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Service and Hiking in the Carrizo
September 27-29
Saturday-Sunday
This is an opportunity to visit and to assist an outstanding and relatively unknown national monument. Saturday is the National Public Lands Day and we will assist monument staff and join with other volunteers working on improvements for the Selby Campground. Sunday is reserved for recreation. Our group will plan a moderate hike in the Caliente Mountains. The views are spectacular; and the monument is known for the number and variety of raptors present. Contact leader Craig Deutsche, 310-477-6670, or deutsche@earthlink.net CNRCC Desert Committee
Stubbe Springs Hike - Joshua Tree National Park
October 25
Saturday
We will start at Keys View and hike north-northwest along the rim of the park, enjoying the wonderful views, then start towards Stubbe Springs. Lunch at the spring. Then we'll pick up a horse trail and head towards the Keys View Road to our shuttle car. Hike is strenuous, lots of ups and downs and cross-country hiking. Nine miles with 1,000 foot elevation gain, includeds a car shuttle. Call Al and Ann Murdy (760-366-2932) or email (al.murdy@gmail.com). Taquitz Group/San Gorgonio Chap
Conglomerate Mesa Exploration/Carcamp
October 31(eve)-November 2
Friday (eve) - Sunday
Come with us and explore this pristine area overlooking Owens Valley and ranges to the east. Meet Friday evening near Darwin and car-caravan to our camping location at 6500’. Moderately strenuous hike on Saturday to little-known unroaded, unmined, ungrazed area south of Cerro Gordo, threatened by the potential of an open pit cyanide heap leach gold mine. Mostly trail-less cross-country, except for part of an 1870’s freighting trail between Keeler and Death Valley. Some rock scrambling. Saturday evening social and pot luck. Sunday explore the Malpais Mesa Wilderness from the 1950s Santa Rosa mine. Drive to campsite requires high clearance vehicle, carpooling at meeting point may be possible. Resource guide: Tom Budlong. Contact leader for more information. Kate Allen kj.allen@wildblue.net, 661-944-4056 CNRCC Desert Committee
(See Current Issues section of upcoming Desert Report for more information on Conglomerate Mesa)
Mecca Hills Carcamp & Hiking
November 8-9
Saturday-Sunday
Join us as we explore the Mecca Hills Wilderness Area east of Indio, CA. We will hike through quiet gravel washes and over beautiful rocky hills to several well-known and spectacular sites. On Saturday, we will visit Hidden Springs and the Grottos, and on Sunday, we will explore Painted Canyon. Carcamping will include the civilized amenities, potluck supper and campfire Saturday night. Limit 12 participants. Ldr: Craig Deutsche, deutsche@earthlink.net, (310-477-6670). CNRCC Desert Committee
Carrizo Plain Nat'l Monument - Antelope Protection Work Party
December 6-7
Saturday-Sunday
Fencing built for ranches in what is now the Carrizo Plain National Monument are deadly to the beautiful pronghorn antelope which live there. Much progress has been made removing this fencing and it is making a difference. Join us for the weekend as we remove more fencing to assist the pronghorn in obtaining free access across the plain. Camp at Selby campground, bring food, water, heavy leather work gloves, and camping gear for the weekend. Potluck Sat. night. Rain cancels. Resource specialist: Alice Koch. For more information, contact Leaders: Cal and Letty French, (e-mail preferred) lettyfrench@gmail.com or cal.french@gmail.com, or 14140 Chimney Rock Road, Paso Robles, CA 93446, (805-239-7338).
Santa Lucia Chap/CNRCC Desert Com
Wilderness Restoration in Death Valley National Park
December 5 (eve) - 7
Friday (eve) - Sunday
Work project in Middle Park/South Park area of the Panamint Mountains. Main objective is to help obscure old vehicle routes by installing wilderness restoration signs and using rock or vertical mulch. If there are enough participants, we would also help clearing up trash and debris from the vicinity of a couple of the old cabins in the area. Park will supply some of the required 4x4 transportation. Camping overnight in area, happy hour/potluck on Saturday night. Contact leader for more information. Kate Allen kj.allen@wildblue.net, 661-944-4056.
