normal route is to go left when the canyon forks. We went about 1/4 miles up the right canyon then cut left up over the ridge as a variation to avoid some bouldering. Follow the canyon around the north side of the peak until you are west of the peak then go up through boulders, rock, etc. to the summit ridge. Next was the step across and we were on top. Eighteen people made this peak; we had lost 5 to other interests. We went down the canyon this time just to vary the route and were out in time to drive most of the dirt road in the daylight. Dark caught us just before we made the highway. The weather was good for the whole weekend and it was a very nice trip. We may have to find a new route up Cerro Pescadores to avoid the fenced areas in the future. And if this is indeed a shooting club being built, then it would be even more desirable to find new routes. I almost forgot one item. On the Pico Risco climb we had one other climber who did not make the last 40 feet. We were accompanied from the Banos by a small dog. She seemed to like the climb or maybe it was the generous gringos with their day packs full of goodies that they were willing to share with a skilled beggar who could hear a daypack being opened from 50 yards.
INDIANHEAD	January 18, 1976	Leader: BOB CATES Asst: RON FRACISCO
At 7:00 am, with the temperature already beginning to soar, 12 addled Individuals gathered around the desert pup fish pond at the west end of the Borrego-Paim Canyon Campground. It was obviously going to be a cooker of a climb today on Indianhead's sunny south ridge. My only solace was that anyone, including the leader, who would show up In this kind of weather deserved to have his or her brain fried. On previous occasions I have found the slopes directly above the palm oasis to be hazardous due to rockfall. This time we found an excellent route starting about a hundred yards downstream of the main grove. A prominent water metering device stands at the base of the slope. HOT! HOT! HOT! I felt like Sisyphus, condemned to my corner of Hell, forever rolling a huge boulder to the top of the mount, only to have it roll down again. There were times I wished I could roll myself down this mount. Nevertheless, the high-angle friction slabs were overcome and the summit reached by the last climber (the leader, of course!) at 11:00 am. While recovering on the summit, in commemoration of the leader's third, and LAST, ascent of Indianhead, he was presented a solid brass Indian Head belt buckle by Maureen Schmidt, who was commemorating her second, and LAST, ascent. The group was led down the Class 2 route by Ron Fracisco and Jon Inskeep. Three of us stayed behind to regain our appetites, and to enjoy a more leisurely descent, arriving at the parking area at 3:15 pm, hoping never to see another boulder. . . at least until next weekend.
BOB CATES

Page Index	Prev	Page 8	Next	Issue Index