Pinto Northshore Loop Exploratory - 1/20/20

Northshore Wash Descent Canyon

Deep into Northshore Wash Descent

Razorback Wash North Rock Palette

Starting Up Pinto Valley Wash

 There is a wash below Northshore Peak that I have wondered about for a while. Today, three intrepid hikers joined me in an exploration of that canyon. We had a blast! Our route plan was to enter via the Pinto Valley Wash at Northshore Road's mile marker 18 turnout. We would turn left at the Razorback Wash North; take another left at Interesting Canyon; climb up over the saddle below Northshore Peak's caves and descend the wash on the other side to connect again with Razorback Wash North. Although one of our hikers was vaguely familiar with the area from many years ago, we were quite anxious about what we would encounter. - But, not anxious enough to not try it!

Arrowhead Road Ramp (upper right) - Detours around Narrow Section in Pinto Valley Wash

 So, four hikers arrived at Northshore Road's mile marker 18 and started up Pinto Valley Wash hiking at a fairly good pace in the familiar territory.

Up Cottonwood Spring Dry Fall

 One mile out, we climbed up Cottonwood Spring dry fall and kept walking another half mile to a  wash junction. If you continue straight on the small wash, you will follow the old Arrowhead Road route. We turned to the left into Razorback Wash North.

Max enjoys a side Exploration

View back to Pinto Wash from side Exploration

 At this point, we slowed down to start taking in the less familiar scenery. Soon, we came to a rock that jutted up to the right of the wash. This seemed to be an intriguing spot so we did a small side exploration to see what we would find. Well, we found a nice view and a few bighorn bones. Back down in the wash, we continued up a little further and came to the likely wash junction that we would re-enter after our descent. Further up Razorback Wash North, (2.75 miles from the trailhead), we came to Interesting Canyon junction. There is a water-made alcove around a right corner of our wash and the wide mouth of Interesting Canyon on the left. Ahead, we saw a white design in a red embankment.

Razorback Ridge from Razorback Wash North

 A couple of us took the extra time to go over and inspect the interesting design that appeared like bighorn horns made by white mineral deposits in the red dirt. (See second photo below.)

Knife-Edge Peak from Razorback Wash North

 Either someone got creative or this is an incredible natural phenomena ... or ... this wash is haunted! BTW, there were no footsteps below the "drawing" when we got there.

Hmm. This can't be natural.

Start up Interesting Canyon

 We turned left into Interesting Canyon and hiked up the wide delta and soon funneled into a dried mud area. The canyon continues to the left. We have been in the canyon a handful of times but always as a descent. Our first ascent of Interesting Canyon was a beautiful array of different geology(shifting) caused formations. At the top of the big ramp that borders a dry fall, we stood for the view back. Under our feet, there was evidence that a bighorn had done just that, too! See the third photo below ... for the view ... not the evidence! This overlook is about 2/3 of the way up the canyon. Then we topped out at a three-way wash junction. Seeing the high point saddle about 1/3 of a mile away, we continued up in the left fork.

Various Views in Interesting Canyon Ascent

 This 1/3 of a mile consisted of a somewhat gentle climb up through a bit of a maze. But, following our GPS track of the main wash, we gained the saddle without pause. Up to our right, we were intrigued by the caves high up in Northshore Peak. Another day!

My Adventure-Loving Guys!

 We had not experienced wind this morning until we hit the saddle! So, we went ahead and dropped down over the saddle into the wash where we could take a break and enjoy the view.

Climbing the Steep Ramp by a Dry Fall

Northshore Peak (and Caves) from Wash Junction

 This is the point that we had been looking forward to all morning! It was somewhat disconcerting that we did not see any human footprints on the saddle nor telltale trails leading down into the wash. There were also no cairns ... which was nice in one sense. So, we took our break then started down. In the first half of the wash, there were four or five dry fall drops no higher than four feet. All were very negotiable. The wash is very wiggly and we were constantly wondering what surprise was hiding behind the next sharp curve. The wash was absolutely beautiful and, contrary to what I thought at the time, we could see Hamblin Mountain in the distance straight out of the descent.

Arriving at the High Point Saddle - Hamblin Mtn. (center left) in Distance

 The overcast day deepened the colors and the wash was mostly gold, red and brown in color. But, the terrain offered different formations underfoot.

Very Interesting Northshore Wash Descent

 We enjoyed the lengthy descent exploration as we "discovered" what was waiting for us next. As it turned out, the wash was perfect!

Having Fun in Northshore Wash

Two Thirds down Northshore Wash

 When we got closer to the bottom of the wash, we began seeing signs of humans in the form of cairns. I'm wondering if hikers don't continue all the way up to the saddle. IMO, the descent is the more beautiful way to go but an ascent is definitely doable. So, we flowed out into Razorback Wash North at the point we had suspected and turned right. A connection back into Pinto Valley Wash sent us scrambling back down Cottonwood Spring dry fall and out. This will be a great addition to our list of moderately strenuous hikes. Thanks, guys, for having a great day with me!

7 miles; 900 feet elevation gain; 4 hours; average speed 1.6 mph

John points out Cairn near bottom Wash Junction

Sun briefly Breaks Through

Back down Cottonwood Spring Dry Fall