The Four Peaks Road is mostly well-graded and passable by a 2-wheel-drive all the way over the ridge line of the Mazatzal Mountains … Upper Sonoran Desert areas suffered some of the most devastating fires, notably the Cave Creek Fire north of Scottsdale, Arizona and the Four Peaks fire about 30 km east of Scottsdale. Firefighting helicopters were using water from Bartlett Lake to help quell the fire, officials said. Mesa man dead, 2 injured after plane crashes in Mazatzal Mountains near Payson Chelsea Curtis, Arizona Republic 1/25/2020 Fire burns thousands of acres in L.A. County The fire forced closure of Bartlett Dam Road on Friday. The habitat seemed pretty odd for Bell's, and is over 5000'. It climbs up to the highest trail-accessible point (over 7100!) **Please note: this area was affected by the Sunflower Fire in 2012 . Firefighters are actively fighting a lightning caused wildfire burning within the remote Mazatzal Wilderness, approximately 11 miles west of Payson, Ariz. According to forest officials, the fire was reported around 8 p.m. on Monday. The blaze, which was human-caused, torched an isolated ponderosa-pine forest that surrounded the 7,645-foot summit of Four Peaks. A network of trails covers this wilderness, reaching into Sonoran desert canyons, pine forested valleys, mysterious volcanic rock formations, and jagged peaks. Mapping of the surficial deposits was based on both field observations and interpretation of color AQRV Type: VISIBILITY: Sensitive Receptor: Sensitive Receptor Indicator: Thresholds: Natural Visibilty: For sources generally further than 50 km from a Class I area, the visibility threshold for concern is not exceeded if the 98th %ile change in light extinction is : 5% for each year modeled, when compared to the annual average natural condition value for that Class I area. Other resolutions: 320 × 240 pixels | 640 × 480 pixels | 1,024 × 768 pixels | 1,280 × 960 pixels | 2,048 × 1,536 pixels. This hike circles Mazatzal Peak on the Barnhardt Trail #43, Arizona Trail (AZT) and the Y Bar Trail #44. Polles Fire Public Information. Otherwise the fire is foraging widely across Tonto National Forest and the Mazatzal Mountains, through wilderness and scattered inholdings alike. the Mazatzal Mountains were examined by F. L. Ransome (1915), and from 1924 to 1926 the district was studied intermittently by Lausen and Gardner (1927). The year 2005 was a horrific year for wildfires across all habitats in Arizona. The National Weather Service said the fire was the seventh largest in Arizona history. The Lone Fire was the largest-known fire in Arizona history when it tore through the Mazatzal Mountains, Four Peaks Wilderness area and portions of the Tonto National Forest. Best trails in Mazatzal Wilderness, Arizona 41 Reviews Explore the most popular trails in Mazatzal Wilderness with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. There is lots of elevation gain and loss in this 15 mile loop and scarce water. At the moment it’s 90,000 acres and 5% contained. and passes several scenic campsites and springs. The best access to the area is provided by the Four Peaks Road. The Peaks Fire is burning in the Four Peaks Wilderness area in the Tonto National Forest. The tum-off from State Route 87 is directly across from the road to Sugarloaf Mountain. Pine Creek Loop is a 3 mile loop trail and from there one can access the trail to Ballentine Cabin. Hines said the smoke was blowing away from … At … Fire of 2004 has denuded the forest but a carpet of brush and thorns remain. It climbs up to the highest trail-accessible point (over 7100!) “Mazatzal” an Aztec word for “the land of many deer,” is home to hundreds of species of animals, including black … John Alcock is such a returnee who recorded the aftermath of the Willow Fire, which burned a large part of the Mazatzal Mountains in central Arizona in the summer of 2004. North of the Superstitions and still only a two hour drive from Phoenix, the Mazatzal Mountains are one of Arizona’s largest and most remote wilderness areas. Nature has restored much of the land along this passage from the devastation wrought by the 2012 Sunflower Fire. Mountain warblers were also numerous in the drainage, especially BLACK-THROATED GRAY and GRACE'S WARBLERS. The fire is in rough and rugged terrain that is … Target Area: Cave Creek, New River; Mazatzal Mountains; New River Mesa; Rio Verde, Salt River SIGNIFICANT WEATHER ADVISORY FOR GILA AND MARICOPA COUNTIES UNTIL 330 PM MST At 256 PM MST, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Round Valley, moving southwest at 20 mph. "Very few people have ever returned again and again to the site of a natural but disastrous wildfire. There are also several other options with the possibility to reach Four Peaks and beyond. Hines said the smoke was blowing away from Phoenix toward the Four Corners region, where Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado meet. Four Peaks (Yavapai: Wi:khoba) is a prominent landmark on the eastern skyline of Phoenix.Part of the Mazatzal Mountains, it is located in the Four Peaks Wilderness in the Tonto National Forest, 40 