Ascent of Petit Jean Mountain on 2019-12-27| Other People: | Solo Ascent
Only Party on Mountain | | Date: | Friday, December 27, 2019 | | Ascent Type: | Successful Summit Attained | | Motorized Transport to Trailhead: | 4x4 Vehicle | | Peak: | Petit Jean Mountain | | Location: | USA-Arkansas | | Elevation: | 2440 ft / 743 m |
Ascent Trip ReportAccess: This was my fourth and final peak in a day of Arkansas peakbagging. I came in from the north after visiting Magazine Mountain and Google Maps surprisingly got me to the top without a problem. I had Tom Layton's GPS track as a backup (thanks Tom), which matched the route I took, so I would recommend using it if you are worried about directions. To make this a near drive-up, you will be on dirt roads for nearly 10 miles. The majority of these miles were in great condition and suitable for any vehicle. The final 2 miles or so got a bit rougher and might scare off a timid driver in a sedan. I was driving my 4Runner on this trip, but I am certain I could have gotten my Optima all the way if I was careful.
The Climb: I parked on the side of the road near its closest approach to the summit. From here, an old overgrown road took me to the high point in a hundred yards or so. The highest point is a man-made rubble pile, so I stood atop it and any other natural contenders and called it good. I also found the foundations for a lookout tower. Based on the size of the trees growing in the area, I assume the tower was demolished long ago.
My Thoughts: There is really nothing impressive about this peak in general, but it is one of the most prominent in Arkansas and is a drive-up, so I figured I'd stop by. On this winter day, all of the vegetation appeared dead and the trees were quite gnarled. The high point was also enshrouded in a thick fog, giving it quite an eerie appearance, not unlike the setting in every bad horror film right before some crazy person starts chopping everyone up with an old chainsaw.
I am always looking for climbing partners, so feel free to contact me if you want to team up. |
| Summary Total Data | | Total Elevation Gain: | 21 ft / 6 m | | Round-Trip Distance: | 0.2 mi / 0.3 km | | Route: | Drive-up | | Trailhead: | 2419 ft / 737 m | | Grade/Class: | Class 1 | | Quality: | 1 (on a subjective 1-10 scale) | | Route Conditions: | Road Hike, Open Country | | Weather: | Pleasant, Breezy, Low Clouds | | Ascent Statistics | | Time: | 5 Minutes | | Descent Statistics | | Time: | 5 Minutes |
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