7.5 topos covering the area W of
Palen Mtn W. of Palen Pass, Palen Lake, and Palen Mt. The distance from hwy 177
to the parking spot near the mine is 14 miles. The road was reportedly built
for a mining investment scam presumably called "Ironwood," We started hiking at
8:15 AM and 11 made the summit (1 did not hike and 2 turned back) at 10:15 AM.
We were back at the vehicles at 1:20 PM. The route was to contour NE past 2
washes to the wash right of 542 (Palen nit. 1985 metric topo). The wash
branches several times as you hike uphill and east. Go right at the first main
branch on the topo and left at the next main branch. Near the summit head
toward the notch above you. The pale gray of the fairly steep cl. 2 upper gully
can be seen from a distance as it starts out from the darker red-brown of the
mt. This was my first time on this route as I'd previously done the pk. from
the so. via Arlington Mine Rd. John Vitz reportedly did the peak from the West.
As far as I know this was the first scheduled trip on this route. The return
route headed SW down the prominent ridge. This reconfirmed my prior view that
the gullies go better than the ridges on Palen Mtn! At about 2900' we headed
down a wash West/NW. At about 2000' hopped south over into next wash, then
straight to the vehicles. (4 hr. 5 min, 4,5 mi. rt, 2300' gain.) After a happy
hour (finished off Jesele's quiche) everyone headed home via Desert Center,
(Palen Pass Rd. is 17 miles no. of Desert Center). Thanks to Al & Dale for
vehicle towing, Dale for asst. ldr. for provisional ldr, trip....and Karen for
finding bunch of balloons near Palen!| Al Beyerle Don Cook Charlotte Ekback Bob Ferguson Karen Fiore |
Ron Leach Tesele Plantier Donna O'Shaughnessy Diane Rosentreter Bob Sumner |
George Tucker Dale van Dalsem Don Weiss Carolyn West |
 |
| Jacumba and Sombrero | 2-27/28-88 | Valkass and Jones |
Twenty-five participants met at the Imperial Hwy Monument on Hwy S2 just south of the Anza Borrego State Park. We caravaned in on Mortero Canyon road, 1/2 mi north of the meeting place. You follow the road to the FRR tracks, then go left about 1/2 mi, where you see a crossing going across the track. Turn right and go to the next fork, and stay to the left. Continue till you reach Dos Cabezas Spring. This is one of the trailheads for Jacumba, and also was our campsite. From the spring we ascended directly in southwest direction, trying to pick the easiest route. On the first part there are a lot of large boulders which require considerable route finding. After you reach the flat area, anything goes. If the group likes rocks, this is a great way. Everyone except two, reached the summit. This hike was a practice for Cinco de Mayo celebration, so everyone was requested to participate in a Mexican costume. Ron and I were the only ones in a costume, one or two others had some Mexican clothing, the rest were plain dull.