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Saturday morning at 6:30 all of the participants met shiveringly in a sportsman's cafe in Bridgeport. Frost was still on the ground, and everyone was. enjoying a warm and hearty breakfast. At 7;3O we left on Hwy 182 for Nevada, and then continued north on Hwy 338 to a dirt road going into Sweetwater Canyon. The road is reached after passing Sweetwater Ranch and just going over the divide. Turn left and drive 4.5 mi, or as far as you can go (about 8200'). All passenger cars made it without any problems. We started to hike at 9:00 following a steep road which turns into a trail on the right hand side of the canyon. After two miles there is a major canyon on the left leading to the saddle between the Patterson massif and a smaller peak to the left (you can not see the summit from here). The trail leads to the canyon, follow the canyon to the saddle, turn right and go for the summit. The weather was good, but it was cool and windy on the ridge and the summit. All except one made the peak. We returned to the cars at 4:00 pm, and were at the campsite at the site of Mono Mills on Hwy 120 at 6:00 pm to make the preparations! Some people have said that the DPS'ers have an insatiable desire for the spirit of life! I say, let those without guilt cast the first bottle@#no stone! But I must admit, lately our rejuvenation periods on Saturday nights have slowly sunk to the point where some members have been seen guzzling covertly before their car engines have stopped dieseling. Therefore the leaders decided to turn the tide and reintroduce these straying sheep to the more refined things in life such as wine and cheese tasting (not guzzling and wolfing) accompanied by a stimulating conversation. This was duly noted in the trip sheet. I must report that all of the participants supported this idea enthusiastically. There certainly were plenty of things to taste, and all of it was tasted. Some of the participants attempted to converse intellectually, but it did not last long since most of them wanted to sing. Now some of you have had the pleasure of hearing the nightingale voice of Jim Farkas. This night our pleasure was boundless. We also discovered a new songbird among ourselves, none other than Suzanne Thomas. Suzanne appeared to have some trace of voice training, while Jim is just natural. Sherry Harsh, as on all trips that she is on, was leading the rest of us in all kinds of one liner songs (nobody could remember the other lines) till well into the night. We have a newcomer who looks quite promising for these gatherings, John Sarna. We should keep cultivating him. Rose Certini and Mary Gygax, the resident language experts, were impressing all of us with many $20.00 words, they started this on the way down from Patterson. I wish they would explain them to me. I would like to thank Betsy Lutz for bringing that fine stuff in the frying pan. What was it? It tasted good. During the night I was awakened by this startling noise thinking that we were invaded by Hells Angels. But it turned out to be someone sleeping in "LeBurro" who sounded like a motorcycle without a muffler. |
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