With the approach of the 20th century, other names began to appear. Two of these names - "Calamahue Mtn. and "Pica de Santa Catalina" - were used for only a short period, then discarded. "Calamahue Mtn" appears to have been used by some miners who visited the Sierra San Pedro Martir in the 1890's; When they left, the name ceased to be used. "Santa Catalina" appeared on many maps between the turn of the century and the early 1930's. The name was foreign to Baja natives, and its origin is unclear (Researching this subject is quite difficult; adequate references just aren't available)
By 1924 "Cerro de La Encantada" began to replace "Santa Catalina" and "La Providencia" on many maps. Today this name appears on all Mexican maps and on the vast majority of foreign maps, and has become the official Mexican government's name for the peak. "La Encantada" (The Enchanted One) is the name of a large meadow high on the San Pedro Martir Plateau. It was apparently extended to the high point of Baja, about eight miles east of the meadow. Whoever dubbed the peak "Cerro" must have never seen it: "Cerro" means hill, or rounded mountain - obviously not descriptive of Baja's rugged high point.
Most American climbers - the ones who climb the peak - reject all these names, including the official Mexican one, for the more appropriate and descriptive "EL Picacho del Diablo" (The Peak of the Devil). "Diablo" is also used by some of the residents on the west side of the San Pedro Martir, who have gazed upon its awesome precipices from the eastern rampart of the great plateau.
Which name is justified - "EL Picacho del Diablo" or "Cerro de La Encantada"? Obviously, the former is much more descriptive of the rugged nature of the peak. Based on the nature of the peak alone "Diablo" has more merit. However, one consideration overrules all others - the right of Mexico to name her own peaks. Since "Cerro de La Encantada" is the official Mexican name for Baja's high point, it should be accepted. Those unwilling to accept this name, especially the "Cerro" part, should direct their protests to the Mexican government. Upon seeing close-up pictures of the rugged peak, perhaps they might change the name to a compromising "Picacho de La Encantada"?      -JWR
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TRIPS COMING UP
See Angeles Chapter, Sierra Club, Schedule #174 and #175 for full details.

Feb. 29-Mar 1: PICACHO PEAK (1947') Arkel Erb
March 7-8: EL MAJOR (Baja California) Harry Melts, Arky Erb
March 21-22: COSO MTN. (8156') Bob Greenawalt, Hugh Parshall
April 4-5: NOPAH PK. (6394') Abe Siemens
April 18-19: MUMMY MTN (Nevada) Ed Lane, Arkel Erb

All of these trips involve stimulating and enjoyable climbs. Two of them, EL Major and Mummy Mtn, are being scheduled by the section for the 1st time.

NON-SCHEDULED OUTINGS

BARRANCA DEL COBRE: A Christmas adventure in the wilds of Mexico's Sierra Madre Occidental              - Trudie Hunt

Over Christmas two car loads of Sierra Clubbers including Bob Boyd, Inez Brush, Anona Maxley Tom and Trudie Hunt visited the remote Grand Canyon of Mexico in the state of Chihuahua Southwest of Chihuahua (city) at the town of Cuahtemoc the pavement ends. This town, as others in this area, is surprising because of the German speaking Mennonites living in neat isolated farm units nearby. From here to Creel the Auto Club map proved completely useless. Even on those roads it would not take a day and a half to travel the "49" miles from La Junta to Creel. Of course there were 45 stream crossings no road signs at the junctions, icy spots on grades, rough volcanic rock. Similarly it took us
 
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