Holiday Service in Carrizo Plain Nat'l Monument
December 29 '08 - January 3 '09
Monday - Saturday
Celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of the next in one of our new national monuments. The Carrizo Plain, west of Bakersfield, is a vast grassland, home to pronghorn antelope, tule elk, kit fox, and a wide variety of birds. A welcome hike Dec. 29, three and a half days of service modifying barbed wire fencing, and a full day for hiking and exploring are planned. Use of accommodations at Goodwin Ranch included. Limited to 12 participants, $30 covers 5 dinners. For more information, contact leader: Craig Deutsche, deutsche@earthlink.net, (310-477-6670), or co-leader leader Melinda Goodwater, mgoodwater@sbcglobal.net, (408-774-1257). CNRCC Desert Committee
NON SIERRA CLUB TRIPS
See Listing Below
Various
The following activities are not sponsored nor administered by the Sierra Club. The Sierra Club has no information about the planning of these activities and makes no representations or warranties about the quality, safety, supervision or management of such activities. They are published only as a reader service because they may be of interest to the readers of this publication
Friends of Nevada Wilderness
NON Sierra Club Trips
August
Friends of Nevada Wilderness (FNW) organizes restoration trips to help wild landscapes recover from noxious weeds, illegal vehicle use and other impacts. Explore scenic Nevada and help keep it wild at the same time! Trips are free, and the beautiful wild areas are priceless! Contact FNW at 775-324-7667 or info@nevadawildnerness.org for more information.
Sep 12-14, Mount Grafton Wilderness Restoration
Join Friends of Nevada Wilderness and the Ely BLM for a restoration project erasing OHV tracks in the Mt. Grafton Wilderness. Volunteers will work together to erase vehicle tracks penetrating the wilderness boundary and restore the area to its natural character through rock and boulder placement, vertical mulching, and transplanting native plants and other materials. See website or contact Pat Bruce, Field Project Coordinator, for more details (775) 324-7667.
Sep 19-21, National Public Lands Day (trip 1)
Join Friends of Nevada Wilderness, The Nevada Outdoor School, Friends of Black Rock High Rock, and the BLM for multiple projects in the Black Rock Desert Area. See website or contact Pat Bruce, Field Project Coordinator, for more details (775) 324-7667.
Sep 26-28, National Public Lands Day (trip 2)
Join Friends of Nevada Wilderness for a project in the Humboldt-Toiyabe Forest. Contact Pat Bruce, Field Project Coordinator, for more details (775) 324-7667.
*NOTE: All volunteers are welcome! Every FNW trip offers opportunities to contribute in less physically-demanding ways, such as: taking photos, writing and reporting, or just enjoying the beauty of wilderness.
Amargosa Conservancy
NON-Sierra Club Trips
September-November
The Amargosa Conservancy works to protect the land, water, and beauty of the Amargosa River, in the Death Valley area. Attendance is limited, so please call 760-852-4339 to reserve a place. Learn more at www.amargosaconservancy.org
September 27, Saturday
China Ranch
An inside tour of a working date from during harvest time. Learn about the early history of Death Valley. Meet at the China Ranch at 9:30 am. (half day, easy walking, 1-2 miles)Nov
October 18, Saturday
Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad Tour
Visit points of interest along the historic route of the Tonopah & Tidewater railroad. Meet at the Amargosa Conservancy office at 9:30 am. (full day; driving with easy walking, 1-2 miles)
November 22, Saturday
Shoshone Outing
Learn about the colorful history of this early day Tonopah & Tidewater railroad stop and mining town. Meet at the Amargosa Conservancy office at 10:00 am. (full day, easy to moderate walking, 2-3 miles)
Desert Survivors
NON-Sierra Club Trips
August - November 2008
Desert Survivors is a nonprofit organization dedicated to desert conservation and exploration. Trips are open only to members. See their website for more details: www.desert-survivors.org
Aug 30-Sept 1 (Sat-Mon) Skedaddle Mountains Carcamp (M)
Three days of hiking in obscure mountains near the Nevada border. Hikes to springs in canyons and up on the range itself in this BLM Wilderness Study Area at 4000-7000'. Hills are grown to sagebrush, bitterbrush, and mountain mahogany. The air should be cool and refreshing up on top, with outstanding views. Possible antelope, deer, and wild horses. A new moon promises excellent stars. Note: On this wildlife-viewing and monitoring trip it is requested that you stay behind the leader, if you cannot, please choose another trip. Limit 15. Contact Leader: Steve Tabor (510) 769-1706
September 12-14 (Fri-Sun)Hays Canyon Carcamp (M/S)
(Northwestern Nevada)
East of Surprise Valley is the Hays Canyon Range's massive escarpment. Friday we'll hike mostly on roads to 7916' Hays Canyon Peak for a spectacular view of the Warner Mtns. Saturday we'll explore the range's wilder side, heading deep into the Wall Canyon WSA to climb Boulder Mtn. Hikes will be long but not very steep. Watch for pronghorn, mule deer, horses, and sage grouse. Expect chilly nights at our high camp and sweeping views from the high plateaus. Requires dirt-road driving, high clearance recommended. Limit 12. Contact Leader: Dave Oline (541) 552-1195, olined@sou.edu
