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.

July 18th, Saturday, Desert Peaks Section, O: White Mtn Pk (14,246’) Hike a California 14er, 15 miles, 2400’ gain on dirt road. Outstanding views of the Sierra, opportunities to visit the ancient bristlecone pines. Send e-mail or sase with conditioning and recent altitude experience to Leader: Tina Bowman, Co-leader: Tom Bowman.

July 18th - 19th, Saturday - Sunday, Hundred Peaks and Desert Peaks Section, O: Telescope Peak (11,049') and Wildrose Peak (9064') Hike the Panamints with us to the high point of Death Valley enjoying Limber and Bristlecone Pines along the way and a view of Badwater and the valley below. Wildrose Peak Trail goes through a Pinyon Pine and Juniper forest and also promises spectacular views. Several campgrounds are available, including the Mahogany Flat Campground (8133') adjacent to the Telescope Peak trailhead. Saturday we will do Telescope Peak for a hike of 14 miles round trip, and 3000' gain. Stay over Saturday night or meet us Sunday morning for a hike to Wildrose Peak of 8.4 miles round trip, and 2200' gain. Seasoned hikers only please. Contact leaders for more information. Leaders: CHRIS SPISAK and LILLY FUKUI.

August 16th -19th, Sunday - Wednesday, Desert Peaks Section, I: Ruby Dome (11,387'), Wheeler Peak (13,063'), Mount Moriah (12,067') Climb Ruby Dome, (12 miles round trip, 5400' gain, some class 2 scrambling) the most Alpine peak on the DPS list, in a spectacular area, plus Wheeler (8.5 miles round trip, +3100', all trail) with magnificent Bristlecone pines near the top and very beautiful Lehman Caves in its gut. To be followed by an optional exploratory climb (details available upon request). Send email with interests, H&W phones, experience, time available, vehicle and rideshare information to Leader: ASHER WAXMAN. Assistant: GEORGE WYSUP .

September 19th - 20th, Saturday - Sunday, Desert Peaks Section and WTC, O: Glass Mountain Ridge (11,140') and Mount Patterson (11,673') First Day, pitter patter up Patterson with Tina and Mary Mac for 5 miles and 1600' gain. Day #2, climb the black obsidian peak for 3 miles and 1900' gain. Evening potluck will add to our merriment. E-mail Leader: Tina Bowman: Assistant: Mary McMannes.

September 26th, Saturday, Desert Peaks Section and WTC, MR: McFarland Peak (10,742’) An “exploratory” climb of McFarland Peak - a beautiful, rugged and imposing limestone peak hidden deep within the northern portion of the Spring Mountains of southern Nevada. We will climb the peak via the Bristlecone and Bonanza Trails (13.5 miles roundtrip, 4,500’ gain). Class 3 rock experience required. Restricted to Sierra Club members. Medical form required. See entry below for Asher Waxman’s list finish on Spirit Mountain the next day. Send e-mail/sase and detailed resume including class 3 rock experience to: Leader: Dan Richter, Assistant: Asher Waxman.

September 27th, Sunday, Desert Peaks Section and WTC, I: Spirit Mountain (5,639’) Join us for Asher Waxman’s list finish on this sacred and magical peak above Christmas Tree Pass. The peak overlooks Lake Havasu and Laughlin. We will climb the mountain from the pass by a beautiful cross-country route. See the schedule for our “exploratory” climb of McFarland Peak the day before. (3 miles round trip, 2,000’ gain). Send e-mail and sase: Leader: Asher Waxman, Assistant: Dan Richter.

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.