Picketpost Mtn. Climb - East of Phoenix, along US60

Oct 4, 2014; Bob; Don & Joe; 4.4 miles roundtrip
Music: "Orinoco Flow (Sail Away)" by Enya
IMGP2923-HDR The goal for this hike was to summit Picketpost Mountain - a walk of 2.2 miles (4.4 miles roundtrip) with 2,000 ft. elevation gain. This prominent landmark lies between Florence Junction and Superior on the south side of US60 east of Phoenix. I took this picture in Jan of 2009 when my cousin and I hiked the part of the AZ trail that goes along the west side of the mountain. A1PicketpostMtn A2PicketpostMtn Our GPS track on a USGS quad topo map. A3PicketpostMtn7
A4PicketpostMtn IMG 1128-HDR(3) We start the hike as the sun is just coming over the mountain. The camera is set on B&W. IMG 1131-HDR(3) IMG 1132-HDR Bob is making his way up the beginning part.
IMG 1143-HDR(3) The purple dotted line shows the route we used to the top IMG 1146-HDR(3) Don now realizes that the camera is on B&W (idiot) and resets it to color. IMG 1149-HDR(3) Looking out to the northwest at the front range of the Superstition mountains and Weavers Needle. IMG 1150-HDR We have now reached the steeper parts where we have to carefully watch foot placement
IMG 1155-HDR(3) IMG 1158-HDR(3) IMG 1159-HDR Down below we see some hikers beginning the trek - this group never made it much farther than that. IMG 1162-HDR Careful foot placement is important!
IMG 1170-HDR(3) We came up that path of worn area in the foreground IMG 1171-HDR Here comes Bob IMG 1176-HDR(3) stitch A composite panorama taken looking west. IMG 1191-HDR(3) Some of the colorful vegetation along the way
IMG 1194-HDR(3) IMG 1200-HDR(3) At the top we find a metal bench and a mailbox - a nice place to wait for your air mail, I would guess. IMG 1197-HDR(3) The mailbox IMG 1243-HDR A plaque riveted to the inside of the mailbox lid tells the history of how it got there. Basically it started out as a working mailbox in the state of Washington, but was hit by a John Deere tracton in 1982. After being repaired, it was put back in service only to be hit by a white '78 Chevy and nearly destroyed in 1994. Once again it was reshaped and repainted, but placed at this spot where it was thought to be safe from harm.
IMG 1206-HDR(3)3 stitch A near 360 degree composite panorama taken from on top. IMG 1251-HDR(3) On our way down we pass an old mine shaft that has been filled in by the state program to make old abandoned mines safe. It is now a depression instead of a near vertical shaft. IMG 1248-HDR(3) A concrete pad for machinery that must have been associated with the mine IMG 1254-HDR(3) We are down off the steep part of the trail and look back.
IMG 1260-HDR(3) Another look IMG 1264-HDR On the drive out we get our last close look at the mountain.