Tom Van Lew, Jason Van Lew, Holly Johnson, Crystal Brillhart, Bill Ruppert, Mike Haverty, and Angie Lien met at Einstein Bagels on Ray Road and I-10 to begin our trek. We were met at the Pichacho State Park by my son Jon and his friend Alison Kocek. 

We arrived at Piccacho Peak at 8:45 and began the hike near the Saguaro Ramada using the Hunter Trail. From the parking lot, we climbed the North Slope to the upper saddle. The elevation gain gave us all a good workout. The weather was beautiful; comfortable in the sun and cold in the shade. The wind was blowing fairly hard at the saddle and we decided to hurry on down to the south side of the peak. The trek around to the back of the peak took us down a steep portion badly in need of some trail maintenance and then up to the top of the peak. 

The strategically placed iron posts and cables came in handy for this part of the hike. We finally reached the top around 10:45 and enjoyed a snack and the view. After a rest, we started back down. Just as we left the switchbacks, we ran into Dan Bishop and his wife Sherri. He laughed and said that he could not get his wife up early enough to meet us at 7:30. That’s OK. At least they made the hike. A few of us went over to the other peak to sign the log that someone has maintained over the years. The coffee can is in need of replacement and maybe we can bring an AMMO can the next time we come.

All in all, it was a beautiful day and the view from the top of the peak was awesome. 

The above listed trip reports--documenting day hikes, backpacking trips, and car camping trips organized and arranged by the Arizona Trailblazers Hiking Club, Inc.--are meant to be more of a record of the various events performed by the hiking club and are not meant to be the only guide for anyone else wishing to do the same hike or backpacking trip. Instead, they should only be used as a supplemental to an official guidebook that addresses that specific hike or backpacking trip. Natural changes (floods, fires, windstorms, etc.) can occur and change and alter the landscape. The Forest Service sometimes changes the routing of a trail. Trail junction signs can be removed or altered. For these reasons, the hiking club's trip reports and even the official guidebooks may no longer be totally accurate in describing the trail and its layout. There is always the possibility, however remote, of a hiker sustaining harm or injury while on any hike, no matter how safe it may initially seem. The Arizona Trailblazer's Hiking Club, Inc., as well as any of its officers, directors, representatives, and designated hike leaders, disclaims any liability or responsibility for accidents, injuries, damages, or losses whatsoever that may occur to anyone using the trip reports that are available on our website. The responsibility for good health and safety while hiking, backpacking, or camping, ultimately rests with the individual.