THE DESERT
PAGEBy Bob Michael, SAGE Associate Editor
NOW for the second half of the Readership Survey, where. we will look at members' opinions on the Sage, scheduling, peaks, and Section goals.
A common theme expressed is the need for more innovation in the DPS, even though the suggested means to this end vary. Since the list is short, many people urge an expanded schedule of exploratory trips. "I'd like to see a) more summer trips to high desert & red rock country b) because our DPS list is limited in numbers, I'd like to see more exploratories so we can experience diverse trips with our DPS friends." "Not enough exploratory trips." "Would like to see more participation on exploratory trips." However, opinions on how much the DPS should broaden its activities differed. "Keep the section for peak climbing. Let the Canyon Explorers Club do canyons, traverses, etc." Compare this to "The DPS membership seems anti-progressive. The new Emblem idea, which encouraged Exploratorles, Canyon Traverses, Desert Nature Study, would have been a step in the direction of greeter enjoyment and diversity of DPS activities. Peak-bagging per se gets rather monotonous by the time you finish the list. Then what?"
On a related topic, some expressed frustration with "list fixation" even though that list can loom awfully big. "Peak climbs should expose one to new areas; it should not matter whether the peak is a candidate for list addition or not." "Too many people worry about list/non-list peaks. Summits are desirable if they hold something for the prospectant ascender. A worthy summit is appreciated any time."
Many people with less than all-terrain vehicles are apprehensive about the roads to the trailhead or meeting place, and wished for more details in the write-up sheets. "Most leaders have good trip sheets. I like detailed driving instructions and estimated gains & mileage's - some trip sheets are too brief for this.." "A well written trip sheet is very valuable." "(Mr. X) was one of the worst leaders I have met. One problem with (X) was on the drive-ins. Both days he separated himself from the rest of his group, since his car and his driving are better suited to the desert than other cars. He didn't seem to care about the rest of the group."
The Sage came in for some lumps. "Poorly edited and infrequently issued. Trip write-ups are often printed long-long after the trip." "I would like new information. For example, the minutes of the DPS banquet in the last Sage mentioned that three peaks were added to the list. Except for an occasional journalistic lapse like this, the Sage is quite good."
DFS'ers generally like the peaks they climb, and they like the people they climb with. As mentioned in the previous Page, campfires and socializing make the quintessential DPS experience for most respondents. "The reason I like DPS is because of the characters (people) who go on the trips. I also enjoy the quality of the peaks. Since I have gone on DPS outings I have found it tougher to finish the HPS list (since "quality" is not the first word you think of on some of their peaks)." "Dislike the long drives to some of the more remote peaks; however, the peaks were most enjoyable." Perhaps the overall consensus on the DPS is summed up by one comment - "On a 1 to 10, I vote a 9-1/2!"