Climbed this 3 times while living in Tucson. I'm unsure as to exact dates, but somewhere between 1998-2006. I think the first summit was in the spring of 1998 when my folks came to visit.
bigbendbetty - Mar 27, 2007 2:16 am Date Climbed: Jan 13, 2007
Hunter Trail
Fun hike up and the state park below has free $12 hot showers! just watch out for the high nitrate levels due to ground water contamination. Aahhhhhhhhh
2skinners - Feb 26, 2007 10:56 pm Date Climbed: Feb 26, 2007
Steep but fun!!
Climbed via the Hunter Trail. It was fun, and the cables minimized the exposure some. Still pretty steep in sections. Would definately do it again.
slogger - Jan 30, 2007 4:28 pm Date Climbed: Dec 28, 1998
Hunter Trail
Great little climb. The cables are fun (though they may intimidate some). Took my wife up it in 2005, a good "first mountain" for her.
Route Climbed: Hunter Trail Date Climbed: January 13, 2007
Hiked the hunter trail with my cousins, fun hike. the cables were more in the way than helpful at some points, but most of the time they were nice to have. good views from the top.
PeakMule - Dec 23, 2006 8:55 pm Date Climbed: Dec 22, 2006
Hunter Trail
Whisked up the landmark peak in just 45 minutes, trailhead to top. Muchas gracias to all those who advised wearing gloves for the cables; even with gloves, they can be rough on the hands. Next visit, Picacho's neighbor-across-the-street: Newman Peak.
Route Climbed: Hunter Trail Date Climbed: 2005 October 28
Hiked up Picacho, its lower neighbor to the northwest, and Peak 3161. The cables on the trail to Picacho aren't necessary, but they certainly make the route a lot safer, and they make the peak accessible to people who could otherwise not climb it (which may or may not be a good thing). Peak 3161, with its lack of cables on the route, and lack of visitors, had a much less urban feel to it. There was a summit register on 3161, and I added a much-needed sheet of paper (the back of a topozone map).
Route Climbed: Hunter Trail Date Climbed: Dec. 30, 2004
This is a great hike for all of us who've driven right past Picacho umpteen times on the Phoenix-Tucson I-10 trip and said, "What a cool peak! I should really climb that!" Well, yes, you should! And amaze your friends, since most of the time from the highway it appears to be as steep and otherworldly as Devil's Tower!
You'll be much happier if you have gloves to handle the cables with, and just be psychologically prepared to reach the saddle and then lose LOTS of the altitude that you've just gained. A great rugged but doable way to spend a (winter!) day.
surgent - Jul 20, 2005 2:40 pm Date Climbed: Mar 9, 2002
Two ascents
First time, March 2002, second time, January 2008. Amazing hike, cables help with tricky bits but the exposure is still quite high - enough to keep the adrenaline pumping the whole time. Bring gloves! Lots of people - a popular hike. Can get kind of clogged up at the tricky bits. Even on my second hike, still had to work up some courage in parts despite the cables. Nevertheless we did it in about 3 hrs r/t, including time with the crowds.
Route Climbed: Hunter Trail Date Climbed: March 6 2002
This is an extremely fun hike/climb! It was more challenging than I expected, and I loved every minute of it. Definately must be done in cooler weather - people have died out there in the summer!
Route Climbed: Sunset Vista Trail Date Climbed: Late April, early 1990's
I don't remember the exact date of this climb, but we had camped at the Picacho Peak State Park CG on our way from AZ back to Colorado. It was in late April and we did it from the longer Sunset Vista Trail then down the front, a loop trip. The climb was fun and the rock good, but it would have been even more fun without the cables, in my opinion. The main memory we have of this hike was that it gets pretty darn hot there in late April and we had not carried enough water. As soon as we got down to the TH we guzzled water at the faucet. YUCK!! That water was awful!! At least it was wet.
I climbed it with Eileen Kriter a few summers ago, though I don't remeber the date exactly... I should check my journal...
All I can say is it was HOT, but the view was amazing. Thank goodness for some serious route developing that has been done by previous hikers, cause this is a pretty exposed trail in some spots! All I could think about on the way up was "I wonder if there are any technical climbing routes?!" So much rock, yet I've never heard of any... maybe the rock is too chossy and loose, but it sure is something to see!
Route Climbed: Hunter Trail Date Climbed: June 5, 2001
I have climbed this peak many times, with my dog as well, and have summited in less than 23 minutes. I have also done the Sunset trail, which many prefer, and have taken 38 minutes to ascend via this route.
Route Climbed: Hunter Trail Date Climbed: May, 04, 2002
This was one insane climb. The trail was so steep. I have never seen a trail steeper. This mountain is a scramble to get to the top. I am not used to the heat, and was burnin up. The sun was pounding on the east side of the mountain and that side was hotter then the west side. As far as the view, there wasnt' much to see. It was just a neet hike.
hans.schenk - Sep 26, 2007 10:25 pm
Hunter TrailClimbed this 3 times while living in Tucson. I'm unsure as to exact dates, but somewhere between 1998-2006. I think the first summit was in the spring of 1998 when my folks came to visit.
bigbendbetty - Mar 27, 2007 2:16 am Date Climbed: Jan 13, 2007
Hunter TrailFun hike up and the state park below has free $12 hot showers! just watch out for the high nitrate levels due to ground water contamination. Aahhhhhhhhh
2skinners - Feb 26, 2007 10:56 pm Date Climbed: Feb 26, 2007
Steep but fun!!Climbed via the Hunter Trail. It was fun, and the cables minimized the exposure some. Still pretty steep in sections. Would definately do it again.
slogger - Jan 30, 2007 4:28 pm Date Climbed: Dec 28, 1998
Hunter TrailGreat little climb. The cables are fun (though they may intimidate some). Took my wife up it in 2005, a good "first mountain" for her.
agreenstreet - Jan 17, 2007 12:24 am
Route Climbed: Hunter Trail Date Climbed: January 13, 2007Hiked the hunter trail with my cousins, fun hike. the cables were more in the way than helpful at some points, but most of the time they were nice to have. good views from the top.
