Matt and David

Although ranked just behind Colorado's Mount Elbert in difficulty, my diligent conditioning during the previous two months made this highpoint a casual warm up to the two mountains being attempted later in the week (the Utah and Idaho highpoints). I had lost 15 pounds and had been carrying a pack repeatedly up and down 130 feet of stairs twice a week for the previous two months.

The trail starts at the Arizona Snow Bowl. As you pass under the ski lift that goes up the side of Agassiz Peak, you can see Humphreys Peak along the ridge to the left. Collectively, these and the other two San Francisco Peaks form the rim of an old blown-out volcano. Basaltic volcanic rocks are evident throughout the area.

We started early because weather reports suggested there may be early afternoon thunderstorms which are typical in the peaks area from early July through early September. We were fortunate that the day we chose was beautiful with no precipitation. Rains in the previous couple weeks had been sufficient to lift a burn (and camping) ban that had been in effect only a week earlier. Even the winds were calm that day.

The good view from the top offered my first ever glimpse of the Grand Canyon about 70 miles to the north.

The bad view from the top was of the extensive damage being ravaged by bark beetles on the ponderosa pines throughout the Kachina Wilderness Area. The peaks area is part of the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest in the world. It also offers the highest timberline in North America.

The alpine tundra area of the peaks is home to 39 plant species found only in Arizona. One plant in this tundra area, the senecio franciscanus (of the sunflower family), exists no where else in the world. Consequently, the ecosystem is carefully controlled above the timberline. No camping or off-trail hiking is permitted above 11,400 feet.