About Us

Newsletter

Section Activities

DPS trips mainly include Saturday and Sunday day hikes with a Saturday night potluck campfire meal and car or tent camping overnight stay on Saturday. Those wishing to attend must contact the stated Leader or Assistant Leader as indicated in the SAGE or on this web site. Trip sheets will be e-mailed/mailed prior to the event upon acceptance to the trip. As park regulations have changed, some permits or small fees may be required depending on the peak being climbed.

Activity listings for other Angeles Chapter Outings Sections and the Leadership Training Committee can be accessed by following the links displayed at the bottom of this Listing of Activities for the Desert Peaks Section.

Don't miss this one. November 21st, Saturday, Desert Peaks Section, I: Pleasant Pt (9690'):Join Ed Herrman and hostess Edna Erspamer for Ed's spectacular DPS list finish, a very Pleasant outing, indeed! 3 miles, 700' gain. Post-hike lavish celebration potluck and party will likely be at a campground near Lone Pine. Well behaved K-9s welcomed on List Finisher trip. Send email (preferred) or sase to Leaders: Mary McMannes
and Tina Bowman.

November 21st, Saturday, LTC, Desert Peaks Section, SPS, DPS and WTC, E/M: Stoney Point Rock Workshop/Check off: This intermediate and advanced workshop is based on the rock requirements for M and E leadership. Checkoffs for M and E rock must be pre-arranged. It is a restricted trip; to participate you must be a member of the Sierra Club and have suitable rock climbing experience. Helmet and climbing gear required. Email or send climbing resume, completed medical form (2 copies—include SC# on form), address and phone to ldr: Ron Hudson. Co-ldr: Greg Mason

November 21st - 22nd, Saturday - Sunday, Desert Peaks Section, I: Mount Palmer (7938’), Grapevine Peak (8738’): Climb Palmer on Sat (3100’ gain, 11 mi). This is a long day hike on an undulating ridge with good views. On Sun climb Grapevine (2500’ gain, 6 mi). Depending on the vehicles and the condition of the road, we might be able to continue for an extra mile on a 4WD road and eliminate 2 miles and 900’ of gain from both climbs. In any case we will meet Friday night and camp near the end of the 2WD stretch. Enjoy the beauty of Death Valley and a great DPS potluck on Saturday night. Email leader: Dave Perkins. Asst: Ann Perkins.

December 5th, Saturday, Desert Peaks Section and Wilderness Adventures, I: Pinto Mtn (3983’) Join us for a nice stroll across desert flats and the ascent of Pinto in Joshua Tree NP (9 mi, 2400’ gain). Great views of other DPS peaks. Send email or SASE with conditioning to Leader: Tina Bowman . Co-leader: George Denny.

December 5th, Saturday, Hundred Peaks Section, I: Mt Lowe (5603') Beginning Navigation Clinic: 4 miles, 500' gain. Spend the day one-on-one with an instructor, learning/practicing map and compass. Beginners to rusty old-timers welcome. Not a checkout, but it will help you prepare. Many expert leaders will attend; many I-rated leaders started here in the past. Send SASE, phones, $25 deposit (Sierra Club, refunded at trailhead) to Leader: Diane Dunbar. Co-Leader: Richard Boardman.

December 6th, Sunday, Desert Peaks Section, DPS Potluck and Management Meeting: Come to the home of Ann and Dave Perkins. Meeting starts at 4:30; potluck at 6 pm. Bring a beverage of your choice and a potluck item to share. Contact Reservationist: Dave Perkins.

December 12th - 13th, Saturday - Sunday, Desert Peaks Section, I: Pyramid Peak (6703’), Smith Mt (5913’) Climb 2 desert peaks in Death Valley. Pyramid first, moderately paced 9 mi RT, 4000’ gain over rocky and steep XC routes. Drive to car camp at Smith Mt trailhead. Smith, 6 mi RT, 2500’ gain over easy XC terrain. 4WD/high clearance needed for Smith trailhead. Leader: Greg Mason . Assistant: Paul Garry.

December 13th, Sunday, LTC, Desert Peaks Section, WTC, HPS and SPS, I: Warren Pt Navigation: Navigation noodle at Joshua Tree National Park for either checkout or practice to satisfy the Basic (I/M) or Advanced (E) level navigation requirements. To participate, send email/sase, contact info, navigation experience/training, any WTC, leader rating, rideshare, to Leader: Harry Freimanis.

