A WORD FROM THE NEWSLETTER GUY

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1 TheOasis March, 2007 Volume 8, Issue 3 Careys Castle Hike starts here at this sign and ends here at the entrance to the castle. A WORD FROM THE NEWSLETTER GUY See page 2 for all the details. Pictured: Janice Kleinschmidt, Deputy Editor, Palm Springs Life Magazine who accompanied us on the scouting trip. nce again it is time for a few reminders. Unlike the other chapters and hiking clubs, our chapter is very lenient in what we ask our members to wear and carry on our hikes. Dress appropriately for the season and wear appropriate hiking boots or shoes: Try not to wear athletic shoes. (Examples) cross training, running, jogging shoes: these are fine for a walk along Palm Canyon Drive, but not on the trail. Wear synthetic clothing that wicks the moisture away from your body and is generally non restrictive (such as polyester and polypropylene). Stay away from multiple layers of cotton fabrics, which become cold and clingy when wet and dry slowly. It is always good to bring waterproof, breathable rain gear, even when rain is not in the forecast. Wetness causes a loss of body heat and leaves you vulnerable to hypothermia. Carry an extra pair of socks since wet feet blister easily. Water is another issue. Far too often, hikers show up with very little water, usually based on what they would drink at home during a portion of the day. If you are going to be out most of the day on a moderate or more strenuous hike, take at least two to three liters of water depending on the temperatures forecast for that day. And, drink it while youre hiking and not just when you stop for lunch. Hydration back packs are great, but some do not like them. You may want to take a look at waistpacks with bottle ready pockets. Others items to pack include matches, first aid kit, whistle, compass, sunglasses and sunscreen or any other items you feel that you may need on the trail and of course do not forget food for lunch and energy bars great for when you stop for a break. All of the above items do not need to cost you a great deal of money and you find that the hike is more enjoyable. Big 5 in Palm Springs or The Sports Authority in Palm Desert are places to start or one of the many places online such as or Thank you, Pat M., newsletter publisher Got feedback? newsletter@dc.rr.com The General Meeting is at Desert Pride Center, Palm Springs The meeting month, is the first Tuesday of the month, March 6, from 7:30-8:00 pm for social hour, and members meeting from 8:00-9:00 pm. The Core Group meets from 6:30-7:30 PM. The Centers address is 611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Unit A., Palms Springs, CA.

