From the Chair

A story in the Nov 1 Wall Street Journal set me to pondering climbing goals and peak lists. It seems that a Mr. Yamashita in Japan has set himself the goal of playing every golf course in Japan. He has done over 1700 of them but he can't rest because about 80 new ones are built each year and he "needs" them all, poor fellow. But his activity certainly gains him acclaim and freedom from loneliness.
The climbing community has many sets of lists and goals. Perhaps the most exclusive list is "All 14 Eight-Thousanders", meters that is, or peaks above 26,247 ft. Perhaps the only one to finish that list is Rheinhold Messner, who wrote a book with the quoted title, but I'll bet others are working on it. Another elite game is to climb the "Seven Summits" of the seven continents. Dick Bass, the oldest finisher of that list, wrote a book with that title. He gave a fine program on his experiences at the 1990 SPS banquet. Doug Mantle, a well known DPSer, has only three to go on that list. He will attempt Everest in 1992, he has plans for the Vinson Masif in Antarctica and he invites us to his list finisher party on Kosciusko in Australia before the century turns.
We all know people with the goal of bagging the high points of the states, or of the 48 contiguous states, or of the eleven western states. I felt the itch for the latter when Pat and I drove by Mt Borah in Idaho last summer. Closer to home, we have the peak bagging sections of the Angeles Chapter end our own good DPS peak list.
We do mountaineering because we like being in the deserts and hiking in the mountains. We do it with a group because we like one another and because we like doing things together. The peak list gives us a shared focus and common goals. It unifies us. Notice how we pass by unlisted peaks and concentrate on bagging listed peaks. Notice how concerned we are to get to the DPS recognized summit of a mountain. Notice how much we talk of the peaks done and the peaks "needed".
I think tht climbing with goals is healthy, pleasurable and energizing. I think that our Peak List is important and that it Bill T Russellhas a major influence on our experience of the desert. The list deserves our continuing respect and careful attention.
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