Fifty years later, the Desert Peaks Section, celebrated their golden anniversary by recreating, as closely as possible the inaugural hike. Angles Chapter leaders Igor Mamedalin and Ron Jones announced the climb for the weekend of November 16-17, 1991 in Schedule #258.
The usual climb of New York Butte has now days been trivialized by a difficult 4WD approach to within one mile of the rocky, pinyon covered summit. The 1991 anniversary climb though, was made via the original route from the floor of the Owens Valley. After spending Friday night at Red Rock Canyon State Park, 22 of us caravanned up to Lone Pine and then to the site of the now dry Dead Mule Springs at 3,700 feet. Here the group was surprised with the appearance of the original register sign-in book containing the signatures of all the climbers from 1941 to 1988. It had been brought down from the top as it was full and given to Ron a few years ago.
We backpacked 5-1/2 miles up Long John Canyon past the Black Warrior mine to Pinyon Camp. The next morning we started hiking the remaining 8-1/2 miles to the summit on the old mining trail leading to the Burgess silver mine. By 8 AM the first flurries of snow were felt but we pressed on, arriving at the summit by 11 AM. The views across to the Sierra and down to Saline Valley were totally obscured by light snow and clouds and the temperature was 35 degrees with a 20 mile an hour wind blowing. Shivering and cold, everyone signed in the new register book and, after only 15 minutes on top, we hurried down out of the snow and wind for lunch and to reminisce over our hikes and adventures of the past. We were sorry not to be able to properly celebrate the occasion with a leisurely stay on top. The descent down to camp and out was uneventful and dry. We arrived at our cars at last dusk after our 21-1/2 mile celebration. Thanks to Igor for a fine assist!
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Several new faces showed up at the mouth of Keystone Canyon Saturday morning. Not only was Ken McElvany finally participating in his first DPS trip, but my son Brad, who is still recovering from major knee surgery, and his friend Joe Schaak from Mt Baldy Village came along for the rides. We consolidated cars and drove quickly up the canyon as far as the 4WDs would go. The first thing I heard when we got out of the cars was Bill Banks saying "many times, but never from here!". Larry and I checked the map and terrain and figured that either our compasses were both off or we were in the wrong canyon. So we descended and took the "gray" road that led up to the proper trailhead. At around 8:30 we walked up to the mine, which had rusty, frozen water oozing from the entrance, and started up the ridge. We kept to the right while trying to "stay on the back of her", as Bill Banks kept hinting to me. With lots of his help and hints, we contoured high on the ridge, finally reaching a point northeast of the saddle where we could see New York Mtn. The "bowl" leading to the summit ridge is steep, and we kept contouring higher and higher until directly across from the peak. At this point, we dropped down, crossed Caruthers Canyon, and climbed up to the |
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