Rabbit Peak#2 via Villager and route S22 (CA)

pics by Harlan W.S. & Dagmar K.
Dec 4, 2010

Sprained ankle: check! Groin pull: check!

This was a rather long dayhike—22 miles RT, over 8200’ accumulated gain. Except for the complete lack of moon and short day (about 11 hours between civil twilights), the conditions were perfect; cool with a slight high overcast in the morn, followed by clearing as we descended. This was the first substantial desert hike where I brought trekking poles; if my ankle folded, I wanted to have crutches. The ankle did trouble me for about 10 painful tweaks, but the pain went away by the time we reached Rabbit!

I went with Kathy W.’s SoCal hikers and Peak Baggers group—this is the third pleasant trip I have taken with them. The leader (Mark) urged us all to go at out own paces. Very fortunately, I met Dagmar and Michael, and the 3 of us had compatible paces, so the trip was very pleasant. With Dagmar’s guidance, I got down before dark! I should also mention that Dagmar started 30 minutes later than everyone else, yet managed to catch up within 3 miles… and Michael had 2 hours sleep on the previous night. The other sub-group of three went just a bit slower, and ended up doing the last 4 or 5 miles in the dark.

Michael and I took 11h 15m, and Dagmar took 10h 45m for the RT.

A 100k topo of the route, with the GPS trace.	24k topo of most of the route.	I camped at the Borrego Springs state campground NW of town. This would be a great group campsite (meant for 8 people), but it was clearly overkill for me, as one can camp for free at one of the primitive campgrounds, or just pull off the road in the desert. However, the showers and clean  flush restrooms were a nice touch!
About 6:15 AM next morn.	Soon the sun lights up the Anza Borrego  and Sheep Canyon areas to the W.
Dagmar and Michael.	N of Villager Peak, we head over many, many lumps to Rabbit (the ridge in back).	View N from the top of Rabbit.
View W from top.	Arrogance!	Dagmar and Michael on top. The top is actually a pinyon-covered plateau; best views are from the high rocks on the side. We were so intent on getting back before  dark, that we stayed less than 15 minutes.
Michael, as we descend SW.		Oops, went off the top a little to far N.  This was the source of most of my scratches!
Dagmar looks S to Villager. Gee, it doesn’t look like there are 10 lumps in between!	The W side of the peak is quite steep.	One lump closer to Villager!
Stinky Salton Sea to E.	View back N to Toro (?).	View W from Villager.
We met a pleasant group of 5-6 on Villager.	Heading S from Villager.
	The W side of the ridge drops off…	Precipitously! This canyon is rough and steep for ~3000’.
	The next morn, as I drove back home,  I took this pic of the E side of the ridge;  the dominant peak is Villager, with Rabbit to L, rising about 6000’ above the playa.