many of the campers had retired. The nature of the campsite was such that everyone had to camp within a radius of 50 feet. We had traveled some 300 miles from Los Angeles to escape from the very type of activities which now kept us awake. Our knowing that we had a long day of climbing and driving ahead did not make their boisterous activities very much appreciated.
On the following day, several of the drinkers were unable to make the climb. By his remarks after the trip, one of the children present appeared as much impressed by the drinking spectacle as by the climb.
Neither of us are prudes nor kill-joys. We seek out Sierra Club people as our friends and we explore the wilderness with them in order to add the joys to our lives that are not available in the cities. It is for this reason that we were dismayed by this performance and appalled by visualizing this as a trend.
We believe that unrestrained drinking and its resultant behavior are inconsistent with the objects of the Sierra Club for promoting an appreciation, a respect, and a protective concern for that wilderness as yet unviolated by man.
We believe that indulgent drinking in not a proper example for the young people on our trips, for the newcomers, or for the veterans who have devoted much of their lives to giving the Sierra Club the respectful place it now has in the eyes of the public.
We believe that no person accepting transportation within the club should ever be subjected to fears for his safety by finding himself in a car with a drinking driver.
We believe that all leaders should keep the trust in their judgement untarnished by restraining themselves from drinking during the period of their leadership.
Because of our deep concern for these principles, we would like to propose for your consideration the following policies for the DPS:
  1. Anyone offering transportation on a DPS trip should abstain from drinking during and prior to his period of driving.
  2. All leaders and assistant leaders should abstain from drinking during the period of their leadership responsibilities.
  3. All those who feel the need for alcoholic beverages on DPS trips should confine their drinking to mealtimes and reserve their social drinking for other occasions.
Charles Eugene Gail
Abe Siemens
CHANGE OF LEADERS
Maturango Peak, June 27-28: Gene Gail and Paul Nelson will lead this peak in the absense of Tom and Trudi Hunt who are planning to attend summer school at the University of Guadalajara.
D.P.S. NEWSLETTER
Published bi-monthly by the Desert Peaks Section, Sierra Club.
Editor: John W. Robinson. 418 E. 20th St., Costa Mesa, California
Subscriptions (necessary for DPS membership): One dollar to Hugh Parshall, 627 Valencia Mesa Dr., Fullerton, California.
Deadline for June issue: June 1, 1964.
 
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