Date: August 15, 2025 • Elevation: 5,112 feet • Prominence: 458 feet • Distance: 2.5 miles • Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes • Gain: 760 feet (gross) • Conditions: Cool, cloudy with some rain

Arizona • Main • PB • LoJ • USGS BM Datasheet

Van Gausig Benchmark lies atop a hill in southern Graham County, about twenty miles south of Safford along US-191. The hill rises a mile east of the highway. The western slopes are on Coronado National Forest land, and the eastern half, including the summit, on BLM (public) land.

I spent last night in Safford at a cheap but decent hotel, this after a day where I climbed six peaks in New Mexico, these three up by Reserve and then these three by Alma. I had a couple peaks in mind in the Safford area, but knew I'd probably only get one, due to the heat and/or storms.

This peak attracted my attention because it was on the way home, and also, it has a nice appearance, being a rocky desert summit. The logistics looked simple and uncomplicated. If I got an early start, I should be down while temperatures were still tolerable.

The land along US-191 south of Safford is almost all contiguous BLM, or contiguous State Land. Studying the land-ownership maps, there is a single square mile (section) of private land south of the peak. The only structures on this section is a corral and a couple of water tanks. There was an old ranch owned and run by the Van Gausig family, but information on the web is scant. It appeared that I may not need to be on this private section at all.

I was up before dawn, and on the road at 5:15 a.m., with sunrise at 5:40 a.m.. Yesterday's clouds seemed to have amassed more in abundance in the area. This had the effect of keeping things cool for now, in the mid-70s.

The gate I wanted is south of mile-marker 100 from the southbound lanes of the highway. Northbound travellers will need to find a turn-around and double back. The gate is unposted and unlocked, and on BLM land. I passed through, and drove in less than a mile on a sandy track, all the way to the corral. I reversed and parked about 500 feet east of the corral, back on BLM land.

It was very humid but cool for now. Nevertheless, I dressed defensively, in long pants and sleeves, expecting to battle a lot of brush and possibly some critters. From my parking spot, I could not see the peak. Ahead of me was a low rocky ridge hiding the mountain for now.

I started hiking at 6:05 a.m.. The terrain was sandy desert but open, with no grass and the plants spread out. I weaved through openings and gained about fifty feet onto this ridge, then down the other side, at which time I could see the conical peak rising to the northwest. To the south was the corral, a camper (unoccupied), and a pile of what looked like wood sleepers.

The terrain now was a mush of draws, ridges and rocky canyons, with small hills and rock piles interspersed. I could easily see the peak and get a general sense of where to go, but down where I was, it was not so obvious. I just followed what looked easiest and tried to keep a bearing toward the peak.

I was moving generally west, often moving laterally to the ridges. I liked the south-southeast slope and was able to get over to it, but to do so I had to ease down into a small rocky canyon then up the opposite side. This little maneuver required hands and a little scrambling.

On this slope, I could see it was a straight-shot to the top, no cliffs or other surprises. It was rocky and steep at times, but would also lay back too. Cows get up this high and had beaten in some paths, as well as leaving poo cairns just about everywhere.

Toward the top, I came upon the fence that runs north-south and is the border to the Coronado forest. I had to grunt up one steep hill, then cut across and up a gentler slope to the summit, which I reached in a little under an hour.

The top was open and rocky. I found a register and signed in, then snapped an image of the benchmark, which was barely readable. A reference marker nearby had better lettering and I took its image was well.

The clouds never moved aside. This was not some lingering cloudiness from yesterday. This looked like a "system" that had moved in overnight. To the south and southeast, it was a big wall of gray. To the east, there were some breaks, and the sun's rays would bust through onto the ground, creating some lovely images.

I had clear views of the surrounding mountains including big Mount Graham to the sorthwest and the other big peaks to the west. The temperature seemed to stay steady. It was still "nice", as in not hot, but it was very sultry. For mid-August, this was fantastic. I spent about ten minutes snapping photos. My Canon ELPH PowerShot camera could not focus in the mist and those images came out blurry. My android's camera does much better in these conditions.

For the hike down, I followed a parallel ridge, this one trending to the southeast. It worked well and would have made for an easy ascent ridge too. As I descended, I had to get involved again with the maze of draws, drainages, canyons, arroyos and even a wadi. Cow paths helped, and I saw a couple hanging out up on the hills. I essentially followed the same route back to my car, even finding my own bootprints. The egress hike took about 40 minutes.

Conditions had not changed — it was still heavily cloudy, but still cool. In fact, when I turned the engine over, the outside temperature gauge had the same reading, 75°, as when I started. There was some rain to the west. I drove back to the gate, passed through, and got back onto the highway. I was treated to a rainbow as I exited!

This little desert peak was a gem, a fun and easy hike with easy logistics and plenty of scenery. It would be an ideal peak when it is cooler and can be combined with other peaks in the area.

My drive went well. I hit some rain as I drove into Willcox. It was cloudier down this way. The Dos Cabezas Mountains were completely shrouded over in the clouds. I had no plans for a second peak, but given how cool it was, I thought about it.

I took the scenic route out of Willcox. Normally, I take the short-cut through Kansas Settlement to get back to the US-191, but this time, I stayed on AZ-186 aiming toward the Dos Cabezas Mountains.

In the village of Dos Cabezas, a car was in the road, a woman had backed out of her driveway but then it stalled. Another woman was there to see what she could do. I have a small hand-held jumper unit that has saved my butt more than once. I got out and attached the leads, but when she tried to turn over the ignition, nothing. Either the battery was completely and hopelessly dead, or something else was broken. Her house was right there so it wasn't like she was stranded. She was friendly and grateful for the assistance, and called AAA, which means she could expect someone in about ten hours.

I continued on my drive, never stopping, taking the usual route home via Elfrida and Double Adobe. I was home by 10 a.m.. I had been gone less than 48 hours spread over three calendar days. I got seven peaks in New Mexico and one in Arizona. This was a good way for me to clear my head after my summer ASU session, and before the fall term would start.