Hardy Mountain and Cathedral Rock Loop in Black Mountains BLM, AZ

Hike Hardy Mountain and Cathedral Rock Loop Black Mountains BLM, AZ

Class 3 6.7 miles 3100 gain 4-6 hrs Loop Feb 14, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Hardy Mountain and Cathedral Rock Loop GPX Track

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Whiley and I started off our peakbagging trip with this nice loop in the Black Mountains, prompted by my ever-present obsession of the craggy peaks of this area. Cathedral Rock is a scary-looking Class 5 monolith that we wouldn't be attempting, but it served as a nice centerpoint for our loop and we got some interesting views of the rock formation as we made our way around it. The road to this trailhead was a little sandy and while 2WD would likely be fine, some might not want to risk it. 2WD parking here (35.08, -114.4551) would add around 1.5 miles round-trip.

We started walking south along a dirt road, leaving it after locating a nice Class 2 ascent slope to gain the main ridgeline. We continued on Class 2 terrain to Hardy Mountain, the only named peak of the day. We backtracked and continued along the ridge toward Peak 3020. Just below the peak was an artificial water catchment of some sort. The peak could easily be made Class 3 if ascending directly from its south or southwest sides, but wrapping around into a secret gully on its west side leads up Class 2 terrain to its summit. We descended this gully, unsure if the ridge would be cliffy, since it appeared to be so on a map. Looking back, the ridge likely would have been a better option.

We continued to Peak 3100, keeping left beneath its formidable cliffs and slogged up a short gully to a notch, allowing us to wrap around to its west side and summit from here on a pleasant slope. There was a Class 2+ move to gain the summit block. We decided to just head down the peak's northern slopes, which ended up being only Class 2 and a somewhat pleasant maze around rock ribs, not counting the loose rock and catclaw. Deciding to continue along the ridge for a bit rather than side-hill to reach our next object felt like the right idea, but we ultimately left it when continuing along the ridge seemed like it would be less efficient. A peek over toward our next objective, Peak 2940, didn't help us clarify a route since the drainages seemed to have dryfalls and the ridge ascent options weren't exactly solid-looking. We were pretty sure the southeast face was the most likely option for getting the peak, though. The slopes started Class 2 and quickly led to some interesting Class 2+/3 route-finding along some of the rocky ridges. While it did require some route-finding, we were able to locate a reasonable route without adding any additional hazards aside from loose Class 2 rock. I fixed up the mess on my attached map, but our ascent and descent were slightly different and both were fine. Once on higher ground just below Peak 2940, we scoped a cactus-filled traverse leading to a potential ramp beneath the nutty-looking cliff face that housed the summit. The Class 2+ ramp led on solid rock with some decent exposure to the a saddle separating the high point (northeast) and its lower point (southwest). We headed up some light Class 3 scrambling and foud ourselves on the right of two fins that comprised the summit. The right fin doesn't lead to the high point, so we dropped between the two fins and found a Class 3 move leading to a short slab. This peak was by far the most interesting of the loop, and the route was pretty interesting. We attempted a route down on the east ridge, but were cliffed out. I recommend returning generally the same way you ascended. Once down from Peak 2940, we made our way to a minor saddle to the north and descended to a road, which we navigated back to our cars.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Hardy Mountain
3235 ft
755 rise
2
Peak 3020
3020 ft
320 rise
3
Peak 3100
3100 ft
440 rise
4
Peak 2940
2940 ft
420 rise

