Petition to return Summit Registers to Baboquivari

Everyone,

Last Sunday I climbed Baboquivari for the first time, via the Forbes Route. The only disappointing part of the trip occurred when I went to sign the summit register. First, the hinge and seal on the ammo can used to protect it are bad, and the register itself was wet and moldy. Second, the register only goes back to 2004. On the front of the register the following is written: "Maintained by Marvin G. Safford mgstafford@comcast.net - (let me know when the book is about 3/4 full).

Mr. Safford has taken it upon himself to "protect" the original and historic registers and for that I thank him. Yet I feel that by removing them from the summit he has robbed all of us of the experience of reading the previous entries (something I take great pleasure in). I would prefer that the registers remained on the summit, properly protected, for ALL to enjoy.

I hope that copies of the registers could be returned to the summit and placed in a more secure and weatherproof container.

I have emailed Mr. Safford with the offer to construct and carry a container and copies of the registers back to the summit. (originals with Az historical society - see post by XYLO below)

As a side, Mark Axen left a note on the front of the register expressing his displeasure that the originals had been "snaked" - he wanted to read his friends' entries from the '70s.

(NOTE - I heavily edited my original post since it came across in too negative a fashion. I mean no ill will to someone who is only trying to preserve the registers)

-tom wetherell-
Tucson, AZ.

Hey at least he left a note! I've seen plenty of registers just disappear, and that is the last anyone ever hears of them. Of course it is great to read all the historical entries, but I think it is worth having someone copy the register and return it. I hope your plan works and you are able to return the register, after copying. But I wouldn't rag on Mr. Safford, it's better than the register disappearing forever.

Hi Tom
I was up there Sunday w/ M.S. He has been keeping the summit registers safe and has given them to the AZ historical society. Marvin has climbed Babo many times and only wants to preserve the notes. He photocopies them as well. He has climbed the route 39+ times.

It is doubtful that any summit register would have lasted from the 70's.

Plus registers do get wet and he was able to save the comments going back many years. I guess you could always put the originals after they have been photocopied.

His intentions are good. But I understand wanting to see all the notes from the past. Anyway seems like a valid discussion on what should happen to registers.
ajd

Hey Tom, no to make light of the missing log but my question is....

What they hell are you doing up there?

;)
Susan

Xylo,

Glad to hear that the registers reside with the historical society, and not just one person. I agree with your comment that the register would not have survived in that ammo can, but I have encountered registers that were in near perfect condition on higher summits, and none in as poor a shape as Babo's was on Sunday.

Given both the risk of losing the documents fully, and the desire to read all the comments, I think a good 'compromise' is to do as MS is doing, but leaving photocopies of the entire register there on the summit, and mentioning that the historical society has the originals. Of course, that would be problematic if the register would look like a phone book - details!

MS replied to my email and we are conversing. At the very least we will get a good container up on Babo.

Susan,
When you say up there, do you mean Baboquivari, or Tucson?

Been 'down here' for 8 years now. Was building telescopes, now building WMD's. Climbing and Canyoneering in my spare time.

Whatta 'bout you?

Yep the ammo can was pretty worn out. Hey I am always up for hauling big chunks of metal up there so let me know. Probably putting a note in there saying that the old registers are preserved in a safe place
thanks
Jim

I remembered you were in Tucson. I'm talking about Baboquivari. How long is that approach?

Glad to hear your getting out and wiggle around a bit. Good for the soul!

As for me, usual business. Commuting between J-Tree & Phoenix every 4 days. Fun, Fun, Fun and looking for it to end in the next year. I think my gal pals and I (Sandy & Felicia) are Tucson bound in a few weeks. Love that Southern AZ rock, it's the best!

~Susan

Susan,

We approached from the East side, and made it from the ranch to the saddle in 90 minutes. We missed the side trail to Lion's ledge (maybe 150' back down the trail from the saddle) so we didn't 'tour' the ledge around the south side and then come up the great ramp. Instead we went from the saddle up the 'rap' route. We left the car at 7:40 and were on the summit around 11:30. The descent went well and we were back at the car at 3:00. If you happen to have a 70m rope, you can combine raps #2 and #3 and end up 10' off the ground (an easy scramble). Climbing the first rap is easy and short, maybe 25' of climbing and another 20 scrambling (maybe some small nuts and a long sling), the second section is 20-30' of 5.4 which we soloed (might protect with smallish cams or tricams in pockets). The ladder pitch has plenty of gear - 2 fixed pins, a *loose* new 3/8 ss bolt, and then the ladder hardware - I just took some long slings and some biners. From the top of the ladder pitch you can dump all your gear and cruise to the summit.

-t-

Tom and other interested parties,

Check out this other thread of similar theme - people looking for answers.....

mountainproject.com/v/gener…

~Susan

Nov 21, '06. Let me introduce myself. Seven years ago, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) set out to write a Wilderness Use Plan for the Baboquivari Wilderness. They sought out contributions from various segments of the community who have some interest in the Mountain. I was recommended to them as somebody who could speak for the hikers and climbers who use the Mountain. I do not really represent any groups, but I did agree to talk to them about historical events, trails and routes, popularity and the impact of humanity on the Mountain. My position was (and still is) that the mountain is getting along fine without govenmental intervention. Also, climbers do not like to go thru a permit system to climb when and where they want to climb.
To make my point, I agreed to study the old Summit Logs and report back to them historical maxima for routes, months, days of the week, etc. I expected it would be easy to locate the old logs, but I found that the organization which had been taking care of them was no longer doing so. I did collect some scattered segments but soon realized that the best, most current information was up on the Mountain Top.
I took a fresh book up and found 5-years worth of data for my study -- in very poor condition. That is how I became a self appointed keeper of the Log Books. I have a solid record from 1998 to present and a scattering starting with 1954. It is intersting stuff! It is available to anyone interested.
The BLM got interested in other stuff in Florida and never wrote a Baboquivari Wilderness Use Plan.
Next step is to print the most recent stuff onto water proof paper and take it back to Baboquivari. I like the trip, but, at my age, I will need some help with the lead climbing.