Since everyone is fairly list oriented we could then work on climbing THE LIST and work on achieving the "Desert Rat" award. Lets encourage the management committee to start the action needed to develop the "Desert Rat" achievement award. We'll definitely need to design a pin for this award and we should make it at least as hard as THE LIST to achieve.
Sincerely,
Barbee Hoffmann
Sierra Club Angeles Chapter
DESERT SAGE
Dear Editor:
In Sag. number 227, you reprinted a correspondence that was sent to me (via the SPS Chairperson) regarding the use of "radios" on Sierra Club outings. To comment:
First and foremost, I cannot disagree with the fact that "radios", in their various forms, present an audible intrusion on the solitude of a wilderness experience. In this specific situation, my "radio" took the form of a two-meter HAM transceiver used for person-to-person communications. The radio itself is about the size of a modern compact camera (electronic device?), with a three-foot telescoping antennae attached. I used my radio several times during that weekend to talk (NOTE : transmission of music is prohibited by the FCC) with a friend of mine who was solo climbing on nearby peaks. We had pre-established a schedule to communicate via our radios, during the day, conditions permitting. A typical "chat" usually lasts about five minutes. Whether or not this was "essential", per S.C. Policy, is subjective. Nevertheless, I was insensitive to the effects of my radio's intrusion, until it was brought, explicitly, to my attention.
In practice, I find my radio a valuable device, as evidenced by two recent emergency air evacuations: 1) my (private) DPS list finish; and 2) a scheduled SPS outing. As a solo hiker, it gives me an added sense of security, and I enjoy "peak-to-peak" conversations with other HAM climbers, as well as confirming my radio's functionality and accessibility to regional repeaters in the event of an emergency.
In conclusion, it is my opinion that Sierra Club outings could accommodate HAM radio users, by simply requesting operation out of ear-and-eye-shot of those who are offended by their use.
Sincerely,
Mark Adrian
P.S. I'd like to take the opportunity here, to appreciate the work you've put into the DESERT SAGE newsletters. The diversity of content and your open-minded attitude have made it a quality publication, that's provided a valuable communications forum for DPS members.
