Stanford. The Stanford Alpine Club has 50 members, half of whom are active. Four week ends a year, the club sponsors climbs in Yosemite Valley—a rock climber’s paradise. Several week ends are spent at Pinnacles National Monument or Castle Crags State Park. During the summer of 1948 members joined trips to Canada and the Tetons; in October three made the third ascent of Yosemite’s sensational W. Arrowhead Chimney; and on Thanksgiving Day seven made two minor first ascents in the Castle Crags. At present the club is working on a film of the climb of Lower Cathedral Spire in Yosemite.

About 25 Sundays are devoted to practice climbs on local rocks, where beginners are trained toward the proficiency required in Yosemite. Each member must pass tests to attain status as “Qualified” or “Leader,” and these classifications serve to control the make-up of climbing parties.

Rupert Gates and David Harrah