The Mountains of Arizona
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Ramboz Peak • Peak 4202 Ramboz Peak rises north of the city of Globe, in the Tonto National Forest. It is named for Henry Ramboz, who in 1875 discovered a vein of silver in the hills nearby what would be his eponymous peak. This established the Ramboz Camp, but the center of operations would be moved a couple years later to the south, where there was a better water supply and more open terrain to have a town. This became the city of Globe. This peak is a principal summit in the Globe Hills, a collection of hills north of the city of Globe, extending to the higher Apache Peaks. Most of the other hills have easy access, but Ramboz Peak, despite being on Forest Land, has some surrounding private properties that block convenient approaches. However, I plotted out what looked like a promising route that avoided the private lands. I've been here now about a dozen times and had yet to actually climb Ramboz Peak. Apparently, others think likewise. Lists of John shows just two previous visitors, Bob M. in 1997 and Mark N. in 2010. Surely others have looked at it and attempted it. Was there some other reason no one else has been here? I planned to visit this peak and whatever else I could scare up on my Wednesday open date between teaching. After my classes Tuesday evening, I stopped for groceries and hit the road, aiming for the Oak Flat campground east of Superior. I arrived about 9:15 p.m., the place nearly empty. I scored a nice spot and set up my cot. It was cool, but not cold, in the 60s. I slept reasonably well. The cot itself isn't that great, but the weather was calm. The moon was ending its waning crescent stage so would not be seen for most of the night. Instead, the sky was full of stars. I laid in my cot staring upwards at the points of light. It was peaceful. I awoke about 3 a.m., very thirsty, and just laid there in a half sleep state until about 4:30, when I got up for good.
Date: March 18, 2026
• Elevation: 5,085 feet ✳
• Prominence: 619 feet ✳
• Distance: 4.5 miles
• Time: 2 hours, 20 minutes
• Gain: 1,145 feet
• Conditions: Sunny and clear, warming quickly
Arizona
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Main
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PB
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LoJ
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Lidar
The state was beginning a "historic" heat wave, where temperatures in the deserts would exceed 100°, the earliest such dates in history (going by Phoenix records back to the 1880s). I wanted to be higher in elevation to mitigate the heat. It would still be warm, but not insanely hot.
I intended to time my departure and drive so that I arrived to the Ramboz Peak area at dawn, to take advantage of whatever morning coolness there might be. I took down camp, had a breakfast, and just sat still until about 6 a.m. when I got moving. The highway (US-60) runs nearby and there's also a road to a nearby mining operation, so it was never quiet. In fact, trucks engine braked throughout the night.
So I'm on the highway heading east, the sky still dark but with the barest morning light to the east. Suddenly, BAM! Something hit the car! It was as loud as a gunshot. Everything went silent for a moment, then my ears started to ring. It took me a few moments to realize what had happened.
A truck coming the other way apparently released or kicked up a good-sized rock which hit my windshield in the upper left (driver's side) corner. It shattered the very corner, forming tendrils that splayed out like a spider web. I pushed on it, and it held. Had the rock hit a couple inches over, it would have hit the windshield flush ... and maybe gone through. Yikes. Maybe it was fortunate it hit where it hit.
Nevertheless, I was not pleased about this. Suddenly, I needed a new windshield. My adrenaline was intense for a few minutes. I got into Globe about twenty minutes later and followed Copper Hills Road through the southern Globe Hills, now on Forest Road 224.
I went in under a mile. Ramboz Peak rises just west of the road, and were it not for a couple private properties, would be an easy approach to the peak. I had explored this way in 2021. These properties are kept up with modern fencing and posting notices, so a stealth this way would not be smart.
The road makes a curl to the right where it crossed Ramboz Wash. I parked in a clearing and would start my hike from here. It was 6:45 a.m. when I got properly dressed and packed. It was light, but I was in shade. It was cool, about 65°, and not a cloud for miles.
