Once more the Newsletter finds itself being partially ground out in a third story back room in friendly downtown Palo Alto. Even though no desert vistas appear here, it is a joy to look into the sunsets and see the ragged skyline of heavily forested Coast Redwoods atop the Coast Range, not over fifteen minutes beyond the Stanford campus, i.e. when it isn't raining. December really is moisture time, and right now is doing well in helping to support these giants.
Conservation signs are much in evidence here. The Palo Alto people revere the redwoods and plant them profusely, so much that the city name itself means redwood tree in south-of-the-border language. A number of streets and sidewalks still have big oak trees remaining in their rights-of-way. A group of red-headed woodpeckers occupy the top of a power pole adjoining an urban service station, while nearby a frisky squirrel jumps from housetop to tree to housetop. Three minutes away, on the campus are huge numbers of woodpeckers, that have a nice supply of acorns cached away in predrilled holes within many poles. One of the most pleasant thoughts in the mornings is to pass coveys of quail feeding on the dewy grasses. Though they keep a safe distance from the motorists, they appear very unassuming. Also the "farm", as the campus is called, has its share of jackrabbits. One of the showplaces of the West, the farm is well-named, all 8800 acres of it.
My overextended stay of a couple of months has turned into six-I hope to be in circulation soon again and it has caused me to miss three scheduled DPS trips involving some nature of leadership.
In my course of conversation in the Bay Area, it seems amazing how few people know about our Desert Areas. The Sierra Nevada is like a great barn, even today. Though they seem interested, it is my impression that Tahoe and Yosemite are the outer limits. It seems wise that our DPS section sponsor a joint Bay-Loma Prieta invitational climb to a northerly peak and show these chapters what we do down in southern California in the way of Desert Peaking. I suggest Mt Davidson overlooking Virginia City, Nevada as being a wonderful climb. Let's work on it.
NEW MEMBER
The application of Paul Nelson, 6638 St. Estaban St., Tujunga, has been reviewed and his membership approved. Welcome aboard, Paul.
NEW EMBLEM PEAKERS
The applications of Sid Davis, Jim Powers, and Paul Nelson have been received, reviewed, and approved for their status as Emblem Peakers. Nice climbing fellows.