Date: June 3, 2025 • Elevation: 9,661 feet • Prominence: 383 feet • Distance: 14.8 miles • Time: 8 hours, 20 minutes • Gain: 4,260 feet (gross) • Conditions: Cool and humid, sunny with lingering clouds, warm as I descended • Wildlife: Whitetail deer, turkeys

Arizona • Main • PB • LoJ

Snowshed Peak is one of a handful of peaks in the Chiricahua Mountains that exceed 9,000 feet. It lies a couple miles east of Chiricahua Peak, with good trail access. I've been aware of this peak for years, and finally worked up the energy to climb it. It would be a long hike no matter what trailhead I started from.

The southwest United States recently had a brief period of storms, the remnants of a tropical depression named Alvin that crept up the Sea of Cortez. For a few days, the state was clouded over with some localized heavy rain, and temperatures about 15° below normal for early June. Bisbee received over an inch of rain overnight two nights previous.

Today was supposed to be clear, just a few straggler clouds, and temperatures warming but still cooler than normal. I felt this would be a good opportunity to climb this peak: at 8,000 feet elevation and higher, temperatures would likely be very comfortable.

I was looking at close to 15 miles round trip whether I started at the usual trailheads: Rustler Park, Long Park, Morse or the two Mormon trails. I opted for one of the Mormon Trails, there being the Mormon Ridge and Mormon Canyon Trails. They run parallel, one up a ridge and the other in a canyon. You can guess which one does which.

This would be a big hike in terms of distance and elevation gain for me, just for one peak. My birthday is this week and this would be my birthday hike, to see if I can still do these big hikes at my advanced age.

I left Bisbee at 4 a.m., timing my drive to be driving into the range on Turkey Creek Road as the sun was rising. The one-way drive is about 80 miles. At this early hour, traffic was nonexistent. I saw maybe three other cars on the road for the entire drive.

I first looked at hiking up the Mormon Canyon Trail. I hiked this trail in 2000 when I climbed Chiricahua Peak, and after 25 years, recall almost nothing about it. A recent trip report suggested it was in good condition. But I could not find the start. When I climbed it in 2000, I recall parking in a clearing and having no problem. Well, its start has been rerouted. I opted then to go with the other trail, the Mormon Ridge Trail.

I found this trailhead easy as it has a big sign along the road. I parked in a clearing about an eighth of a mile to the west. I had not seen anyone else up here so far, no campers or day visitors. The sun was up but it was still cool and I was in shade. The very top of the range was covered in clouds, which I hoped would clear as I ascended. I started walking at 6 a.m. sharp.

The trail dropped into a drainage then up the opposite side, and immediately started a steady grind upwards. This low, it was mostly grass, some of it tall and encroaching over the trail, but following it was always easy. It was cool, in the 50s for now, but humid. I warmed fast and had to shed a layer early on.

The trail just plows upward, never any flat segments, but never too steep either, a consistent grade of about 10-15 degrees. It generally stays on the south slope of the ridge, rarely on the ridge itself. It was narrow but well defined. In a few spots, it traversed a slope with a steep drop below. A stumble here could be my last.

This trail ran about 3.7 miles to where it meets with the Mormon Canyon Trail, nearly 8,800 feet elevation, a gain of about 2,650 feet from where I started. It had taken me a little under two hours to get here. The clouds had lifted but still lingered in places. It was breezy and cool, but very pleasant. I went right (souteast) on the trail to Chiricahua Saddle, south of Chiricahua Peak.

This trail runs a half mile and gains about 400 feet. It was a good trail with three big downed trees blocking it, but with walk-around options. I was at Chiricahua Saddle after about 20 minutes, where I stopped for a break.

The next trail was the Crest Trail, 270D, or #354 on the map. I found it but it was faint. I followed it upward. It makes a handful of switchbacks in the rocky slopes. Deadfall was worst here. I could step over of duck under most of the downed trees, but a couple required some careful stepping on and maneuvering. Sometimes, three or four trees had piled on top of one another. This segment, about a quarter mile, went slow.

The trail reached a local apex then dropped, trending northeast and cutting across Chiricahua Peak's southern slope. The problem here was that for about 200 feet, the trail just disappeared in the grass. I stayed level and up ahead could see a trail on the hillside, so I aimed for that, which worked. This trail met up with the main Crest Trail (#270) at a saddle east of Chiricahua Peak.

I stayed on the Crest Trail, which cuts across the south slopes of an intervening peak unofficially named Aspen Peak, an unranked peak with about the same elevation as Snowshed Peak. For much of the next mile or so, it drops slowly, a total of about 250 feet to where it meets the Snowshed Trail (#246). The Crest Trail then drops some more onto a secondary ridge toward Finnicum and Sentinel Peaks. I angled left and stayed on the Snowshed Trail.