2 Most hikes meet in front of HUNTERS Video Bar on Arenas Rd., Palm Springs, unless otherwise specified. Bring plenty of water and a snack or lunch. San Jacinto Peak in Winter, Saturday, March 7:15 am While almost every hiker in the desert has been up San Jacinto, far fewer manage to tackle this peak in winter. Although not an especially daunting peak in warm weather, San J. in the snow can be another story. Snow, ice and no trail for much of the 12 mile round trip hike make it a challenging adventure calling for stamina and the right gear. Yet, the spectacular views and stunning win ter scenery make for a totally different desert hiking experience. Well meet at Hunters at 7:15 am and plan to take the 8:00 am tram. (You will have to pay a $22 per person r/t tram fee) Partici pants should be in good physical shape and equipped with winter clothing, waterproof boots, gaiters, and a large enough pack to strip layers when it heats up. Bad or questionable weather cancels. Trip status will be ed to the GOPS Yahoo Group on day before. Ehrick Moonlight Hike, Bump and Grind, Saturday, March 7:00 pm See page 3 Careys Castle, Sunday, March 9:00 am Mr. Carey was another of the unique characters who lived in the area which is now Joshua Tree National Park. He had a mine, and built himself a one room home under a nearby boulder. His home is widely known as Careys Castle, but castle is too grand a word for the result, although it has a certain charm. The hike to the castle is as much fun as the castle. There isnt a trail as such. We will walk across relatively flat desert before entering a canyon, where we will walk in sand and gravel. We will have to do some rock scrambling and navigate a few tricky intersections. As we gain elevation, the canyon eventually peters out. A short while later, there will be artifacts scattered around, and Careys Castle is nearby. Length: Hiking time: Elevation: Difficulty: Return at: Hike Leader: 8 miles 5 hours 1,400 feet Strenuous 5:00 PM Bruce Note: Careys Castle is in the southeastern por tion of the park. The trailhead is on a dirt road near the Chiriaco Summit exit on I 10. We will not use a park entrance where an admission fee is charged. Big Morongo Canyon Hike, Sunday March 9:00 am Previously we've done the Big Morongo Canyon Hike as an easy, one way, all downhill 5 miler with shuttle vehicles. But since the lower end of the canyon has been blocked by the fence along Indian Avenue for the future Palmwood development, that has been impossible. So, we could just sit on our non hiking parts and wait for Palmwood to magically disappear, or we could get in there and enjoy the beauty of Big Morongo Canyon as a round trip hike, down first, then up. We'll carpool to Big Morongo Canyon Preserve in Morongo Valley and hike the five miles down the canyon, observing the continuing recovery from the June 2005 fire that swept through the canyon, spring flowers, abundant birds and dramatic geology as we approach the lower end of the canyon, which is delimited by the Mission Creek branch of the San Andreas fault. We'll take a look at the site of the Palmwood devel opment, which is still natural desert. See it before it disappears under pavement and turf. Then we'll turn around and hike the five miles back up to Morongo Valley to see if we missed anything on the first half of the hike. Length: Hiking time: Elevation: Difficulty: Return at: Hike Leader: 11 miles round trip 6 hours 900 feet (down then up) Easy/ Moderate 3:00 pm Ron rbgilbert@gmail.com Mission Creek to Lookout, Wednesday, March 9:00 am Our hike will originate from the cabin parking lot which is 2 miles from the entrance gate. We will hike across the stream and up a wide canyon to the lookout over the Whitewater River Canyon. (Just past the junction with PCT North). The view will be greatly changed from last year due to the wildfire. Length: Hiking time: Elevation gain: Difficulty: Return at: Hike leader: 8 miles 5 hours 1300 feet Moderate 3:00 pm Bill gobillb@msn.com

3 MOONLIGHT HIKE Well carpool to Palm Desert where well hike the Bump and Grind Trail, which will give us vistas of the lights of Palm Desert, La Quinta, Indian Wells and beyond! The hike will be about 3.5 miles round trip, with an eleva tion gain of a little more than a thousand feet. If you'd prefer to meet us in Palm Desert, we'll be using the trail behind the Desert Crossing shopping center at Fred Waring Drive and Highway 111. Meet at 7:00 pm Ron rbgilbert@gmail.com A flashlight is recommended, along with the usual safe hiking accoutrements. GAME NIGHT This months game night will be held at the home of Ed Emond and Gardner Pond Keith Avenue Cathedral City Bring a potluck dish or snacks to share, your beverage and any table games you wish to play. Directions: From Palm Springs go East on Ramon across the wash to Landau. Left on Landau 1/2 mile to Vega. Left on Vega 2 blocks to Keith Ave. Ed MINIATURE GOLF Location: Boomers Saturday March 7:00 pm Wednesday March 6:00 pm Palm Springs Core Group President Bruce Maughan Brmaughan@dc.rr.com V.P. Outings Craig Courtright Gpsgocraig@aol.com Treasurer Game Night Coordinator Bill McPike Preston9@dc.rr.com Secretary Scott Connelly Mscottconnelly@aol.com Board Representative Doug Quigley GrtOtdrsDoug@aol.com Newsletter Designer/Publisher/ Editor Patrick McNeil Richard Cabitto newsletter@dc.rr.com Web Site Administrator Ed Emond EdEmond@gmail.com

4 Yahoo Group at: When trips are announced, we try to make room for passengers on a space available basis. They usually go fast, so, sign up early when trips are announced. Scouting the Arroyo Salado Trail The Prospectors Post Office at Seventeen Palms Computer Repair and upgrades! Full Service Computer Technician Home or Business Software or Hardware Wireless Networking Reasonable Rates Andre Lapierre PC Technician For your safety, as well as the safety of others, here is a short list of the equipment you should have on your 4x4. Seat belts for all passengers CB radio (we use channel 20) Full size spare & suitable jack Fire extinguisher Tow strap (no metal hook) Tow attachment FRONT and REAR. Very important! Reliable 4 WD vehicle with 2 speed transfer case Anti-sway bar, disconnected (Trails rated 2 and above.

