MONO CRATERS (9172'), May 23-24 JWR
The joint SPS-DPS outing to Mono Craters and Bloody Mtn. turned out to be quite successful. More of these joint-section outings should be scheduled in the future was the consensus of the large group that showed up.
40 persons caravaned to a point just northeast Of Crater Mtn. highest of the Mono Craters. Saturday morning under clear, warm skies, 32 of the group followed leader Frank Sanborn at a 1iesurely pace up semi-loose pumice slopes to the rocky highpoint. Four China Lakers who were making a traverse of all the major craters met the group on top, raising the summit sitter total to a healthy 36. According to the register, this was the largest party to ever make the assent. After basking under the warm sun on top for a while, the group leisurely descended to the cars for the caravan to Hot Creek for a refreshing swim. Many considered the swim the high point of the weekend.
Saturday night most of the large group car-camped at Sherwin Creek Public Camp, a few miles south of Mammoth Village. Sunday the SPS took over for their half of the trip - a rather strenuous 5000-foot accent of Bloody Mtn. 32 climbed Bloody under threatening skies, but fortunately the weather didn't close in. After slipping and sliding over several thousand feet of loose talus, Bloody was voted the crudiest (loosest) mountain in the Sierra.
Everyone was down and on their way home by mid-afternoon, satisfied with another enjoyable weekend away from it all.
(Those Interested in reading more about Mono Craters should consult Mora Brown's "We went to Mono Craters for Obsidian" in Desert Magazine, Dec. 1941,)
MISCELLANY
A female addition to Chuck and Mary Ann Miller's "hiking harem" arrived on April 8th - Laura Lucinda - 7 lbs. 1 oz. looks as if she has her father's big feet too!
Andy Smatko leads the DPS peak-bagging derby with 61 of the 62 listed peaks (everything but Navajo Mtn.). Arky Erb isn't far behind.
In spite of Ron Jonses' superb write-up on La Encantada in the April Newsletter, Garver Light and his party managed to lose the route and failed to make the peak. They report it a baffling mountain!