The route I had plotted would follow Ramboz Wash northwest about a mile, then I would get onto the ridges and to the summit. It looked promising. Satellite images show some tracks here, which would help with the hiking. Being warmer, I needed to be mindful about snakes.
I started walking up the wash, which was rocky but very wide, with no brush to slow me. I would walk within the wash or alongside its banks, whatever looked easiest. I was on the banks when I came to a fence and a gate. I passed through. This was about 0.4 mile after starting.
I stayed beside the fence, which aimed west-southwest, going up a long ridge. The ground was grassy with some brush, but there was a track almost the entire length of the fence which I followed. In another 0.4 mile, I came to a corral. Ramboz peak rose to the west, about a mile away. In the sun now, temperatures rose about 10 degrees, waking up all the insects.
I then followed the track. It went northwest, then curled and dropped about 60 feet into a draw, before curling again and aiming northwest again. I stayed on the track for about a half mile. It went where I wanted it to go, and gained a lot of elevation. It led to another gate at a corner of the fences. I manhandled my way through the gate (which makes me wonder how often it is ever opened).
This put me on a saddle directly below the peak, with no intervening canyons to worry about. It would be a straight shot to the top. The terrain was open but with sections of brush. I was able to find lanes, or make wide end runs, to steer clear of the heavier stuff. Much of it was green and there were abundant wildflowers, with purple verbenas being most common.
The grade steepened slowly, and the underlying tread was loose angular rocky scree that held together poorly. When it was held together by grass, it was easy to walk on. But in segments, it was just the scree. I took these parts very slowly and with much effort, mostly trying not to slide backwards.
This then fed me onto some larger rocks, which offered a little more stability. These formed little tiers and cliffs, but the scrambling was extremely easy, with no exposure whatsoever. It was short, too, and soon I was on top of the main ridge.
From here, the top was to my left (southish) about 200 feet distant. I walked up an easy slope to the rocky summit. Success! It had taken me 75 minutes to get here. Views were fantastic, with the sun still low enough to form interesting shadows. It was pleasant, about 70°. with a soft breeze.
I snapped a few images, then sat for awhile to have a break and locate the register, which I did after taking apart a cairn. It was buried very well. It was one of Mark's, from 2010, with just his signature. I had a snack, and also checked my phone for texts. I was trying not to be in a hurry. I spent about 15 minutes up top.
Going down, I followed exacty the same route through the rocks and scree slopes, then back to the road, the gates, the corral, then the wash. I kept a steady pace, keeping an eye out for rattlers. I was back to the wash, then my car, by a shade after 9 a.m., about a one-hour egress. Even in that short period of time, it was much warmer, into the low 80s said my car's thermometer.
I was pleased to finally tag Ramboz Peak. My route worked out very well. It was on Forest property the whole time, and the fences and gates had no postings on them. It was a fun peak to scale.
On the drive out, I took a look at some roads to Black Peak, one of the ranked peaks farther south. All of the roads leading to it were signed as private with cameras monitoring them. Yeah right. But I did not want to press my luck, and I passed on by. In Globe, I stopped for gas and cold drinks and debated my next adventure. I had maps for a couple of bonus peaks, one this way and another that-a-way.
Elevation: 4,202 feet ✳
• Prominence: 302 feet
• Distance: 2.2 miles
• Time: 45 minutes
• Gain: 500 feet
• Conditions: Sunny and very warm
PB
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LoJ
It was still early, only about 10 a.m. when I was at the gas station. But it was very warm now. Whatever I did next would have to be short, easy and mostly on road or tracks.
I had a peak in mind to the west, but the road closure that way may affect access. They're still working on the Queen Creek bridge rebuild which will be going on for a couple more years, is my guess. I did not want to sit still in Globe for four hours.
The bypass is to go east a little bit, then take highway AZ-77 south to Winkelman, then catch AZ-177 to Superior. This is a 66-mile drive, but only about 30 miles longer than the route through US-60. It's scenic, too. I had a map for a peak this way and elected to go this way and take a look.
