SALINE VALLEY (Cont'd) Ultimately, twenty-five (8 youngsters) gathered at the Lower Warm Springs at noon Thursday and enjoyed a good soaking in the cement lined pool. Friday we all hiked 4 miles to Upper Warm Springs (unlined) which some of us sampled. After lunch, the group straggled back to the camping area with a large number returning via an area once inhabited by Indians. One fine arrowhead was found. Back to the warm springs (100°F and 110°F)! Saturday Bill Clifton, led us downwash to search for and find a group of cold springs. A substantial number of obsidian and jasper flakes attested to the earlier presence of Indians in this area. Sunday morning everyone scattered for the trip home and side trips to the sand dunes, salt lake, and tramway and in search of petroglyphs. Because the group was split up on Thursday, Nelson Mountain was not attempted and the only peak bagged was Waucoba on Saturday by two individuals. The weather was perfect with only a bank of clouds over the Inyos early Sunday to give a hint of bad weather. Fine campfires were enjoyed each night as wood is plentiful on the drive in and a substantial amount can be found in the camp area itself. While the DPS did not contribute as greatly to the notoriety of Saline Valley as did the Sierra Singles or the Manson group, a fine time was enjoyed by all. Saline Valley even attracted one gentleman from Petaluma who landed his plane on the primitive strip (built as an emergency strip for a glider contest in the Trona-Ridgecrest area), enjoyed the warm pools, and then took his leave.
SUPERSTITIONS						Vitz/Haven
It was billed as an Eastern Superstition Exploratory, but ended as a Western Superstition backpack. Most of Thursday morning (New Year's Day) was spent driving the Apache Trail looking for suitable approach. The roads into the eastern part of tee range are not improved and snow and ice on them made them impassable. So a decision was made to go into the west end. The roadhead decided upon was the first water road and we set off about noon. We went north through Garden Valley and into Boulder Canyon and camped at Second Water. The afternoon was spent resting, climbing nearby points and looking at the beautiful Sonoran Desert vegetation. The next day we moved about nine miles farther into the wilderness area. We encountered a man and his sons in La Barge Canyon. They appeared to be miners and claimed to have been there five years. We established camp at La Barge Spring. According to, one party member, it got to 8°F. that night, however there was no wind and it seemed much warmer. The next day we got into the fire area. Some time in the last year the heart of the area had burned out. The destruction was total and

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