Some of the best views around! - Browns Peak Trail - Four Peaks Wilderness
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ส.ค. 2024
- Some of the best views around! - Browns Peak Trail - Four Peaks Wilderness
Browns Peak. Tina and I have a history here. We've camped at the trailhead a few times and climbed it once before. Tina actually was rescued off Four Peaks when she was caught up there in a snowstorm back when she was in high school.
It keeps calling us back, year after year. Unfortunately, a fire devastated the entire area a year or two back. It burned right over the top of Four Peaks and continued on. I've been wanting to go back ever since to see what the area looks like now.
It's not great. A lot of the larger trees are burned and dead. But thanks to an especially heavy monsoon season this past summer, a surprising amount of greenery has sprung up, starting the cycle over again. Eventually, this area will mend itself.
But even if many of the trees on the way up to the chute are gone, the best park of this hike survived. That is the chute and the summit. Eventually you make your way up to a saddle. The views from here are incredible. Roosevelt lake, the Superstitions and the surrounding Four Peaks Wilderness are in plain sight.
The rocky and intimidating Browns Peak - the tallest of the four peaks - is also in plain sight. In order to get to the summit, you have to navigate up a steep chute. It's probably around here that you will be looking at the chute and thinking "That can't be it. That's impossible." But that is the way to the top. It starts with a sketchy climb along a vertical cliff face a with high punishment for error drop to the right. If this scares you, it's time to turn around.
If you continue, you'll be in the base of the chute. It's loose rock and a steep incline. You'll be using your hands as well as your feet in spots. Take care to watch for rocks, either falling from people above you or onto people below you. Helmets would not be the worst idea here. The chute quickly becomes steeper and steeper, until you are climbing straight up. Luckily, the rocks here are mostly sturdy with great hand and foot holds. After a short climb, you come to another saddle, giving you great views of the adjacent peaks and mountain ranges. Go up and to the left from here. This 'trail' is hard to see....it's actually not a trail at all. You need to pick a line that you can manage and move upward. I've seen dots painted on the rocks and ribbons tied to shrubs, but you can't rely on that. (This last time there were neither that I saw at the top.)
And that's it. You're there. Enjoy the views and try not to think about how you're going to get back DOWN that chute.
Music by Epidemic Sound:
We are Giants - Silver Maple
The Quiet Hours - Trevor Kowalski
Thoughts in the Rain - Elm Lake
Calm - Amber Glow
Scared of Heights - Loving Caliber
If you click on the links below - and especially if you buy from these links - I'll get compensation. So that would be cool. No, I'm not sponsored by them, but I love the products.
Filmed on:
GoPro Hero 9 Black:
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Canon EOS R:
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Canon 35 mm f1.8 lens
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Weebil S gimbal for your DSLR:
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Another place that has burned since i was there. I climbed Browns when I was in Grad school at ASU. I more or less talked myself up the rock chute, out loud. The person behind me said it was like being at an EST seminar. What we did not know then was that someone had recently died in that rock chute. The view from the top is amazing. It was so clear that day that I could see the San Francisco peaks. Somehow, we found another way down and did not descend the rock chute. Watching your videos brings up a lot of memories. I miss Arizona.
This is probably my favorite hike nearby Phoenix. The chute is just spicy enough and the views are incredible.
Great shot at 6:11 showing your perspective looking down at Tina below. It gives a real sense of how vertical that stretch is. The quick edits of Tina walking back to the truck at the end was also very cool.
Love that you noticed the edits. I geek out on that stuff. And I wish I'd remembered my head mount for the GoPro to get more shots like that. I forgot how vertical it gets in that chute. Saw a few who turned back and some who wished they had. But everyone got home safe.
@@JerryArizona You’re welcome! I’m a photographer and graphic designer, so I geek out on the details too. 🙂
Yeah, I came here to comment: awesome quick edits of Tina walking through different terrain!
Trying to decide if I’m a bad person because I really enjoy how Tina is a (un)willing participant in your shenanigans. She really is a champ. I was reminded of our Borrego hike when my wife turned back and I pressed on. I passed another hiker on the way down that said to me, “First of all, she’s all right…”. So glad your story was not similar, and that both stories worked out fine! Thanks for sharing another great adventure!
The "First of all, she's right" cracked me up. Tina is a champ. I really didn't think she was gonna make this one. And I absolutely dragged her up there. Happens sometimes. But she powered through like a champ.
What an awesome hike! I loved Tina, she didn’t give up! 😁
Now I want to do that hike but I don’t own a high clearance vehicle
It's a great hike. One of my favorites. Just gotta make a friend who owns a truck and likes to hike...
