Picacho Peak - An Epic Hike In Southern Arizona

CrazyHermit · Post by **CrazyHermit** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 12:21 pm

Picacho
noun - a large pointed isolated hill

I happened to see this on a map as I was driving through Arizona and had to check it out. It was epic. A lone hill rising 1,500 feet above the desert floor with tons of history behind it. I stopped to take photos of it from a distance, but once I found out it could be climbed I had to give it a shot. It's a very popular hike you shouldn't miss if you're ever in that area.

Post by **HikeUp** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 2:55 pm

Cool. I feel like I've been there!

Post by **dima** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 7:50 pm

Images don't show up. Can you host them somewhere public? It might require a google login or something.

CrazyHermit · Post by **CrazyHermit** » Fri Nov 05, 2021 9:27 pm

Gene · Post by **Gene** » Sat Nov 06, 2021 7:25 am

What a climb, glad to see folks heading/pulling up that trail.

I really like the video, especially the various view of the peak in black and white.

CrazyHermit · Post by **CrazyHermit** » Sat Nov 06, 2021 8:49 am

Thanks Gene. I'm not out in Arizona very often but that one's worth the drive. Kind of close to Tucson.

Post by **JeffH** » Sun Nov 07, 2021 6:32 am

That one has been on my radar for many years, but since my sister moved I don't get down to Tucson any more. It's definitely an AZ landmark.

CrazyHermit · Post by **CrazyHermit** » Sun Nov 07, 2021 9:08 am

If you're ever back in Arizona look up the Toilet Bowl near Strawberry. Another epic one.

Girl Hiker · Post by **Girl Hiker** » Thu Nov 11, 2021 5:28 pm

Looks really cool. I want to do this!

Edward · Post by **Edward** » Sat Jan 15, 2022 9:50 am

Nice video. Picacho Peak is on the Sierra Club's Desert Peaks Section List. Commonly referred to as 'Little Picacho', to differentiate it from 'Big Picacho', which is El Picacho del Diablo, the highest mountain in Baja, also on the list. Back in the 1970's, I climbed Big Picacho, but bad knees forced me to quit climbing before I made it to Little Picacho, so I enjoyed the video. I wonder if the extensive posts and cables were there then. Little Picacho was considered a 'Sixth Class' climb, meaning a rope was used for support as well as belay over a short section. But I never heard anyone refer to an extensive system of posts and cables.

CrazyHermit · Post by **CrazyHermit** » Sat Jan 15, 2022 10:50 am

Thanks for the info. Picacho in Arizona requires no ropes, just the pre-set cables that are stuck in the rock, which are quite extensive. The park around it rates it as a difficult climb, but I've seen small kids do it. However there are places you can get hurt or worse if you don't watch your step.

Post by **tekewin** » Sat Feb 17, 2024 3:43 pm

Edward wrote: Sat Jan 15, 2022 9:50 am Nice video. Picacho Peak is on the Sierra Club's Desert Peaks Section List. Commonly referred to as 'Little Picacho', to differentiate it from 'Big Picacho', which is El Picacho del Diablo, the highest mountain in Baja, also on the list. Back in the 1970's, I climbed Big Picacho, but bad knees forced me to quit climbing before I made it to Little Picacho, so I enjoyed the video. I wonder if the extensive posts and cables were there then. Little Picacho was considered a 'Sixth Class' climb, meaning a rope was used for support as well as belay over a short section. But I never heard anyone refer to an extensive system of posts and cables.

The Little Picacho on the Sierra Club Desert Peaks list is not the same as this one in Arizona. It's in California, but north of Yuma, southwest of the Chocolate Mountains. It is definitely an intense class 5 affair. Too spicy for me. The Picacho in Arizona looks like great fun, though. The cables sort of remind me of Angels Landing.

Here is a trip report on the Desert Peaks Little Picacho:
http://www.firstchurchofthemasochist.co ... group.html