Granite Mountains #1, Old Woman Mountains

9-Mar-74

By: Roy Magnuson

This was one of the pleasantest trips we have ever led. A moderate sized group of cheerful, responsible people, fine scenery and good weather---what more could a leader ask?

After a rainy Friday night in the desert, 18 people assembled at Kelbaker Road and Interstate 40, most not believing the others would be crazy enough to climb that day. Granite was shrouded in snow and clouds so we decided to climb Old Woman, which is 1500' lower, We drove through Danby to the road-head as clouds cleared from Old Woman. 16 climbers made the 2300' gain in about 2 hours, had lunch and returned to the cars in a leisurely fashion. We stopped at a gas station and store on old Highway 66 and filled up with various fluids. Five people decided to return home Saturday. The rest of us proceeded to Kelbaker Road, went north to dirt road 2 miles beyond Granite Pass and drove west, keeping right at junctions, until the road began to get rocky. There was a large flat space where we had a comfortable camp.

We set out Sunday morning going west up the road until it turned north. We then went cross country through snow in a southwesterly direction to a ridge leading south to the summit. South of the high point there is a class 2-3 summit block on which the register is located. The views were far ranging. Although we were almost 90 miles east of Barstow we could see Mt. Baldy very clearly, as well as San Gorgonio, San Jacinto, Telescope and Charleston.

Again, our thanks to all participants for a fine trip.