Thanks for doing this. Now I can see the views and I don’t have to do the hike!
Even in flipping you off...Tina does it with style and grace!
She has perfected it. I've given her ample opportunity and reason over the years.
Great job Tina!
Way to power through, tina! I like that you guys push yourself a bit, but also know when to back off.
She did great! And yeah. I'm too old to push things too far. Or at least that's what I tell myself.
Good video and editing with the footage you captured. Pretty tough scrambling but I'll leave it for you kids and watch the video.
I attempted Browns Peak earlier in February this year and couldn't make it to the summit, it was capped with snow/ ice and very slippery and didn't have the crampons as well. Very nice to see a different view now dry and clean, will try soon
Wow. Yeah, definitely would not attemp the chute with ice and snow. Funny side note; in high school, Tina got rescued off this mountain after getting stranded in the snow. It's sketchy enough when it's dry! But I highly recommend the hike with the right conditions.
Nice hike 🚶♂️ 👌
One of my favorites.
Tina, you are the bomb. Jerry, just my opinion, Tina didn’t want to be left at the saddle while you went up the chute. 😎
I went up a ways and watched her. When I saw her coming up, I just waited. Everything from the saddle down was mellow for one person, but when she started coming up, I wouldn't leave her alone on that. She powered through like a champ.
Beautiful video.
Dude! New wheels! This hike has been on my list, but typically like the longer hikes....watching is putting it on the top 3. Love the vids!!
Tina upgraded. Her 4Runner was getting around 100K miles. I love Browns Peak. Even after the fire, I highly recommend it.
@@JerryArizona I see mostly trucks at the lot....is the road passable by car? Or recommend SUV? Looking for a mid-Oct hike...
Love Brown's Peak.................
Same. Such a fun hike and great views. One of my favorite 'local' hikes.
@@JerryArizona we are at my house in Moab but will be back to Phoenix mid December. After a wet summer I want to see how the fire damaged trails look. I hope that the grass and flowers are back.......................
The Supes are burnt to hell in some spots (still fine from the Canyon Lake side). Browns and the surrounding area were surprisingly green given what happened. The taller trees took the brunt of it, but the scrub grew back.
@@JerryArizona the Supes were my stomping grounds. I led hikes there for a Meetup group for years. It was sad to see how they burned. Love your videos...............Happy Trails
No scratching....we always watch to the end for the appearance of THE finger and some mild profanity like whip cream on a mocha - incomplete without it.
I always earn the finger. I'm obnoxious, but I tell myself that's why she loves me.
Beautiful, beautiful Arizona. The Chute ... adding a little spice to life. Love your videos Jerry. Great extra push Tina. You guys are out there doing it !! 👍🐏🤩
Another great video. Thanks.
Another great production! Amazing scenery!
Had to go back and capture it better than I did a few years back. I watched the two videos and it was kinda sad a) how bad my shooting and editing was and, much moreso, b) how much greener it was before the first. Still a great hike and one of my favorite ones close to home.
Good timing Tina and jerry , going up there this month. great info , thank you.
Enjoy! Love this area, and especially this hike. If you have time, Boulder Canyon in the Superstitions wasn't burnt to a crisp and still has amazing views also.
Going up looked rather tough, going down looks tougher
"Just right up there." Poor Tina !
It's always 'just up there'. And Tina was a champ.
Such a great channel, so addicted to Jerry and Tina's adventures around UT and AZ
So wonderful to follow you both on your adventures through pain and all. As a fellow hiker these things just require perseverance and sheer will… so that you can truly appreciate that view away from crowds and have it all to yourself… both the experience of doing it and the views.
Getting away from the crowds takes a little effort. But it's always worth it.
That editing boy! Great job syncing Tina up in the shot and to the music! Another great video and yeah… you can’t burn rocks 😂🤣
You noticed! I spent the entire year getting similar shots....can't wait to put them together for a year end video with some similar syncing. Thank you! Also, rocks do not burn.
You guys are AMAZING!! Keep 'em coming!! Hope to see you on the trail someday!!
One of my AZ favorites! Done this hike 4 or 5 times and I love the drive in
Same! I always compare it to Pickepost, Siphon Draw and Picacho and Browns Peak is still my favorite out of those. (Flatiron gets a close second. But this one is just....fun.)
Good job Tina
We were just out there on Saturday! Great video as usual
Nice! Always love going to 4 Peaks. One of these days, I have to do Mother Lode.
Way to go Tina!