January 9th, Saturday, Desert Peaks Section, I: Stepladder (2927’) Join us for a class 2 peak in eastern San Bernardino County. Hike on dirt road, up a wash, and fun ledges to the summit of Stepladder (15.5 miles, 1450’ gain). Leader: Tina Bowman. Co-leader: Tom Bowman.

January 9th, Saturday, LTC, Desert Peaks Section, WTC, HPS and SPS, I: Warren Pt (5103') Practice navigation for Sunday’s check off on this 6 mile round trip, 1300' gain hike in the pinyon pine and juniper region of western Joshua Tree National Park. We will take a cross-country route to Warren Point and practice micro-navigation skills along the way. Send email (preferred) or SASE, with contact info & recent conditioning to Leader: Robert Myers. Co-Leaders: Adrienne Benedict, Ann Pedreschi Shields and Jane Simpson.

January 10th, Sunday, Desert Peaks Section, DPS Potluck and Management Meeting: Come to the home of Gloria Miladin. Meeting starts at 4:30; potluck at 6 pm. Bring a beverage of your choice and a potluck item to share. Contact Reservationist: Gloria Miladin.

January 10th, Sunday, LTC, Desert Peaks Section, WTC, HPS and SPS, I: Warren Pt Navigation Navigation noodle at Joshua Tree National Park for either checkout or practice to satisfy the Basic (I/M) or Advanced (E) level navigation requirements. To participate, send email/sase, contact info, navigation experience/training, any WTC, leader rating, rideshare, to Leader: Robert Myers. Assistant: Harry Freimanis.

January 30th, Saturday, LTC, Desert Peaks Section, SPS and Hundred Peaks, M/ER: Local Baldy Snow Practice: Come review snow climbing, rope travel, ice axe, and snow anchors. Practice your skills or brush up on new techniques. Especially for aspiring M & E leader candidates. Restricted to Sierra Club members with prior experience with the ice axe. Lack of snow may cancel. Completed Medical Form required. Email SC membership number, climbing resume, email address, phone number to Leader: Nile Sorenson . Co-leader: Tina Bowman.

January 30th - 31st, Saturday - Sunday, Desert Peaks Section, MR: Turtle Mountain. (4298) and Mopah Point (3,530’) Escape to the Eastern Mojave Desert for early season climbs along with a great DPS car camp and BBQ chicken pot luck dinner. Saturday - hike Turtle, 13 miles, 2700’ gain. Sunday climb class 3, Mopah, 8 miles and 2000’ gain to summit. Participants must be comfortable with class 3 rock climbing; leaders will carry rope and provide belay if needed. Completed Medical Form required. Send SASE with climbing experience and Sierra Club Membership Number or e-mail to Leader: Barbee Tidball . Co-Leader: Larry Tidball

February 7th, Sunday, Desert Peaks Section, DPS Potluck and Management Meeting: Come to the home of Audrey Goodman and Brian Smith in Santa Monica. Meeting starts at 4:30; potluck at 6 pm. Bring a beverage of your choice and a potluck item to share. Directions will be provided when RSVP is received. Contact Reservationist: Audrey Goodman.

February 13th, Saturday, LTC, Desert Peaks, SPS and HPS, M/ER: Local Baldy Snow Practice: Come review snow climbing, rope travel, ice axe, and snow anchors. Practice your skills or brush up on new techniques. Especially for aspiring M & E leader candidates. Restricted to Sierra Club members with prior experience with the ice axe. Lack of snow may cancel. Completed Medical Form required. Email Sierra Club number, climbing resume, email address and phone number to Leader: Nile Sorenson . Co-leader: Doug Mantle.

February 20th - 21nd, Saturday - Sunday, Desert Peaks Section, I: Pahrump Point (5740') and Stewart Point (5265'): Climb these peaks situated in eastern part of the Death Valley area. Saturday - climb Pahrump (3400'gain, 8 miles). Sunday - climb Stewart (2600'gain, 6.5 miles). Happy hour Saturday night. Send email with conditioning and experience to Leader: Virgil Popescu or Co-leader: Patricia Arredondo.

February 27th - 28th, Saturday - Sunday, Desert Peaks Section, I: Granite Mountain #1 (6762’), Kelso Peak (4746’): Climb Granite Saturday (6.5 miles, 2900’ gain) in San Bernardino County. Fine car camp. Sunday explore unlisted Kelso Peak (6 miles, 1100’ gain) and Kelso sand dunes, among the highest in the country. Send email or SASE to Leader: Tina Bowman. Assistant: Mary McMannes.

