You might be thinking of my reply to JMS on abstracts at the AGU conference. Someone from LPI is proposing that the salt-sulfate layers at Meridiani are due to an impact into an area rich with underground brines and ice, with the blueberries formed as lapilli, but that's was a theory about the Opportunity site, not Spirit and Gusev.

As for the pancam pan you want, I agree! But I suspect their logic is that they want to get all the hard work done that they can while there is still enough sun, then to winter over on a high point where they have a 360 degree view, and do a monster pan from there.

One of the AGU abstracts said the plan is to make it all the way to the top of Husband Hill to winter over -- the highest peak (such as it is) in the range -- but it seems like that's a very optimistic schedule. At the least, I think they want to check out this outcrop first, then find a nice spot with northern exposure and a good view.