Awesome!! I don't know if I could talk myself into doing that last bit of climbing, but definitely looks worth the effort.
Absolutely worth the effort. You just have to try to not think about getting back down.....
Nice hike and the views were wonderful! To bad there was a forest fire …no more shade for quite a while now !
Great capture and editing
Have a great week
Serge
H&S 👩❤️👨🌈🇨🇦
Seriously stunning views from there, wow! Making a list of all the places I want to go whenever I make it to the SW again, thanks to your videos... hopefully I'll be the proud owner of a new 4runner when I make it out there next!
I lived in Arizona (Peoria) for 6 years when I was little while my dad was stationed at Luke AFB. I always tell my parents we should've moved back there when my dad retired...instead of Minnesota! I've always loved the desert and I am not a fan of the humid summers we have here...or the cold winters.
As always, great video! Hope Tina is feeling better! I always look forward to the classic middle finger appearance 🤣
Glad you enjoy the videos! Definitely prefer AZ to the cold weather (born in Illinois). Tina's fine. Just an off day. But thanks for asking. And I almost always earn the middle finger salute....
Tina giving some real talk.
Tina only knows real talk. And she's a champ for making it. She was not feeling well on this hike. But she did it anyway.
That does look like a lot of fun! The scrambly parts added interest and excitement, and the views were awesome. Always enjoy your videos!
One of my favorite hikes by home!
Hope Tina is feeling better. She was looking a little green around the gills. That scramble looked very vertical, and she powered though it.
That chute is brutal. She said she was going to bail at the saddle, but when I got to the chute, I saw she was still coming up and waited. She's tough. And, now that she's not climbing the mountain, she's very happy she stuck with it.
This one has been on my bucket list and trying to get Julia to put it on hers ha ha ! That’s no GoPro effect ! Have you ever done the Amethyst mine tour between peak 3and 4 ?
Also herd there was a covert race that traverses all 4 peaks . Is this an urban legend?
Way to push through Tina ! Great video! I watched the other one last year when you were running from that storm ! Crazy how fast the weather can change.
Mother Lode is the route for all four peaks. A climber buddy of mine said he attempted (3 of 4) and loved it, but that it sketched him out. Knowing how crazy he is......I still want to try it. Never been on the tour. And that monsoon was insane. We did that hike in 1 hour less time than this trip. Lightning is a great motivator for speed.
@@JerryArizona bruised some ribs running like hell from one and then the hail came ! There is a video on TH-cam that they were on the east face of peak 4 and it was filmed with a drone and Sketchy is an understatement!
Four peaks mother load hike spring 2018 is the video.
Still love that weavers needle video! Both are great ! The first one I thought you were crazy to do it alone . That part were you threw what you thought you didn’t need over the edge ! Nooooooo
Have done the Motherload, Amethyst to Browns. Took about 8 hrs for me with my two friends. Beta is critical because there is no trail and it's easy to get into trouble. Was an avid climber at the time and there were a few short down climbs, technically easy, but terrifying amount of exposure that sketched me out (as Jerry said below). Probably was a better way to go, but was going off of GPS beta from someone else some basic rules of thumb I had read. That said...it was an amazing experience!
Hi! I’ve been watching your videos quite awhile now, thank you for putting these videos together!!! Keep up the great work and the adventures. Have you thought about putting a basic overview map of the location of the trail or place you are hiking. Would add a great deal of value/perspective to the videos.
I have, and I used to do that on most. But animating maps isn't something I love (or am good at), so I focus more on the visual storytelling aspect of it nowadays more than a 'traditional' type of trail guide.
I'm not a big fan of that kind of climbing, but it might not be quite out of my comfort level since it doesn't seem to go on for very long. Great views up there! I can see why you like that hike.
Climbing terrifies me. But for some reason, this one doesn't bother me. Lots of good hand and foot holds when it really gets vertical.
Man... If anyone thinks Arizona as just flat dry desert, show them THIS. Those views are stunning. Gotta ask though... That scramble looks incredibly vertical. Is it just the camera or is there really that steep of a drop off in sections?
I wanted to go back because I didn't feel like I captured how vertical it was in my previous video on it. It is every bit as vertical as it looks in this one. Not for a long section, but there are some 0 margin of error sections, for sure. Part of the fun.
6:10 The camara does not do it justice guys this is some of the steepest spots a mountain ive been on
I have to do this with a helmet mount so I can film the chute better without dying.
@@JerryArizona so awesome brother
9:01 Coolest video edit of the day! You guys are doing some epic Sh*t! Super steep views...
I love that you caught that. Aligning those shots was an ordeal, but I liked the results too.