miles (64 km) east-northeast of Phoenix.In winter, Four Peaks offers much of the Phoenix metro area a view of snow-covered peaks. Residential lots offer views of the Mazatzal Mountains and overlook Payson. APACHE-SITGREAVES NATIONAL FORESTS OFFICIALS RELEASE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT for MOTORIZED TRAVEL. Thanks to a grant from Arizona State Parks and significant work by the ATA and American Conservation Experience youth corps, users will find freshly maintained and newly constructed trail north of McFarland Canyon, along West Fork Trail 260 and Cornucopia Trail 86. Images of the blaze showed towering flames and a wall of smoke billowing over the Mazatzal Mountains. The Mazatzal Mountains form a spine of 7,000′ peaks to the east of Phoenix, running roughly 100 miles from Theodore Roosevelt Lake to Pine, AZ. If it can’t be stopped at Highway 188 and Lake Roosevelt, it will burn until the monsoon rains arrive. streeyyr - Jan 28, 2005 11:39 am Date Climbed: Mar 15, 2000 At … Birding Madness in the Mazatzal Mountains ... and re-vegetating habitat from a small fire we had several singing BELL'S VIREOS. Located in the most rugged parts of the Mazatzal Mountains, 46 miles from Phoenix, the miners live at the mine for 1-2 weeks at a time, and have to hike 9 miles roundtrip to get to work. Otherwise the fire is foraging widely across Tonto National Forest and the Mazatzal Mountains, through wilderness and scattered inholdings alike. Hiking the entire 30 miles as a day hike would be almost impossible (unless you are a complete animal), so I would recommend doing it as a multi-day backpack, or hiking it in sections. The residential lots … Peeley, and ending at the East Verde River some 30 miles later. Still, an amazing hike! Images of the blaze showed towering flames and a wall of smoke billowing over the Mazatzal Mountains. The peak rises west of the Beeline Highway (AZ-87), and is the highest peak in the Mazatzal Mountains, which extend south far enough to include Mount Ord and the Four Peaks. There is lots of elevation gain and loss in this 15 mile loop and scarce water. To comply with the USDA Forest Service Travel Management Rule, Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests officials propose to provide a system of National Forest System roads, trails, and areas designated for motor vehicle use. October 30, 2020 , 11:28 am , Arizona, Hiking; No Comments Don Pike. The fire started as the result of a passing isolated thunderstorms on Friday, July 3. Offering expansive views throughout the heart of the Mazatzal Wilderness, this long path follows the prominent set of mountains between Mount Peeley and North Peak. The Mazatzal Divide Trail follows the high ridges of the northern Mazatzal Mountains beginning at Mt. An important contribution to the knowledge of the regional geology of the Mazatzal Mountains was made by … Otherwise the fire is foraging widely across Tonto National Forest and the Mazatzal Mountains, through wilderness and scattered inholdings alike. There is no running water or electricity at the mine and hand tools must be used … Mazatzal Mountains. Source: ... County high pollution advisory Kaibab National Forest Mangum Fire ozone Prescott National Forest Santa Catalina Mountains smoke Tonto National Forest wildfire Tweets by … and passes several scenic campsites and springs. Public Line: (928) 351-7723 ... wildfire, Polles Fire, Gila County, Mazatzal Wilderness. Otherwise the fire is foraging widely across Tonto National Forest and the Mazatzal Mountains, through wilderness and scattered inholdings alike. Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixels. It is also part of the Arizona Trail, containing the entire Section #23. Many if not all of the structures may have been damaged and access may be difficult and/or restricted** Sunflower mine is a mercury mine located in the Mazatzal Mountains and the Mazatzal Wilderness. Offering expansive views throughout the heart of the Mazatzal Wilderness, this long path follows the prominent set of mountains between Mount Peeley and North Peak. Arizona Trail: Sunflower to Mazatzal Divide Trail [CLOSED] is a 14.9 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Rio Verde, Arizona that features a river and is rated as moderate. The Lone Fire was the largest-known fire in Arizona history when it tore through the Mazatzal Mountains, Four Peaks Wilderness area and portions of the Tonto National Forest. If it can’t be stopped at Highway 188 and Lake Roosevelt, it will burn until the monsoon rains arrive. It is also part of the Arizona Trail, containing the entire Section #23. At the moment it’s 90,000 acres and 5% contained. Fortunately (or unfortunately) the Lone Fire of 1995 cleared most of the vegetation from Brushy Basin and a large part of the Mazatzal Mountains, making it easier to hike and to see the rocks. Property consists of Block 5, Block 6 and Block 10 zoned for M-2 for industrial usage; Block 7, Block 8 and Block 9 are zoned residential R-18; Plot diagram is in with the photos. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, running, and backpacking.