Red Tahquitz, Southwell Peak, Antsell Rock, Apache Peak, Spitler Peak, Palm View Peak
23-24 September 1967
By: Lewis M. Hill
Palm View Peak via Humber Park
NON-SKED
After arranging a car shuttle from Morris Ranch to Humber Park, four hikers
carrying Kelty's left Humber Park. The other 3 were Joe Darrow, Cris Darrow, and
Phil Martin. (Time 9:00 a.m.) In Little Tahquitz Valley we picked up two gallons
of water for this waterless, fireless trip.
The view from Red Tahquitz was grand. Our route looked easy, but . . . .
Three hours later, we signed in on Southwell. This, though, was not our
destination so we pushed on to Antsell Rock. At 6:30 p.m. we were forced to stop
short of Antsell. We were lucky in finding relatively flat spots to lay out
sleeping sites. After hasty cold suppers we turned in. After an equally hasty
(and small) breakfast we pushed on.
Much talk has been generated about Antsell and much of it is true. We went up an
R. S. Fink marked trail. Thanks to you, Sam -- we all really appreciated your
red ribbons and ducks, not to mention brush cuttings. By 8:00 a.m. we were on
Antsell (Kelty's and all). After signing and much conjecture of how to go down,
we tried a previously untried route off Antsell (at least with Kelty's on). Sam
had mentioned this possible route. We ducked the lower portion of it so it
should be easy to find. It goes off the southeast side towards Apache.
After contouring (if you could call it that) around to the south of the buttress
between Antsell and Apache, we reached the saddle before Apache. (Time 11:00
a.m.) This was the first place since the night before where it was flat enough
to sleep without tying yourself in. By 1:00 we were eating lunch and had already
done Apache. Spitler was done in 45 min. from our lunch stop. By now it was 2:15
and we were far from our car shuttle. We reached Palm View Peak by 5:20 and were
making haste for it would get dark about 7:00 p.m. We headed into the canyon
that runs into the Morris Ranch area. This is brushy high up but gets less
brushy later. It also runs by a field from which you can find a trail down to
the ranch area. We reached the car at about 6:30.
In retrospect the trip was fun -- but not for large groups (10 or more) as rock
falls could be quite hazardous. There was much bush whacking, rock scrambling
and cries of AAAGH, OUCH, RCHHH, and such from the participants. The total
elevation gain was something like 7000' in 25 miles. Much of this was trailess
and all of it was with Kelty's.
