Wild Bill Hill

View of the highest point in Arizona, Mount Humphreys, from the enjoyable approach hike to the fun-named Wild Bill Hill

3 MAY 2025 W7A/CS-014

One star – Nothing special but I’d do it again.

Elevation:	8,189′
Route:	Cross country
Hike Distance:	2.5 miles round trip
Elevation Gain:	525′
Navigation:	Easy
Steepness:	A little steep in one place
Vehicle:	Passenger car
Road:	Short dirt road
Cell Coverage:	n/a

Hike basics

After Wing Mountain’s cacophony of dirt bikes and gunfire and steep slopes, I found that the peace and quiet and gently sloping prairie to be a relief. There are several stands of aspen that have survived the ravages of the changing environment along the south side of the ravine that my route took me.

This is another forested summit with not much of a view on top, but a lot a great trees to hang wires.

I didn’t bring my table and chair and found that underneath the layer of pine needles there was a sooty layer of ash that got on everything. If ever there was a summit not to bring these amenities, this one was not it!

Radio conditions were again very poor. I think I owe my 10 points to Jay W7USA who roused some other Phoenix area hams to give me the necessary contacts on 40m.