Rosa Point

23 January 1992

By: Alan Coles

Leaders: Alan Coles, Frank Goodykoontz

After 2 weeks of relentless rain, a lot of hikers must have had itchy feet. What other explanation could there have been for the large turnout of 21 hikers at 6:30 in the morning in the middle of the Anza Borrego Desert? Besides, most of the participants had already done it.

Nevertheless, it was a great day. Clear skies and balmy breezes greeted this group as they left their cars at the traditional starting point and marched across the flat desert, then up the ridge with countless chollas. The January deluge left the sandy soil very moist and millions of tiny wildflowers were germinating everywhere. In March, this will be an incredible sight (mark your calendars now!!!).

Outside of the cholla encounters and a few nasty ticks, everything else went smoothly as we made good time up the 4000'+ of cross-country gain. We reached the summit by noon and enjoyed the great view.

Half an hour later we left and returned to the cars by the reasonable time of 4:30. New HPS member Roxana Lewis thought it was a great hike. Another member was heard to reply, "If you like this peak, you'll love Rabbit". She probably will.

The congenial participants were: Fred Johnson, George Thomas, Dave Welbourne, Suzanne Booker, Roxana Lewis, Basil Anton, Matt McBride, Barbara Pedersen, Pete Doggett, Gary Murta, Howard Gross, Sue Porter, Joy McKinney, Diane Dunbar, David Jensen, Walia Ringeler, George Schroedter, Eleanor Curtis, Bill Lien. Special thanks, once again, to the one and only Frank Goodykoontz.