Sunday morning we drove over Towne Pass to Stovepipe Well. From there we took the dirt road that skirts the airfield and heads for Cottonwood Canyon. This was our first time in Cottonwood Canyon; it is certainly worth returning to for camping and exploring. From the roadend, we headed west following the intermittent trail along Cottonwood Stream. Our determination of summitting on Canyon Point languished as we stopped to sniff the abundant blooming flowers and to admire the towering cottonwood trees along the way. At Cottonwood Springs, the lunch deteriorated into an afternoon nap. As we headed back to the trucks, peakless, we resolved to return in the fall, when the cottonwood leaves turn color. Yes, the proper way to do Canyon Point is to backpack in to the springs, enjoy the ambience and to climb the peak in leisure.

On the way home, we missed the opportunity to return Chessie back to John and Wendy in Ballarat; they left twenty minutes before we arrived. Chessie got to accompany us home to spend another night with us and wait for John to pick her up on Monday. Many thanks to Dr. J and Sue for the company and to John and Wendy for the dog. As leaders, we are learning that rescheduling a scheduled trip is equivalent to canceling the trip.
Indianhead & Sombrero
May 2-3, 1992 Tidball/Oliver

Reports from a group that had been in this area a week before had indicated that the weather had been very hot. This heat discouraged some of those that had signed up for the trip. However, we had some unexpected participants show up at the trailhead so we still had a total of 10 on the trip. Scheduled co-leader Scot Jamison had to cancel. so Bill Oliver consented to take his place. We started Out at 7:00AM and it was already getting warm (should have started at 6:00). We followed route "B" up Palm Canyon with a little scare from a rattlesnake on the trail not far from the cars. We were pushing the pace to get through with the bike before it got any hotter. Balancing the extra heat of a faster pace against the increasing heat of the day as we continued up the ridge to the peak. From summit we descended the shorter, steeper route "A". Several hundred feet below the summit I notice that the top of my pack was open. I didn't think anything was missing until later I discovered that I had lost a Green Sunglasses Case. So if you should find it, let me know. Upon reaching Palm Canyon we all cooled off at creek, dipping our heads in the water and wiping wet bandannas over our skin. Upon reaching the Visitor Center we discovered that it was 95°. After touring the Visitors Center. we caravaned on down to the Northern trailhead for Sombrero Peak. We camped here and had a potluck dinner and happy-hour. A ranger stopped by our camp to see what was going on. Sunday we got an earlier start and the day was cooler as we hiked to the peak, again having a close encounter with a rattlesnake along the way.

Larry

Mt. Dubois and Continuation of the Northern White Range Traverse
September 11-13, 1992 - Steve Smith and Fred Camphausen

This was a continuation of last summers attempt to traverse the entire White Mountain Range from the Barcroft roadhead, north across White Mountain and along the crest to Queen Canyon. Unlike last year, the weather this year was perfect and the trip was completed as planned.

Campy and I were joined by Morgan Irby, Dave Mason, Ted Pinson, and Gail Hanna. Dave was our only returnee from last year and was also wanting to finish hiking the central portion of the crest. Ted's motivation was Mt. Dubois - one of his remaining four DPS peaks to finish the list which he has been working on since the 1950's.
 
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