Doyle Peak

Doyle Peak
Doyle Peak (left, flat top) and Fremont Peak from the east side of Agassiz Peak.
Highest point
Elevation	11,464 ft (3,494 m)  NAVD 88
Prominence	660 ft (201 m)
Coordinates	35°19′48″N 111°38′47″W / 35.3300087°N 111.6462717°W / 35.3300087; -111.6462717Coordinates: 35°19′48″N 111°38′47″W / 35.3300087°N 111.6462717°W / 35.3300087; -111.6462717
Geography
Doyle Peak
Location	Coconino County, Arizona, U.S.
Parent range	San Francisco Peaks
Topo map	USGS Humphreys Peak
Climbing
Easiest route	Hike

Doyle Peak is in the San Francisco Peaks of northern Arizona and is the fourth highest peak, but the sixth highest named point in the state of Arizona with an elevation of 11,464 feet (3,494 m). Both Aubineau Peak and Rees Peak are higher, but they do not have enough prominence to be considered independent peaks. In spite of the name "Doyle" on modern maps this elevation was known as "Schultz" Peak at least through the 1930s. "Doyle Peak" was traditionally the name of the ridge west of Fremont Peak. The elevation called "Schultz" on modern maps traditionally had no name. This information came from Dr. Henry Giclas <https://aas.org/obituaries/henry-l-giclas-1910-2007>, native and long time resident of Flagstaff, astronomer and Director Emeritus at Lowell Observatory, and son of the man responsible for developing the water well fields in the Inner Basin of the San Francisco Peaks. Dr. Giclas was unaware of the change and very puzzled by it when asked about the names c. 1985 <Personal Communication with Dr. H. L. Giclas>. The names of the saddles between the Peaks are consistent with the names of the Peaks related by Dr. Giclas, but they make no sense with the names on current maps. Furthermore, a body of published scientific research was based on observations conducted at Lowell Observatory's Schultz Peak Station, which still sits atop the subject Peak. There is a movement to officially reverse the apparently accidental changes on the USGS Humphreys Quadrangle Map. Rectification of the changes can come none too soon; others have noticed that the Peaks and saddles do not match and have made changes to the names of the saddles both in Google Earth and Google Maps in an effort to fix the errors. Unfortunately the errors are not in the saddles but in the names of the Peaks, themselves, so those changes have only multiplied the errors. The subject elevation will be referred to as "Schultz Peak" from here on.

Hiking Schultz Peak can be somewhat challenging depending on the route used, but it is not difficult to ascend. Care must be taken to avoid the scree slopes which can be seen from the south in Flagstaff. These slopes are quite steep and slide easily. The peak is most easily scaled by hiking the Weatherford Trail to Schultz Saddle, then following the old and now indistinct mule trail to the summit, or by following the ridge from Lockett Meadow. Schultz Peak is not the gently rounded mountain it appears to be from Flagstaff but a ridge oriented southwest to northeast. The area of the summit is rather flat and wide in several spots.