Eleven were sent on ahead under the leadership of Jess Logan. This fast group reached the summit in 2 hours from camp and were on their way down by the time the main party of 22 reached the top. The two regular leaders stayed with the main group, which took an extra hour for the ascent. They were joined by three one-day marathoners - Ruth Karimi, Jim Powers, and Ron Jones - who had left the cars early that morning. Ron started after the other two and reached the summit 4-1/2 hour's after leaving the roadhead - possibly a record.

36 signed the new Sierra Club summit register and congratulated Lothar Kolbig on attaining his emblem. A tired but satisfied Parker Severson wrote the following summit lament into the new register:
Alas, what prompts we mortals so vain, to pursue this mighty sore-muscle game. Plodding with sweat and tears through storm and rain, to crown these noble summits with our name?

The summit stay was short. The long return was via a little-known spring below the east flank of the peak. Flashlights danced across the desert floor as the last weary climbers moved toward the cars well after dark. "Wild Rabbit" had again been tamed.

26 YEARS OF WILD RABBIT

26 years have passed since Sierra Clubbers first took an interest in Rabbit Peak. The following is a thumbnail sketch of the notable Rabbit ascents by club members. It is not a complete record and makes no attempt to chronicle the numerous Boy Scout ascents of the peak. (* - DPS trip.)
 
1938: First recorded ascent on Feb. 19-20 by Randall Henderson, John Hilton, Wilson McKenney, Jim Lyons, John Veyers, and Lloyd Hall. The route was from the north.
1947: Bill Henderson scouted the peak for the DPS and placed a register. His route was via Clark Dry Lake on the west.
*1948: Bill Henderson led 25 to summit in first DPS scheduled trip. Chester Versteeg's ditty "Wild Rabbit" was placed in register. Route was again via Clark Dry Lake with overnight camp on ridge.
1950: Jerry Zagorites led 9 to top in San Diego Chapter trip. Several DPSers joined in this cold and damp ascent from Clark Dry Lake.
*1951: Bill Henderson led 23 to summit via South Ridge. Group backpacked to 3500', then made 3 a.m. start for peak.
*1954: Bob Bear led 18 up from Clark Dry Lake. Packs were carried first 3000'.
1955: First moonlight hike to summit. Pat Meixner (Gentry) and 9 others made a non-scheduled ascent from Clark Dry Lake, leaving at 6 p.m. and arriving on top at 3 a.m.
1956: Bud Bingham, John Robinson, and Garver Light climbed peak from the Salton Sea side in a scouting trip. They backpacked via spring to plateau on SE ridge, then up peak next day.
*1957: John Robinson and Frank Sanborn led 8 to summit after all-night rain at plateau campsite soaked group of 26. First DPS trip from Salton Sea.
*1958: Peter and Trudie Hunt led 33 to summit via Salton Sea route. Tom Hunt brought 5 one-dayers up for total of 43 on top - all-time record.
*1960: Peter Hunt led 12 to top in hot weather via Salton Sea route. Known as the "fried Rabbit" trip.
*1964: John Robinson and Frank Sanborn led 33 of 40 to top via Salton Sea route. 3 one-dayers raised total to 36 on top. Ron Jones up in 4-1/2 hours (record)

 
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