The County Highpoints of Arizona

by Scott Adam Surgent

From giant alpine mountaintops to rolling forested peaks to stark, remote desert summits, the fifteen county highpoints of Arizona offer a fascinating and diverse cross-section of summit hikes the state has to offer. Each of the fifteen county highpoints is covered in its own chapter, which includes the history of the region and of the county, as well as suggestions for side trips and areas of interest, so that you can incorporate each peak as part of a full weekend experience. Also included in the book is a brief history of Arizona's county evolution, three "extra-credit" peaks, a discussion on the most prominent mountains in Arizona, and even a chapter on the county low-points.

Paperback

First published November 1, 2001

Reviews

[Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scott Surgent’s book is more than simply a guide to the highest points in each of Arizona’s 15 counties. It is a tour guide, history lesson, geography guide, and educational tool. He takes us to snow-capped peaks and desert flatlands. From the relatively flat areas that serve as the highest points in Greenlee, Gila, and Pinal counties to the dramatic peaks of Santa Cruz, Coconino, and Yuma counties, this book is an excellent resource for the hiker or even the casual tourist.

The book is effectively broken into three parts. The first section introduces the counties and the idea of highpointing as a hobby, the development of Arizona’s counties over time, and the notion of the prominence of a peak. The middle section is the majority of the book and the focus of its subject with a chapter for each of the 15 counties. The last section covers other peaks of interest, the low points of each county, and other interesting historical and geographical facts about Arizona.

Each of the chapters on the counties covers statistical information, a history of the county and its development, access to the region around the highest point, a detailed description for reaching the highest point, and additional resources and contacts to aid the visitor. The book expressly does not include maps of the approaches or trails for hiking. Rather, Surgent points the reader to detailed resources describing which maps to use and how to obtain information from the National Forest Service. This is very advisable and builds into the book a margin of safety for those who would venture out. In this respect, his experience in Search and Rescue serves him – and us – well.

This book is a wonderful mix of history and geography. The pictures and route descriptions are enough to tempt us to head out and explore, even if we never set foot on the trail. Yet the richness of the descriptions here will also want Arizonans and out-of-staters to explore the higher reaches of Arizona, too. Whether you are an extreme hiker, occasional wanderer, or an armchair explorer, this book is highly recommended.

[Mihai · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most complete state highpoint guide I've read so far. Every chapter presents useful background information, placing the highpoint in adequate geographical and historical context. Learned many things about Arizona I didn't previously know simply by looking up a particular mountain. The reason why I enjoyed it so much is that it's written from the perspective of an avid peakbagger who is also interested in the cultural aspects of the hobby.