Balance-December 31, 1917, in Security Savings Bank........$2,107.42

MARION RANDALL PARSONS,
Treasurer

REPORT ON LE CONTE MEMORIAL LODGE

The lodge was opened to the public on May 23rd. During the first part of the season the cold and damp weather necessitated a large fire being kept constantly burning for the comfort of the guests. For this purpose a quantity of wood was donated to the lodge by the Government officials. During the early part of the season we had an average of fifteen visitors a day, but as the summer advanced the number increased until, during the latter part of June, we often had several hundred. In July the number decreased again quite materially.

The guests seemed to enjoy the books on the valley, including those on the birds and flowers, and the daily papers, more than any of the other attractions. They were also much interested in the maps and studied them diligently. On the hot days of July, they discovered that a cool, comfortable spot could always be found in the lodge, and soon took advantage of this, spending the whole afternoon within it, which made the one comfortable rocking chair constantly in demand.

We renewed many of the older specimens of the herbarium, brightening up the collection. There are many more specimens which we collected for this purpose but left unmounted on account of lack of room. A catalogue of the books was made this summer for the library, there being about 350. Two cards were made for each, so that any book may easily be found by knowing either the author or title.

We desire to express our sincere appreciation to the Sierra Club for the privilege of spending a summer in the valley as custodians of the lodge.

DOCIA I. PATCHETT,

ROSE B. WRIGHT,

Custodians

J. N. LE CONTE, Chairman,

R. M. PRICE,

MARION RANDALL PARSONS,
Committee

REPORT OF 1917 OUTING

Owing to conditions brought about by the war, the ambitious plans of the Outing Committee to take the club into the San Joaquin and Middle Fork of the Kings regions had to be abandoned until after the war. A substitute outing was taken into the Tuolumne Meadows, where a main camp was established on the Soda Springs property which is under the control of the club, and from this central camp trips were taken to the many surrounding points of interest. About 150 members participated and the outing proved thoroughly enjoyable from every standpoint. This was the first opportunity that members of the club have had generally to enjoy the Parsons Memorial Lodge. Every one had great praise for

UNIQUE TAMARACK PINE GROWTH

Located on slope below Elizabeth Lake, Tuolumne Meadows. Note the three upright trunks growing from the curved portion

Photo by William E. Colby

its architectural beauty and its appropriateness to the surroundings. Several of the camp-fires were held in the lodge itself. The fire was built in the large fireplace and the building easily accommodated 150 at one time. Large parties climbed Mt. Lyell and Mt. Dana, and smaller expeditions went as far as Rodgers Lake and Dunderberg Peak. A small knapsack party visited the Ten Lake Basin region with a view of gaining information for the outing of 1918. The party returned to Yosemite by way of Merced Lake and Little Yosemite, many members availing themselves of the opportunity to climb Half Dome with the aid of the rope that has been placed along the dangerous portion of the ascent.

Because of the continuance of the war and the desire on the part of many to be within easy reach of telephone and rail communication, the outing for the coming summer will be taken to the same headquarters in the Tuolumne Meadows, through Yosemite, and for the last three weeks of July as was the case last year. The total expense of the outing from San Francisco for the three weeks will be in the neighborhood of $70.00 or $75.00 for those going from San Francisco, and approximately $80.00 for those leaving Los Angeles. This is as close a calculation as is possible at the present time, and detailed information will be sent out during the spring as usual.

In order to make the trip as interesting as possible to those who have visited the Meadows on previous occasions, it is planned to take a side trip down to Mt. Ritter and vicinity during the first two weeks of the outing, and the entire party will be taken into Ten Lake Basin during the last week. The region about Mt. Ritter is one of the most striking and spectacular from the standpoint of mountaineering in the Sierra, while Ten Lake Basin contains one of the most exquisite groups of lakes that are to be found in the whole range. In all probability a knapsack party will go down the Tuolumne Cañon to Pate Valley and rejoin the main party in Ten Lake Basin. On account of the strenuous conditions created by the war, the committee had some thought of discontinuing the outings for the coming summer at least, but so many requests have been made that an outing be undertaken in order to afford those who have been hard at work during the year an opportunity for complete rest and recreation, that the trip as outlined above will be undertaken, but because of these conditions the committee requests that all possible assistance be rendered by giving immediate notice in writing to the club of the intention of those who desire to participate. This application will not be considered binding, but it is quite necessary in order to give the committee an opportunity to prepare for the requisite number. Very respectfully,

WM. E. COLBY, Chairman,

J. N. LE CONTE,

CLAIR S. TAPPAAN.