who are nine and eleven years old; fourteen year old Debbie Kazlowski, and a teen aged boy from Victorville, making it one of the youngest groups to participate in a DPS climb. All but the babies made the summit, and they were carried to a point just below the top, where some third class climbing was encountered. Our route was directly E from the campsite, across the water-filled Amargosa River, to a prominent chute to the N of, the high point of the mountain as seen from the cars. We climbed up the heavy rib where it was necessary to do some zig-zagging for the best route. This seemed to favor the N side of the rib near the main dry waterfall, and at times dropped into it. Above the waterfall our route leveled out somewhat, and went to the S and then E to the summit. The rock was very sharp and had good friction. It was also very abrasive to the hands. A strong wind that began about 10:00 a.m. caused sandstorms that obliterated the view. Consequently our stay on the summit, was a short one, and everyone was back at the cars by noon, ending a very pleasant weekend of desert peaking. Some of the participants stopped for a dip in the Tecopa- Hot Springs on their way home. Thanks go to Art de Goede, who filled in a co-leader Sunday for Bill Banks, unable to attend because of a leg injury. FIVE DAYS IN THE SAN PEDRO MARTIR - MARCH 29-APRIL 2 - JOHN ROBINSON AND BILL CLIFTON After a lengthy spell of wet and cloudy weather north of the border, it was indeed a pleasure to arrive at the Meling Ranch under clear, warm skies. Much to the delight of our 42 participants, this balmy weather lasted throughout our five, day, 50 mile circle backpack trip into the heart of the San Pedro Martir Range. Aida Meling Barre, manager of the famed cattle-guest ranch, greeted us Saturday morning with two surprises, one good and one bad. The, good news was that the road from the ranch, into the mountains, formerly one of the worst ever experienced by this Desert Peaker, had been improved to the point that it was negotiable most of the way by standard cars. The unpleasant surprise was that, just two weeks previously, the entire San Pedro Martir plateau had been granted to the University of Mexico for astronomical purposes and was closed to visitors without special permission. However, Aida said

Page Index	Prev	Page 9	Next	Issue Index