SCHEDULED TRIPS
RABBIT PEAK	Dec, 1, 1973	SMITH/VASEY
Fifth year for Fran's Frolic up Rabbit Peak. Probably due to the gasoline situation, there were on-half the usual number of interested participants, and one-half the usual number of climbers that showed up. Meeting place was AVE 74 which made it an easy matter of caravaning in to the roadhead. Easy, that is, except for where the "used-to-be" road leaves the levee to go one-half mile to the parking area. Only three cars were used to get in this year, because the road has really deteriorated. Shortly after dawn (still a dawn to dusk climb), twelve starters headed up the alluvial fan trail, into and up the large canyon to the left, over a headwall, up fairly steep slopes not via trail, but back onto a trail up a steeper slope, and out onto a plateau where the two-day trips used to sleep overnight. Then the real Rabbit starts with the hardest elevation gain to an outcrop at the southeast end of Rabbit's ridge, and on up the ridge for the final thousand feet of gain to the summit. Two climbers failed to make the peak, but might return next year for another try. One had successfully made the climb three of the previous four years with me but had leg problems this year. Two hours on the ridge were in clouds which came up the west slope driven by a cold wind. Ten signed the register and no time was wasted in starting back down to warmer and less breezy weather conditions. A new route was followed from the ridge outcrop straight down a steep rocky chute to the plateau. From the plateau, this route looks as though it would not go, but now we know it does with a few easy class three spots. Routine trail finished up the outing and all twelve people were back before dusk, but barely.
BIG MARIA MTN, PALEN MTN	3/l6-l7/74	JOHN BACKUS
Unfortunately, we picked a hot weekend for this climb. About a dozen-and-a-half people met at the power line crossing on the Midland road above Blythe, We then caravaned along the power line road to pole #45-l to start hiking. The route is up a large wash into a canyon, up the left fork of this canyon to the saddle between the north and south summits, then along the ridge to the north peak. The temperature was into the 90's, but everyone made the peak. The next task was to find the roadhead for Palen Mtn. After considerable discussion, consulting of maps, etc., we found the proper road and drove in as far as we felt advisable, where we camped. Sunday morning we started early (remembering the heat of the day before) and drove a couple of miles further, in the more fearless vehicles, to the point where further driving became obviously impossible. The route from here was up the main canyon to the west, then up a side canyon just east of the peak almost to a saddle, then up the ridge to the peak. We reached the peak about 11:00 am. Until now the heat was bearable, as there was considerable shade in the canyon, but on the way down the shade had gone and it was even hotter than the day before. Everyone was very happy to get back to the cars and cold drinks by mid-afternoon, to prepare for the drive home.
PICACH0 DEL DIABLO	EASTER,l974	PAUL LIPSOHN
The idea of escaping the long boulder-hopping route to Big Picacho was spawned several years ago while dodging rattlesnakes at the 3000' level in Diablo Canyon. The plateau had been thoroughly explored, Gorin's Gully had been ascended (and descended), and the route from Campo Noche was long established. Little remained but to put the three together.

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