5 Have you gone out on a 4x4 trip youd like to share with our group? Please consider leading a trip. Well help organize it Martin Luther King holiday Death Valley camp-out Furnace Creek

6 Bat Cave Buttes G R E A T O U T D O O R S P A L M S P R I N G S WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Sam Ciraulo Mark Fichandler Bob Jawarski Lost Palm Oasis photos by: Ron Gilbert Great Outdoors/PS Re building a trail at Pipes Canyon Preserve.

7 Here is a list of area schools and parks which offer field trips and classes. Submitted by Patrick Hinrichsen 3 San Jacinto Peak 7:15 am University of California Riverside Extension Program Ask for a catalog. UCRExtension.net Click catalog courses, then narrow by subject or location. (UCR has excellent classes and field trips. Ask for a $30 PINE discount.) Anza Borrecio Desert Natural History Association Abdnha.org e mail: abdnha@uia.net (Park support group with superior field trips.) Anza Borrego State Park The Anza Borrego Foundation Theabf.org (Official educational institute of the park with good programs.) Zion National Park Zion Canyon Field Institute Zion park.org (Extensive list of well taught classes.) Joshua Tree National Park Desert Institute Joshuatree.org e mail: desert jjjte@zi onelnet (Fair list of classes) California State University San Bernardino College of Extended Learning x Cel.cdusb.edu (Good classes and field trips, often oriented to Mojave area.) San Bernardino County Museum 2024 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands CA (on 1 10) sbcountymuseum.org Extensive list of field trips, lectures, exhibits, workshops Bureau of Land Management I Palm Springs Ca.blm.gov/palm springs Offers free, entry level walks and talks Call to get on free monthly mailing list Coachella Valley Archaeological Society P.O. Box 2344, Palm Springs, CA (Free first Friday evening programs at the Cathedral City Senior Center) Living Desert Living Desert University x 2501 (Beginner level courses. Pricey for what you get.) Shadow Mountain Gem and Mineral Club P.O. Box 358, Cathedral City Meets first Fridays at 6:30 p.m. at Wesley Methodist Church at Alejo and Sunrise in Palm Springs. Open to all. The group has rock exploration trips, potlucks and meetings. Modest membership. 3 Moonlight Hike 7:00 pm 6 General Meeting Social 7:30 pm 11 Careys Castle 9:00 am 14 Game Night 6:00 pm 18 Big Morongo 9:00 am 21 4x4 9:00am 26 No Miniature Golf 28 Mission Creek 9:00 am Proposed schedule of activities The yearly schedule of activities is subject to change, so please check the newsletter or web site for the most up-todate information about the chapters activities. In addition there is always room to add new activities, so if you are interested in leading a hike, a camping trip, 4x4 or another outing, please contact: Craig or any other member of the Core Group. Non-Members We will add you to our newsletter mailing list free of charge for 3 months. Please note, however, that a two dollar fee will be charged on day hikes, 4x4 outings, and moonlight hikes. Articles for this newsletter should be submitted as Microsoft Word attachments via by the 15th of the month to: newsletter@dc.rr.com If you wish to purchase advertising space in The Oasis please submit your inquiries to the above address. Ads should be submitted in jpg format if possible. When its time to renew your membership, please turn in the form with your payment. It is extremely important!

8 Great Outdoors Palm Springs PO BOX 361 Palm Springs, CA March, 2007 Address Correction Requested