Last but not least, I would like to make a public apology for those on this trip whom I referred to as SLOW. I don' t know what came over me.
My thanks to Mary Gygax and Dale Van Dalsen for helping with the two groups, and Randy Bernard for assisting on this trip.
The participants were: Bob Michael, Randy Bernard, Julie Bernard, Bobby Dubeau, Martha Florez, Tom and Karen Ferguson, Mark Gunion, Karen Leonard Julie King, Celeste Hawksley, Asher Waxman, Gail Hanna, Terry Sutor, Ron Young, Bill Banks, Treva Tilden, Marti Washburne, Bill Faulkner, Yolanda and Mario Gonzalez, Jon Fredland, Dale Van Dalsen, Bob Watson, Steve Crooks, Jim Farkas, Zack and Steve Zoschke, Mary Gygax, Ron Bartel, Christine Mitchell, John McCully, Jim Raiford, Anna Valkass, Igor Mamedalin, Tanya Mamedalin, Susanne Thomas, John Gibba, Jim Cantrell and Don Cook.
| INYO, KEYNOT, NEW YORK BUTTE, & PLEASANT | May 9-10, 1987 Mamedalin/Schumacher |
Originally, this climbing event was billed to include a climb of Nelson Peak on Saturday and of the remaining four on Sunday, as an extended dayhike. However, due to the popular outcry and the leaders' innate sensibilities, the trip was scaled down to mortal level and converted to a two day 26+ mile backpack of the four Inyo ridge peaks.
At 5:30 am Saturday morning, thirteen mortal souls gathered outside of Lone Pine Station in quest of adventure. The skies were specked with remnants of the preceding night's showers. Three 4WD vehicles were used to set up the car shuttle by leaving two vehicles at the foot of Inyo Peak (end of a poor road about seven miles northeast of Lone Pine Station): The remaining vehicles were used to carry everyone up a well graded dirt road to Cerro Gordo. From Cerro Gordo we drove another mile to a saddle on the Swansea road (3rd class) where we parked and mounted our packs onto our eager backs (with 10 to 12 quarts of water each). The adventure began.
Following an old pipeline trail we soon. rejoined the Swansea jeep road northwest of Pleasant. Dumping the heavy packs, all scampered up the class 2 slopes of Pleasant for a "pleasant" view of the surrounding vistas and of our ultimate destinations in the far distance. After returning to the packs, we continued the stroll along the Swansea road as scattered clouds drifted over the ridge. The temperature was perfect and the view of thunderclouds forming over the Sierras was spectacular. Unfortunately, the thunderclouds caught up with us as we ate lunch at the old salt mine tramway, a historic site.
Scattered drizzles accompanied us on our way to Burgess Mine. As we neared Burgess Mine the distance between the front and the rear of the group began to grow: one of the thirteen mortals was feeling ill (headache and nausea, diagnosed as altitude sickness). In the shelter of the Burgess Mine cabin (with primitive fireplace) we waited for the thunderclouds to pass and attempted to nurse the ill climber back to health. With neither objective realized (clouds still drizzling and climber still ill) and with cabin fever mounting after the two hour confinement, we ventured on toward New York Butte now only two miles away. After climbing New York Butte, camp was made early a few hundred feet from. the top, With ample wood around us, a bonfire was kept fueled all night to keep Jim Farkas warm (he chose to travel light without a sleeping bag). Everyone stayed dry through the night as thundershowers managed skirted around our campsite (were we mortal?).