Mt Ord Powerline Route

sam_hikes · Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Posts: 383

Anyone ever taken the powerline approach to the Firetower on Mt Ord?

Couldn't find any beta and even checked with the tower boss who knew of no such approach. ( approach is via Pumpkin Center near Eagle Peak )

Decided to checkout whether approach was doable as indications were path was 40 percent grade.

Was able to complete top half where I confirmed grade and some parts were nearly 50 percent according to my GPS. This might explain how a dozer was lost here.

Got a late start and didn't have time to explore lower half but it's on the to-do list. Send me a PM if this is of interest to you and you enjoy 50 percent grades.

Seems like something for super Sid if he's still around!

Nighthiker · Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 1714

Powerline or old fireline road ? Another old road heads west from Punkin Center, the Old Reno Road. Another road from Punkin Center meets up with an old road that skirted the north slope of Mt. Ord.

sam_hikes · Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Posts: 383

underground aps powerline route

Nighthiker · Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 1714

Sometimes called the powerline or fireline road. Folks been around working tonto refer to powerline.

sam_hikes · Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Posts: 383

Did a Mt Ord out-back from Tonto Basin via powerline route today with nearly a 5,000ft climb... Last 2 miles has sections of 40-50 percent grade according to both ng topo software as well as my own gps data.

Met power crew who will be improving route from Tonto Basin as the winter flood has created some huge trenches where a new powerline was installed last summer. Crew said overhead lines will be installed on the 40-50 percent grade section as they have no safe method to replace the historic in-ground cable.

sidhayes · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 116

40-50% grades? Lets see..that's about 2000 to 2500 feet per mile gain. Never saw anything that steep. Into the Black Canyon of the Gunnison was ( claimed) 1800 feet per mile and had all sorts of cables rigged up to help climbers ( hikers) I have been up that Mt. Ord route before, some years ago, maybe it is steeper now.

Shawn · Posted: 5/2/2010, 2:13 pm Post subject:

If a 10% grade rises one foot in ten horizontal feet traveled, a 100% grade would rise 10 feet in 10 feet traveled horizontally, or 45 degree angle.

What % grade would a vertical wall be?
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Sun Ray · Joined: 26 Sep 2005 Posts: 22 Location: Scottsdale

OK Ill guess.......200%??

gpsjoe · Joined: 01 Feb 2004 Posts: 535 Location: Mesa AZ

My congratulations to Sam. Sun_Hiker and I got about half we up before we threw in the towel. We noted some exposed power line on the route. Making it up the entire distance is one heck of an effort. Sam is the only one I know who has done it.
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Nighthiker · Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 1714

The area is steep, even the lizards carry climbing gear.

sam_hikes · Joined: 07 Apr 2003 Posts: 383

its a long haul if you hike from/back via Tonto Basin but even the jeep trail had been washed out.

tibber · Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 247 Location: Phoenix