Thank you for the D.P.S. dinner invite. There is nothing I'd like better than to attend and meet some respected old friends such as yourself, but it is not possible right now because of the ill health of my wife.
We moved to San Diego Co 13 years ago for a better climate than the San Fernando Valley. There is lots of good hiking in this area.
I am wracking my brains trying to recall anything noteable about my tenure in office during 1969 but I am not doing well. If possible, please give my regards to all on your list from 1969 and older. I remember them well, wonderful memories.
Your editor, Ron Jones asked me to write a few words about Desert Peaks, 1972. Writing only a few words and remembering recollections at this stage of my life is difficult but because I have reached the stage of remembering things that never happened, the memories can encompass anything!
We naturally wanted to be at the banquet but we are doing a movie (on location) that involves the use of our butterflies (probably few of you know, we collect them) we have one of the largest collection of butterflies, butterfly jewelry and memorabilia (in the world?).
Ron, would you please convey my heart-felt praise, love and affection for each and everyone in the 72 era? (Or any other era for that matter!).
My personal happiest moments were M.Cing the banquets and John Vitz's incomparable humor. I believe this was the lack of gasoline period but we doubled up and maintained our climbing schedules didn't we? This was the Desert Climbing Era of the Pettijeans, the (now) Gates, Ruth and Hal Johnson and so many others "up" from those who had completed (almost) the Hundred Peaks Section.
We viewed a fire in Mexico and found it was us. We began realizing that our "Girl" Climbers were becoming just as good or better than the boys, the Sierra Peaks Section was giving us disdaining respect after doubling some of our more respectable" peaks and we were acquainting more people with the vast beauty and need to preserve our fragile desert.
My Greatest Problem was to keep Vitz from changing the name of the Desert Peaks Section to the Desert Canyons Section. How could anyone forget his involved recipes for complete "Pup Fish" dinners.
Joining the elderly statesman ranks of Fred Bode, Sam Fink, and Paul Lipsohn (old?), I can only thank so many others, who made the 1972 period so delightful and their pleasant recall will never be "forgotten memories".
LES STOCKTON