said that there are plans for blasting a burro trail across Pinnacle Ridge to place another telescope on the very summit of El Picacho del Diablo! I'm certain that all DPSers hope this idea never bears fruit! By 2:30 we were back at Los Llanitos. After a short rest, we hoisted packs and followed the good trail northward to Vallecitos Meadow. That night we camped by a small spring just southeast of the vast clearing. Wednesday, our last day, we crossed Vallecitos to the recently built road that crosses the north end of the meadow. This road, provides access to the 12" telescope that is presently in operation on a high point two miles east. Now occurred the biggest "fiasco" of the trip. The leader had been led to believe that the observatory access road went down to Corona de Abojo and on to the Melings. Hobbled by sore feet, he sent most of the group ahead, as they were anxious to reach the cars as early as possible for the long drive home. Unknown to the leader, this road went out the north end of the range and down to Mike's Sky Ranch, miles and miles from where the cars were parked. All but 9 bolted on ahead, oblivious to the fact they were being led astray. After several miles the leader realized the road was going in the wrong direction. It was too late to catch the others, so the leader with the fortunate nine who had stayed with him, took off cross-country, found the old trail, and by noon, reached the Corona de Abajo roadhead. Here we passed a large Mexican work camp; a road is being constructed from the Melings to the observatory, but it won't be completed until next year. Meanwhile, access is from the north. In the four cars available to us, we sped down to the Meling Ranch, picked up Jerry Keating's station wagon (his wife and children were staying at, the ranch), and continued on around to the north road. Just before sunset, two of our five cars on the rescue mission (the other three were halted several miles short by a steep pitch) reached the empty air strip above Mike's Sky Ranch where we found the tired hikers. They had hiked about 15 extra miles and, unsure of just where they were, were mighty glad to see us! In the five vehicles, we managed to cram 39 hikers and packs plus our five drivers for the trip back to the Meling Ranch. John Helms then graciously volunteered to take all the drivers back up to Oak Pasture to fetch their cars. It all ended successfully, but for a while that day the leader was mighty worried that he had lost 30 hikers in some of the wildest mountain country in Baja! Our sore feet and aching backs have barely recuperated, but already we are planning for next year's Baja mountain adventure. (We hope to make this an annual DPS spring vacation trip.) Being considered

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