Mustang Mountains
January 20, 2008
Among the many things I appreciate about living in the desert is the element of surprise. In seven years of hiking all over southern Arizona, there hasn't a single outing that was "just what I expected." Our winter afternoon scramble in the Mustang Mountains was no exception.
Who hasn't remarked those low cone-shaped mountains just off Route 82 east of Sonoita? When I stumbled across a cryptic reference to a geocache at the "Throne of Kaidoz," I thought I'd found the perfect day hike: a little outdoor adventure for me, a little electronic route-finding for my propeller-headed husband.
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/huachucas/images/mustang01.jpg)
Our first surprise was that we were climbing the wrong mountain. Our destination was not the pyramidal peak at the head of the chain, but an unremarkable 6150-foot lump whose name may be "Northwest Dome." But the sky was clear, the sun was warm, and we bushwhacked up the ridge as directed through a forest of man-eating lechugilla, prickly pear and cat's claw.
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/huachucas/images/mustang03.jpg)
Obliged to keep our eyes on the ground, we began to notice benches of ash-gray rock, wrinkled as an elephant's hide and bristling with rust-red and white occlusions.
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/huachucas/images/mustang04.jpg)
On closer examination, the rust red spikes and splotches revealed outlines of shells and plants, as well as long blades of quartz.
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/huachucas/images/mustang09.jpg)
We never did find the geocache, but while Dennis communed with the satellites, I scrambled up to the summit, where there was a killer view of the Pinalenos to the north and double-breasted Mustang Peak to the south.
To my great dismay, there were also piles of trash typical of a stopover on a migrant trail. Far more ominous were a faded backpack and a duffel bag, both packed full and stashed under a pile of rocks.
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/huachucas/images/mustang14.jpg)
Now well out of earshot from Dennis and feeling a little uneasy, I grabbed a quick photo and dashed back down the slope.
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/huachucas/images/mustang17.jpg)
Sunset shot of Mount Bruce on the left and Northwest Dome on the right.
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/huachucas/images/mustang18.jpg)
View of the pass between Northwest Dome and Mustang Peak.
![](https://www.desertlavender.com/southern-arizona/huachucas/images/mustang19.jpg)
Fuzzy full moon rising over the Mustang Mountains, followed by garlic-laced calzone, fresh greens and a glass of Merlot at the Velvet Elvis. Life doesn't get any better than this!