Hike Peak 4063 and Peak 3722 Loop Black Mountains BLM, AZ

Oct 23, 2021 — These unnamed peaklets feature some of the lovely volcanic rock generally found in the Black Mountains, and served as a great add-on to their taller neighbor, Mount Perkins, nearby. I had no information about these peaks, so I contrived a loop that was more about scrambling and exploration moreso than efficiency. To reach the trailhead, leave AZ-93 here (35.6705855, -114.4598691) and follow the Eldorado Powerline Road west until this junction (35.664837, -114.491869), where you should keep left and continue southwest and then south. At this junction (35.63968, -114.50723) head east. High clearance is needed here due to a few big dips into washes, including the first to even get onto the road. There were no signs for wilderness areas and I believe this road is still open and driving on it is permitted, despite the fact that it's faded pretty significantly toward where I parked. Also, don't try continuing past my parking spot heading farther west - I don't think there are actually any other ways to reach this spot, despite roads drawn on maps hinting that there are.

I started south through the open desert, planning to do Peak 4063 first since it's the larger of the three. Peak 4063 can be easily reached via a slope with some Class 2 from the west, but that would have broken my lovely loop and reduced the fun scrambling to a boring desert bump hike. Instead, I left the flat desert and ascended the peak's east face on progressively fun and steepening rock. Class 2 quickly became Class 3. A couple of dryfalls and small cliff bands required some navigating around. It's hard to give a specific description of my route, but is are definitely more than one option. The last few hundred feet did have some interesting Class 3/3+ without exposure and led to a final slope to the Class 2 summit block. This was a great, fun little peak, at least from this direction.

I dropped west off the summit to avoid some cliffs and continued south along the ridgeline down to a very scary-looking horn to the south, Peak 4046. Some navigating around cliff bands and rock outcrops led me to the base of the peak. Here I kept to the left around the ridgeline and then found a notch to get back to the crest. I would use this notch on the way back down as well to escape the ridgeline. Peak 4046 went at only Class 2+, surprising based on how it looked from afar. I backtracked to the aforementioned notch and descended the rocky slope to the open desert below. I contoured to the saddle on the south side of Peak 3722 and then started up its southern slope on Class 2 terrain. Once on the ridge crest, the last of the three summits came into view. I wrapped around some rock outcrops and stayed on flat, easy terrain and then headed up a quick Class 2 jaunt to the high point.

I wasn't really sure how to get down from here to complete the loop, since the west face of Peak 3722 was riddled with serious cliffs, but I attempted a route down a major gully on the northwest side of the peak, which led me down safely with Class 2 and some light bushwhacking. Back in the initial open desert I came in on, it was a light jog back to my car.