Mustang Mountains Highpoint

It wasn't long after moving to Arizona that the Mustang Mountains drew me in. Someday, I knew, my feet would wander their curves and folds and stand upon their high perspective, looking out over a new view of the Chihuahuan Desert. And it finally did. Since I love highpointing so much we decided to climb the unnnamed highpoint of the Mustang Mountains (6,469 feet). But someday we'll be back for Mt Bruce and Mustang Peak too. DIRECTIONS: We headed south down highway 83, turning left (east) onto highway 82 at Sonoita. After 8.5 miles we turned right (south) onto Upper Elgin Rd. After ~2.6 miles we turned left, through a gate, and onto an unnamed dirt ranch road. We took this road, passing through a couple more gates, to its end. From the parking area, Mustang Peak sat to the north, and the unnamed highpoint (6,469 feet) of the Mustang Mountains sat to the east and a little south. HIKE: We headed east from the parking area, following what looked like an old road for a short while, and then picked a line up the slopes to the summit. The hike is all cross-country, with grass and short catclaws (not as bad as it sounds). The final push to the summit ridge is a steep and rugged, slightly loose, 3rd class rocky scramble. From there it's an easy walk along the ridge, through the trees, to the highpoint. The summit offers 360 views. You can see the Huachuca mountains, the Santa Ritas, Whetstones, and many others I haven't yet learned the names of. The quest to climb little bumps and giants in the sky always feels like a journey home, perhaps because it is often a journey inward, one of letting go, and embracing my connection to the land, the sky, and all that surrounds a place: the mountain, like a castle in the sky.•••••••••Review of my Luna Leadville Trail Sandals:This hike, rugged as it was, was also my first backcountry, off trail, hike in Luna Sandals. I was a little worried if their minimalist design could hold up to the Arizona backcountry where there wasn't even a trail. But I quickly gained confidence in my new footwear as I hiked cross-country through the grass and over catclaw bushes in this rocky landscape. I felt surefooted and close to the earth, but also protected from the rough terrain. Their next test was the 3rd class scramble to the summit ridge. It was steep and rocky with a lot of loose soil. I did have to stop and tighten the heel straps to keep my feet from sliding too far back in the sandal, but after that I had no problems. I was impressed with how agile my feet were on the loose rocks. The last test was the descent, wondering if my foot would slide forward and pull the strap too hard between my toes. But it didn't. The ankle straps kept my feet from sliding too far forward. At one point, I stopped to watch how my toes spread out for greater control as I descended down the rocks. This made remember why I hated shoes as a child, because everything is just better barefoot, or as close to barefoot as possible. And these sandals definitely offer the foot a barefoot freedom with just enough protection from the terrain to keep it enjoyable.

FALLING IN LOVE WITH A MOUNTAIN

Falling in love with a mountain, for me, is a lot like love at first sight, and beyond that, it takes time. And I think it needs to love you back, too. I've loved a handful of mountains like that, ones that have loved me back, that seemed as though they watched over me, and called to me in my dreams. There are others that seem more like a brief love affair, and I never forget those ones, I will always hold them dear in my memories. But some mountains, well, they just have all my heart and soul.My first mountain love wasn't even really a mountain, but at age four it was a mountain to me. And when I discovered wild apple trees on its flanks, it had me. My adventures up to those apple trees were the first of many gifts that climbing mountains would afford me. And during those climbs, on my four year old legs, I discovered a deep strength in myself, and also, a friend in Nature. I learned that I could do things, that if I just kept at it, I would get there, and something beautiful would greet me. Mountains have always offered me gifts. Sometimes those gifts come as wild fruit, berries, or other plants, and sometimes they come as an interaction with a wild animal. And I'm almost always rewarded with a beautiful view.Everywhere I've lived in the western states I've had a mountain that I see daily that I've fallen in love with; currently, that mountain is Baboquivari, in southern Arizona. But I've found my love growing for Humphrey's Peak in northern Arizona. We climbed it for the first time, in the summer, over ten years ago now, before I had even moved to Arizona. We often pass by it on road trips now, holding it in our view as we drive by. And after this last weekend, I have stood on its summit it four times, twice in the summer and twice in the winter. I think the winter climbs are my favorite. There are no glaciers, and so no crevasses to worry about, but it still offers a steep snow climb with a relatively high summit elevation, 12,633 feet, complete with all the majestic beauty of a long ridge line approach above tree line. I've traversed this beautiful ridge in the summer heat, and in winter winds so strong I had to push against the wind, guarding my face as I made my way to the summit. We have a history together now, Humphrey's and I, and I think maybe I just can't help falling in love with a mountain that I spend a lot of time with..._This year's winter climb of Humphrey's Peak_____