SCHEDULED TRIPS

RABBIT PEAK - Fran Smith Although 29 climbers had expressed interest in a dawn to dusk assault of Rabbit Peak, thirty minutes after dawn found nineteen actual bodies on the alluvial fan trail leading from the dump ground parking area up Rabbit’s east ridge approach. As advertised, the leader held a moderate pace (?), but with several rest stops of longer than scheduled duration. Four of the group had succumbed to the "easier down than up” theory by the halfway point and returned to the cars. Piker Bill (Banks) had dreamed he was climbing Rabbit only to discover that it had no summit. This mental fixation implemented him in reaching the top 1-1/2 hours ahead of the main party. Within the next half hour, everyone had signed the register; so after the usual lunch, views, and rest, we started back down the ridge. Several gallons of water had been cached at the summit by Les Stockton on his HPS climb, one week earlier. This was not needed, but its potential use was appreciated, and it remains for possib1e future users. Soon after reaching the drop-off point from the ridge, from which it was a straight shot to. the cars, small groups formed to return at their desired pace. Time of return varied from shortly before dusk to about 1-1/2 hours after dark. The weather was ideal. for climbing, and the only injuries were from viscious attacks by cacti on innocent unwary climbers. Fifteen successful but weary hikers agreed that Rabbit in one day is an ambitious accomplishment. BIG MARIA MTN and PALEN MTN — Ed Stork Although the climbs to the high points of the Big Maria and Palen Mtns cannot be called spectacular, perfect weather and a congenial group of climbers combined to make them most enjoyable. A new power line road, that takes off north rrom the Midland Road about 13.6 miles from Blythe, was used to drive some 6 miles to the wash crossing just south of the pass. From there we hiked up the wash for almost a mile, then climbed the southwest ridge, following it to the south summit of the Big Maria Mtns. Fourteen people, including Barabra Jackson, David Hammond, and Terry Jennings, who had, just climbed their first qualifying peak, signed the register during a pleasantly warm lunch and viewing break. From our vantage point we had fine views of the neighboring mountains and of the meandering Colorado River to the east. We also looked down at the inactive U.S. Gypsum Plant at Midland. The largest gypsum processing operation in California between 1925 and 1947, it has been closed since 1966. The Big Maria Mountains Quadrangle (1951), shows no named peak in the Big Maria Mtns and no elevations are given for the high points. The south summit, sometimes called the middle summit, is the same height as the one a mile to the north, according to the contour lines. No difference in elevation could be determined by viewing through a hand level. The traverse to the north summit involved a loss of 600 feet to a saddle, then a scramble along the broken ridge. Nine climbers, including Barabra Lilley and Art de Goede who were each making their second ascent of the north summit, made the traverse. Looking back at the south summit it also appeared that the high points were of equal height.

Page Index	Prev	Page 2	Next	Issue Index