@@JerryArizona No doubt time consuming. I'm guess you had to place Tina in the same frame or find frames where she was virtually in the same location side to side/top to bottom. People need to know this isn't "reals" on instagram. It's actual editing.
Jerry BTW another must read book for a Grand Canyon prerequisite “The Emerald Mile”
Glad Tina made it up there, the view looks incredible. So the road in to the trailhead requires 4wd?
I always go on the side of caution when it comes to roads. So I'd say yes. But I've seen sedans get up much worse roads. I don't want to say you can do it, but a 2WD with decent clearance and tires? Quite possible. You can always turn around if it's too much.
@@JerryArizona I understand. I drive a Rwd Toyota Tacoma, and was able to get through a short, but hairy rock crawl to my campsite at Big Bend State Park, so I'd probably give it a shot out there, but wouldn't hesitate to turn her around if I had doubts. Ty👍
I hiked it on Labor Day this year for the 2nd time and I had forgotten just how exposed it is. You just can’t think about it, just climb and your ok. Get in your head and it’ll freak you out.
Absolutely. I mainly forgot how long that drive on those roads was. Still worth it.
Can you get an Uber up there? Where’s the parking lot on the summit? Going up looked sketchy. Going down, impossible!
Not sure about the Uber, but sure I wouldn't want the bill. Definitely sketchy going up, and you don't even want to think about going down.
It's very brown. The burn off gives great views. Worth the rock scramble. What no margarite time?
Tina enjoyed my suffering immensely. Especially after I decided to opt out on the full wetsuit.
Just laughed out loud when Tina said “you’re such a dick” but in a loving way. 🙂
I get that reaction a lot. Actually, it was 'idiot' last weekend. I earn it.
jerry, huge fan of your adventures...can I ask you about Brown's peak in mid april. Wife and I might have a chance to get to phoenix for a week. How do you think the trail would be mainly the "chute". Ice? snow? We're pretty fit 50 something hikers and have done a fair amount scrambling although this may be the toughest lol. Also, helmets a good idea on this one? TIA mike
Thanks! Not sure what the conditions would be, but it does get snow up there. Ironically, Tina was rescued off Four Peaks when she got stranded in the snow back in high school. All depends on the year, though. Helmets would not be a bad idea at all. Obviously, there are fall hazards, and lots of loose rock (and other people kicking loose rocks) to worry about. Not sure why we don't wear them when we do this one. I recommend planning for it and if it's covered in snow and ice when you're here, maybe consider Battleship Mountain or Flatiron in the Superstitions as comparable plan B's. They will definitely be doable at that time.
Gotta be honest. Not sure what I enjoy more - the actual hike or Tina cussing at you.
I understand completely. I earn all her remarks.
i wonder, how long a drive from fountain hills to the trailhead ?
Try Google Maps. I want to say it'll show you the road right to the trailhead. Not 100% sure, but I think so.
Wait a minute - did you buy a white 4Runner? (I just bought a white 4Runner!)
We did! I’ve had it fo about a month now. I love it! Hoping the white camouflages the dust and desert pinstripes a bit more
i guess you guys were a little wore out for mexican food !! i have viewed the 4 peaks whi,le mt biking in mcdowell , have done the flat iron, i think its time next spring for browns peak, tommy montana
If I put them in order of my favorites, it's Browns Peak, Flatiron, Picacho then Picketpost. Definitely recommended as long as you're OK with the verticality of the chute. And it was too late for Mexican Food once we got out of here.
@@JerryArizona thanks again, appreciate the reply !
Definitely more sketchy than battleship
That's funny how people think different things are sketchy. I feel like Picketpost is the sketchiest of Browns, Flatiron, Battleship and Picacho. That loose gravel freaks me out. And I had less problems with Browns than that spine on Battleship. But I'll still hike them all...
Is there a trail that goes from the valley floor to the top and how far is it
My GPS says it was about 10.4miles for the loop we did and around 1,000 ft of elevation gain and then loss. I didn't see any trails from Notom Bullfrog Road, but about any vehicle can get up the Burr Trail where we went in. You might have to tack a mile or two of extra hiking if you can't make it to the 4WD trailhead we parked at though.
Looks like fun, but much for this 61 year old :(
It's definitely sketchy from the chute to the top. I'll keep doing it until I can't anymore.
Is this 4 peaks Az
It is. You can supposedly do all four in the Mother Lode route, but I think that gets into rock climbing territory. Brown's Peak is a mellower route to the tallest of the four peaks, but it's still pretty sketchy in the chute.
First!
Absolutely first!