Four Peaks Snow Hike to "Browns Peak Summit" 2 hours to peak or bust
Details
http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/3/2/7/0/event_204432912.jpegMeet up at Fort McDowell Casino, 6:45 to 7AM.
7AM, drive North on Highway 87; 12 Miiles to FOUR PEAKS ROAD. Take FOUR PEAKS ROAD 15.1 Miles to the MUD SPRINGS TRAILHEAD. The Four Peaks Road is rough and recommended for high profile vehicles only.
I have room for 6 peeps in my Yukon to carpool to the trailhead. Not recommended for any low profile vehicles on Four Peaks Road.
Mud Springs Trailhead elevation is 4399'
Browns Peak Summit is 7657'
Distance to summit is 3.01 miles with just over 3300' in elevation gain. Round trip hiking distance is 6 miles. First mile has 600' in elevation gain; the next half mile as we connect onto the west ridgeline gains about 900'. The next 1 1/4 miles will gain around 900' to the base of the Peaks.
Four Peaks, at 7657 ft in altitude, is a prominent landmark on the eastern skyline of Phoenix, part of the Mazatzal Mountains. It is located in the Tonto National Forest 40 mi east-northeast of Phoenix, in the 60740 acre Four Peaks Wilderness. On rare occasions, Four Peaks offers much of the Phoenix metro area a view of snow covered peaks, and is the highest point in Maricopa County.
Google Earth 3D Flyover of the peaks:
Trailmap:
http://files.meetup.com/1797763/4peakstraverse.jpg
Browns Peak summit view:
http://files.meetup.com/1797763/brownspeaksummit.jpg
Fort McDowell Casino, TLC Meetup Location:
Four Peaks Snow Hike to "Browns Peak Summit" 2 hours to peak or bust