This climb did not go as planned. We were refused permission to cross private
land for the most direct route. The local early morning restaurant on which some
depended went out of business the week before the climb, leading to the
tardiness of one of the leaders and others. In the absence of one leader, Ken
Ferrell enlisted the capable assistance of Les Stockton to start the group up
the trail to the crest of the ridge, south of Palm View. The wind was strong and
very cold. We regrouped at the Desert Divide Trail junction and proceeded to the
summit of Palm View (7140+) with over 40 people signing in there about 9:30.
Twelve people left the group at this point, some going to Pyramid Peak, some to
Cone Peak, and some directly back to the cars. The temperature was in the 20's
most of the day.
The main group, reduced by this split to 29 people, proceeded toward Spitler.
Three of these, who wisely decided to conserve their energy, did not finish the
climb up Spitler, but lunched and waited near the saddle between Palm View and
Spitler. Twenty-six reached the summit of Spitler (7360') about noon and had
lunch there. The cold wind was blowing hard. Ten people under the leadership of
Dr. Bob Funke and John Backus started the return to the cars via the same route
we had taken up.
Sixteen people, in a close, fast moving group, went on to Apache (7567')
arriving at the summit a little before 2:00 p.m. It was too cold and too late to
stay on Apache long. The sixteen started the long trek of 7 or 8 miles back to
the cars, mindful of the fact that the sun sets early. Some of the canteens were
freezing up. On Palm View we caught up with the group that had started the
return from Spitler, and made the return to the cars in a group of 29, arriving
there about 5:30, shortly after dark.
Ken Ferrell did an excellent job leading the whole trip, and the assistance of
others, called upon to take responsibility for splinter groups, is greatly
appreciated. The writer, who brought up the rear, offers humble apologies for
his late arrival and promises to put in an order for less severe weather next
time.
