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Humphreys Peak Saddle
June 24, 2001

 
Route: Humphreys Trail
Map: humphreys_map.gif (19130 bytes)
 

Elevation:

11,870 ft

Vertical Climb:

2590 ft

Distance:

6.5 miles

Who Went:

Paul (solo)

While visiting my father near Phoenix, Arizona for several days, I decided to take a day trip north to Flagstaff to climb Arizona's highest mountain - Humphreys Peak. Flagstaff is a 2-1/2 hour drive north of Phoenix, which is about the same distance as I drive to get to Franconia Notch from home. As I do when I go to the White Mountains, I left early at 5:00 AM. It's an easy drive north on I-10 and I-17 to get there. Along the way, I stopped to take a picture of the sunrise on some mountains along I-17 north of Phoenix.

From Flagstaff, I headed north on US 180. I could see the San Francisco Mountains, a small group of extinct volcanos that loom over Flagstaff. From US 180, I took a paved forest road to the Arizona Snowbowl ski area where the trail began.

I wasn't sure how I'd do on this mountain as the trailhead was already at 9,300 ft and summit at 12,643 ft, and I hadn't had time to acclimate. But I was determined to go as far as I could, hopefully all the way to the summit, so I started up the trail, passing the signs for the Coconino National Forest and the Humphreys Trail. The temperature was around 65 degrees when I started out, a far cry from the 100+ temperatures in the Phoenix area.

Purple mountains majesty. While driving to Flagstaff, I stopped to take a picture of the sunrise on these mountains between Phoenix and Camp Verde along I-17.

highway.jpg (25386 bytes)

The San Francisco Mountains from US 180 just north of Flagstaff. Humphreys Peak is on the left. The peak on the right is Agassiz.

humphreys peak from road.jpg (32062 bytes)

Coconino National Forest sign near the start of the Humphreys Trail in the lower parking lot of the Arizona Snowbowl.

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Humphreys Trailhead. The trail begins at the edge of a large flower-covered meadow next to the parking lot.

trailhead sign.jpg (43363 bytes)

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