Desert Peaks Section

News

Wilderness Travel Course (WTC)

Plan ahead for this very popular 10-week Sierra Club course that has been offering classrooom instruction and field experiences to Los Angeles and Orange County outdoor enthusiasts for the past twenty years. The Wilderness Travel Course teaches basic mountaineering skills for mountain and desert travel. Classes include navigation instruction using topographic maps and compass, rock scrambling techniques, how to choose equipment, backpacking food and nutrition, snow travel, wilderness first aid and lots more. Includes ten evening classes, two full-day, and two weekend outings with bus transportation provided. Classes are offered in four Southern California areas -- West Los Angeles, Long Beach, Orange County and the San Gabriel Valley. Enrollment opens September 7, 2008. Classes begin January 2009. Please see the WTC website for more information and exact training locations. www.angeles.sierraclub.org/wtc

Hiking and Climbing in Death Valley National Park

The National Park Service has established a permit requirement for day hiking and overnight outings in Death Valley National Park. The required permit consists of two documents that the Outings Leader must have in his or her possession while in the Park. This permit process is in addition to any required Wilderness Permits.

The first document is a Special Use Permit 2008 which is free and can be downloaded as needed.

The second document is the specific outing approval document issued by the Special Park Uses Coordinator in Death Valley National Park. This hard copy approval document can be obtained from the Special Park Uses Coordinator by completing and submitting to the Coordinator a one page Supplemental Activity Application which is free and can be downloaded as needed. Send the downloaded and completed hard copy of the Supplemental Activity Application to:

Special Park Uses Coordinator
Death Valley National Park
P.O. Box 579
Death Valley, CA 92328
Fax: 760-786-3246

The routes and outings dates contained in the Supplemental Activity Application MUST be approved by Death Valley National Park thirty (30) days in advance of your trip departure. Submit the Supplemental Activity Application as soon as possible.

Once you receive written approval for your outing by the Special Park Uses Coordinator, be sure to download the Special Use Permit 2008 and carry both documents with you at all times while in Death Valley National Park.

New Leader "M" Ratings

The Outings Management Committee at its meeting on April 7, 2008, approved a motion to include new M-rock and M-snow ratings besides the traditional full M. Below are the M ratings and requirements.

M rating: Qualified to lead all currently-defined M-level outings, rock, snow or rock and snow combined
M-rock rating: Qualified to lead all currently-defined M-rated outings where M-level rock travel (but no M-level snow travel) is required
M-snow rating: Qualified to lead all currently-defined M-rated outings where M-level snow travel (but no M-level rock travel) is required

Training and certification for the new M-rock [snow] rating will be based on current standards for the M-rating, including

1. Be an I-rated leader (or see below for new leader candidates and O-rated leaders)
2. Pass an M rock or snow technical check-off
3. Provide evidence in a climbing resume of experience on an appropriate number of rock [snow] experience trips at Class 3 or higher to reach provisional status, as assessed by the Provisional Lead Committee of LTC
4. For M-rock: lead a provisional outing including at least 100 feet of 3rd class rock climbing
5. For M-snow: lead a provisional outing consisting of at least 400 feet of elevation gain on a snow slope between 25 and 35 degrees and requiring the use of an ice axe
6. Complete an M-level written exam.

If a leader candidate for M-rock or M-snow is not a rated leader or is an O-rated leader, these are the requirements:

1. Be current in wilderness first aid and CPR
2. Complete two days of environmental awareness training
3. Pass the I/M-level navigation check-off
4. Pass the M rock or snow technical check-off
5. Provide evidence in a climbing resume of experience on an appropriate number of rock [snow] experience trips at Class 3 or higher to reach provisional status, as assessed by the Provisional Lead Committee of LTC
6. Lead two provisional outings: one I- or M-level provisional outing that demonstrates navigation, and one for M-rock or M-snow (see above) (one provisional lead must be a back pack)
7. Complete an M-level written exam.

The requirements for the full M (both rock and snow) remain the same.

First-Aid Training for Sierra Club Leaders

The national Sierra Club office has prepared provider/vendor listings for (1) basic first aid, (2) CPR, (3) Wilderness First Aid/Responder courses and (4) web-based first aid training courses. This material is current as of May 2008. The purpose of this list is to let Sierra Club Leaders know what first-aid training is available, not to endorse any of these providers. This material is available in the Sierra Club Clubhouse. Access to the Sierra Club Clubhouse page may require the use of the user name: clubhouse and the password: explore to log in.

McKeon, Boxer 2008 Proposed Legislation to Protect California Wilderness

Please link on the above link to view the latest series of maps (August 2008) showing the proposed wilderness additions.