sorry to have cast aspersions upon climbers. Actually some of best friends are climbers Actually I just booked Black Rock Campground last night, partly because it is one of the only two with water(granted, I could bring my own), partly because it looks like it has a network of trails leading out of it, so I don't have to drive much. I could change my reservation, though. I would like to see one of those palm oasis, which I gather are in different parts of the Park. Gaiters are a good idea, I didn't think of that. Hopefully this big bout of rain will pay off with an early spring! I'm not going to bother backpacking. I've backpacked in deserts before, but always in places where I knew I would end up at water sources.