After a late start from the Kern Co. Fire Station, due to a mix-up in meeting time,
we caravanned to our roadhead at the Sand Springs Canyon Trail. The trail beginning
is well switchbacked to get over a ridge and into a valley which provides a very
pleasant stroll through meadow and trees to the Tecuya Ridge Rd. (4WD fire road).
The register was signed by 17 of the 19 starters. All returned to the cars for
lunch. Reports that Tecuya Mtn. was an all day struggle were proven false.
That same day we caravanned to the Lost Luck Gold Mine, parked, and continued on
foot down the road and then up to Antimony Pk. Despite the rather warm
afternoon, there were no casualties and all 17 signed in. This trip has about
1800' gross gain for about 200' net.
We then caravanned to Chuchupate Campground where we spent the night
(Halloween). The possible after dinner drive to Frazier Mtn. Lookout mentioned
in the schedule did not take place. Instead we went trick or treating and later
joined a troop of Boy Scouts in a songfest around their campfire.
The following morning we were joined by new arrivals for the Eagle Rest hike. We
took route 2N09 (which begins at YMCA camp) 5 mi to San Emigdio Creek Rd.
Doubling back on that road several miles we then picked up a badly washed out 4
WD road. We kept consolidating people into a fewer number of vehicles. Soon we
even had to leave the VW's and were then 18 in Bob Hawthorne's International and
George DAvis' Jeep truck. After parking the 2 vehicles, we walked down San
Emigdio Creek one to two miles to the ridge which leads to a saddle SE of the
peak. Some rock scrambling near the summit was encountered, but can be avoided
if desired. A different return route was taken in order to provide a quicker
descent. From the peak, we headed slightly SW dropping into a prominent canyon,
into the dry creek bed and back out to San Emigdio Creek. Many of the people on
the trip stated that Eagle Rest would be recorded as one of the best on the HPS
list.
