Drury Peak and Sam Fink Peak

4-6 June 2002

By: Barbara Lilley

Two for the Price of One
A Private Trip

Gordon MacLeod and I had originally planned to climb these peaks as a 3 day backpack from the tramway. However, after having been informed that all water sources in the area, including Round Valley, had dried up, we elected to backpack up the Devils Slide Trail and camp near the only known water source in the San Jacinto Wilderness (even Caramba was dry). This was a spring, with good water coming out of apipe and assorted birds drinking and bathing in the overflow, located along the Long Valley trail about 1/2 mile from Saddle Junction.

Drury Peak was climbed the next day (Wed.) from the Wellman Divide-San Jacinto trail by going over the saddle north of Jean Peak. The following day we made the long trek to climb Sam Fink Peak and backpacked out, staying in a campground near Idyllwild that night and returning home the next morning.

Drury Peak needs a supplemental register container -- nested cans or a glass jar -- as the current one has a plastic top which tends to disintegrate in the sun.

Incidentally, all HPSers may not be aware that the cost of the USFS Adventure Pass is half price for holders of the Golden Age Passport, available at age 62.