From: mark@csi.jpl.nasa.gov (Mark Webster)
Subject: Another Mojave Desert Trip Report
Followup-To: rec.backcountry
Originator: mark@morningstar
Keywords: Mojave, desert, cholla, mountains
Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 22:06:48 GMT



	Some of you may remember my last report about a trip to the
Mojave Desert in Calif.  During that trip, I asked the leader when he
was coming back out to the desert.  He said that he was going out in
two weeks.  And unsuspectingly, I asked if I could go along.  So this
past weekend, I went out the Mojave for the second time.  
	The trip was sponsored by the Sierra Club Desert Peaks
Section.  For those unfamiliar with this bunch, they strive to climb
100 desert peaks out of a designated list.  The guy I rode with, Jim
Schoedler was co-leader of this group (and leader of the previous
trip) and will soon take over as chair of the Sierra Club Angeles
Chapter Desert Committee.
	We got out to the Scenic Area about 11 pm and looked for a
place to camp, which can be anywhere as this is BLM land.  From the
road that goes up to the Hole-in-the-Wall campground and the Mid-Hills
campground, I spotted a likely camping spot and we pulled in.
Luckily, the rest of our group had also found the same spot.  This
group turned out to be two more people (one of which was the group
leader), so our full compliment was to be 4.  Everyone else had
cancelled (wimps!).  
	We got up at 6:30 (yow!) the next morning and fortified
ourselves with caffeine, roughage and calories and then headed for the
"trailhead" to climb Mitchell Peak.  I put the word in parentheses
because there is no trail, it's all cross-country.  This is unusual
for someone for whom the phrase, "stay on the trail" is almost a religious
mantra.  Anyhow we parked the vehicles at an old mine near the Blair
ranch and Mitchell Caverns (mentioned in a previous post on this
newsgroup).  The mountain range that Mitchell Caverns and Mitchell
peak are in is called the Providence.  After much checking of topos
and compasses, we set off with daypacks.  Our route was up to the east
ridge and then along that to the peak.  Cross-country in the desert is
a hazarous proposition, lots of cholla, cats-claw, yucca spears, and
myriad other cacti and other pointy objects.  This route was also very
steep, 2800 feet in 2 miles, but was only about a high class 2 for you
mountain climbing types.  The rock that we climbed on was very rough.
I don't know what kind of rock it was but Jim found some fossils so I
would assume that it was sedimentary that was pushed up.  Some high-
(or low-) lights of the trip were: clinging to a knife edge ridge
while looking over the edge at a shear 500 ft drop with a 70 degree
slope behind me that went down about 300 ft, and getting poked by
agave plants a dozen times and putting my hand on a cactus hiding
behind me on the rock.  Picked out spines for half an hour.  It was a
nice accomplishment to reach the top (approx 7200 ft).  The peak
register had names from 1958 and the used part of it was satisfyingly
slim.  Curiously, the whole top of the peak was covered with ladybugs.
They almost formed a living carpet.  They climbed in our shirts and
our backpacks and were slightly annoying.  I tried not to kill them
though, my wife tells me they bring good luck.  The way down was
almost as gruesome as the way up.  I had seriously underestimated the
amount of water I would need.  They other members of the party had
brought extra so I could borrow some of theirs.  But when I got back
to the care, I managed to finish a liter and a half in about half an
hour.  The hike took a total of eight hours.  
	We headed out of there and decided to go over the
Foshay Pass through the Providence Mountains towards the Granites and
our second peak of the weekend, Granite Mountain.  The road through
the pass follows a natural gas pipeline and is straight as an arrow.
It doesn't take any natural features into account and can get quite
steep in places, 4 WD was definitely required.  We camped in the pass
near the old Vulcan mine (iron was mined here up to the Korean War).
I killed a bottle of wine to try and kill the pain in my aching limbs,
stuck hands, blistered feet and battered shins and slept like a desert
tortoise.
	The next morning (this time at 6 am, ugh!), we packed and
drove to Cottonwood Basin to start our next hike.  Much easier.  It
sounds pretty bad, 2300 feet in 1.5 miles but the terrain was easier,
the rock (granite) was easier to climb on.  We found a nice short
class 4 chimney to climb in just for fun on the way up.  The top was
again infested with ladybugs, although fewer than Mitchell.  The peak
register had more signatures than Mitchell.  Going down was a piece of
cake.  We went down through the canyon and found running water.  There
is nothing sweeter than the sound of a small waterfall in the middle
of the desert.  We found lots of good scree for scree skiing back
down.  Also found a fairly complete burro skeleton, bones bleached
bright white and a classic cow skull complete with horns.  This hike
took about 4 hrs.
	Then the long drive home which for a Sunday night wasn't too
bad. 

'til next time,
Mark




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