Letter to the Editor,

I have been waiting to hike Sugarloaf Mountain for two years now. I know it is a 19 mile RT slog up a wash to the peak, but I want to hike it. Do I think it should be added to the list? No. No. No. I hope to climb it this year, but not because I know it may be added to the list.
Paul-Paul Freiman


Hi Ron:

In reply to your letter requesting some recollections of the early DPS, the following may be of interest to you:
We all know that Chester Versteeg was the guiding light in the formation of the DPS, but how many present members have even met Chester? It was my good fortune to not only have met Chester but to have climbed with him in both the Desert and Sierra. Also I met his wife and family on one occasion. Those who knew Chester realized what a dynamic individual he was and an enthusiastic lover of the natural scene. Since a peak in the Sierra was named in his honor I, of course, had to climb it and did so twice.
In the 50's and 60's the DPS membership was relatively small but the vigor and oomph was just as great as now. I had set my sights on climbing all the listed OPS peaks and also any other desert peak that "got in my way", so to speak. So far, I have over 1,000 ascents of various desert peaks, many on two or more occasions. Past greats like Tom and Trudy Hunt, Bob Bear, Arky Erb, Abe and Helen Siemans, Harry and Siina Melts, and Lothar Kolbig were my companions on my climbs.
My most memorable climb in the desert was an ascent of Telescope peak from Shorty's Well with 2 companions in 7 hours 10 minutes and then out to Mahogany Flats where Peggy Sullivan met us. On another occasion we were unable to climb Telescope from Mahogany Flats due to deep snow below the summit.
Mother interesting climb made with Bill Schuler was the let ascent of "Der Tooth" in the Mid-Hills (also the 2nd & 3rd ascents) and I have climbed it 11 times!
Mild death marches were ascents of Rabbit Peak with Sid Davis and Villager with Ellen Siegal from the west base in one day.
Another feat that stands out for me was the probable 1st ascent of Mt Patko (now called Mt Inyo) with Pat Meixner a couple of weeks before the official DPS climb led by John Robinson.
Most of my DPS hikes yew with Bill Schuler, Ellen Siegal, Frank Yates and sometimes with you. Desertly,
Andy Smatko
Andy


January 3, 1992



Dear Mr. Greenawalt:

Your inquiry regarding Brown Peak on the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Deadman Pass. California topographic map has been referred to this office for reply.
The placement of the names Brown Peak and Evelyn on the 1987 provisional map may seem somewhat confusing, however, you will note that the type styles are different. The official name of the mountain is Brown Peak, which first appears on the USGS L951 Eagle Mountain 15-minute map of the area. Regrettably, we were unable to determine the origin of this name.
The name Evelyn stamped on the bench mark is the name given to the triangulation station on Brown Peak. Triangulation stations were commonly named after the owner of the land where the station was established, or after the summit, if its name was known, or after a nearby settlement or locale. Hence, the triangulation stations may have been named after Evelyn, the railroad siding five miles to the east of Brown Peak. As you indicated the siding was named for Evelyn Smith, wife of Francis K. (Borax) Smith.
Roger L. Payne
 
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