Of course, our late member, Graham Stephenson, et al, opted to do it in reverse, and did--all 11,049 ft of gain!
I think the bus trips still prove to be my choice of events. We even once had a Santa Fe train ride round trip from Pasadena to Flagstaff to do Mt Humphreys. What a sleepy-time, water-cooler Monday work day followed!
My favorite desert high point continues to be Telescope, and I have always been happy I was forcibly exposed to its heights--being an Emblem Peak. It is one of those places that calls me back. I always marvel at seeing it suddenly loom up as we cross the summit of the Trona-Wildrose highway, some ten miles north of Trona. If in daylight, I usually like to stop and admire its loftiness which dominates the whole Panamint Valley scene. Try this sometime: Just at this highway breakover into Panamint Valley, stop and saunter the adjoining easterly trail. This is the old Nadeau Road route--important in Panamint City days over a century ago for freighting between there and Los Angeles.
Go about an eighth of a mile and there is to be seen a hacking of a gosh-awful rocky road down a steep slope to the north. How the teams ever negotiated this grade either way, is bewildering. Telescope Peak is still in full view--along with Sentinel, Porter and Panamint Butte. If one follows downhill for a few minutes to the lower level, nearly twenty distinct rock ruins stand. These are said to have been the dwelling places of Chinese that were employed to build the Nadeau Road.
I never heard of, or knew, a List Finisher until more recent years. We never thought in those terms. Also the List was only a fraction of its present size, though all the Emblem Peaks have been so designated for a long while.
"Why climb a desert peak?", my unknowing friends ask. I give them three reasons: exercise, views and trail camaraderie. The second is art expression of the greatness of God's universe. All of these enhance one's life, I know.
I feel that DPS people represent a unique group--a clan that understands the basic rigors of the pure outdoors, and withstands hardship with little luxury. These persons shun laziness, with responsibility being a built-in feature. If one has endured many DPS encounters there is bound to have been some rough going. Some of my best friendships have been established within DPS circles.
Therefore, I want to express my thanks for the creation of a Desert Peaks Section, as it has been an important facet in my outdoor life. Some of my most pleasant(though at the time--rugged, ugh!) memories, for which I will forever cherish, are results of contacts with the DPS.
I think I will never tire of peaking, be it desert or otherwise. And guess what? I still have Mopah Pk on my list of Things To Do Tomorrow!

-Bob Greenawalt
Feb 1991
Cartoon
 
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