springs, notably Piper's Spring - have dried up. The loss of a scenic area like this is appalling and it will be many years before the growth returns. Two hundred year old saguaros, huge oaks and cottonwoods, and acres of chollas were nothing but charred ruins. We continued up LaBarge Canyon, past Whiskey Spring, Miner's Needle, Bluff spring and due east siee of Weaver's Needle. Here the party split, some staying on the trail and others going overland. On the overland route the incredibly skilled leader managed to get separated from all eight members of his party. They went down the canyon and intercepted the assistant leader while I.S.L. ran up and down two canyons and an intervening ridge looking for his flock. Everyone finally got to Pipers spring about dark only to discover it dry, Good water was available a short way down the, canyon and camp was establishehed. An early start Sunday got everyone to the cars by noon. The weather had been perfect and the desert (non burned) exquisite. By the official decree of the I S L the trip was proclaimed a success.
GRANITE MOUNTAIN #l OLD WOMAN MOUNTIN				Jan. 10-l1		Bob Herlihy
A group of 15 hikers met at 8:00 am. under threatening skies and drove northward in a dusty caravan to the roadhead for Granite Mtn. (6786'). One overheated vehicle and all low-clearance cars were left at the turnoff from Kelbaker Road. By the time we arrived at the roaghead, the sky in our vicinity was clear and sunny with a cool breeze blowing. The good-natured Paul Nelson was pressed into service as assistant leader. The ascent was easy and direct, although marked by several stops to don and remove jackets as necessitated by exposure to the cold wind on our route. The minimal class 3 summit block afforded excellent views of many other ranges in the area and had just enough lunch room for our group in cozy but not crowded comfort. On the descent the lead hikers came very close to three large bucks. Upon return to the cars, a considerable delay was encountered in starting the vehic1e that had previously overheated. We arrived at the roadhead for O1d Woman Mountain (5326') just before dark. After supper we had some tasty goodies and a stimulating discussion around the campfire that covered a range of subjects dear to the hearts of ecologists and environnentalists. In the middle of the night, one car drove into the campsite and we were joined by 2 more people from the Pomona-Chino area. The next morning we took a, direct, easy route up to the saddle north of the peak, then directly to the summit. The sky was overcast and threatening, and visibility from the summit was somewhat limited.

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