Memphis Mountaineers, Inc. Formed in 1978, the Memphis Mountaineers, Inc., of Memphis, Tennessee, continued to expand its activities in 1983. Following the example set by last year’s successful trip to the Wind Rivers in Wyoming, 14 of our group went to Mexico in late December to climb the volcanoes Pico de Orizaba, Popocatépetl, and Ixtaccihuatl.

Programs at the monthly meetings included a technical talk on cold and altitude diseases, a forum on the roles of local and international women in climbing, and color-slide shows on Mount Rainier and other mountain areas. The club also offered basic instruction, as well as three intense advanced seminars: leading rock, climbing instructor techniques/small cliff rescue, and crevasse rescue techniques. Several experienced members ran an introduction to a mountain rescue course for students in Memphis State University’s Park Ranger Training program.

Members were active on 16 official weekend outings, which extended as far as Minnesota. Individual members arranged numerous private trips locally, as well as to England and California. The club was also effective in its efforts to reopen Arkansas and Missouri state parks to climbing. Members are notified of activities via the Memphis Mountain News, a monthly newsletter.

There were 31 active members in 1983, mostly from Tennessee, but including associate members in Seattle and Houston. Officers included president and expeditions leader Rene Van Balderen, first vice-president and newsletter editor Sam Reynolds, second vice-president Ted Martin, secretary and access spokesman Will Merritt, and treasurer Jay Tomlinson.

James Detterline