THE DESERT PAGE

by Bob Michael, SAGE associate editor

The meager results from the First SAGE Readership Poll are in, and they show what a small percentage of the membership thinks of the listed peaks. South Guardian Angel led the list of favorite peaks, with four votes. Comments on this peak included "Spectacular desert terrain and rock formations, beautiful gorge to hike through." "Gorgeous canyon, great views, world class campsite." Second most liked peak was Big Picacho - "because it's a backpack." "Remote, wilderness, several great routes." "Tough hike, route finding challenge." Other much-liked peaks were Baboquivari, Ruby Dome ("But too far"), and Spectre ("very pleasant environment; feels like home.")

The most disliked peak, by one vote, was Stepladder. Three of you dumped on that one. "Long hike, small bump, not too much of a view." "Lot much of a peak, not much view." "Boring bump." Chuckwalla ("45 minute hike, not much view" "I fell on the way down") and Pescadores ("A trudge, but pretty elephant trees" "The other Baja peaks are SO good, this fell a bit short") were mentioned by more than one person as pet dislikes. Surprisingly, the much-maligned Rabbit was only mentioned on one hate list ("Should stay on the list, but it's 6700' of sweat for a no-view summit - and the flora & rock are not pretty. No fun.") More surprising yet, Rabbit was on another person's best-loved list - "Good elevation gain (6,000+') and is close by. I have climbed it 5 times." Two other peaks appeared on most and least liked lists (of different people, of' course). The lone Stepladder lover wrote, "Sawtooth range that must be traversed via the canyon on its E flank - otherwise you're facing endless class 5." And, while one person loved Jefferson for its "interesting historical area, Belmont - Indian camps - a nearby hot spring"- another scorned it as a "dull, distant hike". Finally, one respondent, a true desert rat if there ever was one, wrote that he had no least favorite peaks. "I have not climbed a peak I did not like." (This was the same guy who liked Rabbit.)

Since we in the DPS are a fascinatingly mixed bag of personalities, each with our own concepts of beauty and our own slightly differing personal rulebooks for the games climbers play, it's not surprising that such a wide spectrum of opinions showed up in this unscientific little survey. There is something in the heroic scale and majesty of Zion Park or the Sierra San Pedro Martir that seems to stir a similar response in most of us. Some of the other listed peaks, however, can elicit diametrically opposing views in different climbers. With such disagreement about the listed peaks, it's no wonder unlisted peaks can stimulate such lively discussion as possible List additions. But, this is what campfires, jug wine in paper cups, and long winter Saturday nights were made for.

For the next Readership Poll, I'd like to solicit comments on what folks like and dislike about DPS trips, schedules, leaders, (Nothing personal, please!!!!) -- in short, your chance to sound off about our modus operandi. Please send postcards, etc. to me at 1066 Miramonte Drive, #9, Santa Barbara 93109 by 1 May or thereabouts. Many thanks to those of you who participated in the Peak Poll, and let's have a bigger turnout for this one!
Bob Michael
 
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