In spite of threatening clouds and radios reporting savage storms, 17 stalwarts
met at Jumbo Rocks Campground to caravan to the southern reaches of Joshua Tree
National Monument where the Blue Cut road threatens to disturb the peace of
Pleasant Valley.
Using a contour map, and with Walt Wheelock, Bill Crookston, Tom Hunt and others
taking on the roles of leader and scouts, we made our way up a canyon to a
saddle from which the peak could be viewed. Here the group divided into two
camps, those favoring a drop to another canyon, then a direct climb, and others
favoring an upward contouring approach along a ridge. Since we could not agree,
we split into two groups which arrived within 5 minutes of each other at the
peak, where Edmund Yeager and Forrest Keck's father had signed the register in
the early 20's and another party in the early 50's. All climbed an adjoining
peak, Mt. Bernard, before cold winds and liquid fog sent us scurrying to
Twentynine Palms for plastic rain protection.
On Sunday five braved the cold and threatening rain to climb Belle Mtn. which the
Geodetic Survey had chosen aptly in their sightings for a view of the Pinto
Basin, Queen Valley, and the vast magnificence of the little appreciated wonders
of Joshua Tree National Monument.
