Ibex Peak and Haystack Peak in Plomosa Mountains BLM, AZ

Hike Ibex Peak and Haystack Peak Plomosa Mountains BLM, AZ

Class 3 5.9 miles 2600 gain 4-6 hrs Loop Mar 10, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Ibex Peak and Haystack Peak GPX Track

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The combination of Ibex Peak and Haystack Peak made for one of my favorite desert scrambling adventures. Though the scenery is pretty, but not particularly insteresting, the value of this hike lies in the unique, fun, and sometimes cryptic route-finding. I was initially skeptical about attempting these summits (particularly Haystack) alone because I had minimal beta, since the small paragraph written in Courtney Purcell's book seemed to be the only available info. The drive out was a long three miles on mostly reasonable road, though rocky, and the peaks seemed particularly foreboding. But I was feeling psyched, so there's that.

I parked my car in a happy spot at a junction of rougher roads, fixed my goal on Ibex Peak first, and set out on the wrong road. Great start. CP writes that you should trudge up the slope leading to the base of Ibex, but I ended up being happy with my chosen route regardless. It follows a mostly solid rocky ridgeline to just below the sheer cliffs of Ibex Peak, rather than going up the slope. I added CP's recommended route (or my estimate of it, rather) on the map attached. Either way, you'll end up at the base of an imposing cliff, but a Class 2+ gully leads directly to the right and safely to the ridgeline. There's maybe a single easy Class 3 move. Continue through a cholla cactus forest to the summit on an easy, pretty slope. Check out the route to Haystack Peak from here. It looks formidable. I gulped, and realized I forgot to bring food, so that was cool.

Head back down through the gully to the base of Ibex and traverse whatever way you feel fit to the saddle of Ibex Peak and Haystack Peak. Follow the cliff base below Haystack Peak's west peak, where you could make the mistake I did and scramble up a Class 3 thing prematurely (purple line on map). It goes, fortunately, but the more reasonable route is if you keep following the cliff band and turn lef tup a sizable Class 2+ gully leading to the ridgeline. A Class 2 slope leads to the western peak of Haystack Peak, where you get an absurdly cool view of the ridgeline leading to the summit.

Head down from the west peak along the ridgeline and note from the base of the obvious crux that the north side of Haystack is purely cliffs, while the south side is… also cliffs? Though the route appears ridiculous, it consists of a couple of Class 3 moves with exposure. Traverse east as you ascend. This section is really interesting and the rock is really solid, but be careful you don't go the wrong way. There were no cairns, so I left it that way. Once past the airy ledges, you'll get to a junction: continue higher on Class 3 blocks to three humps leading to a dead end, or scramble down a Class 3+ ridge to a small notch, where you'll be on lower ground and more easily traverse to the southeastern side of Haystack Peak. I know this because, you guessed it, I chose to go higher and hit the dead end initially. The traverse on lower ground is on a mellow slope and leads to a couple more Class 3 moves to the summit. I loved this peak.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Ibex Peak
2822 ft
1102 rise
2
Haystack Peak
2783 ft
903 rise

