(see new topo of that name) at which time the rain had turned to snow accompanied by a howling wind. The peak disappeared in a white out. At this point a council was held. A survey of the soggy group revealed approximately one-half without adequate rain protection. (Who needs it on a desert peak?) A suggestion was made to continue the climb and permit the LTC members of the group to practice hypothermia first aid. The leaders thought that was a good idea, but not on their trip, and called the climb off. By the time we reached the cars everyone was thoroughly wet and cold and no complaints about turning back were heard.

BOOK REVIEW                     by Girard Haven Southern California Peaks by Walt Wheelock, La Siesta Press, 48 pp, $1.50. When John Vitz and I first started climbing Desert Peaks eight years ago, we made extensive use of Walt Wheelock's Desert Peaks Guide. Its brief but accurate route descriptions were a great help and, more importantly, a constant encouragement to keep climbing. Now, Walt has brought out a guide to peaks in Southern California, covering 112 peaks from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border, most of which are on the HPS list. (No Desert Peaks are included.) This book contains the same type of terse, adequate route descriptions as found in the Desert Peaks Guide, just enough information to get a hiker started on the right path and to keep him on it. With this guide, and a topo map, even members of the ever-growing horde of novice hikers in the local mountains should be able to stay out of trouble. Anyone setting out on his own to get an HPS emblem will find this book invaluable. And if you aren't doing at least a little climbing on your own with a few friends, buy this book and try it. You may be surprised at the rewards. And now, Walt, where is the southern half of the Desert Peaks Guide?

CONGRATULATIONS Ben and Miriam Romero, long-time DPS members, have been named to receive the 1973 American Motors Conservation award for their leadership in the preparation of the environmental study of the Armagosa Canyon and Dumont Dunes areas. We are sure that all DPS-ers join in congratulating the Romeros and in thanking for their fine job on behalf of these beautiful desert areas.

GRAND CANYON, AGAIN A hearing on Senate bill S~1296 was held in late July. This bill proposes an extended Grand Canyon National Park covering the entire Colorado River from Navajo Bridge to the Grand Wash Cliffs. However, it accomplishes this primarily by combining areas already protected in Marble Canyon and Grand Canyon National Monuments and actually decreases the total acreage under National Park protection by deleting some major portions of the existing park and monuments. For instance, the Havasupai Reservation would be increased from 3000 acres to 169000, 56100 acres of which would come from the current park, leaving almost all of Havasu Canyon, including the waterfalls, outside the park. Similarly left without protection would be most of the Kanab Creek drainage, an area containing canyons that rival any of those still above water. Unfortunately, by the time this Newsletter goes to press the hearings will be over. However, this bill seems sure to come to the floor of both houses sometime in the next few months, so there is still plenty of time for letters to Congressmen and Senators. These letters should stress that land should not be deleted from existing parks and monuments and that park protection should be extended to the significant portions of the Grand Canyon system which are currently unprotected.

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