DOUG MANTLE BAGS "SEVEN
SUMMITS"
ON KOSCIUSKO
February 18, 1994
Private Trip
by Duane McRuer
|
On Friday, 18 February 1994 Doug Mantle topped
Mount Kosciusko (2228 m, 7,310 ft), the highest peak in Australia. This almost
trivial hike was the last of the seven continental highpoints for him, ending a
sequence which started over twenty years ago. He had previously climbed
McKinley (N. America), Aconcagua (S. America), Elbrus (Europe), Kilimanjaro
(Africa), Everest (Asia). and the Vinson Massif (Antarctica).
Doug was
accompanied by seven friends (Vi Grasso, Mary and Rayne Motherall, Katie and
Bob Hicks, and Betty and Duane McRuer), who had gone to Australia to be present
at this conclusive event. In spite of our entreaties, Doug refused to state
that this last great assault was also the most difficult-perhaps it was the
presence of a class of middle school students and their instructors who shared
the summit with us which kept him from such an admission. On the other hand, it
might have been the possibility that less energetic hikers could gain the peak
via a chair lift, followed by six kilometers on a steel grid work track plus
one kilometer on an old road.
While climbing the seven continental
summits is a most remarkable feat, a very few others have also done so
(although I know of no other Sierra Club member who is in this distinguished
company). Other Mantle exploits are unique, including finishing:
The
Angeles Chapter Sierra Peaks Section (SPS) list (247 Sierra Nevada peaks) four
times (no one else has done this more than once).
The Angeles Chapter
Desert Peaks Section (DPS) list (97 desert peaks in California, Nevada,
Arizona, Utah, and Mexico) three (almost four) times (no one else has done this
more than twice).
The Hundred Peaks List three (one to go for four)
times making a triple-triple (no one else has more than once).
On his
way he has also climbed the high points of all the western states (the "harder"
US high points) and the Mexican volcanoes in the Northern Western Hemisphere,
Huascaran and Chimborazo in the Southern Western Hemisphere, Kenya in Africa,
Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and others in Europe, Mt. Cook in New Zealand, |
and such assorted major climbs here
and there as the Grand Teton and others in the Tetons, Mount Ararat, etc.
On the next day (February 19) he climbed Kosciusko again, and also went
over to Mount Townsend (2209m), Australia's second highest. Thus, he has a
start on the second time around for the highest, or the first time around for
the second highest, of the continents. Of course, he's well along for the
latter, with Africa and South America already out of the way -- but Mt Tyree
(16,290 ft, in Antarctica) and K2 are very tough!
CORKSCREW AND CANYON POINT
February 26-27, 1994
Greg and Mirna Roach
by Greg Roach |
On Friday evening Mirna and I drove to Death
Valley. We arrived at the trailhead for Corkscrew Peak at about 10:30 PM and
decided to look for a place to camp. After looking at the map we chose the road
to Chloride City (ghost town) that is about 3 miles north of the trailhead. We
turned off the main road on to a dirt road leading to Chloride City. In half
mile we spotted a flat place to park and camp. It looked as if it was out of
site of the highway. In the morning we were greeted by the Death Valley
National Monument Ranger who informed us of the rules for camping in the
National Monument. You must be one mile off the main road and out of site.
Thank goodness he did not give us a ticket. So when camping in the National
Monument remember the first rule is to "Obey all rules" Big brother is
watching. There may be good campsites further up this road toward Chloride City
-- that would be "legal".
The hike to Corkscrew started as planned at
7:30 AM. We followed the route in the Guide that went very nicely and we were
up to the summit by noon. This peak offers a grand view of Death Valley. We
identified Thimble Peak to the North and it looks like an interesting peak to
climb. Thimble Peak may be a good exploratory climb. I understand that it can
be done from Titus Canyon. We got down from the Corkscrew peak around 2:30 PM
and drove out of the National Monument to Nevada. We found a good din road,
settled there, and had our happy hour combined with dinner. Mirna made her
f~bu1ous vegetarian tacos, Bill Stevens brought his most famous Julian apple
pie, and the rest of the group brought some hors d'oeuvres.
The next
day (Sunday) we drove over to Stovepipe Wells and took the dirt road to
Cottonwood Canyon. There is no camping allowed off this road until you're 8
miles from |