The Desert Sage
I am writing the first draft of this "Chairman's Corner" in the warming of the morning sun rising over Arizona's Superstition Wilderness. The first DPS trip of the year is now over, but what a weekend it was! For three days we had Desert Peakers on both Weaver Needle and Superstition Mtn every day, with a total of 36 people on the and 34 on Superstition.
On Thursday Tom Jeter lead 14 on the 4th class Needle with Gene Olsen and many others help to the top, while at the same time Dale van Dalsem with Frank Dobos lead 11 up Superstition.
On Friday Tom Jeter again climbed Weavers, with 14 climbers, this time with Jim & Anna Kominski help, while Randy Danta and Bob Hartunian lead 16 hikers up "Super". This day our hiker on Superstition could see our climbers on Weavers Needle!
And then on Saturday I had my turn to lead 10 people up the Needle with the fine help of Bill Oliver. Jim Kominski and Bob Henderson came along for a 2nd climb to help with the belays. Now it was Tom Jeter's turn to lead 7 to the top of Superstition.
Every night the group from Weavers Needle returned to base camp after dark to find a warm fire and a hot pot luck dinner highlighted by 40 pounds of ham brought by Edna Erspamer. The climbers not only shared their food and drink but their gratitude to those who helped in so many ways. And the spirit of the DPS was alive and well for 3 fantastic days in the Superstition Wilderness!
My new years wish is for all our section members to be able to come climb with us this year and join "The Spirit of the DPS".
Randy Bernard
 
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