"There almost certainly was some religious value to this site," he says. "We can't discount the possibility. But the archeological record is silent on that point."
Now that the Alto Toquima site has been excavated. Thomas hopes the U.S. Forest Service, which controls the area, will be able to protect it. But just in case the site proves too remote to be watched closely, he is taking care not to give too many people directions to Alta Toquima.
The village is not easy to spot. The first known white explorer in Nevada. Jedediah Smith, came within 10 miles of the site in 1826. Naturalist John Muir came within a few miles of it in about 1877. And shepherds camped only a few hundred yards away and apparently never spotted the ruins.
Because of the arid Nevada climate, there was little erosion. After the passage of hundreds of years, only the trees used to roof the pit houses had rotted away.
Thomas brought a core crew of 13 scientists and excavators up the mountain, along with other specialists who made short visits. From the base, it's a two-day climb - a distance
Despite some advance training for the expedition, crew members at first suffered from altitude sickness, a combination of headaches and flu-like symptoms and general lethargy.
Although adjustments to altitude came after a week or so, they still had to fight the cold - midsummer temperatures low enough at night to freeze water in a pan left out for Thomas' dog.
In the final week of the dig, in mid-August with daytime temperatures in the high 90s in valleys below, the archeologists were hit by hail and snow and an awesome display of lightning.
Team members even took to wearing earplugs so the moaning winds that rushed over their campsite wouldn't keep them awake at night. They had to pitch tents in the open because the only nearby protected site was the Indian village they were excavating.
The expedition members' only contact with the outside was a two-way radio used to check in with a Forest Service office in Tonopah. Occasional drop-in visitors, Forest Service pack mules bringing supplies and a rare helicopter stop provided the only breaks in the day-today routine of digging and sifting through earth at the village site.
BOUNDRY & MONTGOMERY MAY 15-16, 1982 (Private trip) G. Toby
Sat- George Toby, Sue Wyman, Paul Edwards, and Vic Henney met at the Country Kitchen in Big Pine for a leisurely breakfast. We took Cal 168 over Westgard Pass and an to the junction with Cal. 266. The Trail Canyon turnoff is 34.4 miles from the junction and is marked with a sign. In Nevada, Cal 266 becomes Nev 264. The small town of Dyer is 15.6 miles from the hwy junction. We took the dirt road West 11 miles to its end at the Trail Canyon trailhead. As dirt roads go this road is in fair condition. Two vw's made it easily but longer wheel base ears would have a rough time. The weather was great and we arrived at base camp in two hours in early afternoon. Camp was in a beautiful wooded area at the head of the canyon at 10,200'. The entire canyon is overrun with wild mustangs and their droppings are everywhere. The water is thoroughly contaminated. We packed in our water. However there were a lot of snow banks in the shady areas in the trees. The afternoon was dreamed away absorbing the beauty of the area.
Sunday dawned crisp and beautiful - We headed up a prominent gully SW that intersects the ridge to Boundary. There was snow almost all the way. We climbed the ridge to Boundary and more or less followed it to Montgomery. We actually climbed the snow slightly below the ridge and to the right until we got close to the peak; then we hit the ridge to the summit. On the return we found it was easier to take the ridge all the way. Champagne toasts were raised on the summit. George Toby, Sue Wyman, and Vic Henney all won their DPS Emblems on Montgomery. Three out of four is a .750 batting average. Not too shabby; just might be a DPS record. The descent and hike back to the cars was a pleasant experience, propelled a bit by the champagne. It is a long drive back. We arrived home about midnight to wrap up a very enjoyable DPS climb. These are two fine peaks, and Montgomery is deserving of its emblem status.
