Pass Mountain Ridgeline

cactuscat · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 459 Location: Phoenix

I hiked the ridgeline route yesterday - solo, since all my hiking buddies abandoned me this weekend. The Wind Cave Trail was insanely crowded; I made it to the cave in 30 minutes, but didn't even stop there since it was obviously filled to capacity. Once I reached the ridgeline, though, I got my fill of solitude - there was nobody else up there. I made it from TH to summit in a little under two hours, signed the register and relaxed and enjoyed the views for awhile. About an hour after leaving the summit, I was back at the Wind Cave TH, wishing my car were there, but I still about another 1.5 miles to go to the Crismon Rd. gate. A couple minutes later I was laying on a picnic table in the shade with my feet up, when I couldn't help but hear the loud-mouthed @sshole at the next ramada bragging about how he'd once killed a rattlesnake on the Pass Mt. Trail. GRRRR...nothing like some idiot with a caveman mentality to infuriate me at the end of a nice relaxing hike! It made me wish (not for the first time) that I was a Park Ranger or worked for Game and Fish, so I could go over and inform him - with some authority - that in AZ, killing a rattler is ILLEGAL, not to mention just plain mean and stupid!!

AZW1 · Guest

It is amazing how someone can kill something that is that small in size and actually think they have accomplished something big?? Then again, on the other hand, I think most people that brag like that never even did what they said. It just shows that they not only have few brain cells...but, also have many other shortages as well. Wink

GeorgAz · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 815 Location: Scottsdale

One Monday when I got to the top of Quartz Ridge(Phx.Mt.Preserve-off 40th/Shea) ,an absolutely "clear" crisp day,with no one in sight,I found a large Garter/grass snake that some knuckle dragger had smashed and left right in the middle of the trail on top! If I had seen the cretin,I would've used my 3 years of kick-box talents on him.How cruel and stupid! I buried the poor thing in a bunch of leaves and twigs and said a little prayer to the earth for him.Some people should not reproduce! Evil or Very Mad

ck1 · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 1331 Location: Mesa

Hey Cactuscat! Good for you, isn't it a great hike...It's amazing to find solitude when you can see the parking lot full of cars. I love that hike.

Nighthiker · Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 1714

Sorry to inform you George, killing rattlesnakes is not illegal (though some of them are protected). While at work one day several years ago. A man came in and was refered to me to identify a snake skin (were a full service fire department). I noted it was a twin spotted rattlesnake and told him I did not know but the folks at game and fish may know and sent him to them. He came back several hours later, rather mad and upset. Game and Fish confisticated the snake skin and he informed me that he avoided a ticket by convincing them he bought the snake skin in Mexico. It is unfortunate that some people kill their wildlife encounters instead of enjoying the encounter.

GTG · Posted: 1/19/2003, 11:38 pm Post subject: well, well, well

I hate the fact that the snake was killed, but that's a great story nighthiker.

GTG
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GeorgAz · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 815 Location: Scottsdale

Nighthiker,it was NOT a rattlesnake,only a common nonvenomous critter, just out lookin for some bugs to eat! I know my snakes! Wink

Nighthiker · Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 1714

Sorry George, it was Cactuscat. I just came back from a night mtn, bike ride on Peralta Road (the road is in good shape due to the prep for the marathon) when I read the posts. GTG try this. Purchase some fake eagle feathers from a craft store and take them to the US Fish and Wildlife Service to identify. Take your receipt.

cactuscat · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 459 Location: Phoenix

As I understand it, it is illegal to harm or kill any native wildlife (without a proper hunting permit). It's definately against the park regulations. Anyhow, the point was that people like that have no place in the outdoors - he should just stay home in front of the t.v. drinking beer!

mike · What box? Joined: 30 Dec 2002 Posts: 3134

Canyon Dweller · Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 712 Location: Denver, CO

Back to the original post-hiking Pass Mountain....
I just did this mountain today and what an impressive hike it is! I have to say that wind cave was kinda lame, and not worth the hike or the $5 to just see the cave, but the views on top were increadible. I have not been on that side of Phoenix yet, and it truely amazed me. The stupid clouds were covering the Four Peaks, so I could not see them, I was hoping to get a good view of them and take a picture of them. Sad

I have to say that this is so far my favorite mountain I have climbed in the Phoenix Area.
Cactus Cat if it were not for your post here, I would not of done this hike. I have knew about this hike in a book I have, but it does not say that you can hike to the peak. I hate hiking mountains if I cannot get to the peak. After reading your post here, I decided to give it a try, and I am glad I did! Mr. Green

It was great to see such solitude in such a busy place. There were quite a few hikers on the Wind Cave trail, but was not crowded, and I was the only one on the peak for over an hour.
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Mountains are there to be climbed!

"Meaningless! Meaningless," says the teacher, "Utterly Meaningless, Everything is meaningless."-Ecclesiastes 1:2

dennisbench · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 275 Location: El Mirage

Hey canyon dweller, being as you like peaks so much, have you ever checked out this web site? http://americasroof.com/highest/az.shtml I just downloaded and printed the list and want to get started on them as soon as possible!! Laughing

Canyon Dweller · Joined: 06 Jan 2003 Posts: 712 Location: Denver, CO

Yeah, I've seen it and even found a few errers. For one they missed Mt. Elden (9,299 feet) and they got the elevation of Bill Williams Mountain wrong, they list it as 8800 feet when its really 9,256 feet. They also only list all the peaks with names, missing quite a few unnamed summits.
_________________
Mountains are there to be climbed!

"Meaningless! Meaningless," says the teacher, "Utterly Meaningless, Everything is meaningless."-Ecclesiastes 1:2

cactuscat · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 459 Location: Phoenix

Glad you enjoyed the hike, Canyon Dweller! I learned about it from reading CK1's post on the old site - I'm happy to pass along the info. It's one of my favorite hikes, too. Mr. Green

Have you guys checked out summitpost.com?

dennisbench · Joined: 04 Jan 2003 Posts: 275 Location: El Mirage

They also list Navajo mountain which is in Utah, I'm sure there are probably more errors. They only list named summits, but it is a nice list though considering there are 100 peaks on it. That could take some time to do.
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"In the first place you can't see anything from a car; you've got to get out of the goddamned contraption and walk, better yet crawl, on hands and knees...When traces of blood begin to mark your trail you'll see something, maybe."
-Ed Abbey