After hiking generally westward along the trail for about 3.5 hours, we eventually arrived at the start of Mazatzal Peak's long northwest ridge.  A cairn marks the point of departure from Barnhardt trail, and we pushed up through a somewhat dense cover of manzanita bushes to a semi-open ridge crest.  We then followed the ridge all the way up to the summit, a climb of about 550 metres over a distance of about 3 kilometres.  Although there is nothing technically difficult about the ascent, the ridge is quite bushy making hiking unpleasant if not aggravating. Unlike their counterparts in the Canadian Rockies, all the bushes here are thorny and have an annoying tendency to grab and tug at both clothing and skin.  I had already changed out of my long pants and into shorts earlier on the trail, but because of warm temperatures, I was stubbornly hesitant to change back into my pants.  As a result, my legs looked like they had gotten into a fight with a feral cat by the time I reached the summit.  In retrospect, it is sobering to realize that we had not even experienced the worst of the bushwhacking yet.

For our return trip, we opted to try the alternate descent route via Suicide Ridge and its northwest arm.  Death by a thousand cuts would aptly describe the hellish bushwhack down this route which is understandably not well-traveled.  The northwest arm of Suicide Ridge is easy enough to follow, but we spent a lot of effort weaving through the thorny bushes which clutter the route.  Occasional promising breaks in the undergrowth would inevitably disappear in a new tangle of woody nastiness, and our progress was painfully slow, both figuratively and literally.  When we got within sight of Barnhardt trail a few hundred metres away, we abandoned the ridge crest probably a little too soon.  We consequently endured the worst bushwhacking of the day thrashing through unyielding thickets of mazanitas right up to the edge of the trail.  After regaining the trail, we took a short break to mentally collect ourselves and patch up any dangling pieces of flesh before settling into a long but uneventful hike back to the trailhead.

	Sonny enters Mazatzal Wilderness on Barnhardt Trail. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Zosia follows the trail into Barhardt Canyon.
	The trail eventually traverses all the way across and over the low saddle at far right.  The route to Mazatzal Peak leaves the trail near the saddle and climbs up the skyline ridge.
	Zosia leaves the trail and climbs up the bushy ridge.  Note the cairn at bottom right.
	Zosia gets her first clear view of Mazatzal Peak's summit in the distance.  The seemingly highest peak visible is actually a false summit.
	Sonny tries to avoid getting stabbed in the eye by the pointy leaves of an agave plant as he squeezes through a tight opening in some prickly bushes. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Zosia scrambles over some boulders along the ridge.
	Zosia weaves her way through a bunch of deadfall on the slope before the false summit.

Travel is much easier on the final approach to the true summit.

 

	Zosia and Sonny stand on the summit of Mazatzal Peak (2402 metres).
	Left of centre in this view to the south are (from nearest to farthest) Pine Butte, Mount Ord and Four Peaks.  Barely visible at distant far left is Theodore Roosevelt Lake.  Also barely visible on the distant horizon just right of centre is the Superstition Ridge line.
	The most notable feature in this view to the southwest is Horseshoe Reservoir at distant right.
	Looking west, the dark peak at far left is Table Mountain.  Part of the trail which circumnavigates Mazatzal Peak can be seen at lower right.
	The forested slopes of Suicide Ridge can be seen to the north.
	Sonny wades into some manzanita bushes while descending Suicide Ridge. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	A previous wildfire has not lessened the bushiness of Suicide Ridge's northwest arm. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	The bushwhacking is the fiercest just before Sonny reaches Barnhardt Trail. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Still mostly in one piece, Sonny limps back to the trailhead. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Total Distance:  23.3 kilometres Round-Trip Time:  11 hours 54 minutes Net Elevation Gain:  1131 metres GPX Data