The Mountains of Arizona
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Peak 2434 • Rotten Benchmark These two peaks lie at the north edge of the Samaniego Hills, a grouping of volcanic mounds northwest of Tucson, partially within the Ironwood Forest National Monument. The main challenge of climbing these two peaks is getting close, as the closest decent roads only get within three miles. For the record, the two peaks lie outside the National Monument, but within a swath of Arizona State Trust land. I was in Tucson for a couple days, handling business with a little down-time included, having fun and relaxing for the post-Christmas holidays. Today, the 28th, I would be leaving back for Bisbee, but wanted a hike if possible, mainly if the weather behaved. Yesterday had been cool and cloudy with spells of rain. Today started cool but clear. From where I was staying, these two peaks were not too far away, about 40 miles. I got onto Marana Road, heading west, then Silverbell Road, taking that all the way to Sasco Road. I then went right (northeast) on Sasco Road toward Peak 2329 "Sasco Townsite Peak". I parked near Sasco Tank, just south of the road at the south foot of Peak 2329. The two peaks on my agenda rose a couple miles north. There are two main masses: Peak 2434 (2428 on the map) is the highest point of the bigger mass, which runs about a mile in length. Rotten Benchmark rises to the west, a separate stand-alone peak with the distinction of having the highest prominence of all the peaks in this grouping. I deliberately parked near Peak 2329 so that it would serve as an obvious visual object to aim for when I returned to my car.
Date: December 28, 2025
• Elevation: 2,434 feet ✳
• Prominence: 647 feet
• Distance: 8.7 miles (entire hike)
• Time: 4 hours, 40 minutes (entire hike)
• Gain: 660 feet ascent (gross)
• Conditions: Cool, sunny with high clouds
Arizona
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Lidar
I rolled into a parking area abutting Sasco Tank. A couple of information signs stand here, partially blocking the road. I eased past them, then in on the road for a few yards, parking near a fire ring. It was cold at first, in the low 40s during the drive, but it was warming into the mid 50s by now. I suited up, got my pack together, locked the car and started walking at 8:35 a.m..
There are a few tracks that head north from Sasco Road toward the peaks, but these are scant and they wander all over the place. A couple of sandy arroyos also aim that way and were an option, although I don't like hiking in soft sand. I discovered that the ground itself was perfect for fast desert trekking. It had a solid tread, it was flat and free of rocks, and the brush was non-existent. It was mostly creosote, palo verde, saguaro, various cactus, but all spread out.
I just aimed for Peak 2434, making good time on this trek, which drops ever so slightly, about a hundred feet over two miles. Every ten minutes I would have to ease through some side-arroyos with its brushy sides, but these were short and easy to manage.
After about 45 minutes, I was nearing the mountain. I came upon a fence line with a good road on its other side. I was able to crawl under the fence, its lowest strand about two feet above the ground. This road comes in from the east via the La Osa Ranch. I avoided going that way when driving in, unsure if public access would be possible.
I aimed now for a saddle to the northeast of the peak. I continued to make excellent time on this flat, rockless desert terrain, curling around the eastern slope of the peak, until coming onto the margin of the peak itself. Like many of these volcanic mounds, the margin between not being on the mountain and being on the mountain is about five feet. Suddenly, I was now walking over basalt boulders, for now small and easy to manage.
I gained about 200 feet up a very easy gradient to top out on the saddle to the northeast of the peak. Looking up, the peak rose another 300 feet, rising to a point, the slope all black basalt boulders the entire way up.
The lower slopes were gentle but steepened quickly. The rocks generally behaved, and I was able to walk up without much difficulty. About halfway up, the slope steepened and the rocks got bigger and more heaped. Here, I had to zig and zag, using my hands to ease up some easy chutes and big steps. As usual, the boulders stayed put except when they didn't. I tested each big rock every step of the way. More than one moved, teetered or groaned under my weight. It helped keep my adrenaline elevated.
The top fifty feet was the steepest, but not too bad. There was no exposed scrambling. The clambering was mainly to manage the awkward heaps and the occasional loose rock. The slope then lessened and I was "on top", although the highest point was still a few more yards away. I found evidence of a spotter's camp up here, some old blankets under a palo verde. That was it. I did not see other things like food wrappers, car batteries and abandoned sneakers.
I was soon on top of Peak 2434, the one-way hike covering about 2.6 miles and taking about 75 minutes. The summit is bouldery, with a few that could be highest. I tagged all contenders. I found a cairn but no register. Views were excellent, but slightly hazy due to the moisture from yesterday's storm. It was warmer but with a breeze. I took a break on a good sitting rock and snapped a few images of the surrounding terrain.
I spent about ten minutes having a break. I looked over at Rotten Benchmark Peak and debated how to get there. There are roads both north and south of the peak I was on, and I could study them from where I was perched. I decided to go with what I knew. I descended down the steep slope back to the saddle, then back out to the desert flats, walking back to the road I had crossed earlier.
