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Phoenix Morning Peak Bagging
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Date of trip: 03/05/2016
Mileage: 6 Miles
Elevation Gain: 1800 Feet
Time: 4 Hour(s) and 0 Minutes
Class: 2
Partners:
GPS Track: NA
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Peaks Climbed on Trip:
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| Peak Name |
Elevation |
Prominence |
Range |
Close to |
County highpoint |
Range highpoint |
Map |
| North Mountain | 2104 | 674 | Phoenix | Phoenix, Arizona | No | No | 33.5856, -112.0723 | | Peak 2030 | 2030 | 575 | Phoenix | Phoenix, Arizona | No | No | 33.5769, -112.0381 | | Veterans Peak | 1922 | 312 | Phoenix | Phoenix, Arizona | No | No | 33.5690, -112.035 | | Tempe Butte | 1495 | 330 | Phoenix | Tempe, Arizona | No | No | 33.4281, -111.9357 |
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Photos
*Click any image for larger photo or to start slideshow
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Trip Report
After our adventures yesterday visiting the Upper Cliff Dwellings and Mount Ord I figured I would let my wife sleep in and I would get up early and go bag some easy peaks in the Phoenix area.
I left the hotel at 6am. I drove nearly 30 minutes and hiked up North Mountain. Despite only being 6:30am, there were hundreds of people on the trail with me. Near the top, one group was having a birthday party and singing loudly and unwrapping gifts. Several people walked by with their speakers blasting music. Had it not been for some cool sunrise views and a bit of solitude on the top of the peak (95% of people weren't hiking the final 50 feet to the top of the peak), I would have regretted this one.
After descending, I jumped in the car for a 15 minute drive to my next 2 peaks... Peak 2030 and Veterans Peak. I found my "trailhead" (thanks for the directions go to John Kirk). I started off toward Peak 2030. On the satellite view, I could see a trail going to the top. Well, I must have missed it, but oh well, going straight up the east face worked fine.
Once at the top, I traversed south, then found the trail heading down Peak 2030. I followed it until I hit the a larger trail heading toward Veteran's Peak. Once at the base of Veteran's Peak, I just cross-country hiked up it. Despite only being 400 feet, it seemed to take forever.
Once back at the car, I drove about 15 minutes to Tempe and the base of Tempe Butte (aka Hayden Butte).
This is another very popular hike and is paved all of the way to the top. Despite being paved, crowded, and short... it is still steep!
I was back in the room at 10am ready to go to breakfast and a Mariners spring training game!
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Getting There
North Mountain can be accessed from many locations. It is found in dozens of guidebooks.
I accessed Peak 2030/Veteran's Peak from here:
Started from here parking at the end of East Mountain View Rd, doing 2030 first:
http://listsofjohn.com/mapf?lat=33.5747&lon=-112.0345&z=18&t=h&d=y
For Tempe Butte, just use Google Maps and it will take you to the base of it.
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Hiking Directions
See the trip report.
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