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Lots of ATVs in the area using these fairly decent dirt roads. My car wasn't feeling anymore, so I walked along the road. Ibex Peak visible on the right, Haystack Peak's west peak and main peak on the left.
Lots of ATVs in the area using these fairly decent dirt roads. My car wasn't feeling anymore, so I walked along the road. Ibex Peak visible on the right, Haystack Peak's west peak and main peak on the left.
Approaching the canyon I used to get to Ibex Peak (pictured center).
Approaching the canyon I used to get to Ibex Peak (pictured center).
Headed up the canyon on the northwest of Ibex Peak.
Headed up the canyon on the northwest of Ibex Peak.
Looking down the canyon just below the ridgeline leading to Ibex Peak. My car is in the center of this photo somewhere.
Looking down the canyon just below the ridgeline leading to Ibex Peak. My car is in the center of this photo somewhere.
Ridgeline to Ibex Peak. Don't go to the right like I did at first. Keep to the left, headed directly to the tallest, most sheer section of that headwall.
Ridgeline to Ibex Peak. Don't go to the right like I did at first. Keep to the left, headed directly to the tallest, most sheer section of that headwall.
Just left of the ridgeline on a slope leading to the base of the cliffs below Ibex Peak.
Just left of the ridgeline on a slope leading to the base of the cliffs below Ibex Peak.
Miraculously, a Class 2+ gully leads to the right from the base of those cliffs.
Miraculously, a Class 2+ gully leads to the right from the base of those cliffs.
Looking down the Class 2 gully I came up, the sheer cliff pictured in the next photo.
Looking down the Class 2 gully I came up, the sheer cliff pictured in the next photo.
Photo taken at the same spot as the last, but higher. The wall was too big even for my wide-angle lens. Follow the ridgeline on the right in this photo up the slope to the summit.
Photo taken at the same spot as the last, but higher. The wall was too big even for my wide-angle lens. Follow the ridgeline on the right in this photo up the slope to the summit.
Heading up the slope to Ibex Peak summit.
Heading up the slope to Ibex Peak summit.
Ibex Peak summit, looking northwest toward the slope I just came up.
Ibex Peak summit, looking northwest toward the slope I just came up.
Ibex Peak summit, looking toward Haystack Peak. When you get down there, follow the cliff base until about just past the center of this photo, where a nice gully leads to higher ground. The west peak is seen center of this photo, Haystack Peak summit the more obvious peak on the center right.
Ibex Peak summit, looking toward Haystack Peak. When you get down there, follow the cliff base until about just past the center of this photo, where a nice gully leads to higher ground. The west peak is seen center of this photo, Haystack Peak summit the more obvious peak on the center right.
On the way back down from Ibex Peak, taking a different route to traverse the slopes. This was taken looking back up toward Ibex Peak's massive wall.
On the way back down from Ibex Peak, taking a different route to traverse the slopes. This was taken looking back up toward Ibex Peak's massive wall.
Heading cross-country to the Ibex-Haystack saddle.
Heading cross-country to the Ibex-Haystack saddle.
Ahead is a big butte that separates Ibex and Haystack.
Ahead is a big butte that separates Ibex and Haystack.
After passing the Ibex-Haystack saddle, Haystack Peak's walls visible ahead. Follow them to the right.
After passing the Ibex-Haystack saddle, Haystack Peak's walls visible ahead. Follow them to the right.
Looking back toward Ibex Peak and the butte separating Ibex and Haystack.
Looking back toward Ibex Peak and the butte separating Ibex and Haystack.
If you see this break in the cliff bands, it's Class 3, but not the easiest way up. I wet this way, but I don't recommend it. Keep walking along the cliffs. The gully will be much more obvious.
If you see this break in the cliff bands, it's Class 3, but not the easiest way up. I wet this way, but I don't recommend it. Keep walking along the cliffs. The gully will be much more obvious.
Big Class 2 gully leading to the ridgeline.
Big Class 2 gully leading to the ridgeline.
Looking back down the gully.
Looking back down the gully.
Top of the gully.
Top of the gully.
Top of the gully visible on the left, big cliff on the right. A nice route hugging the cliff face makes this reasonable.
Top of the gully visible on the left, big cliff on the right. A nice route hugging the cliff face makes this reasonable.
Following the ridgeline to the west peak (seen center).
Following the ridgeline to the west peak (seen center).
Looking back along the ridgeline toward Ibex Peak. You can see the Ibex-Haystack saddle on the right as well.
Looking back along the ridgeline toward Ibex Peak. You can see the Ibex-Haystack saddle on the right as well.
Summit of west peak ahead.
Summit of west peak ahead.
West peak of Haystack Peak looking toward the absurdly scenic knife-edge to the true summit. Note those three humps before the summit? If you are on top of any of them, you've gone the wrong way.
West peak of Haystack Peak looking toward the absurdly scenic knife-edge to the true summit. Note those three humps before the summit? If you are on top of any of them, you've gone the wrong way.
Close-up of the three humps and the true summit.
Close-up of the three humps and the true summit.
Approaching the series of Class 3 moves. Definitely don't go to the left. On the right, however, route-find as you ascend and traverse, using great holds on exposed Class 3 stuff.
Approaching the series of Class 3 moves. Definitely don't go to the left. On the right, however, route-find as you ascend and traverse, using great holds on exposed Class 3 stuff.
Just before the first set of moves, looking back toward Haystack Peak's west peak.
Just before the first set of moves, looking back toward Haystack Peak's west peak.
Class 3 airy stuff.
Class 3 airy stuff.
Looking back on another Class 3 airy move.
Looking back on another Class 3 airy move.
After the traverse, you'll get to an intersection where you either need to continue higher, or go lower. This is the view of the Class 3+ move to get lower to the small notch below. Going up leads to those three humps I mentioned previously. There wasn't a way to the main summit from them, as far as I could tell on my exploratory mission.
After the traverse, you'll get to an intersection where you either need to continue higher, or go lower. This is the view of the Class 3+ move to get lower to the small notch below. Going up leads to those three humps I mentioned previously. There wasn't a way to the main summit from them, as far as I could tell on my exploratory mission.
After the notch, this is along the mellow slope, looking back toward the notch (right).
After the notch, this is along the mellow slope, looking back toward the notch (right).
Looking northwest toward the last Class 3 section leading to the summit.
Looking northwest toward the last Class 3 section leading to the summit.
Haystack Peak summit, looking south.
Haystack Peak summit, looking south.
Haystack Peak summit, looking west toward Ibex Peak.
Haystack Peak summit, looking west toward Ibex Peak.
On the way back, I got to hang with lots of wildflowers. You can see Haystack Peak and the butte separating Ibex and Haystack in the background.
On the way back, I got to hang with lots of wildflowers. You can see Haystack Peak and the butte separating Ibex and Haystack in the background.
Last shot of Ibex (right) and Haystack (left).
Last shot of Ibex (right) and Haystack (left).
Throw-in photo of a bunch of cholla cacti barbs accumulated among some rocks.
Throw-in photo of a bunch of cholla cacti barbs accumulated among some rocks.

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