degree) lower (i.e., sometimes it was higher, but most of the time it was lower), which means that our peak -the true summit- was h= d tan d 200/(50/60)(pi /180)= 3 ft higher. Moreover, the new register's bona fide Sierra Club register from San Francisco sent down especially for the occasion by Bob Greenawalt-says so, and let no man put asunder! Everyone (all 19, I trust) retired from the peak in good order, the first one leaving, arriving first and the last to leave (me) arriving last, with all others falling in between. In the absence of any nasty notes to the contrary, let me assert that everyone, with hardly any exceptions, got home safely, in a timely manner and just a little bit better for making the effort-if not physically then mentally. Eagle Mtn #1 ) March 6-7 -Ken McNutt Forty-five Riversiders and Angeles Chapter climbers and guests met Sat at the Cottonwood Springs Campground in Joshua Tree National Monument. The Mission 66 Project has made this spot in the SE corner of the Monument one of the finest camp areas available. It has new spotless restrooms, water that is well located, and strategically placed waste cans promote good housekeeping. The parking areas are now well-defined. We spent the evening at a central bonfire amphitheater where a Ranger made us welcome and related much of the area's interesting history. Early Sunday we caravaned about 2-1/2 miles closer to the large wash that drains the NW canyon of Eagle Mtn. where 34 highly assorted Deserteers (?) started for the 5347' summit. 32 persons signed the register and were led off by Bob Bear in a well-placed descent timed just to barely miss the sprinkles that started only minutes after our return to the cars. Marble Mtns & Old Dad Mtns March 13-14 -Andy Smatko While the LA area was pelted by rain over this weekend 17 Desert Pk lovers enjoyed a comfortably warm two days in the Amboy area. From a locus on the road to the west of the high point of the Marble Mtns, we all headed for what appeared to be the high point in this most colorful range. On achieving the summit the all-to-obvious high point of the range lay 1-1/2 miles E by SE. In lees than an hour all 17 basked on the true summit of the range. Various hued volcanic extrusions made the rugged canyon a wondrous sight and the group headed down a different route. Camp was made at "Windy Corner" near the SW end of the Bristol Range and a tire fire kept tongues wagging 'til 10 o'clock. Claude Karami at 10 years, was the youngest member of the party. Next day the cars caravaned along a fairly good dirt road which degenerated to a poor one at the base of some mtns to the west. Somewhere we missed the proper turnoff and upon retracing our route a mile or so Arky Erb located the correct turnoff and we assembled at the head at a wide wash extending downwards to the NW. The high point of the 0ld Dads was clearly visible about l-1/2 mi away as a rounded, mesa-like mtn. After descending about 300 ft, 17 peakers climbed the E side of the peak-class 1 mostly. This time in addition to Claude, we had two smaller fry, ages 7 & 8. The weather again was cool but comfortable. A fairly large cairn was on the summit of Old Dad -volcanic in nature. From here, looking to the NW, all sorts of other desert ranges were visible. After returning to the cars and on to Amboy, several of the parties climbed Amboy Crater before returning to the metropolitan area. In comparing the two ranges, the Marble Mtns were by far the more colorful and intriguing in their formations. There are many unexplored Desert Ranges in San Bernardino County, and it is hoped that such exploratory trips will be continued in the years to come. The two previously scheduled trips to the Turtle Mtns, the Iron Mtns, the Carriso & Jacumba Mtns also pointed the way to many spectacular Desert Ranges within relatively easy driving

Page Index	Prev	Page 4	Next	Issue Index