Popular Phoenix peak still closed after massive Arizona storms
Sep 12, 2014, 4:00 PM | Updated: 4:00 pm
PHOENIX — Hikers in the Phoenix will have to turn to another mountain if they want breathtaking views of the Valley. The peak of South Mountain remains closed after massive flooding hit the area.
“All of the work that we have been doing from the first storm was all washed away by the second,” said South Mountain Park Ranger Sue Arbogast. “The road up to the summit, we are not allowing any pedestrians, bike riders, or any cars. The contractors are going to have to come in, and it’s closed until further notice.”
Between Aug. 13 and Sept. 8, the Valley was pounded with rain. The mid-August storm hit South Mountain especially hard: The National Weather Service said 3.55 inches fell in a 24-hour period.
The storm flooded several neighborhoods near the mountain, with witnesses claiming a three-foot wall of water came off the mountain.
One of the most popular trails in the park was damaged during that storm.
“This new damage brought some really large boulders down on a major trail called Holbert,” said Arbogast. “That is probably one of our most used trails in the park.”
She said the Holbert Trail is open, but hikers need to be careful and be aware that it is damaged. All other park trails are open.
“There’s Pima Canyon. That’s where the National Trail starts, and that’s a pretty short hike to get up to what they call the Hidden Canyon.”
Arbogast also suggested hikers use 24th Street to access the park.
The mountain took another hard hit about one month later, when the Phoenix area smashed rain records, bringing more flooding to the already rain-struck area. More than three inches fell at Phoenix Sky Harbor, with outlying areas receiving more. The weather bureau noted that the monsoon usually averages 2.71 inches on the season.
KTAR’s Jim Cross and the KTAR Newsroom contributed to this report.
