Arizona Trailblazers Hiking Club
Montana Mountain Day Hike
| when |
March 26, 2005 |
| where |
Superior |
| the hike |
Look down on most of the Superstition Wilderness from 5557' Montana Mountain!
We’ll hike through Whitford Canyon on portions of the Arizona Trail and
the historic trade route used by Elisha Reavis, then breathe deep as we climb
relentlessly up the switchbacks and false summits until we finally reach the top.
This hike is described in
Footloose from Phoenix by Ted Tenny, pages 212-219.
|
| distance |
13 miles |
| time |
7-8 hours |
| EC |
+-2950' elevation change |
| elevations |
2750' (Whitford Canyon) to 5557' (Montana Mountain) |
| type |
round trip |
| starting at |
| Happy Camp Trailhead |
33° 20.147' N, 111° 8.119' W [NAD27]
|
|
| on trail |
100% — Arizona Trail, passage 18 |
| rating |
"B+"
Rate yourself as a hiker. |
| dogs? |
no |
| cost |
When car-pooling, pay your share the cost of gas.
The club also allows voluntary contributions of $5 per non-member. |
| weather |
Superior |
| meet |
6:00 AM at
Home Depot in Mesa on the southeast corner of Power and US 60.
|
| drive |
| • |
Take US 60 east over Gonzales Pass to the Queen Creek Bridge, past
milepost 222. If you reach the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, turn around
and go back a half mile.
|
| • |
After crossing the bridge, turn left and head north. Stop and reset your
trip odometer. Then turn right and go northeast just past the parking lot.
The dirt road is FR 8.
|
| • |
At 1.8 miles from the highway another dirt road, FR 650, branches off to the
left. It’s marked with a small sign. Turn left and go north on FR 650.
|
| • |
At 5.0 miles from the highway there is an unmarked turnoff on the left with
parking for several cars. This is after you have gone up and over a hill and
across the streambed. Park here at Happy Camp Trailhead.
|
|