My Galaxy camera has a nifty setting that works well in dim moonlight. It doesn't use a flash. Instead, it keeps the aperture open for a second, enough time to take in the ambient light.

I pointed it at Salt River Peak. To me, it was in shadow, but I could easily see its silhouette. I took an image of it with my camera and it came out with this interesting dim color. The stars could be seen in the image. I also pointed it toward Peak 4465, with the same neat effect.

Later that night, as the moon was setting, I took another image of Peak 4465, with the moon in it. I wanted to see what my image editing software would do, so what you see below are the images with some tweaking of the contrast, brightness and exposure.

Salt River Peak

Peak 4465

That's the moon!

I slept okay. It got a little chilly, and when I would awake, I'd lay there and stare up at the moon and the stars. It was very peaceful and beautiful. I was up around 5 a.m., taking down my cot and getting things packed. I ate something and then sat in the front seat doing nothing, waiting for the sun to rise and to ward off the chill. It was in the low 50s for now.

I got moving around 6 a.m., heading northbound on AZ-188 for about fifteen miles to its junction with AZ-88 near the Roosevelt Dam. I haven't been on AZ-88 within the Salt Canyon in 12 years, and for most of the past 6 years, much of it has been shut due to a landslide near the Fish Creek Grade.

The road is windy and steep in spots, with no guardrails. The road has been paved, whereas it used to be maintained gravel. This was pleasant news. I still had to go slow, and watch for blind corners. Much of the road is narrow, and going 15 miles per hour sometimes felt fast.

I drove in about five miles, to where the road flattens out for about two miles near the Burnt Corral recreation area. I wanted FR-49, which I found. I went in about a half mile before a rocky section of the road stopped me. I parked in a clearing beside the road.

The peak rose above me to the north. I was still in shadow and it was cool but not cold. I wore shorts but also long sleeves and a flannel outer-shirt. I'd be following the road, FR-49, for a couple miles to get close to the peak. I started walking at about 7:30 a.m..

The road continued upward, still a pretty good road for about another half mile, coming to a corral. Were it not for that rocky segment where I parked, I could have easily got the Subaru up this far. afterwards, though, the road gets much steeper and would require a Jeep.

The road became rockier and steeper. For walking, it wasn't a problem except for the steepness. It reached a saddle, then angled right and upward. Some power lines run through here and the road is evidently here to service them.

I was on the road for just under two miles, gaining about 1,200 feet. It curled around one hill then achieved its apex near a concrete water trough. I heard an engine and then saw a Jeep inching its way up the road from the opposite side.

The driver stopped and we chatted, both of us surprised to see anyone else. He had a short wheel-base Jeep with beefy tires. He said the road from the opposite side was intense. He agreed that any long wheelbase vehicle would have trouble on these roads. Aside from the steepness and the grade, the road was often smooth, lacking big rocks or bad ruts, and was cambered well, too. Some steep segments were just gravel atop hardpack, making footing a chore.

He got moving and so did I. I started up the slope south of the road. The terrain was brushy but open with lanes, and rocky. The grade was lenient and I was able to march up the slope easily. I generally angled right as I ascended. In time, I was on top of the hill, now just walking to its far south end, the summit.

I arrived at the summit about 90 minutes after starting. It was flat with rocks and low brush, and outstanding views. I found a register in a cairn set here by Bob Martin in 2006 (his summit log composed of sheet music cut into strips, a Bob hallmark). I was the first to sign in in over two years, and only the sixth or seventh overall.

The day was marvelous and I was in no hurry. I sat for about fifteen minutes and enjoyed the views, having a snack and drink, and checking texts since I had a signal up here. The sun was still low enough to create shadows on the surrounding peaks and ridges. I could make out some of Apache Lake within Salt Canyon, and some of Roosevelt Lake if looking the other way.

I hiked down the same way, and made good time on the road heading downhill. The steep parts, though, were challenging as I slipped often on the gravel. On other segments, with good tread and lenient grades, I fast-walked, almost a slow jog, and I was back to my car in about an hour.

The hike had gone well. I covered 5.5 miles round trip in about three hours, with 1,720 feet of gain. The refined 1-meter Lidar data for this region has not been released. The 1/3-arcsecond data gives a summit elevation of 3,928 feet and a prominence of about 485 feet. These figures are just estimations at best.

I had no second peaks planned, but it was still early. I debated what to do. I drove back to the Roosevelt Dam and stopped to take some photos.

Roosevelt Dam

I spent about twenty minutes exploring the dam area. I've been here a few times over the years, and always enjoy the scale of these projects. It was just me today, traffic being very light.

The dam

Thing on ridge

Bridge

Other side of dam

I headed back to Globe, and decided to do some exploration. My first exploration was up FR-219, which branches off Hicks Road, which itself branches off of Wheatfields Road. I was on this road just once, in 2019 when Matthias and I climbed Rockinstraw Peak.

I was looking at a nearby peak, Peak 4647. The road was good and I was able to get in close to the peak. It got a little sandy in places and I yawed once or twice, so I drove slowly. However, the summit is a rocky cliff shaped like a pencil eraser. I declined, not wanting to waste time just to be stopped below the cliffs.

I returned into town and then took a look at a nearby peak, Peak 4607 "Irene Peak". I was able to drive in Irene Canyon, the tracks being somewhat rocky. I started walking about 12:30 but it was warm now. I was able to follow lesser mine tracks partway up the hill. I had no map and was doing this entirely on instinct.

I had to leave the road and start up the rocky slopes to get to the high ridge. I got about 200 feet up and called it. The slope was unconsolidated rocky scree that slid with each step. I decided to bail and return to my car. Studying satellite images later, I saw where some roads actually achieve the crest a little to the south. This is what I'll follow when I return.

I drove into Globe and killed time in some stores, waiting for 2 p.m. so the highway would re-open. This project to build a new bridge in Queen Canyon has been going on for a couple years now and will be going on for a couple more. The road is closed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m..

At 2:15, I got moving again. The road was just reopened. The backlog of vehicles and trucks was still evident. There was a slow truck every mile or so, and it was a mad rush to pass these guys, while also being passed by the maniacs. I was in the Phoenix borg about 3:30 and to my hotel at 4. I did well today and celebrated with two fish tacos from a nearby place.