a.m. and soon back to camp where we
ended the official part of the flip. Everyone went home except for Tom who went
off to Old Dad and Asher and I who went to Clark Mountain.
CLARK
MOUNTAIN: Asher and I had a leisurely climb of Clark and ran into Erik and
Bob coming down the third class pitch. It was a bit damp and slippery which
spawned some interesting discussion. On the way down below the pitch we crossed
to the leftward ridge and visited the remains of a small plane that had
crashed. Let me tell you we had a great weekend.
Stateline Climbs
(or Peaks
Between Beers)
MCCULLOUGH, AVAWATZ, CLARK
March 19-20, 1994,
Erik
Siering & Bob Sumner
Private Trip |
Saturday morning, to vigorous nonverbal gestures
amid a driving downpour, Bob and I parted company with the Dan Richter/Asher
Waxman DPS group near the Kingston Peak trailhead. We had originally planned on
Clark and Avawatz, but were dissuaded by the thundershowers. Ten resolute
DPSer's nonetheless trod off in the wetness, while we drove to Stateline.
Nevada in search of more hospitable environs. This we found at the Prima
Donna/Whiskey Pete's casinos where, after a filling breakfast buffet, we waited
for a break in the weather while appreciating early morning draft beers and the
lithesome waitresses. A tour of the complex included a balky monorail ride over
the I-15, the infamous Bonnie & Clyde "death car," and plans revealed for a
major casino expansion and immense roller coaster park (Buffalo Bill' s). Our
thoughts occasionally touched on the Kingston party's fate and evident
insanity.
It cleared somewhat at mid-morning, so we headed to the
northern side of McCullough Mtn. The drive consisted of good dirt powerline
road, favored by a loitering herd of doleful sheep, which was followed by a
long stretch of sandy and rocky 4wd wash to the trailhead cabin. The short hike
up followed easy ridges to the summit, where more heavy weather was seen
approaching from the west. Our descent was rapid and dry. We were back to
Whiskey Pete's by two for an early happy hour. As evening drew near and the
storm clouds parted, we drove to the Avawatz turnoff, soon joined by the DPS
group back from its successful, if wet, Kingston ascent. Camp was a good windy
flat spot a mile off the highway. |
Our Sunday morning drive into the
4wd trailhead south of Avawatz was uneventful: the canyon rock slide obstacle
had been cleared (thank-you!) and the crux car move was less than so. The ridge
top hike went quickly under clearing skies (E. Avawatz does seem more
distinctive, so Bob and I were at the Clark trailhead by noon. It should be
noted that the 2wd drive into the campground has been supplemented by numerous
new powerline roads criss-crossing the area. The climb followed the primary
route through healthy pinyon pine on loose, muddy slopes. After hesitating, 1
followed Bob up the now slippery steep c13 move onto the ridgeline. From here
we saw Dan and Asher approaching on the road, sans group, having finished their
lead. The summit vista was expansive. On our descent, we met Dan and Asher at
the c13 crack. Their rope being available, I used it on the downclimb here;
however, consensus had it easier than the upclimb and the rope unnecessary
throughout. Everyone took the neighboring ridge down to view the airplane crash
wreckage; Dan and Asher found it by traversing high enough. it was then back to
Los Angeles, and news of an aftershock, to close an entertaining weekend!
Larry Tidball/Judy Ware
List
Finisher/UFO Watch
NELSON RANGE
26 March, 1994
by Scott
Jamison |
It was raining all week in LA, and snowing in the
Sierra. but very few cancellations were tendered for this special list
finisher. We even got some spouses and significant others to join the throng in
the Saline Valley for the hike and the party.
Larry and Barbee Tidball
joined Scot and Pat Jamison by "wimping out" and spending Friday night at the
new Alabama Hills Motel in Lone Pine. This led to a wild race across Death
Valley (after a nice breakfast in Lone Pine) to the meeting place on the Saline
Valley Road at 9 Am. where we met several hardier soles who froze their
fistachetts off that night camping in the area.
We carpooled over to
the trailhead of Nelson, where 23 hikers started for the snow-covered peak.
Karen Leonard was nursing a sprained ankle that refused to go up hill, so she
returned to guard the cars while we hiked. After a couple of false summits, 22
people and Ruskee the dog met on top to celebrate Larry and Judy Ware's
completion of the Desert Peaks List.
Champagne corks (saved by RJ
Secor) popped, and snacks abounded. While Scot fumbled with a new video |