48 am Date Climbed: Dec 28, 2006
Failed Winter AttemptKnowing about last night's winter storm, i thought i would drive up towards Browns Peak to see what happened. I was the only one on the mountain today! New snow was about 1-2inches at the trailhead and 3-6inches at the summit. So I started off into the dense fog/falling snow following some footprints that i thought was the trail, after the footprints dead ended at about a mile, i realized i wasnt on the trail at all. Broke out the topo map and GPS to find my way up through the snow, i finally found the trail at the junction with the Amethyst Trail. The snow was falling heavy at the pass, and as i stumbled up towards the coulier and climbed my way up the snow was waist deep. I was definately in the wrong coulier (i was on the west face of the summit best could tell) and was forced to turn around due to blizzard conditions and the fact that the cliffs were getting too technical without a rope and a climbing partner. I was at about 7,450ft when i turned back...so close. But one hell of a day indeed for my first day on this magnificent mountain. By the way, i've done many coulier snow climbs before, and this was a VERY difficult climb due to the weather. Dont underestimate this mountain when the weather is bad!
surgent - Sep 12, 2006 11:01 pm Date Climbed: Sep 26, 1999
Brushy north ridge twiceWent up in 1999 following a brushy slope up the north ridges, with some class 2/3 rock scrambles near the top. Exposure this way was never too bad, but route-finding is the key. We descended via the chute. In 2004 my wife and I tried for the top, but I could not find the right route that I took in 1999, and we had to give up about 50 vertical feet short of the top. In December 2006, I went up again with a team of 5, and we followed the route I went on in 1999. Even then we got ourselves up some dead ends before success. I've been on this mountain a handful of other times for various hikes, trainings and rescue missions, including a full-on blizzard in April 2001. My reports
tdoo - May 8, 2006 6:36 pm Date Climbed: May 6, 2006
Great hikeThanks to the this site, I knew exactly what to expect. While I'm an avid desert hiker, I've never had to rock climb like this. It was very adventerous and an exhilerating feeling! Would recommend this to any experienced and well conditioned hikers. The way down is a severe pain on the knees. My only negative conotation from this hike is that I wish it was a bit longer, it's only 2.5 miles each way. What this site is lacking is the elevation gain of this hike. I'm guessing around 2,000 ft., but can anyone verify?
cthomsen - Apr 14, 2006 8:39 pm Date Climbed: Apr 14, 2006
Browns TrailI just finished a few hours ago and was very impressed the hike. however, I ate a burrito for breakfast not expecting the intensity of the dirt road and felt like vomiting all over myself when I reached the trailhead.
One could say the climb can be divided into two parts: a relatively smooth hiking trail followed by near vertical rocks one must think wisely about. When reaching the top the feeling is very nice and the view is great as well. I laid down against a rock a took a little nap before going back down.
There was a sizeable amount of garbage in the vincinity which was somewhat annoying...if you go remember to pick up your trash. Something about seeing a plastic bag sticking to a sahuaro makes me depressed.
marauders - Feb 13, 2006 11:03 pm Date Climbed: Feb 11, 2006
Route Climbed: Scree Chute - 2/11/06Fun scramble up the chute. Admittedly the scrambling was shorter than I had hoped for after driving that crappy, 18-mile, dirt road. Remove the driving part and the route was fun and simple. With more time, the traverse to the other peaks looked like fun. I'll have to return soon.
One unfortunate note is that last year the excessive rain made the desert look like a garden--it was gorgeous. This year, 4 months without rain has left the environment barren and dry. Even the catcus looked like they were suffering.
shsnyder - Dec 3, 2005 8:24 pm
Route Climbed: Browns Trail/Scree Chute Date Climbed: December 3, 2005Climbed it in the morning, and the rocks were freezing but it was a fun scramble up the chute. The view from the top was great.
bilmcchr - Nov 6, 2004 1:20 pm
Route Climbed: Browns Tral / Scree Chute Date Climbed: Oct. 2004This climb was awesome, I was surprised by all the tree cover. I was worried about the "scree chute" based on what I have read here but it was not really that bad. The hardest part was going down. There are a few spots that are difficult to get past but the hardest part has a walk around to the right of it avoiding the vertical section all together. Once you’re on top you will be able to see the entire valley several lakes and if you have binoculars, Humphreys Peak.
Steven Cross - Dec 23, 2003 1:06 am
Route Climbed: 1/2 of Four Peaks Ridgeline-the two southern peaks Date Climbed: Dec 20, 2002Did this with members from Hikearizona.com. This hike was hell. I will never do it again. This is the scariest hike I have ever done. I even came close to having a rock smash my face in. I have now done 3 out of 4 peaks, I'll stay with that and thats fine with me.
Steven Cross - Apr 1, 2003 7:56 am
Route Climbed: Browns Trail/Scree Chute Date Climbed: March-23-2003Did this with members of Arizonahikers.com. This was my first time meeting Arizonaheat and second hike with Cactuscat.
One challenging summit that rattled my nerves. Deffinatly one of the best climbs in my life.