SHEEPHOLE and PINTO   -   Roy Magnuson A large group (for a DPS outing) of 53 people, many of them newcomers, showed up for the climb of Sheephole. The approach to the peak was made via the prominent canyon due east of the microwave relay tower in Sheephole Pass. This route offers more rock scrambling, but better footing, than the commonly used canyon slightly to the south. A leisurely pace was set which allowed everyone to reach the summit. The weather was clear and sunny with enough breeze to make for an enjoyable climb with fine views. The climb began about 9:30 and the last of the group returned to the cars by 4. After the climb of Sheephole, a group of four, led by Fran Smith, made an ascent of Marble. On Sunday morning, 35 climbers reassembled for the car caravan to Mission Well in Joshua Tree National Monument. At this point the cars were pooled for the five mile drive over a rudimentary road going due west to a point northeast of Pinto. From this point we walked up an open wash that leads into a canyon. About a half mile up, the canyon splits and we took the left branch. The right branch was used for the return trip to provide a little variety. Once again the hike was leisurely with almost identical start and end times. The leader wishes to thank Harold Johnson, Mike Zatto, and Don Barnes for their able assistance. MOUNT AJO and CERRO PINACATE   -  Wally Henry Because of illness, co-leader Sy Ossofsky and wife Ellen were unable to join us for the gala New Year's Eve party at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. The wild party broke up about 10 pm as all the participants had gone to bed. This early bedtime probably had something to do with the unusually successful climbing on New Year's Day. 19 people climbed Ajo, 2 climbed Diaz, and 3 climbed class 5 Montezuma's Head. That evening the group left for Mexico where they were promptly turned back at a check point just south of Sonoita. Back at the border we dutifully obtained a Turista Card - no identification required, just your name. Back to the check point we went with our impressive piece of paper. This time a different guard waved our cars through without seeing the paper. Camp was made after dark by a road that was thought to lead to the base of Pinacate. The next morning a four wheel drive vehicle with Paul Demes driving and Bob Kesselring navigating scouted the road ahead. Before the scouts returned the group tried to get started which resulted in all the American cars getting stuck in the sand and the expenditure of several hours to unstick them. At this point, several car owners reconsidered their ambition to climb Cerro Pinacate and returned to Arizona for an early start home. The scouting report then indicated that we were on the wrong road. A much better road got us to the roadhead by 11:30 and by 3 the fast moving group reached the peak and was rewarded with a view of, the Gulf of California. A little wine was guzzled to celebrate George Davis' attaining emblem status. Special thanks are extended to Harry Brumer for his help in leading the trip. CERRO PESCADORES   -   John Vitz We have it on good authority that Gordon MacLeod has been receiving threatening letters from many of the participants in this trip. He not only set up a ridiculously late meeting time, but also managed to fink out on the whole trip. He was able to con the infamous John Vitz into leading the trip for him, so one can imagine the surprise and disgust that the group registered when they arrived at the meeting place. They had been expecting to be ably led up this mountain and they were instead in the clutches of a leader who considers any trip to be successful if as few as two people are lost.

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