Don’t let the name fool you. Sure, the Wilderness Adventures Section conducts awe-inspiring backpacks in the High Sierra and other wilderness areas across the West. But this fun and energetic section runs perhaps the greatest variety of outings in the Angeles Chapter. The outings range from urban art and architecture walks in downtown Los Angeles to day hikes and snowshoe trips in the local mountains, wildlife viewing in the Channel Islands, educational trips focusing on water issues in the Owens Valley, desert car camps, winter ski outings, lodge trips and holiday bus and hotel excursions.
From its first planning meeting in a Topanga Canyon hot tub in 1980, the Wilderness Adventures Section has let imagination -- and a dedication to exploring and preserving the outdoors -- inspire its trips for families, couples and individuals. But perhaps its greatest legacy is its leaders.
“Gerry Dunie was our mentor,” said founding WAS leaders Art and Bobbie Peyser, who themselves won the Chester Versteeg Award, the Angeles Chapter’s highest honor for outings leadership, in 1992. “We’ve always been concerned about our participants, their health and their well-being. We’ve always kept our groups together. And we’ve always tried to be knowledgeable about the places we’re going.” Dunie, who died in 1996, was widely respected as one of the Section’s and the Angeles Chapter’s most knowledgeable, experienced and considerate leaders.
“All the new leaders have the same dedication,” said Bobbie Peyser. “There is as much enthusiasm and excitement now as there was in the beginning.”
Nicole Temkin, an Angeles Chapter member, agrees. She’s been on more than 50 WAS outings over the past five years, and said she continues to seek them out because of the positive and long-lasting experiences. “Wilderness Adventures does the greatest variety of trips, from backpacks, car camps, bus trips, lodge trips and day hikes,” she said. “The leaders are organized, creative, intelligent and caring. Wilderness Adventures has so many good leaders that it’s sometimes hard to pick which outing to go on.”
Current WAS leader Andrea Leigh remembers her first trip with the Section in 1993, a backpacking trip to Big Basin Redwoods State Park in the Santa Cruz Mountains. “It was a trip so full of encouragement, fun and camaraderie that even when we had to share tent stakes (since nearly 30 tents had to fit in the same cramped campground space), no one complained. With WAS everyone was welcome, no matter what your ability – it was your attitude that mattered most, your spirit of adventure.”
Today the Section remains interested in all facets of environmental stewardship while enjoying its outdoor experiences. Conservation concerns continue to keep the Section active politically. And several leaders, like Maya Hyams, have grown to include trips out of the country as Chapter fundraisers.
“Being a conscientious Sierra Club leader is a most valuable and rewarding learning experience, and I am forever amazed at the multitude of talent demonstrated and devoted to leading trips by all WAS leaders,” Maya said. “I did my part as best I could. From each trip I learned more about leadership skills and I enjoyed the company of so many wonderful participants. I will always admire the continuing devotion of all WAS leaders.
--Beth Powis, WAS leader |
