LINCOLN'S BIRTHDAY IN DEATH VALLEY, Feb. 11-13 by Bob Bear
25 of us enjoyed a balmy week-end around Death Valley camping, hiking and sightseeing during Lincoln's Birthday. The main event was the climb of Avawatz Peak. One of the more elusive summits on the List of qualifying Desert Peaks. With a 2-1/2 mile head start provided by jeep and pickup truck, 16 persons scrambled and plodded up colorful Sheep Canyon and over the summit plateau to the top in a surprisingly short time. Among those enjoying early lunch with an expensive view beside the 6154' summit bench mark were three youngsters: Kathy and Peter Kent and Betsy Bear.
While most were climbing, five drove over to Shoshone to enjoy the free public swimming pool. Those that were able to spend a third day on the week-end enjoyed the last day cavorting in the sand dunes and taking in other Death Valley attractions.
OLD WOMAN STATUE, PAINTED ROCK, AND TURTLE PEAK, Feb. 18-19 by Harry Melts
Saturday 9 persons reached the interesting hem line of 0ld Woman Statue, a great granite monolith climbable only by means of direct aid hardware. Painted Rock was reached from a point on the road only a few hundred yards away. It has Indian hieroglyphs and a stagnant spring beside it. Sunday the same number of persons climbed Turtle Peak (4231'), an impressive looking mountain with superb views from the top, especially towards Carson Peak at the north end of the range. It turned out that Turtle Peak is not the high point of the range. The highest point is unnamed and a non-impressive ridge about five miles southeast of Turtle Peak. It will be scheduled in conjunction with Mopah Peak next winter.
This raises an interesting question. Should the highest peak of a range always be the qualifying peak, or should it be the most impressive one offering the best views and best climbing? Mopah Peak, a qualifying peak in the neighboring Mopah Range, is not the highest summit in that range, but it is by far the most impressive. You will have an opportunity to vote on this issue at a future DPS meeting after the high point of the Turtles has been scheduled.
| EAGLE MTN.
(5347'), March 12 by John Robinson |
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14 DPSers and friends assembled at the Cottonwood Springs Campground on the bright sunny morning of March 12th. Our destination was Eagle Mtn. Starting out at a moderate pace, we followed the Lost Palms Trail to where it intercepted a large wash. Leaving the trail here, we followed the wash and crossed the desert floor about 3 miles to the Eagle Ridge under an increasingly hot sun. Our real climbing began with the scramble up the ridge. The summit is at the far end of the semi-circular ridge that is covered with desert foliage in bloom. An occasional cool breeze was welcomed by the hot hikers. 11 of the 14 starters reached the summit to enjoy the all-encompassing view. All were back to the cars by mid-afternoon. |