SIERRA CLUB

DESERT PEAKS SECTION NEWSLETTER #16

December 1, 1951


Dear Desert Peaker:

Our 1951-52 climbing season really swung into high gear in a big way on the COSO-MATURANGO TRIP on October 20-21, when some 52 desert enthusiasts answered the roll call at the Darwin take-off point. Carefully laid plans by our leaders, Polly Connable and Ken Rich, the consideration of the authorities at the Inyokern Naval Ordnance test Station, our genial guide, Pop Sewell, a friendly weather man, and an intriguing seldom-visited area of our desert mountain domain combined to provide all who joined the trip with an immensely satisfying week-end.

The trip started in the flourishing little mining community of Darwin, where the Kennicott Copper Company is busy digging lead, silver and zinc out of the hills. From there we caravaned over dusty desert tracks into the naval reserve, winding around and over rolling desert foothills forested with Joshua trees, with the Coso Range to the west and the Argus Range on the east. We soon arrived at the old ghost town of Coso, where we lunched. After driving a short distance further we made the climb of Coso Peak through forests of pinons and junipers. This turned out to be an easy 4-1/2 hours round trip. We spent the night at another ghost town close by called Cole Spring. Wonderful water, a full moon, and a friendly campfire singing session made that camp spot memorable.

Next morning we drove via Junction Ranch to Tennessee Spring, whence we climbed Maturango Peak up its rugged southwest ridge. This peak is a bit longer and higher than Coso, yet some 40 persons, including three children, Kerry Rich and Jocelyn and Judith Delmonte, made both climbs. It was like old home week on the trip. Besides our leaders and the children were old stalwarts of the Southern California Chapter like the Hendersons, Henningers, Smiths, McLeans, Bears, John Delmonte and Roy Gorin, plus a retinue of 10 from San Diego led by Jerry Zagorites and Gene Vinson, and a group of about 6 follows from China Lake, including Harry Connable and Ray Van Akin. San Diego contributed two more members to our section on this trip by virtue of the fact that Skip Johnson and Bryce Miller completed their six required qualifying peaks over the week-end.

THE ANNUAL SIERRA CLUB BANQUET at the Breakfast Club on Nov. 10 once again found our Section teaming up with the San Diego Chapter. This time it was to fill a table of sociable and hungry diners. Everyone had a good time, showing up in his best bib and tucker for an evening of dancing. Once again the DPS proved itself one of the most active Sections in the Chapter by providing the only Section Exhibit at the banquet. Parker Severson and Willard Dean can take the bows for this. Parker organized things, while Willard provided as part of the exhibit the DPS Scrap Book on which he has done a lot of hard work. Your Chairman got a special kick out of the Banquet by virtue of enjoying a reunion with an old fraternity brother from Pomona College whom he hadn't seen in 15 years: none other than the speaker, Ass't Sec'y of the Interior, Dale Doty!
 
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