I went south about fifteen miles. The highway reaches an apex at just about 5,000 feet elevation, then starts a long and steep (7-8% grade) descent toward Winkelman. It passes through the rugged Mescal Mountains. There's little out this way in terms of landmarks. I wanted a road, which I would have to locate by following bends in the highway.
The peak I had in mind is a nothing peak, elevation 4,202 feet, and barely ranked. But it had a track to its top and did not look to take long, a perfect combination given the warmth. I found the road I wanted, and backed into it, slightly downhill so that my car was kind of hidden.
I was already dressed. It was hot by now, mid 80s. But it was very dry so that helped. I got moving, just walking up this track, where it merged with another track. The peak rose ahead, a low ridge-bump, slightly red in color from all the reddish rocks. It had been the site of some surface digs from back in the early mining days.
In about twenty minutes, I had covered a mile. I had to open and close another ancient gate, and soon, I was on top. There was no challenge to this peak. The peak itself is lame, but the surrounding peaks and terrain was very dramatic, with steep slopes and sheer cliffs, enough to mess with one's vertigo.
I did not spend long. I turned around and walked out, the round trip taking under an hour. I was sweaty and hot now. I changed into some drier clothes. I was partially open to the highway, so I timed my brief moments of nudity to when no one was driving by.
While this peak wasn't one to write home about, it did give me some idea of the peaks back here. There's another peak just to the west that suddenly I want to climb. This area is mostly private, but with scattered BLM and State Land sections. I was on BLM the entire time. There are shorter routes, but these cross private land.
It was now a little after 11 a.m.. I was done with peaks for today. I drove into Winkelman, and stopped at the lone gas station, to see about getting a new windshield.
What follows is a good example of enshittification.
I got on my phone and googled "Safelite" locations and saw one in Mesa. It had a local number. I wanted to call and see if they had any slots today. Or if not, when they could get me in. I expected to speak to some guy at the actual store.
The number fed me to an automated queue. I had to verbalize what I wanted a few times. This connected me to an actual person. She was pleasant, but she had to follow a script. I explained I wanted to see if there was any openings at the Safelite in Mesa.
She had me answer a whole bunch of questions, including my phone number, email and zip code. I gave her my home zip code, Bisbee. She then started rattling off the locations near there. I told her I was nowhere near Bisbee and reminded her I wanted to see about the one in Mesa, where I was headed.
She was actually a pleasant person but seemed incapable of going off script. It took the better part of fifteen minutes to finally get her to look in on the Mesa location. She was able to get me an appointment for the next morning, since they have to arrange to get the proper windshield in stock. That makes sense.
She tried to upsell me on all sorts of things. Again, I understand it's part of the script. She was just doing her job. After a total of over twenty minutes, I finally had an appointment. In the old days, I'd just call the store directly, speak to some guy named Mac or Armando, and they'd say right then and there when they could work me in. Two minutes tops.
So I got moving, and in about an hour, I was in Mesa. I drove to the Safelite anyway. Maybe they'd have an opening. It was about 2 p.m. now and damn hot, over 100°. The first-ever winter 100-degree-plus day in Phoenix history. And I was there.
The guy there was totally cool but said he had no slots today, so I said thanks. Boom, that was easy. Since it was still early and my hotel would not be ready for another hour, I went over to the nearby Burger King. I wanted a snack and something cold to drink, to kill an hour in air conditioning.
I never go into fast food places, so I was not used to the new way of doing things. You can't go up to a person at the register. I had to use one of the video screens to select what I wanted. It kept adding things I did not want. All I wanted was a coke and some chicken tenders. It took me a few minutes because I had to back out and start over each time. In the old days, I'd give my order to some lady named Amber or Bree and get my food, two minutes tops.
I finally got it right. Then I just sat there for an hour, having a snack, drinking a cold coke, and putting on a free Burger King crown hat. That made it all worth it. I got my windshield replaced the next morning.
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