Dome Mountain

We have a Grand Canyon hike down Nankoweap coming up soon, so it is time for me to get in hiking shape. That means weekend hikes on familiar and new trails. We've really not explored the Goldfield mountains and this hike to Dome Mountain was about the right length, so we headed out to check it out. 

The beginning was pretty uninspiring - lots of jeep road. Yeah, it is still scenic out there, but my hopes for this being a good hike dissolved as we went on. As Nancy said, at least we'll get some good base miles. However, we eventually found the trail to the mountain, off the jeep roads. Then it started to get interesting. 

well, hello

colors match with the rock pretty well

definitely gaining some altitude. Superstition mountains in the background.

headed all the way to the top

the trail is steep and loose up here

poles were a good idea on this one

top of Dome Mountain - highest point in the Goldfield mountains

Four Peaks in the distance

a very different view of Weavers Needle

360 view from the top of the mountain

time to head back down

not the best "trail"

it is actually harder going down this sort of stuff

looking over a cliff

the arrows were actually helpful. the trail was not always obvious

a view of Four Peaks from lower down

Sedona has red rocks. Goldfields have yellow rocks

four moto guys were trying to do the trail. at this point they decided that was a bad idea

looking back to  Dome

the trail mellowed out down low

after this pic a cholla ball attacked Nancy's shoe

back to jeep and dirt roads

Arizona trails always seem to go through washes

interesting texture on those rocks

This turned out to be a good training hike for the Canyon. Some good high intensity climbing on dodgy surfaces, plus 10 miles of distance. This hike actually intersected in parts with  the Queen's Ransom backpacking route as well as the AZT800 route. So that was interesting.