Sept 21-26 (Sun-Fri)and
Oct 3-8 (Fri-Wed)
Saline Valley Service Trip Carcamp (E/M)
Join Desert Survivors and Friends of the Inyo in our continuing quest to eradicate tamarisk in the canyons of the Inyo Mountains. This trip will be supported by paid staff from BLM and Friends of the Inyo and may include some assisted rock climbing and rappelling. Come for any or all of the days listed. Limit 15. Contact Leader: Jerry Goss (408) 248-8206 Jergo2000@aol.com
October 11-13 (Sat-Mon)
Furnace Creek/Fishlake Valley Carcamp (M)
(Eastern Sierra, CA)
Furnace Creek is an endangered riparian area on the east side of the White Mountains where off-roaders have damaged the stream and its vegetation, but the BLM has neglected to close it to vehicles. We will hike one day up through the willows (turning yellow?) to appreciate this unique desert canyon. We'll also hike one day in the colorful Esmeralda Badlands nearby, and a third day elsewhere. We'll top off the trip with a dip in Fishlake Valley Hot Springs. Participants must stay behind the leader while hiking. Limit 15. Contact Leader: Steve Tabor (510) 769-1706
October 17-19 (Fri-Mon) Benton Petroglyph Carcamp (E)
(Eastern Sierra, CA)
Enjoy the great gifts of the desert! Camp at Benton Hot Springs and caravan to nearby petroglyph sites. Puzzle over the messages from both near and distant past. Hike in open flat desert in search of other nearby sites. We will photograph, draw, record, and document what we find. Evenings should open with dark skies and a moonrise later, perfect for soaking. Potluck on Friday night. Conditions should be cool and sunny. Limit 15. Contact Leader: Chuck McGinn (530) 753-0979 e-mail preferred: cemcginn@gmail.com
October 30-November 2 (Thu-Sun)
Funeral Mountains/Death Valley Backpack (M)
(Death Valley National Park)
Halloween in the Valley of Death! Thirty miles in four days along the crest of the Funerals from Keane Wonder Mine to Echo Canyon. A trail up to Keane, then cross-country. Midway we'll drop to Indian Spring to get water. Expect a lot of ups and downs as we hike in and out of canyons. Great long views and wonderful sedimentary geology. Summer heat will be gone as we do our best to stay upright in this rugged terrain. Participants must stay behind the leader while hiking. Limit 15. Contact Leader: Steve Tabor (510) 769-1706
November 1-3 (Sat-Mon)
Carrizo Plain Service and Discovery (M)
Closer to the coast but still a desert save gas and time and combine carcamping, dayhiking, exploring, and service in this San Luis Obispo County wilderness! Our service on Saturday will modify about a mile of fence to facilitate the preference of pronghorn antelope to go under rather than jump fences escaping predators. All-day hike Sunday in the Caliente Range. For those who stay, a visitor's car tour of the lower plain Monday morning. Limit 15. Contact Leader: Craig Deutsche (310) 477-6670 deutsche@earthlink.net
November 8-11 (Sat-Tues)
Corridor Canyon/Round Valley Backpack (S)
(Death Valley National Park)
Stunning geology and solitude will be featured as we explore a remote northern region of the park, with coral-reef fossils, rock-art sightings, and a moonlit walk on the mysterious "moving rocks" Racetrack playa. We'll hike down from the Ubehebe Mine then work our way up through a wildly volcanic area to Round Valley. Carry all water. Possibility of snow or rain, but moderate temperatures. Road passable by low-clearance vehicles, but high-clearance recommended. Carpooling highly encouraged. Limit 12. Contact Leader: Kenneth Logan (510) 420-1442 kenneth.logan@sf.frb.org
November 27-30 (Thurs-Sun)
Ibex Dunes/Amargosa Canyon Carcamp (M)
(Mojave Desert, Southern Inyo County)
We'll explore the rarely trodden Ibex Dunes then head to the Ibex Springs Ghost Town for a T-day potluck and campfire. Next day we'll enjoy a southern-Utah-style canyon dubbed the "Grand Canyon of the Mojave," with many adjoining narrows, as well as a desert wonderland near China Ranch, and finally hike down Amargosa Canyon along the Amargosa River. Hike each day is 7-10 mi. Optional Delight's hot springs Saturday night. High-clearance vehicle and carpooling highly recommended. Limit 12. Contact Leader: Kenneth Logan (510) 420-1442 kenneth.logan@sf.frb.org
November 27-30 (Thu-Sun)
Cottonwood to Lemoigne Backpack (M)
(Death Valley National Park)
Four day, 25-mi. backpack from Hwy 190 to Cottonwood Canyon. Get water in Cottonwood late the second day amidst beautiful riparian vegetation. Camp in the open valley below Panamint Butte and dayhike to the crest. Third day, backpack to the head of steep-walled Lemoigne Canyon. Fourth day, backpack out to Emigrant Camp. A variation of one of the great Death Valley routes. Great sedimentary geology. A new moon promises good stars if it doesn't storm. Participants must stay behind the leader while hiking. Limit 15. Contact Leader: Steve Tabor (510) 769-1706
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