I was descending the north face of Gemini in August 1982 when I came across a summit register on a ledge about 700 feet below the summit. As I was in a hurry to return to camp before dark I wasn't able to return the register to the summit. The register, grandly labeled SIERRA CLUB REGISTER No 564, covers the period 1974-1978. It is in remarkably good condition. Since the register only covers a period of four years there aren't that many entries, but there are some notables signed in such as RJ Secor and Doug Mantle. Apparently, when I got home, I put the register in a box with some old climbing pictures and, after almost 30 years, I just re-discovered it. So, who is collecting and archiving old summit registers? I heard once the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley was preserving them. Anybody know?

Should give it to someone who plans to go up Gemini sometime in the future.

What's the point of giving it to UC Berkeley? Might as well cut it into shavings and stuff it into a bong.

You know, I'm mildly embarrassed I didn't think of that myself. Not the part about smoking it in a bong, the part about giving it to someone who could place it back on the summit where it belongs. If anyone out there is planning a trip up the Gemini, let me know. And remember, no signing into the register until you get to the top.

Chances are really good that there's already a current register at the summit, so why replace one that's 30+ years old?

Were it me, i'd do some research to find out where old registers for Sierra peaks are archived. That's far back enough to be of at least minor historical value.
It should go wherever old summit registers are kept, it seems to me.

They are kept on summits.

This year I signed into books that went back to the 50s. And I didn't do it in a goddamn library.

mrchad9 wrote:They are kept on summits.

Really?

Odd then that the majority of the summit registers i've seen are relatively current. On popular peaks, what is done with filled registers? I'd think it could take a small filing cabinet to house them, or at least a large container?

Anyway, only trying to make a helpful suggestion.

On many peaks people steal them, including the UC Berkeley library. Doesn't make it right.

UC Berkeley has no more rights to the books than sierraman, you, or me. The main thing is once it is off the summit it is pretty much useless. No one goes to the library to read those things, they belong on the summit regardless.

Whitney and Shasta type peaks are a bit different, but not Gemini.

I signed many many old registers BITD. I think they were all meant to remain on the mountaintops where I found them. Sadly, I see that from reading Bob's trip reports, most of them are now missing. They might be at Bancroft or they may have been stolen. I don't know. I suppose if I had a choice, I'd rather that they were at Bancroft instead of some turd's private basement collection. At least if they were at Bancroft they are still somewhat accessible.

All I know is that they should be accessible only to those who actually go through the effort of climbing the peak where they were originally placed.



Yeah, I know. This has been discussed many times before. I don't think there's ever been a satisfactory resolution to this annoying problem.

Keep in mind that the original Bear Flag was preserved in a museum in San Francisco for safekeeping, until it was burned to oblivion in the 1906 earthquake.

There is no better place to preserve these documents than 100s of miles from Bay Area and Southern California residents.

Btw Barcroft = stolen (unless the Barcroft Library placed the original book in the first place)!

sierraman wrote:I was descending the north face of Gemini in August 1982 when I came across a summit register on a ledge about 700 feet below the summit. As I was in a hurry to return to camp before dark I wasn't able to return the register to the summit. The register, grandly labeled SIERRA CLUB REGISTER No 564, covers the period 1974-1978. It is in remarkably good condition. Since the register only covers a period of four years there aren't that many entries, but there are some notables signed in such as RJ Secor and Doug Mantle. Apparently, when I got home, I put the register in a box with some old climbing pictures and, after almost 30 years, I just re-discovered it. So, who is collecting and archiving old summit registers? I heard once the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley was preserving them. Anybody know?

Maybe Harry could offer some good advice what to do with the register.
http://summitregister.langenbacher.org/

At the risk of raising the Summit Registers debate again, that's utterly ridiculous to call the Bancroft's collection 'stolen' - I agree that the registers belong on peaks, but when they become full and overflow their homes they need a repository, and one concentrated spot is better than many scattered spots; where that is doesn't matter - Berkeley belongs to the Sierra as much as the Sierra belongs to Berkeley (Bishop/wherever) - if you think otherwise you should read your history on where so many of our modern climbing techniques were developed and where those climbers lived (and still live)

Anyone can access the Bancroft at any time; it's as good a place as any

Unless the Bancroft library bought and deposited the books on the peaks, for them to take them is stealing. If you think otherwise you should look up the legal definition of theft.

What goes on at Whitney and Shasta is different, as the USFS purchases and places those registers. So it isn't theft for those agencies them to take them down. But if someone puts their own book on top of some peak, the folks at Bancroft have no right to take it.

Very many of the registers are placed by the Sierra Club with the understanding that they will eventually be removed to Bancroft for 'safe-keeping'. You might not approve, I don't, but the strong term 'theft' distracts from that debate.

Chad, come now. You're just being stubborn again. Yes, until they are full, they belong on the summit. But once they fill up, they should be thrown away or taken to a place that can preserve these things (Berkeley, wherever). I'm not going to go thumb through registers on my day off, but some day, in the future, people might. If someone wants to take on the time, effort, and expense, then I think it's a good idea to try and preserve these things. You can always burn it down later if you want to...