| OCT/NOV 1990 | 210 |
As the Desert Peaks Section enters it's 50th Anniversary year it would be nice to reflect on just what has made this organization grow to be what it is today.
The desert itself has been drawing people to visit it for a long, long time. I think in the 1930-40's you really had to be an adventuresome and somewhat daring individual to venture out into what must have been a much more desolate place. Without 4WD vehicles the roads certainly had to be less friendly and there were no peak guides or AAA maps to help those early pre DPS climbers find their way. That was good for the few who had the inclination and uniquely adventurous nature to strike out on their own.
Those early climbers had the peaks and the valleys and the stars to themselves and they could explore and climb to their hearts content. But obviously for some the solitude of the desert was good and cleansing but it wasn't enough. The days and nights were mighty lonely.
Being outdoors type people we all have those times when we would prefer to be alone or in a very small group to enjoy the wilderness. But as with most of the human species - the need to share a really beautiful place and exciting experience with others runs deep.
What made those first climbers decide to organize and found the Desert Peaks Section? I haven't asked those first people why they formed the DPS, but I would like to think that the social aspect was a reason that was very close to the top of their list. Now maybe they didn't actually verbalize this most important reason - they could have thought that admitting to needing or wanting companionship, in a place that everyone thought of as being a place of solitude, reduced the machismo or aesthetic value of the experience - but admitted or not I would bet that the need and desire for companionship was what drove them to establish the Desert Peaks Section.
What did the early DPS accomplish? Well, now there were a handful of people formally trying to share their wonderful experiences in the desert with other people whom they thought might be interested in finding out what the desert was all about. They were offering a way for those people who were interested in the desert - but who weren't sure where to go or how to get there safely - a chance to go on an organized trip.