2028 Rodney Dr.
Los Angeles, Calif. 90027
March 6, 1969
Dear John:

In answer to your request for information about some of the earlier activities of the DPS for your historical write-up, I dug around in my files and stuff to see what I could find.

We did manage to get to some of the desert peak. that were not too far away during the war years when gas rationing was on. Getting enough gas was a problem. We doubled up in cars, and got gas by scrounging gas coupons in all sorts of devious ways (short of nocturnal raids on car tanks). Don't remember when rationing was lifted, but we sure made up for lost time when gas was again available. We were active on such peaks as: Waucoba, Telescope, N. Y. Butte, Boundary (1945 - 1946), Charleston, Castle Dome and Kofa, and in the Mojave, Eagle Crags and Pilot Knob (now off limit, to the Military, I think). Among the more active people were Niles and Louise Werner, Henry Greenhood, Fred. Walbrecht, Alda Van Pappelendam, Bill and Margaret Henderson, Jim Tow and of course, Cheeter Vereteeg.

According to my information the Desert Peak Section was organized as a section of the Angeles chapter in 1945. Previous to that it was rather loosely organized, managed largely by Versteeg, whose idea it was in the first place. Since the new section had to have a name, Chester staged a contest for a name, offering a rucksack as a prize. My suggestion of Desert Peaks Section seemed to be the most appropriate, so it was adopted. As long as the Rock Climbing Section was sporting a badge we felt we ought to have one too. So I offered to design one. It occurred to me that the most fitting symbol to use would be our noble desert animal, the bighorn. It was adopted in 1947 as the official emblem of the Section.

Three years after the Section was organized, we held our first triennial dinner. It was a tremendous clambake. The only important person who wasn't there was the Governor. It was held at the Hollywood Athletic Club, May 4, 1948. The principal speaker was Dr. James Bonner of Cal-Tech. I am enclosing a copy of the program.

On page 8 of DESERT PEAKS GUIDE part I, edited by Walt Wheelock and published in 1962 there is more historical detail on DPS. That's about all I can come up with in the way of ancient history. Hope this will be of some help. Incidentally, I have a complete file of the NEWSLETTER which goes back to March 1, 1950. I gave a bound file of NEWSLETTERS to the Club library downtown some years ago, but it seems to have disappeared.
  Parker Severson
 
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