 |
Needle Peak (5805'). Leaving
the cars at 10:30 we elected to go counterclockwise (south) around the hill in
front of us, following essentially the route marked on the map in the DPS
Guide. The route took us up and down across a series of medium-sized gullies,
over a larger shelf of white limestone and, turning to the right, up the canyon
to a high dividing ridge. Here we turned left (east) to follow the quickly
steepening ridge, up over much loose rock in a gully to a false summit which we
by-passed to the right. Here we could see the actual summit across a deeper
saddle. In a short time we were all on the summit itself to relax, sign-in, and
enjoy the expansive views of Death Valley to the east. For Jerry Hanes and Ron
Matson, this was their first desert peak with the DPS. After some lunch, photo
opportunities, etc., Ed Lubin retraced our route back to the cars, arriving
about 4:15pm. Based or, Andy Zdon's recommendation and photograph, it had been our original intent to camp at Russell Camp, located at the base of a canyon below Manly Peak. However, a quick reconnaissance found the Grand View Spring cabin and Russell Camp already occupied so we decided to camp for the night in the level space back at Willow Spring. Ed Lubin had designed a sheet metal fire ring (see footnote below) intended to contain a campfire and was anxious to test it so we had a fine campfire to accompany our snacks, jug wine, and dinner. While we sat around and talked, it began to thunder and lightning in the distance while banks of clouds covered up the brilliant stars. A few drops of rain precipitated a rapid exudus from the campfire to shelter; it actually did rain for awhile but not enough to inconvenience anyone. Manly Peak (7196'). The morning of the 10th was initially overcast but turned bright and clear with last night's clouds totally dissipated. At 7:00am we caravanned back up the dirt road to park our cars outside the fence surrounding the cabin at Grand View Spring. It was a short hike over the ridge to Russell Camp where we headed up the canyon to the saddle at the head of the canyon. At the saddle we turned right to follow the long sandy ridge up almost to point 2165-T below which we contoured up the ridge leading to the summit. We were at the summit block at about 11:15am. The jumble of vertical boulders at the summit discouraged most climbers but Ed Lubin, John Thomasen, and Tom Moumblow chimneyed their way up a slanting crack to the right from which they could move up to the highest point. They handed down the register which had beer, moved from the base to the summit block where it is now more or less permanently fixed. We generally agreed that the pitch was more like Class-4 than Class-3. Most could have climbed it with a top rope but without a rope it was too risky. The return trip was fast with the loose sand now a boor, rather than an impediment. We were down to the cars by 2:30pm and, after exploring the two cabins, we caravanned our way back over Mengel Pass and down Goler Wash (Canyon) without incident. Tom Moumblow's skillful driving brought even his 2WD truck over the worst of the rough road. Back at Ballarat we parted company after a most satisfying week-end climb in, a remote and beautiful desert area. |
 |