Picket Post Mountain Hike Report

Picket Post Mountain, a fun assed hike.  Steep, exposure, scrambling and maybe the best views in the area.  Neither of the two prominent points above is the actual summit, it lies higher and beyond.  However, the route does go between those two peaks and what fun it is.

Very soon after departing the trail head, the views open to the north and there is the awesome Superstition Peak on the left and Weaver's Needle on the right. Both such great hikes. 

Huffing and puffing and a mile later, I reach a ridge with the way forward kind of obvious, that cleft, slightly right of center.

One of the highlights is this scramble, which requires some negotiating of the slope.  Yeah, I know, via the image it looks so simple but it is not.

Higher I climb and the rock formations are fascinating and after clearing the gorge....

....oh geeez, the views now open to the south.  So beautiful I pause to admire.  Then I climb a final switchback and reach.....

.....the peak, which is not just a rocky platform but also home to a mail box and a metal bench.  Look to the horizon, amazing.  I sign the book inside the mail box and in there is a grey tee shirt and I sign that too.  The usual, my name, state and "GO BUCKEYES".

Someone told me if you bring an envelope and place it in the box, someone collects them and puts them in the postal system.  Takes on average 35 days.

To the east is the small town of Superior, AZ.  After taking many images and videos, I head back down.

I got off the route but at that point, a couple are coming up and they guide me back.  Enjoyed talking to them and they told me about a cave up there.  My eyes lit up and got the details about the off route scramble.  However, they saw 4 rattlers up there and showed me the images to prove the point.  Dang, one was enormous.  Yes, the point at which we stopped was on the edge of a cliff.

I descended and laughed when I discovered my up climb was 1:07 but down climb was almost 2 hours.  Well, I return to Ohio next week so got to cram more hiking in the schedule.  The weather has been warm and sunny with today's high at 80 but a front is coming through Friday night and the temps...ohhhhhh nooooooo.