Twenty-four enthusiastic Sierrans braved wintery blasts to take part in the Whipple Mountain trip. Camping in a dry wash, the group on Sunday, February 22, George Birthington's Washday, climbed the high point of the range (named Mount Janet by leader Delmonte) and had a most interesting trek through cholla cactus belts, dry waterfalls and the like. The summit afforded a fine view of the Colorado River and Lake Havasu, and was "crowded" with ten eager climbers.
Our new Historian, Alda Van Pappelendam has taken over the DPS scrapbook and will act as a DPS reporter for the Southern Sierran. Alda would appreciate your sending her any newspaper or other clippings of general interest to DPS Members and prospective members. Such information would be included in the Scrapbook which is to be kept at Club Headquarters for reference.
Parker Severson has agreed to continue his able chairmanship of the DPS Mountaineering Committee for 1953. Big project for the year is more pages for the Desert Peaks Guide and Parker is anxious to sign up recruits who can help in preparing "Climbers Guide Information" to just about any Desert Peak in the southwest.
We have it (LA Times - January 9, 1953) that proposals for a road to link Twenty-Nine Palms and Indio, bisecting Joshua Tree National Monument, are now being pushed by organizations in that area. The road would utilize existing jeep trails through Thousand Palms, Canyon, Pushwalla Canyon and the Little San Bernardino Mountains. It is proposed in order to reduce the distance between Twentynine Palms and Indio by about 30 miles, as well as allow opening up of more desert camping sites on the order of Cottonwood Springs. Some of the old trails to be used were "cut" in the early mining days by prospectors who traded in Indio; elsewhere they were built when the Metropolitan Aqueduct was constructed along the present monument boundary.
Some rather beautiful and now protected desert areas would be opened up by construction of the road. With this in mind a few DPS'ers under Parker Severson are planning a trip soon to survey the pros and cons of the proposal first hand in order to arrive at recommendations for a Sierra club stand on the matter. If interested you might contact Parker to determine trip details. The mission is certainly a worthy one.
A new and up to date DPS address list is being prepared by Emily Bear for distributions with the next newsletter. Enclosed for your convenience is an unstamped (!), addressed postal card to inform Emily of your corrected name- spelling, address and/or phone. May we hear from you shortly? If we do not, the latest list (1-12-52) will be assumed correct and copied as is.
Sorry this has been so windy but there was much news to report.
Lloyd Balsam, Chairman
Desert Peaks Section
P.S.: Flash! Bill and Margie Henderson are now moved into their Avocado Ranch at 1152 Picacho Drive, La Habra Heights, Calif., Phone OXford 7-274.