Southwest Section. We had four main events in 2011, finishing strongly with a successful winter dinner. The Section enjoyed good climbing and friendship January 15-16 at Joshua Tree with the Southern California Mountaineers Association. Included was a Graffiti Removal Project arranged through climbing ranger Bernadette. On April 17 eight of us met at the Mishe Mokwa Trailhead at Malibu Creek State Park, hiked into the Echo Cliffs, and enjoyed climbing in the shade on a warm day. We returned to the parking lot for a brats picnic organized by Mike and Mary Tompkins. On the weekend of October 22-23 the Section enjoyed climbs again at Joshua Tree, camping out at Sheep Pass Campground. On Sunday a few of us joined a restoration project at Indian Cove put on by the Park Service and the Friends of Joshua Tree. The Park Service organized a highly successful project, providing the tools, plants, and equipment for the volunteers and rangers to plant 50 to 60 native plants in two hours. In November the Section helped sponsor the Fall Highball in Bishop, which included a work party at the Buttermilk area and a fund raiser with beer and music that raised about $800 for conservation. In addition we gathered at Cal Tech for programs such as the Reel Rock Festival and the Banff Film Festival, sponsored by the Cal Tech Alpine Club.

Finally, 74 people attended the December holiday dinner featuring a slideshow entitled From Patagonia to Tajikstan: A 40-Year Climbing Retrospective by Jim Donini and accompanied by good French food at Taix French Restaurant. With the assistance of a no-host bar and appetizers, the crowd enjoyed visiting with old friends and making new ones.

Jim Pinter-Lucke,Chair