The Desert Sage OUR 77th SEASON MAY–JUNE 2018 ISSUE NO. 375 http://desertpeaks.org/ In this issue: Chair’s Corner Chair’s Corner Page 2 by Tina Bowman DPS Leadership Page 3 DPS Trips and Events Pages 4-7 Bob Michael’s pro- DPS Election Results Page 7 posal for adding DPS Banquet Flyer Pages 8-9 peaks to the DPS list Outings Chair Page 10 to bring the number Treasurer’s Report Page 10 up to one hundred is DPS List Update Page 10 a good one. So how Membership Report Page 11 do we add peaks? Conservation Chair Page 12 Here are some high- Letter to the Editor Page 12 lights of the process. Passages Page 13 Any member can Trip Reports: propose an addition Corkscrew Peak Page 14 or deletion in writing Smith Mtn. and Stewart Point Pages 14-15 to the Mountaineer- Pyramid Peak Pages 15-16 ing Committee, Mojave Desert Pages 16-17 chaired by the vice chair. Any proposed peak addi- Desert Books Pages 18-21 tion must be scheduled and climbed on a DPS- Great Basin Peaks Section News Page 21 sponsored outing and reported in the Sage before DPS Merchandise Page 22 the ballot appears, and there should be time for pro Sierra Club Membership Application Page 23 and con arguments in several issues of the Sage be- DPS Membership Application Page 23 fore the ballot is sent to members. A majority vote DPS Info Page 24 approves the listing (or delisting) of the peak. The bylaws give the full process here: THE NEXT SAGE SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS JUNE 10, 2018 http://desertpeaks.org/adobepdffiles/ The Desert Sage is published six times a year by bylawsmarch2012.pdf. the Desert Peaks Section of the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club. Please see the back page of the The Chili Cook-Off was well attended, and no one Sage for subscription information. The Desert Sage blew away! The wagons (campers) were circled to is the property of the Desert Peaks Section of the make a bit of a windbreak, and cooks made their Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club. All rights re- chili in the lee of their vehicles. If you haven’t at- served. The Desert Peaks Section maintains a web- tended a Cook-Off, you’ve been missing a lot of site at: http://desertpeaks.org/. fun and good food. We need volunteers to help with organizing it. help run the DPS. This year we found it hard to find nominees for the management committee, the big I’d say we’ve had a good year with a revitalized sticking point for people being the Sunday meetings. outings program, thanks to outings chair Sandy La- To address that problem, we’ll consider conference ra. It’s been a long time since the DPS schedule of calls or Skype on an evening during the week for outings has been as robust as it’s been this year. Al- some of the meetings, independent of the October so, the management committee has been stellar to through April monthly potlucks. If you have sugges- work with, each member doing an excellent job, tions, please let me know! always in a timely manner. We’ve been getting things done! Happy trails, Tina We’re always looking for people to volunteer to The Desert Sage 2 May-June 2018 Desert Peaks Section Leadership for the 2017 - 2018 Season Elected Positions Appointed Positions Chair Archives Mountaineering Committee Tina Bowman Barbara Reber Chair 283 Argonne Avenue PO Box 1911 Sandy Lara Long Beach, CA 90803-1743 Newport Beach, CA 92659-0911 5218 East Parkcrest Street (562) 438-3809 (949) 640-7821 Long Beach, CA 90808-1855 [email protected] (562) 522-5323 Conservation Chair [email protected] Vice Chair / Outings / Safety Dave Perkins Sandy Lara 1664 Buttercup Road Mountaineering Committee 5218 East Parkcrest Street Encinitas, CA 92024-2451 Ron Bartell Long Beach, CA 90808-1855 (818) 421-4930 [email protected] (562) 522-5323 [email protected] Tina Bowman [email protected] [email protected] Guidebook Editor Secretary Jim Morehouse Mountain Records Diana Neff Estrada 3272 River Glorious Lane (Summit Registers) 138 La Fortuna Las Vegas, NV 89135-2123 Mark Butski Newberry Park, CA 91320-1012 (702) 528-3712 6891 Rio Vista (818) 357-1112 [email protected] Huntington Beach, CA 92647 [email protected] (562) 716-9067 Mailer [email protected] Elaine Baldwin Treasurer 3760 Ruthbar Drive Laura Newman Newsletter Editor Hawthorne, CA 90250-8473 11755 Entrada Avenue (The Desert Sage) (310) 675-4120 Porter Ranch, CA 91326-1933 Greg Gerlach [email protected] [email protected] 23933 Via Astuto Membership Records Chair Murrieta, CA 92562 Program / Banquet Ron Bartell (626) 484-2897 Tracey Thomerson 1556 21st Street [email protected] 6808 Falconview Lane Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 Oak Park, CA 