This trail angled north and crossed a burn area now being overtaken by aspen and ferns. I could make out the trail in the ferns most of the time. This lead to the open saddle between Aspen Peak and Snowshed Peak. I was almost there.

A trail supposedly goes up to Snowshed Peak's summit but I did not see it, so I just marched uphill and soon found a weak trail hewn into the flaky rocks. I followed it, but it took some effort to stay on it.

This trail then enters into a growth of aspen and other narrow trees sprouting after the big fires. The trail makes a number of switchbacks and I had to stop often to be sure I was still on it. As long as I stayed on it, it cut through the aspen fairly efficiently. I had to do very little bushwhacking here.

The trail then levels and aims for a hill in the distance. I stayed on it as best I could and came upon the summit area. Where was the summit? I inspected a few bumps but wasn't satisfied. I followed what looked like more trail into some aspen and there it was, the top. A final short uphill brought me to the open summit of Snowshed Peak. Oh my gosh, I was finally here.

I found a register in a cairn built on the summit rock. It sees a steady stream of visitors such as the Southern Arizona Hiking Club and non-club-affiliated hikers. Its "niner" status attracts visitors, as well as its "20-20" status, being one of the top-20 highest peaks with a trail in the state. A lot of people like to do a multi-day backpack up here, tagging peaks.

It had taken me 4 hours and 35 minutes to get here, a net gain of about 3,520 feet but just under 3,900 feet when the drops and regains are included. The weather up here was breezy with some clouds, but nothing collecting into storms. It was comfortable, about 60°. I was bushed but feeling well. I sat for about ten minutes and had a drink and snack break.

Now to get down. I had a long way to go so I figured I better start soon. I was also dealing with some congestion which I hoped was not edema. I was at a similar elevation last week in Flagstaff with no issues and historically never have any issues at this elevation, but today, I struggled to get a deep breath. I didn't debate it much, figuring dropping elevation will do the trick. I had considered climbing nearby Aspen Peak but dismissed that idea almost immediately.

The hike down went well and I made decent time, the downhill helping. Then it was a slower grind uphill back to the saddle east of Chiricahua Peak, then that downhill back to Chiricahua Saddle through the downed trees. I was tired by now but moving better, that possible edema no longer a concern. I was able to breathe deeply with no problem. I stopped for a break at Chiricahua Saddle. It was close to noon now.

I dropped down the connector back to where the two Mormon Trails met. I decided here to follow the Mormon Canyon Trail. This would drop faster and put me in the canyon with more shade, now that the sun was up. The trail was in excellent shape. It dropped steadily, with no variation in scenery, just a lot of trees.

After about 45 minutes, I could sense I was breaking out into the open. The canyon was widening, the trail now was an old vehicle track from when a sawmill was up here about a century ago, and it was noticeably warmer. Finally, I was down and nearing the main road. The trail just meets up at the road. A sign is here but not obvious and I missed it this morning.

I had a little under a mile on the road to walk back to my car. The walk was easy, being downhill. I saw my first humans today, a family camping in a nearby campground. And finally finally, I was back to my car, the time 2:20, an 8-hour and 20-minute day. I later determined I hiked 14.8 miles, being conservative. When all wiggles are included, it may be above 15. I was tired, hot and my feet were sore, but I felt good. Not bad for a 57 and 364/365 year old codger. I still got it, baby.

So, I got impatient and took the road out a little quick, about 30 miles per hour. As I neared the paved highway AZ-181, my low tire pressure light comes on. I stopped to inspect but they all looked okay, so maybe it was a slow leak. I drove slower on the highway to where it meets US-191. There is a small gas station here. I pulled in to take another look.

Immediately, I heard the hissing. My driver's side rear tire was hissing. But it still looked okay. I made a decision. I chanced driving it, hoping it would stay inflated enough to get me home, but I got no more than a few miles, out in the middle of farm fields, when I felt the tire go flat. It was completely flat.

I pulled into a side road and changed the tire. This took about fifteen minutes. It was just what I wanted to do now, being tired and hot and old. I was able to get to Bisbee but I had to go slow. Fortunately, traffic is light on the routes I usually follow. Turned out I actually tore the inner sidewall, probably by going too fast on that dirt road. I spent my actual birth day getting a new tire installed.

I was happy to be successful and although I don't really enjoy 15-mile, 4,000-foot-gain hikes as much as I used to, I am glad I can still do them. It was worth it to get this peak, another niner for my records, and overall, a pleasant day in the wilderness.