Tahquitz Peak (LO), Lily Rock

7 August 1966

By: John Frost, Dave Tygell

Leaders: John Frost, Gene Andreosky

Viewed from any angle, Lily Rock (or Tahquitz Rock, as it is sometimes called) is an impressive peak. As we started the trip from Humber Park the big rock tower glared down at us, and the sharp pinnacle at the top was often visible from the trail as we headed out along the spiney ridge overlooking the Idyllwild bowl.

However, the peak proved to be relatively harmless to the 30 or more hikers that braved the cross-country scramble and short hand-over-hand required to reach the top. The route was hot and dusty, but the incomparable view from this eagle's perch was well worth the effort.

The streams and springs along the Devils Slide Trail are almost dry, and the evidences of this long, hot summer were seen all along the trail. The group gained the height rapidly to the Saddle Junction, and reached the Lookout at Tahquitz Peak at noon, according to schedule. We huddled together in the sparse shade of the tower and looked out over the hills and valleys to magnificent views in every direction. Peaks to the south were visible as far away as Rabbit, in spite of the haze that hung over the area, and to the north, the high peaks of the San Jacinto range dominated the skyline (including the Cornell Rockpile, and those 10,000 foot girls, Marion and Jean). Far below us, Suicide Rock looked less than dangerous.

After lunch we hiked down the trail for a short distance, and then plunged into the brush for the cross-country excursion to Lily Rock. The temperature climbed well into the 80's, and individual water supplies ran quite low. The trip down from the rock was an exciting glissade-scramble-plunge ably led by Gene Andreosky. We wenet down under oaks and through tall manzanita to the park below. Cold and wet refreshments in pleasant company topped off a memorable day.

By: John Frost

From the Humber Park Devil's Slide Trail above Idyllwild the sheer stone north face of the monolith appearing on maps as Lily Rock presents an awesome spectacle of exposed granite; the delight of the piton and rope fraternity.

This was Soboba Indian country and one Sobaba Indian legend recounts that while tribesmen chanted over hte body of their fall chieftan Tahquitz, who had been possessed by an evil spirit (they clubbed him to death themselves because he had killed his Indian sweetheart), his body began to glow like fire, then rose and settled on Tahquitz (Lily) Rock. According to this legend Tahquitz is still there with a rattlesnake and a condor for company, and when the mountain shakes and trembles, it is not an earthquake, only Tahquitz up to his evil tricks on Lily Rock.

Be that as it may, the Rock proved to be completely devoid of any feathered or reptilian wildlife this particular Sunday, August 7. Not even so much as a timorous lizard watched the progress of more than a score of 100-peakers and guests, many imbued with confidence by the intrepid Gene Andreosky, as they scrambled through brush and up and down boulders to a saddle leading to a final rock scramble up the south (and relatively easy) face of Tahquitz Rock.

The mountain shook and trembled. However, the spirit that moved it was not Tahquitz, but the common bond of Club members and guests sharing a hiking adventure.

A vote of thanks to Gene Andreosky and John Frost for a well planned and well led trip; an exhilerating change from ordinary trails and those less interesting though sometimes arduous fireroads and firebreaks.

By: Dave Tygell