Browns Peak 7,657 feet tall
High point in Maricopa County
Trail ~5.2 miles round trip with almost 1,800 feet climbed.
In keeping with my promise to post trip reports on some of my climbs, here is the latest.
Four Peaks is a mountain in Maricopa county Arizona. It is the high point of the county at 7,657 feet tall. The highest of the four peaks is called Browns Peak and the rest are not named.
I am slightly bummed because I realized that I have never taken a picture of the west slope showing the distinct peaks. Here is a picture from another climb on a mountain about 20 miles south of Four peaks.
Having read trip reports to get an idea what to expect, I learned that the long dirt road leading up to the saddle parking lot is long and bumpy. Well the reputation is solid, this road was an absolute blast in our Dodge ram. I brought two guys from work, Cody, and a family friend on this trip and on this dirt road, realized that only Cody knew that I am quite experienced at off road driving and after a few power slides and keeping on the gas when a sensible driver would be breaking, I had a cab full of wide eyed guys! It was a test of patience to drive slow and smooth but we made it to the Browns Peak trail head in the north saddle.Taking off from the parking lot on Browns Peak trail, we wound through an area that had been burned in the early 1990's and has not recovered much in the passing years. A few remaining pine trees showing scares are all that stand tall. Manzanita bushes are the most common plant for most of the hike on the shoulder of the mountain. Manzanita is an unusual plant as it has a dark orange and smooth trunk and branches. Fresh berries and branch tips can be soaked in water and drunk, making a refreshing cider. When the bark curls off, it can be used as a tea for nausea and upset stomach. The younger leaves are sometimes plucked and chewed by hikers to deter thirst. The most intriguing thing about this plant is when dry, the wood burns very hot and with little smoke. This is something I experienced when living in California and camping allot.
Rounding the mountain, the trail heads south and takes us to the beginning of the class 3 scrambling up a scree filled couloir. This couloir or trough as it is also called, is fairly treacherous due to the loose rock and scree.We kicked many rocks loose, sending them tumbling down bellow. We were one of three other groups on the mountain during this time and fortunately we were widely spaced or there might have been some bruises from falling rocks! Once at the base of this couloir, you will be climbing the next almost 1,000 feet to the summit in this.
There were several areas where snow/ ice was wall to wall making a high angle obstacle. Incredibly, the rock cliffs rise straight up on either side of the trail.
Cody is seen here playing spider man on the frozen solid snow.
After a few smaller ledges slowed us down, we made the 15x15 foot summit!
We stayed on the summit for almost 25 minutes taking in the spectacular 360 degree views.Just before he headed down, I took a shot of the other three peaks.
Looking west, the foothills of Four peaks was surprisingly green for being in the desert of The Valley of the Sun.
Once out of the couloir and back onto the foothills, we paused for a group photo. A handy rock made a willing tripod.
We again passed the standing dead trees on the north slope.
Almost back to the truck, we passed a large rock that after admiring for a minute we decided it looked like Snoopy's head!
Once back in the truck, we decided to take a different rout back home and pass Roosevelt reservoir then take Apache Trail back into the valley. This section of dirt road would be easily traveled in a car and was much shorter. Later on the Apache Trail, we paused at Canyon lake to take in the sunset colors and look back at the mountain we spent the day climbing.
Browns Peak was a challenge I really enjoyed. The view was spectacular and as I repeatedly said while on the mountain... I will be back one day
