| CHAIRMAN'S CORNER | NOVEMBER 1986 |
Well, your new management committee is hard at work, busily trying to respond to your input, suggestions, and such. Keep those cards and letters coming, either to us or to Bob Michael for his column in the Sage.
- The very good news, which you may all be aware of by now, is that restrictions on 4th class (and upwards) rock climbing have been lifted, and we may once again lead such climbs, thanks to new, better,(and MUCH more expensive Club insurance. Elden Hughes, Chapter Chair, notes that gifts and contributions to the Chapter are "certainly encouraged...we need the help."
- And a particularly important reminder, as our climbing season gets into full swing, is that we ALL--tigers, non-tigers, leaders, participants, old-timers, newcomers - need to re-affirm our commitment to safety on our outings. No peak,(no matter how desperately we need it) no personal preferences, no adherence to a preset schedule, should take precedence over the safety and well-being of all trip participants. Handy hints on "How to Have a Safer Trip" will be forthcoming.
- For those of you who couldn't make it, Judith Anderson gave a very enlightening and unfortunately, un-scheduled -sorry!) talk on the Desert Bill at the last DFS meeting. While we all (as good Sierra Club conservationists) of course support measures that will protect our beloved desert from the ravages of development, off-road vehicles, and other threats, we find ourselves with a conflict of interest regarding the proposed closing of some of the dirt roads we use to access our peaks. Judith suggests that we work with her and her committee to agree on which access roads need to be "cherry-stemmed", ie, excluded from park or wilderness area boundaries, to enable continued access, and which we can live without-(ie., it only adds a mile to the route if that dirt road is closed off.) I encourage all who are interested to contact her and become involved in this effort.
- Because the big Schedule was so late in getting out, some have suggested putting your trips into the "Advance Schedule" section if they will fall in the first couple weeks of the new schedule. We can also publish such trips in the Sage or the Southern Sierran - and we will see if anything can be done about getting it into our mailboxes faster.
- So, let's all have a SAFE and enjoyable climbing season, and get in shape for the FOUR scheduled List-Finishing celebrations next Spring!
