NON-SCHEDULED TRIPS

DESERT SUMMITS GALORE - Andy Smatko DESERT SUMMITS GALORE - Andy Smatko On December 14, 1969, we climbed the highpoints in the Summit Range, the Lava Mountains, and the Spangler Hills in the Johannesburg area. The latter range is fairly extensive and makes for delightful winter climbing. There is no Trona aroma to be detected and wild chukkar were seen. On the weekend of the 20th and 21st we enjoyed enviable weather as we climbed the high point of the Iron Mountains, lying northeast of the Coxcombs. This range is rugged and one can easily be stymied by dry waterfalls and steep slopes. The expansive view reveals several well known ranges on the DPS list. The next day we climbed Horn Peak in the Turtle Mountains and found an amusing note in the register left by a climber who claimed that the DPS was at fault for his climbing this peak rather than the summit of the range. Later that afternoon we ascended Negro Peak, the east side of which drops off in abrupt precipices. A new year arrives and on January 17-18 we climbed 9 summits, 6 of which were first accents. We based ourselves in our favorite desert campground in Gold Valley near Cima. The first day we climbed two peaks in the hid Hills, Columbia Mountain, and the high point of the Colton Hills. The rugged walls of the Providence Range to the south drew our admiring glances, but Table Mountain and Woods Mountain and others spoke volumes of a prehistoric vast tableland which subsequently became eroded. These mesas are guarded by precipitous walls everywhere and although one can find breaks in the cliffs, many places would be unsoalable except by top notch rock climbers. On Sunday we climbed five peaks in the area east of the Providence Range and saw a herd of ten deer and evidence of both wild burros and bighorn sheep. On the weekend of January 31 and February 1 we visited the Old Woman Mountains where we climbed ten peaks. One peak would have required a bolt climb for the final 25 feet. We named the peak east of Carbonate Peak and called it Bicarbonate Peak. The next venture found us going into the southeastern end of Death Valley National Monument where we climbed the two high points of the Ibex Mountains. Following this we drove to a point north of the Dumont Hills and climbed its high point and another peak to the north. The following day we made our way down a roadless wash to a delightful campsite southwest of a rugged charcoal colored range, separate and distinct from the Kingston Range. In the morning we ascended it by a west face route running into about 150 feet of high third class with one 20 foot fourth class pitch before getting to the easy summit slopes. There being enough time we climbed the high point of the Cronese Mountains and Cat Mountain. Descent of the Cat's right ear, back, and tail proved to be a delightful slog down soft silky sand. The next trip was a one day trip in February when we climbed Peak 3742' near El Mirage Dry Lake and it was a first ascent. We then climbed George Mountain and the highest of the "Buttes" near Kramer Junction, also a first ascent. Elephant Butte near Daggett and Black Butte near Newberry were then climbed. To cap off the day we drove up Point of Rocks north of Helendale. Over the weekend of March 6-7 we climbed Alvord Mountain, a small very colorful range near Barstow. The view was most extensive with Telescope Peak, over 100 miles distant, being clearly visible. Following this we made short scrambles to Harvard Hill and a peak in the. southern part of the Calicos and visited Chimney Rock, a hollow vertical chimney about 80 feet high, eroded from friable ancient sea bottom mud. We climbed around to the top and looked down, a chilling view. The next day we climbed two peaks near Daggett. Following a long desert drive we climbed Fry Mountain, a black hulk of volcanic scoria of all colors, which commands an extensive view of the surrounding ranges. Our final effort was a 1400 foot climb of Lucerne Peak, a steep second class peak with some third near the top.

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