Elevation: 2,459 feet ✳
• Prominence: 621 feet
• Gain: 680 feet ascent, 580 feet descent, 100 foot ascent back to car
• Conditions: Warmer, very nice
• Barrel Cactuses Walked Into: 1
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USGS BM Datasheet
I was looking at almost a two-mile trek to Rotten Benchmark Peak. The road was useful, and I stayed on it for about a mile before veering off and making a long arc toward Rotten Benchmark. The trekking here was easy as well, although as I approached the base of the peak, I had more brush and small trees to work through.
Rotten Benchmark Peak did not look like a friendly peak from a distance. It has a cliff band almost all the way around its girth about halfway up. The slopes looked very steep. The only plausible (to me) way up was a ridge from the peak's east. I couldn't tell from where I was walking if the cliffs would block the ridge route. There was only one way to find out.
This ridge has two smaller bumps and two saddles, then the summit itself. From the desert flats, I got onto the lowest slopes and marched uphill, up moderately rocky terrain, to top out on the first and lowest of the bumps. So far, so good. This portion was easy.
I descended to the saddle and looked up at the second bump. The good news was that the cliffs stopped here, so I had a viable way up. Still, the slope ahead of me looked nasty.
I walked uphill, following whatever line looked easiest. The slope steepened and I found myself on a hundred-foot slope of loose talus. Nothing was solid or stable. Every footfall kicked loose a rock then three more. I was stepping as carefully and gently as possible but there is the fact I weight 200 pounds. At one point, a rock gave way under me. To catch my balance, I stepped quickly upward, right smack into a barrel cactus. I caught a couple spines and gave my left leg a whole bunch of new scratches, drawing blood. I pulled out the spines and gave it an inspection.
This segment went well, all things considered. I was soon on top of the ridge again where the slope lessened and the footing was better. This got me to the second bump, with the highpoint up ahead, much closer now.
I dropped to the higher saddle and looked up. It looked like a steep mess of rocks. These weren't the nice big black basalt boulders like every other mound in the area. These were smaller boulders ranging from about 4 inches in diameter to a couple feet, all lying on top of one another with little stability. There also appeared to be a couple small cliffs and rock bands. But I was so close by now. I wouldn't turn back unless I absolutely had to.
I stuck to the ridge's spine. The slopes dropped steeply to both sides. I had about fifteen feet of space so it wasn't that narrow, but it seemed if I got even five feet off the ridge, I'd get onto sliding slopes of rock and I didn't want to take that chance. The climbing was not difficult but every step was an adventure. It never felt secure to me. I was often on threes, with one hand on the ground or rock to add stability and to keep a low center of gravity.
The last obstacle was a low cliff band that leaned back, about fifteen feet of sloping rock with smaller, looser talus in every void. Here, I needed both hands and scrambled up this segment carefully. Not every rock was firmly attached as I discovered.
But once above this, I was just feet from the top! I arrived onto the rocky open summit, feeling damn happy and a little surprised to be here. I snapped a few images, including that of the Rotten benchmark. I now understood why the benchmark stampers gave this peak its name after climbing up that rotten rock. Other than a couple water bottles, I saw no evidence of sentries. They probably want no part of this peak either.
I did not stay. I literally turned right around and started down. Going down was tricky because of the loose rock. I stepped as carefully and gingerly as possible, and was able to scoot down the slopes with no mishaps, but I was going very slowly.
Back at the second bump, I still had that other steep talus slope to get down (the one where I walked into a barrel cactus). That downclimb went well, but I was moving slowly. As careful as I tried to be, I still kicked loose a number of boulders. One rock gave out from under me. This time I twisted like a pirouette, trying to regain my balance. I did so, but almost fell into another barrel cactus, this one about up to my chest. Yeah, I wasn't enjoying these rocks that much.
Fortunately, this was it for the loose rocks. Back at the lower saddle, I headed down the lower slopes where the rocks weren't as loose nor the grade as steep. I was soon back onto the desert flats. I felt relief to be off this peak, but happy and a little grateful to have been successful.
So now I had a three-mile trek back to my car. I could see Peak 2329 way off in the distance, so I just aimed for it and started the walk. It took about an hour, and I enjoyed the mindless walking. The day had become very pleasant, the temperatures in the low 60s with a strong sun. I was back to my car at 1:20 p.m., a 4-hour and 40-minute loop hike covering just under nine miles.
Despite my leg wounds, I was feeling fantastic. I myself had just battled a week or so of a cold with bronchitis, and this was my first long hike after getting better. I was pleased to get both peaks done and to be back safely. I changed into more comfortable clothes then started the drive back toward Tucson and eventually Bisbee.
The drive through Tucson was not interesting as usual, but traffic flowed so I had no complaints. My concern was the pinch point about 35 miles ahead, where ADOT is redoing the Empirita overpass, reducing traffic to one lane.
The electronic signs said that the time into Benson was "19 minutes" which told me traffic was flowing, so I went with it and hoped for the best. Fortunately, it worked. However, looking at the westbound lanes, traffic on that side was backed up well over 5 miles. They were looking at an hour to get through. There are no other options here. There aren't any frontage roads nor lesser arterials one could take to avoid this. When there's a wreck on this 20-mile stretch between Benson and the AZ-83 exit, traffic is stopped. There aren't any bail options.
I had a good time in Tucson and also a good time with today's hike and these two peaks. I felt especially happy that I got up and down Rotten Benchmark Peak after letting it intimidate me a little.
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