Jason Cleghorn - May 20, 2018 5:11 pm Date Climbed: Jun 3, 2016
Trail more fun than the summit!
In order to beat the heat I went north to the Prescott National Forest. Even at 6:30 AM at 7500 ft. it was already 82 degrees. I parked at Potato Patch and up the hill I started. I was already stoked because I saw about 10 pronghorns on 89A just before the climb into Prescott NF.
The only bad thing about this trail is that because of the historical nature of what Woodchute was used for, there is very little shade compared to other areas of Prescott NF. The entire mountain was pretty much denuded of any timber to run the Jerome mines.
The hike itself is pretty good. Its interesting that your only scenery or views are about in the first 1/3 to 1/2 of the hike. I left the trail to hit the Woodchute Summit and you couldn't see more than 5 feet, LOL. Back down I went but I did do some off trail down to check out all the tanks in the area. They're all dry except for Powerline Tank near the 2nd TH.
At about 10:00 when I finished at 7500 ft. it was already 91. Whew.
Finished off the trip with a Rock Springs Cafe lunch.
All in all a great morning hike. A Wilderness area highpoint and another mountain over 7K.
mstender - May 14, 2016 9:58 pm Date Climbed: May 14, 2016
Muggy and rainy!
Nice hike with good views along the ridge. Found the highpoint without a GPS. Started hiking under muggy conditions and then got rained on at the summit.
scgrant - Feb 8, 2016 8:11 pm Date Climbed: Jan 23, 2016
Woodchute
Hiked the Woodchute trail starting at just off the highway at the pass. The trail was a mix of snow and mud, mostly snow. GPS was definitely needed to find the highpoint once leaving the trail.
Andrew Rankine - Mar 9, 2015 1:02 am Date Climbed: Mar 8, 2015
nice hike
Hiked from Potato Patch campground to the summit and back. 12.6 km total distance, 375 m gain.
Dean - Apr 25, 2012 11:02 am Date Climbed: Apr 17, 2012
Nice hike
Apr 17, 2012Did this one with Rick Hartman and his friend Steve. About 6 miles round trip and we had decent (not hot) weather.
Apr 26, 2013. Once again with Rick but Dennis P. and Bill J. also were along for this hike. I really enjoyed doing the repeat of this one in such good company as we had a lot of fun.
oldadit - Aug 6, 2008 6:20 pm Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2002
Overshadowed
This peak is visited a lot less than Mingus, which is
perhaps only 40 feet lower, has a road to the top,
and a great view to the east. However, Woodchute has
the right stuff for prominence chasers.
ericnoel - Jan 6, 2008 8:17 pm Date Climbed: Jan 6, 2008
Woodchute Trail
This was a fun little hike. The summit is pretty indistinct.
Jason Cleghorn - May 20, 2018 5:11 pm Date Climbed: Jun 3, 2016
Trail more fun than the summit!In order to beat the heat I went north to the Prescott National Forest. Even at 6:30 AM at 7500 ft. it was already 82 degrees. I parked at Potato Patch and up the hill I started. I was already stoked because I saw about 10 pronghorns on 89A just before the climb into Prescott NF.
The only bad thing about this trail is that because of the historical nature of what Woodchute was used for, there is very little shade compared to other areas of Prescott NF. The entire mountain was pretty much denuded of any timber to run the Jerome mines.
The hike itself is pretty good. Its interesting that your only scenery or views are about in the first 1/3 to 1/2 of the hike. I left the trail to hit the Woodchute Summit and you couldn't see more than 5 feet, LOL. Back down I went but I did do some off trail down to check out all the tanks in the area. They're all dry except for Powerline Tank near the 2nd TH.
At about 10:00 when I finished at 7500 ft. it was already 91. Whew.
Finished off the trip with a Rock Springs Cafe lunch.
All in all a great morning hike. A Wilderness area highpoint and another mountain over 7K.
mstender - May 14, 2016 9:58 pm Date Climbed: May 14, 2016
Muggy and rainy!Nice hike with good views along the ridge. Found the highpoint without a GPS. Started hiking under muggy conditions and then got rained on at the summit.
scgrant - Feb 8, 2016 8:11 pm Date Climbed: Jan 23, 2016
WoodchuteHiked the Woodchute trail starting at just off the highway at the pass. The trail was a mix of snow and mud, mostly snow. GPS was definitely needed to find the highpoint once leaving the trail.
Andrew Rankine - Mar 9, 2015 1:02 am Date Climbed: Mar 8, 2015
nice hikeHiked from Potato Patch campground to the summit and back. 12.6 km total distance, 375 m gain.
Dean - Apr 25, 2012 11:02 am Date Climbed: Apr 17, 2012
Nice hikeApr 17, 2012Did this one with Rick Hartman and his friend Steve. About 6 miles round trip and we had decent (not hot) weather.
Apr 26, 2013. Once again with Rick but Dennis P. and Bill J. also were along for this hike. I really enjoyed doing the repeat of this one in such good company as we had a lot of fun.
oldadit - Aug 6, 2008 6:20 pm Date Climbed: Jul 6, 2002
OvershadowedThis peak is visited a lot less than Mingus, which is
perhaps only 40 feet lower, has a road to the top,
and a great view to the east. However, Woodchute has
the right stuff for prominence chasers.
ericnoel - Jan 6, 2008 8:17 pm Date Climbed: Jan 6, 2008
Woodchute TrailThis was a fun little hike. The summit is pretty indistinct.
surgent - Oct 21, 2005 1:09 pm
Route Climbed: Trail 102 Date Climbed: Apr 2005Enjoyable afternoon, beautiful overlooks.