Meet Your Chapter

Desert Peaks Section

The facts

DPS members explore the desert mountain ranges of California and the Southwest.

Founded in 1941

200 active members

DPSers Greg Roach and Dave Baldwin enjoy a snowy desert summit on Last Chance Mountain in Death Valley National Park. photo by Gary Craig

Storied history

At first mountaineering legend Chester Versteeg had trouble interesting his fellow Sierra Clubbers in the wonders of desert climbing, but eventually his enthusiasm caught on. He founded the DPS and today it is the oldest climbing section in the Angeles Chapter.

DPS is outings oriented, its primary aim being to give members and their friends the opportunity to enjoy the remote and beautiful areas of the local desert. But conservation issues also get top priority; through meetings, outings, and their newsletter, the Desert Sage, members discuss politics and ecology of the desert.

What do they do?

On a typical weekend outing looks something like this: members summit a desert peak on Saturday, car camp with a potluck dinner on Saturday night, then head out for a shorter climb on Sunday. They occasionally make overnight backpack trips or add objectives like canyon explorations, journeys to petroglyph sites, and technical rock climbs. Their outings range from easy introductory trips to difficult rock climbs, but always, the emphasis is on enjoying the desert with friends.

List Finishers

Like other Chapter peaks sections, the DPS has a list of 99 peaks throughout the southwestern U.S. and northern Baja that are noteworthy for their prominence, beauty, or other factors. About 140 individuals have climbed every peak on the DPS List over the last 60 years, and traditionally each person is honored with a grand celebration after their climb that completes the list.

How to

Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of most months from October through April at 7:30pm. Location varies—check the Schedule of Activities or the DPS website for details (www.angeles.sierraclub.org/dps/). Their annual banquet is on the first Wednesday of May. To become an official member of the DPS, you must be a Club member, climb six peaks on the DPS Peaks List, and subscribe to the Desert Sage newsletter. All are welcome to sign up for DPS trips, which are published in the Schedule of Activities and on their website.

Upcoming climb: Mojave National Preserve, March 19-20—a good chance for newcomers to join experienced “desert rats” on moderate hikes

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