Off The Beaten Path
This peak guide is presented here for the convenience of our visitors.
Neither the Desert Peaks Sections or the Sierra Club guarantees the accuracy of this document. Use at Your Own Risk!
| No. 39 | Hat Mountain (2,716') | Arizona |
| 19-Feb-01 |
This guide is based on a Sage article by Mark Adrian.
Topo Map:
Hat Mountain 7½
Coordinates: Lat 32 38 07 Lon 112 44 30
Trip Stats: unknown
DRIVING
From Gila Bend, AZ, drive south on highway 86 to milepost 20 and slowing, be on the lookout for BMGBLM gate number 9 on the east side of the pavement south of milepost 20 and north of milepost 21. Obtain permits at home (call 877-CAMP-010 for info), then, before leaving Gila Bend, call and obtain access permission (for Area AB) and the gate combo from the BMG and pass through the gate on a good dirt road. Proceed east/southeast for about 7.1 miles towards Hat Mountain. At a staked "Y" fork in the road, proceed to, the right passing below the southwestern side of Hat Mountain for another mile or so and park.
HIKING
From the parking area, climb slopes northeast towards BM Hat Brim Near here is the southeast arete, a 100' 4th class pitch that warrants protection. Climb the pitch and proceed northwest to the highpoint of the flat topped summit area. The pitch could be rappeled down, but we chose to rap just off to the north where there was a more vertical face. Be careful of loose rocks. Several solid blocks on the summit provide ample anchors. Allow 1 hour for the approach.
NOTES
This peak can be seen while driving highway 86 about 20 miles south of Gila Bend. Kind of a loner looking mountain. Standing in solitude with a crowned, butte-ish style summit, traditional and archetype Arizonian, the profile you expect to see in artist watercolors or postcards. But, the topo map doesn't really reveal the aesthetics properly enough so that demanded a closer look. To access the peak, you need permission from the BMG, bombing range. It is simple enough to fill out the form and they send you a (free) permit; you call their 877 number, 7/24, and get the gate combo to access the east side of the range known as Areas- A and B. Permits must be renewed each season. Really, riot that big a deal and a LOT simpler than the struggle it is to access our "sister" SPS section's peaks in the summer months.