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We were camped for a second night at the Lone Tree BLM CG off Arizona
SR95, north of Lake Havasu City. Eric was up at 5a to begin his long
drive back to Albuquerque, NM. Jim and I breakfasted in Lake Havasu
before heading up to Crossman Peak. Afterwards, we parted ways while I
continued to tag a trio of short peaks south of Lake Havasu City, not
far from the highway. I ended the day in Parker, AZ, my last day in the
state before heading back to CA.
Crossman Peak
This is the highpoint of the Mohave Mountains found north and east of
Lake Havasu City. Crossman Mtn has more than 3,000ft of prominence and
is not difficult to reach. A rough road goes from the northeast edge
of town up the Falls Springs Wash, part of a series of jeep trails found
in the area. up the wash originally went to the Sunshine Mine
but was extended to service on the ridgeline
above it. The road is about 2mi below this
installation, best to park where the road starts to climb out of the wash
(we actually when the driving slowed to no more
than what we could walk). High-clearance and 4WD recommended if you're
going to drive the wash. , it's less than
half a mile to the summit, serviced by a very . The
has far-reaching , more than 50mi in
when we
visited, probably further on clearer days. was very busy
though it went back only a few years. The flora is more varied here than
other parts of the desert we visited on this trip. There are saguaro
cacti in the lower parts of the mountain, oak & higher up,
and even a few pines on the north slope just below the summit.
Lizard Peak
After getting gas and some supplies in Lake Havasu City, I headed south
where this one caught my attention just outside town on the west side
of the highway. I was winging this one, turning onto McCulloch Blvd S, driving
into Sara Park and at a gravel lot with a trash can, about
as close as I could get in a straight line. Only upon starting out did I
realize there is a whole network of for hiking and mountain
biking throughout the area. I used a combination of and
cross-country to make my way up to , finding it busy with
other visitors and a picnic table, too. There is a nice view of the town
and lake. Seems there is another trailhead that could have made this
an all-trail affair. Jim Retemeyer had left a GPX track on PB for this
more regular route. On my way down from the summit, A couple of
passed over the saddle on the northeast side, seemingly unconcerned
by my presence only 100ft away.
Peak 1,280ft
This was a short hike on the east side of the highway between Lake
Havasu City and Parker Dam. Barbara and Gordon had logged an ascent so
I thought I'd climb it to see if their register was still there. There's
no real turnoff from the highway adjacent to it, but I sort of bulldozed
my way at an opening in the highway fence to reach a powerline road running
parallel to the highway. I found 0.40mi from the
summit and started . The area looks to have had a massive
amount of rock and earth moved around that I initially thought was due
to a mining operation. After climbing the summit, it was clear that
spanning both sides of the highway had been graded at one
time, likely for a large housing development that never materialized. I
found signed by Barbara and Gordon, but it had been left
three years before their 2009 visit by a Bob Martin party. Mine was only
the 4th entry. Not a much visited summit and not much to recommend it.
Castle Rock
This was the most interesting peak of the day. It
above Parker Dam on the Arizona side, part of Buckskin Mountain
State Park. The side facing the river rises vertically for several
hundred feet, though probably unclimbable due to rotten volcanic rock.
The southeast side has a saddle with a ridgeline that rises higher
behind it, offering what looks like a possible way up. A flag can be
seen flying from the top, so I figured there
ought to be a way
up it. I started in
the Verde West RV park to the north, where a small
provides a route into . I didn't realize there is a
very decent use trail leading to the summit, initially trying to hike
up the wash. I found the head of the wash chocked with trees and
brush and needed a different way out of the wash. I climbed a steep,
loose slope on the east side of the wash, atop
this. has seen much use and much erosion, but still quite
serviceable. Someone spray-painted on the rock along the
trail to mark it, though unnecessary. There are a few easy class 3
sections on the only solid rock to be found. It took less than 30min to
find my way to with a spectacular view to
of the
Colorado River below Parker Dam. A large holds more than half
a dozen registers, a very popular summit, it would seem. Well worth the
effort to visit it if one is in the area.
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