MITCHELL, PROVIDENCE, GRANITE		4/20-21/74	ROY WARD
Seven people met Saturday morning as per the schedule. After placing a couple of cars near Mitchell Caverns ( we did the trip in reverse order as it was listed in the schedule), we all got in Jim Sinnet's Datsun pickup and proceeded to the Bonanza King Mine. We then hiked up to the ridge and did a little rock scrambling along the ridge to Mitchell. A short snack there and out we went along the ridge, up and down over the ledges, and the leader met a couple of climbers who had intended to make the trip with us but had arrived late. Since we started in reverse, of course they never caught up with us. They did Providence on their own and did not stay and join us for the rest of the trip. We then dropped down to the cars, made a trip to pickup Jim's pickup and then caravaned to the Cottonwood Springs Campground. We were joined by two others who had car trouble and had arrived too late to hike with us on Saturday. In the evening we were joined by 6 more hikers. Sunday morning we were off via the scenic rouse along the ridge to Granite. We arrived near noon, after a slow paced hike. Eric Fracisco led us up the summit block as this was his emblem peak. After a little champagne and lunch, we returned to the cars, where 15 climbers had a little more champagne from a larger bottle. After a nice clear weekend, cool and a slight breeze, 14 of us met for Chinese food in the El Rancho in Barstow.
PALMER, GRAPEVINE		5/4-5/74	HENRY HEUSINKVELD
A chilling, blustery, clammy, windy climb gave lie to our buddies warning that by now it would be too hot to be climbing DV peaks. A week prior to the event the leader had cancelled the trio for lack of interest (only 2), but the wailers on the Heald Peak Big Event cajoled, wheedled and vowed that any self-respecting leader doesn't renege, but must follow thru no matter what. Friday nite, on arriving in the Beatty region, Al Campbell with his 4WD riders sought out refuge from the cyclone winds at the old Rhyolite train depot (now a relic mahogany bar/cafe), and the 14 flopped sleeping bags on the south veranda under the massive roof. All slept soundly (except BettyD.) in spite of the banshee wind roaring, the owner's dogs persistent howling at our intrusion, and the gold miner ghosts of 1900's having to move over to make room for us. Meanwhile, other baggers vied with us for equally imaginative camp sites. At precisely 7:00 AM eight autos with 19 innocents surged up to the Beatty Exchange Club (never closed) counted noses, signed in and sped out the desert trek towards roadhead. Nothing cheap about this expedition, the lead car, Al Campbell, and the sweep car, Howard Howell, were both 4WD and equipped with citizens band radio. Thus the caravan could handily control itself to the endurance limits of Detroit steel, picking up those who cried, "I quit". Wes Shelberg was beloved here for providing 4WD ferry service to Phinney saddle, and after the climb for assisting an oh-so stuck truck. After commuting events, the peak climbs seem almost incidental--but not really. Palmer Peak, recent addition to the list, is soon highly visible and distinctive, and lures one into smug over-confidence. The leader had been well warned (Roy Ward) about the travails of side-hilling. But the bumps look so high, and the side-hilling not all that bad. But don't you believe it //// Mr. Side-hill Hendrik wore the patience of the followers very thin. The final long knife edge, and the summit sprint turned out to be the most fun of all. Standing on the summit under dark leaden sky with lightning bolts shooting here and there made a few queasy, so we didn't linger at the register, but dropped 50' to a small meadow for overdue lunch. This repast ended abruptly by large cold rain drops spattering around. The return trip seemed even more laborious then on the way up (the leader fell into a long side-hill trap). At the minor saddle the main party huddled behind bushy pine trees avoiding stinging sleet and cold wind, while those non-adept side-hill stragglers struggled, exhaling blue curses at the leader. Seems very funny now.

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