RE: BROWN & POTOSI 3/28-29/92, TRIP REPORT FOR "DESERT SAGE"

WE TURNED BACK ON POTOSI DUE TO THE WEATHER, AND ARE GOING TO REATTEMPT ON 5/10/92, WITH MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE ON THE FIRST TRIP. PAUL AND I WILL SUBMIT A COMBINED REPORT FOLLOWING.

ED LUBIN

TRIP REPORT

OLD WOMAN MOUNTAIN, PAINTED CAVE AND WARD VALLEY

March 28-29, 1992

Leader: Dean Acheson; Assistant: Ron Jones

My wife Pat and I met up with Ron and Leora Jones riding in the famous brown "LE BURRO" Friday night on I-40 just west of Barstow. We proceeded to a makeshift camp at the Florence mine near Old Woman Mountain.

Saturday morning was accompanied by a battle between sunshine and fog. The Shacklefords arrived, followed shortly by none other than Dick Hingson, LA Chapter conservation coordinator.

Six attempted the peak and six made the peak, despite continual attempts by the fog to provide us with near zero visibility. Thunder threatened all around us, but we managed to make it back to our cars by mid-afternoon without the need of rain gear.

We then proceeded caravan style to a privately owned campsite near Painted Cave, a small cave containing an Indian pictograph. (I had previously obtained permission for us to use this site from the owner.) Our journey to this site was turned into an adventure by puddles, small lakes, mud and washouts, courtesy of the heavy rains which had fallen in the desert below while we were busy climbing Old Woman. With the help of 4-wd and tow ropes, all vehicles arrived just before dark.

We were joined several hours later by a group of Greenpeace supporters from San Diego. They came up especially to visit the Ward Valley dump site with us, and had navigated here by aiming for our campfire which they could see for miles away. In addition to their fine spirits, they contributed live serenade with voice, guitars and congas. The natural mini-amphitheater around the campfire turned this into a special and unique event.

We were told that a group of Indians might come through sometime during the night. We found out that not only was this place an ancient, sacred Indian site, but the Indians of the area to this day regularly use it for their special ceremonies.
 
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