head, but you will see few other vehicles and no one on the peaks, which often have no indication of a previous ascent. (On many of these, however, you will find registers placed by Gordon MacLeod in the name of the DPS.) For more information on how to visit this unique Arizona desert and mountain area, contact:

Commanding Officer
Range Management Department
Box 55220
Yuma, AZ 95365
602-341-3402

IBAPAH PEAK Gordon MacLeod and I climbed Ibapah Peak (l2,083'), high point of the Deep Springs Range in Utah, in late August 1593, on our way back from a summer of peak bagging in Colorado. (A writeup of a climb of this peak by Pete Yamagata appears in the Aug.-Oct. 1982 issue off the Desert Sage.) The driving directions and route description in 'Hiking the Great Basin' are still valid, but the quality off the Granite Creek Road has apparently deteriorated. People without 4WD are advised to park after 3.5 miles, before the first stream crossing, which is no longer an "easy ford". Thus the elevation gain is now 5800' with an additional 1.7 miles road walk. This took us "senior citizens" 11 hours round trip. Other options are to use a mountain bike or backpack--Granite Creek is a year-round stream and there is at least one other peak to be climbed. Vehicles with a short wheel base and high clearance MIGHT make it to the second stream crossing; its best to check on Foot First! (Four-wheel drivers can test their vehicles and skills by driving to the end of the jeep road at 8000'.)
The summit register book, an 8&1/2 X 11 ledger type that was placed in 1962, was filled by 1992 because many people insist on writing 'essays.' It is a surprisingly popular climb, mostly by Utahans but by others from as far away as Europe. The register container, a regular mailbox, is in good shape. Anyone climbing the peak should bring a BIG notebook.
This peak is definitely DPS List quality but since it would have little chance off ever being added, I recommended it as a great "Desert Explorers" peak, well worth climbing while in the Great Basin region. On a warm day a bath in Gandy (luke) warm springs is refreshing; the beauty of its setting alone is well worth the brief side trip.
(Notch Peak in the House Range of Utah and Morey Peak, high point of the Hot Creek Range in Nevada, are also especially worthy "Desert Explorer" peaks. Both are written up in "Hiking the Great Basin".)
Barbara Lilley

Dear Ron:

I just finished reading Igor Mamedalin's letter in the September Sage and I wanted to add my support to the idea of adding a new achievement award since the membership is reluctant to add to THE LIST. I've always thought the DPS list was too short. With less than one hundred peaks it is relatively easy to finish the list in less than five years.

I'd love to see more peaks added to the guide that involve class 3
 
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