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Starting from our parking spot, Cathedral Rock visible top right.
Starting from our parking spot, Cathedral Rock visible top right.
Following a dirt road on our way to gain the ridge.
Following a dirt road on our way to gain the ridge.
Along the ridge, view toward Hardy Mountain.
Along the ridge, view toward Hardy Mountain.
Summit of Hardy Mountain, view along the ridgeline to come.
Summit of Hardy Mountain, view along the ridgeline to come.
Heading toward Peak 3020. Oatman Benchmark is visible top left.
Heading toward Peak 3020. Oatman Benchmark is visible top left.
Looking back toward Hardy Mountain.
Looking back toward Hardy Mountain.
Close-up toward Oatman Peak and other cool looking unnamed craggy peaks.
Close-up toward Oatman Peak and other cool looking unnamed craggy peaks.
Peak 3020 ahead, Peak 3100 on the left. There was some sort of artificial water catchment thing at the saddle. The route we took heads up to the left of the craggy summit block and wraps around to the opposite side.
Peak 3020 ahead, Peak 3100 on the left. There was some sort of artificial water catchment thing at the saddle. The route we took heads up to the left of the craggy summit block and wraps around to the opposite side.
Summit of Peak 3020.
Summit of Peak 3020.
We headed down this Class 2 gully from Peak 3020 to get to Peak 3100, ahead. The ridge on the left looked cliffy, but likely would have been a less loose descent option.
We headed down this Class 2 gully from Peak 3020 to get to Peak 3100, ahead. The ridge on the left looked cliffy, but likely would have been a less loose descent option.
Heading up toward Peak 3100.
Heading up toward Peak 3100.
Keeping left along the base of the cliffs surrounding Peak 3100. We headed to the notch visible center.
Keeping left along the base of the cliffs surrounding Peak 3100. We headed to the notch visible center.
At the top of the notch, view back the way we came, Peak 3020 visible center. Hardy Mountain behind it.
At the top of the notch, view back the way we came, Peak 3020 visible center. Hardy Mountain behind it.
Summit of Peak 3100.
Summit of Peak 3100.
Close-up toward Cathedral Rock.
Close-up toward Cathedral Rock.
We dropped off the north side of Peak 3100. This is a shot back toward the descent. It was loose Class 2 with some somewhat interesting maze-like route-finding around rock ribs.
We dropped off the north side of Peak 3100. This is a shot back toward the descent. It was loose Class 2 with some somewhat interesting maze-like route-finding around rock ribs.
We followed the ridge between Peak 3100 and Peak 2940 for a bit before deciding it was more efficient to drop off the ridge and head directly to the peak.
We followed the ridge between Peak 3100 and Peak 2940 for a bit before deciding it was more efficient to drop off the ridge and head directly to the peak.
Close-up of Peak 2940. Our route more-or-less heads up the center of this photo to the cliffy-looking stuff, where we located a Class 2/3 route.
Close-up of Peak 2940. Our route more-or-less heads up the center of this photo to the cliffy-looking stuff, where we located a Class 2/3 route.
Class 2/3 up the slopes and rocky face.
Class 2/3 up the slopes and rocky face.
View back the way we came, Peak 3100 visible top center.
View back the way we came, Peak 3100 visible top center.
We reached the top of the slope and were greeted by this nutty-looking rock feature. The summit of Peak 2940 is seen top right. Our route to reach it led along the cliff base in the center and up a ramp.
We reached the top of the slope and were greeted by this nutty-looking rock feature. The summit of Peak 2940 is seen top right. Our route to reach it led along the cliff base in the center and up a ramp.
Somewhat exposed ramp.
Somewhat exposed ramp.
View back along the ramp toward where we came.
View back along the ramp toward where we came.
Class 3 stuff below the summit of Peak 2940.
Class 3 stuff below the summit of Peak 2940.
On the first fin, which didn't lead to the summit. Our route dropped between the two fins and up onto the farther one. Whiley is climbing up a Class 4 notch move in this photo.
On the first fin, which didn't lead to the summit. Our route dropped between the two fins and up onto the farther one. Whiley is climbing up a Class 4 notch move in this photo.
Looking back as we ascend the farther fin to the summit.
Looking back as we ascend the farther fin to the summit.
Summit of the fin, the high point of Peak 2940.
Summit of the fin, the high point of Peak 2940.
We headed back down from Peak 2940 and then continued up to a minor saddle.
We headed back down from Peak 2940 and then continued up to a minor saddle.
Opposite side of the saddle, we followed an animal trail back to the road system below.
Opposite side of the saddle, we followed an animal trail back to the road system below.
View toward the scarier-looking north side of Peak 2940. There might be a route up this way, but I don't think it would be under Class 4.
View toward the scarier-looking north side of Peak 2940. There might be a route up this way, but I don't think it would be under Class 4.

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