A.A.C., Sierra Nevada Section. In 1995 our section worked hard to improve communications both within the club and with non-members in the local climbing communities. Hosting the A.A.C. Annual Meeting last December in Oakland provided a perfect focal point for our efforts. The convention was well-attended by section members and local non-affiliated climbers. The relevancy of AAC activities was heightened by the many slide shows and discussions relating to Yosemite and California climbing history. As a result, our section membership has increased by 55% since the beginning of 1995.

Section activities in 1995 kicked off with a winter meeting at Bruce McCubbery's home. Lou Reichardt filled us in on the annual meeting, national issues, and progress on the new Golden, Colorado headquarters. R.D. Caughhron gave a great slide show on his recent ascent of Dhaulagiri. Eliza Moran brought us news of work being done in collaboration with the UIAA in Europe and Colin Lynch told us about his upcoming (now successful) attempt on Everest from Tibet with George Mallory's grandson.

Our section has always enjoyed the various outdoor gatherings that we have each year. In March we assembled a tent city in the rain and drank our way through the "Ski Weekend" at Grover Hot Springs (the section chairman was the last to emerge from his tent Sunday morning). Later that spring a group climbed at Lover's Leap and the fall saw a large group climbing in Yosemite. Section members climbed everything from Astroman to the Royal Arches. 1996 promises to be another good year for outings. We have been making non-members welcome at outings in hopes that they will enjoy the company and eventually join the AAC.

The section newsletter has been a great communications tool for us, thanks to Tom and Linda McMillan, the editors. We have now also made the newsletter available to non-members, encouraging them to join us at outings and other events. Anyone can subscribe for five dollars.

Our annual section dinner in Berkeley was a success with a hundred members and guests assembling to socialize and watch an outstanding slide show by Greg Child. Our thanks to Bev and Les Wilson for doing most of the organization for this event.

The chairman would also like to thank Brock Wagstaff, Allen Steck (vice chairman), Gene White and others that helped run the section while he was off fooling around in the mountains.

Ongoing concerns and projects of the section are: getting some local bouldering areas legal to climb on again in cooperation with the Access Fund; opening up talks with Yosemite NPS to create a system where motorized drilling can be used to replace existing unsafe bolts in the Yosemite; aid in reestablishing a reasonable wilderness permit system on the east side of the Sierra Nevada; and monitor the new Lover's Leap climbers campground.

Eric Brand, Chairman, and Linda McMillan