91377-3949 (310) 546-1977 Webmaster (805) 657-3743 [email protected] Jim Morehouse [email protected] 3272 River Glorious Lane Merchandising Las Vegas, NV 89135-2123 Cover Photo Credit… Laura Newman (702) 528-3712 11755 Entrada Avenue [email protected] goes to Tommey Joh. The Porter Ranch, CA 91326-1933 photo is of DPS Webmaster [email protected] and Guidebook Editor Jim Morehouse on the summit of Cerro Pescadores, and was The Desert Peaks Section taken on February 17, 2016. The mountain is one of four explores the desert mountain ranges of California DPS listed peaks located in and the Southwest, stimulates the interest of Sierra Mexico. Club membership in climbing these ranges and aids in the conservation and preservation of desert wilderness areas. The Desert Sage 3 May-June 2018 Trips & Events May 2018 — December 2018 Roadrunner with butterfly in mouth (photo credit: Richard Stover). MAY 5-6 SAT-SUN LTC Advanced Mountaineering: Anchors and Systems MAY 12 SAT DPS New York Butte MAY 19-20 SAT-SUN LTC Rock: Checkoff and Practice MAY 20 SUN DPS DPS Annual Banquet JUNE 16-17 SAT-SUN LTC, WTC, HPS, DPS, SPS Navigation: Mount Pinos Navigation Noodle SEPT 23 SUN LTC, WTC, HPS, DPS, SPS Navigation: Mount Pinos Navigation Noodle OCT 6-7 SAT-SUN WTC, DPS Last Chance Mountain OCT 10 WED LTC Advanced Mountaineering: Knots and Basic Safety OCT 13 SAT LTC Advanced Mountaineering: Belay Skills OCT 20 SAT LTC Advanced Mountaineering: Rappelling OCT 20 SAT LTC, WTC, HPS Navigation: Beginning Navigation Clinic OCT 27 SAT LTC Advanced Mountaineering: Anchors and Systems NOV 10-11 SAT-SUN LTC Rock: Checkoff and Practice NOV 17-18 SAT-SUN LTC, WTC, HPS, DPS, SPS Navigation: Warren Point Navigation Noodle DEC 9 SUN LTC, WTC, HPS, DPS, SPS Navigation: Warren Point Navigation Noodle MAY 5-6 SAT-SUN LTC E-R: Advanced Mountaineering Program: Anchors and Real World Application: Fourth of four climbing workshops aimed at developing skills for 3rd, 4th, and 5th class climbing, both as a participant or a future Sierra Club M and E leader. This weekend completes the series of AMP workshops at Joshua Tree National Park and focuses on building anchors and applying previously learned skills in real world climbing situations and multiple participants. All participants must have prior roped climbing experience and commit to all four classes. To register, please see: http://www.advancedmountainingprogram.org. Leaders: Dan Richter ([email protected]); Patrick McKusky ([email protected]); and, Matthew Hengst ([email protected]). MAY 12 SAT DPS I: New York Butte (10,668’): Join us on this very strenuous, very steep climb of a high peak on the Inyo Crest east of Lone Pine. We’ll take DPS Route A (8 miles and 6,500’ gain round trip), which is very steep with loose talus and scree, and is a brutal climb that will likely start and end in the dark. A high clearance 4 wheel drive vehicle is required to get to the trailhead. Email Sandy Lara at [email protected] with contact, vehicle type and carpool info, recent conditioning, and experience for trip status and details. Leaders: Sandy Lara, Peter Lara, and Mat Kelliher. MAY 19-20 SAT-SUN LTC M/E-R: Rock: Sheep Pass/Indian Cove Joshua Tree Rock Checkoff & Practice: M & E level rock checkoff and practice for LTC leadership candidates wishing to pursue a rating or practice skills. Also open to Advanced Mountaineering Program students wanting to solidify what they learned in the course. Practice Saturday and optionally checkoff Sunday. Restricted to active Sierra Club members with previous rock climbing experience. Climbing helmets and harnesses required. Email climbing resume to leader to apply. Patrick McKusky (626-794 -7321 or [email protected]). Co-Leader: Daniel Richter (818-970-6737 or [email protected]). The Desert Sage 4 May-June 2018 MAY 20 SUN DPS O: DPS Annual Banquet: This year, the banquet will be held at the Vallecito Club House located in Newberry Park. Also, the DPS is honored to have as our speaker Wynne Benti, who will present “33 Years in the Desert West: An Illustrated Memoir of Adventure and Activism.” Games start at 4:00 p.m., Happy Hour starts at 5:00 p.m., and dinner starts at 6:00 p.m. followed by awards and our special guest speaker Wynne Benti. Please see pages 8 and 9 of this issue of The Desert Sage for additional information, or to sign up for the banquet. JUNE 16-17 SAT-SUN LTC, WTC, HPS, DPS, SPS I: Navigation: Mount Pinos Navigation Noodle: Navigation Noodle in Los Padres National Forest for either checkout or practice to satisfy Basic (I/M) or Advanced (E) level navigation requirements. Saturday is for practice; Sunday is for checkoff or additional practice.