Please make a selection below to see the Outings Schedule for other Angeles Chapter Activity Sections

Leadership Training Course Schedule

Sierra Peaks Outings Schedule

Lower Peaks Outings Schedule

Hundred Peaks Outings Schedule

Ski Mountaineers Outings Schedule

Participation in DPS Trips

Most Desert Peaks trips include Saturday and Sunday day hikes with a Saturday night car camp unless otherwise specified. Trips range in difficulty from trail hiking to cross-country travel over rugged terrain to exposed climbing requiring technical aid such as ropes.

"In order to participate in a Sierra Club outing, you will need to sign a liability waiver. If you would like to read a copy of the waiver prior to attending the outing, please see http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/chapter/forms ."

Our trips our published in the Angeles Chapter Schedule of Activities and in our newsletter. Unless otherwise specified, most DPS trips involve Saturday & Sunday cross-country day hikes with a Saturday night car camp. The DPS is known for their parties. The DPS usually has no quotas. If you have applied and you do not hear otherwise, you may assume you are accepted. SASE's are normally returned with trip sheets 1-2 weeks prior to the trip. Please join us on a hike!

ACTIVITY REQUIREMENTS

TRANSPORTATION
In the interests of facilitating the logistics of some outings, it is customary that participants make voluntary carpooling arrangements. The Sierra Club does not have insurance for carpooling arrangements and assumes no liability for them. Carpooling, ride sharing or anything similar is strictly a private arrangement among participants. Participants assume the risks associated with this travel.

MOUNTAINEERING RESTRICTIONS
Outings requiring the use of ice axes or ropes/climbing gear may be conducted under restrictive circumstances. Such trips require special leader screening and trip plan approval, both at the Chapter and National levels. Also, all participants must be Sierra Club members and sign a liability release (waiver). Before first conducting such restricted outings, the sponsoring Group/Section/Committee must submit an appropriately revised Safety Plan to the Safety Committee Chair, Larry Tidball. Contact the Outings Management Committee Chair, Bill Oliver, before planning any such trips for the first time.

RULES OF CONDUCT
In order to assure the well-being of all; preserve natural beauty and living things; maintain good will toward the Sierra Club and its objectives the following Rules apply to all persons joining Sierra Club activities. Conduct must, at all times, be acceptable to the group itself, to the general public, and to officials with whom the group may come in contact.

1. The authority of the leaders is to be recognized. Never precede hike leader; never leave group without leader's permission; abide by leader's rulings as to adequacy of clothing, foot-wear, equipment, proficiency, experience, etc.
2. Obey all fire, sanitary, administrative, and safety regulations of both the Club and governmental agencies. Don't throw rocks. Bring out all unburned litter. Take only photographs; leave only footprints. On trails, don't cut switchbacks as the practice leads to erosions.
3. All cooking on overnight trips will be done on stoves. One campfire is permitted where firewood is not in short supply.
4. Firearms and use of radios (except for essential uses such as navigation or communication) are prohibited. Animals are prohibited unless a specific exception is included in the original trip write up.
5. Persons less than 18 yrs old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian or have written permission from same giving phone number and authorization for continuing treatment by an Medical Doctor in case of necessity.
6. Events are open to all members and guests unless the event description lists special restrictions. Make sure you understand these restrictions as they apply to your qualifications to participate be sure you are qualified to participate and that you will not handicap the group because the activity is too strenuous for you. The privilege to attend outings and other events may be limited or withdrawn from those who willfully and/or repeatedly do not comply with the Rules of Conduct.

The Chapter Safety Committee has established classifications for outings that involve different levels and areas of skill but do not relate to the strenuousness of the outing.

C	For events under external control of a non-Sierra Club entity (e.g., ranger, concessionaire).
O	Applies to uncomplicated outings such as hikes on trails or equivalent.
I	Includes outings involving off-trail travel that require navigational skills.
M	Applies to outings that include moderate snow climbs and/or class 3 rock climbing. M-R (rock) and M-S (snow) ratings are available.
E	Applies to outings that involve more severe snow climbing.
T	Applies to outings that involve specialized technical activities.

This is a list of Desert Peaks Section sponsored outings that have been published in the section newsletter, the Desert Sage and/or the Angeles Chapter Schedule of Activities. To participate in a trip, you must send an sase (self addressed, stamped, envelope) to the leader. Restricted trips are limited to Sierra Club members who are qualified to participate in the Outing.

For leadership contact information, it is necessary to obtain a copy of the Angeles Chapter Schedule of Activities.