It appears they're trying to go staight up the side. My guess is all they have to do is to switch back and forth while going up to minimize the slope and they'll be fine. Makes perfect sense to try the direct route first.

I don't really see what makes you think they should give up. They are clearly making progress towards the cliff. Sure they are making a huge mess too.

sol 268:
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...B5P1311L0M1.JPG

sol 270:
http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...DNP1311L0M1.JPG

It's like kiddies playing in a sand-pit!

They're putting a lot of stress on the mobility mechanisms in doing all these unscheduled trenches - to do what? Go and look at the same layers of rock they looked at on the way into the crater Look at the big pan - you can see that we're just looking at the same layers we've seen before.

Doug

Looks like Opportunity is now uphill of the sand trap.

http://qt.exploratorium.edu/mars/opportuni...ELP1909L0M1.JPG

Whew!

Don't get too excited. Here's the latest forward hazcam image:

No, this is the latest forward hazcam image, not looking good. At what point would someone on the rover team be brave enough to put their hand up and say this is insane?

What's insane? They got the wheel out of the sand and you have seen that they can climb the hill. I'm sure they can reach that outcrop and the going will be a bit easier with harder ground under Oppy's wheels.

I think we've hit a rock base finally:

And a great shot of the sand-pit from the Nav-cam: