SAGE REMEMBRANCES By Bill T Russell, DPS Achivist/Historian

In the last SAGE, John Robinson, in his excellent "DPS History" tells hew the DPS was started in 1941 and made a formal section of the Angeles Chapter in 1945. It was not until March 1, 1950 that the first DPS Newsletter was written by the chairman, Bill Henderson. It was a single legal size sheet, printed on both sides. Typing, mineogrephing and mailing were done by his wife, Margie. The name, "DPS Newsletter" was used until the Nov/Dec 1974 issue when, after a contest won by Herman Schmidt, "THE DESERT SAGE" was chosen. Some topics from Newsletter 1: The Management Committee met and discussed several topics with no conclusions. Bob Bear was made Chair of the Mountaineering Committee. An important project was the preparation of what became the Desert Peaks Guide. Twenty one people climbed Black Butte in a hike that started at 4:00 am. (why?) Trips scheduled for the coming month were described in glowing terms. These included backpacks to Martinez, to Rabbit, and an exploratory to the Providence Mtns. Newsletter 2 was dated April 7, 1950. It reported that: Thirty two people climbed Martinez with an overnight camp at Cactus Spring. Seven people did Rabbit from the west, from Clark's, which was the route used by a DPS party in 1948. Two people made the climb on the same weekend via the south ridge and Villager Peak. Apparently this was the first time by this route. The exploratory climb of the high point of the Providence Mtns, which we now call Edgar Peak, had a disappointing turnout of the two leaders and their wives. They built a cairn and left a register.

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