PeakMule - Dec 23, 2006 8:55 pm Date Climbed: Dec 22, 2006
Hunter TrailWhisked up the landmark peak in just 45 minutes, trailhead to top. Muchas gracias to all those who advised wearing gloves for the cables; even with gloves, they can be rough on the hands. Next visit, Picacho's neighbor-across-the-street: Newman Peak.
LandonQ - Nov 22, 2005 2:27 pm
Date Climbed: UnknownClimb with Katherine
Day Hiker - Oct 29, 2005 2:31 am
Route Climbed: Hunter Trail Date Climbed: 2005 October 28Hiked up Picacho, its lower neighbor to the northwest, and Peak 3161. The cables on the trail to Picacho aren't necessary, but they certainly make the route a lot safer, and they make the peak accessible to people who could otherwise not climb it (which may or may not be a good thing). Peak 3161, with its lack of cables on the route, and lack of visitors, had a much less urban feel to it. There was a summit register on 3161, and I added a much-needed sheet of paper (the back of a topozone map).
trip4182 - Sep 25, 2005 4:06 pm
Route Climbed: sunset trail Date Climbed: September 25, 2005Great short hike with amazing views from the summit! I loved using the cables. It made me feel like a real mountaineer.
evilproofer - Aug 9, 2005 9:13 pm
Route Climbed: Hunter Trail Date Climbed: Dec. 30, 2004This is a great hike for all of us who've driven right past Picacho umpteen times on the Phoenix-Tucson I-10 trip and said, "What a cool peak! I should really climb that!" Well, yes, you should! And amaze your friends, since most of the time from the highway it appears to be as steep and otherworldly as Devil's Tower!
You'll be much happier if you have gloves to handle the cables with, and just be psychologically prepared to reach the saddle and then lose LOTS of the altitude that you've just gained. A great rugged but doable way to spend a (winter!) day.
surgent - Jul 20, 2005 2:40 pm Date Climbed: Mar 9, 2002
Two ascentsFirst time, March 2002, second time, January 2008. Amazing hike, cables help with tricky bits but the exposure is still quite high - enough to keep the adrenaline pumping the whole time. Bring gloves! Lots of people - a popular hike. Can get kind of clogged up at the tricky bits. Even on my second hike, still had to work up some courage in parts despite the cables. Nevertheless we did it in about 3 hrs r/t, including time with the crowds.
cactuscat - Jan 23, 2003 11:14 am
Route Climbed: Hunter Trail Date Climbed: March 6 2002This is an extremely fun hike/climb! It was more challenging than I expected, and I loved every minute of it. Definately must be done in cooler weather - people have died out there in the summer!
theplugger - Jan 8, 2003 8:11 pm
Route Climbed: Sunset Vista Trail Date Climbed: Late April, early 1990'sI don't remember the exact date of this climb, but we had camped at the Picacho Peak State Park CG on our way from AZ back to Colorado. It was in late April and we did it from the longer Sunset Vista Trail then down the front, a loop trip. The climb was fun and the rock good, but it would have been even more fun without the cables, in my opinion. The main memory we have of this hike was that it gets pretty darn hot there in late April and we had not carried enough water. As soon as we got down to the TH we guzzled water at the faucet. YUCK!! That water was awful!! At least it was wet.
bighigaz - Dec 23, 2002 4:22 pm
Route Climbed: Hikers Route (Hunter Trail?) Date Climbed: 3 Summers ago...I climbed it with Eileen Kriter a few summers ago, though I don't remeber the date exactly... I should check my journal...
All I can say is it was HOT, but the view was amazing. Thank goodness for some serious route developing that has been done by previous hikers, cause this is a pretty exposed trail in some spots! All I could think about on the way up was "I wonder if there are any technical climbing routes?!" So much rock, yet I've never heard of any... maybe the rock is too chossy and loose, but it sure is something to see!
sidhayes - May 7, 2002 8:40 am
Route Climbed: Hunter Trail Date Climbed: June 5, 2001I have climbed this peak many times, with my dog as well, and have summited in less than 23 minutes. I have also done the Sunset trail, which many prefer, and have taken 38 minutes to ascend via this route.
Josh - May 4, 2002 6:40 pm
Route Climbed: Hunter Trail Date Climbed: March 2000Nice, steep jaunt.
Steven Cross - May 4, 2002 4:25 pm
Route Climbed: Hunter Trail Date Climbed: May, 04, 2002This was one insane climb. The trail was so steep. I have never seen a trail steeper. This mountain is a scramble to get to the top. I am not used to the heat, and was burnin up. The sun was pounding on the east side of the mountain and that side was hotter then the west side. As far as the view, there wasnt' much to see. It was just a neet hike.