12/16/92
Ron, RE new peaks to be proposed for the list. I strongly
recommend an active effort to solicit anti-comments. You normally get pro
comments w/o trying. -Bob HicksDear Ron,
There may be a register thief amongst us. The registers have been removed from Babo and Weaver's Needle, and perhaps as many as 50 HPS registers may have been removed. Several years ago there was some controversy about removing registers to the safety of Bancroft Library, and the Sierra Club National Office had a project to remove old SPS registers and replace them with new ones. At the time it was thought that the registers were in danger from such things as weather and occasional vandalism, but it now appears possible that a methodical removal is going on. I'm not sure what justification a peak bagger would assert for removing these registers, perhaps a moral satisfaction at restoring a peak to its natural state? For some of the rest of us, there may be a sense of loss at not being able to check out the recent doings of our friends or seeing the signature of one of the giants in an ancient register. Hopefully what's been happening is only the normal attrition and there's nothing to worry about. --John McCully
December 21, 1992
Dear Ron,
The time is approaching for DPSer's to vote on the addition of new peaks to the list. I'd like to make a few comments on list additions in general, speak about some of the peaks that are up for vote and, suggest a few more that seem worthy of consideration.
I think that adding more peaks to the list is a great idea! Although some goal-oriented climbers approaching list finish might not agree with me, they probably would if they had already finished. We are an organization whose main objective is climbing mountains, right? Besides, expanding the peaks list will get DPSer's into exciting areas of the southwestern deserts that offer fresh challenges and new locales for exploration.
Of the peaks proposed for addition, I'd favor all of them except Sugarloaf. A very long hike of 20+ miles round trip across the desert to reach a Class I peak seems a bit much? AU of the other peaks proposed arc good choices and I'd vote for each one.
Looking at the list of proposed peaks, I was somewhat surprised that a few very nice peaks 'in our own backyard' were not considered for inclusion on the list. Over the past two years I've been climbing many non-list peaks, in particular the highpoints of distinct ranges, and have come up with a list of my own favorites that the DPS might want to consider someday. The list includes Ship Mountain (West of Old Woman Mm; 8 mi. RT, 2500 feet gain, Class 2), Cady Peak (BM 'Cady', Highpoint of the Cady Mtns., NW of Ludlow; 7 mi. RI, 2100 feet gain, Class 2), Bristol Mountain (BM 'Last', Highpoint of the Bristol Mtns N of Ludlow; 10 mi. RT, 2400 feet gain, Class 2), Kelso Peak (near Kelso Dunes; 6 mi RT, 1500 feet gain, Class 2), Little Maria Mountain (BM "Buck" Highpoint of the Little Maria Mtns., NW of Big Maria Mtns.; 8+ mi. RT, 2000 feet gain, Class 2-3), McCoy Mountain (WSW of Big Maria Mtns.; 8-9 mi. RT, 1100 feet gain, Class 2) in California and Big Horn Peak (Half way between Blythe and Phoenix, just N of I-10; 7 mi. RT, 2100 feet gain, Class 3) in Arizona. Although I feel that the only suitable vehicle for desert peaking is a 4WD, all of the peaks mentioned in this paragraph are accessible by 2WD, making them easy approaches for all climbers. They offer exploration in areas of the desert not frequented by list bound climbers, are of easy to moderate difficulty and are significant in that they are highpoints of their respective ranges and/or are aesthetically pleasing peaks.
Best Regards,
Dave Jurasevich