The Oasis.

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1 The Oasis JULY, 2006 Volume 7, Issue 7 Take Me Out To The Ballgame, Wednesday, July 26 Join other Great Outdoors members in attending the Palm Springs Power baseball game against the Navy team at the Palm Springs stadium. The game is scheduled for 7:05 pm on Wednesday, July 26. Tickets run from $5.00 to $ If interested meet in front of the ticket booth ( opposite the entrance to the Palm Springs Library) at 6:30 pm. Thank You Many thanks to all the Great Outdoors members who participated in the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve clean-ups during the past year. Dee and Betty Zeller, the managers at the Preserve really appreciated your efforts. Trail clean-up will begin again in October. NOTICE No July Meeting or Social at the Pride Center as it falls on the 4th of July and the Pride Center will be closed. The core group will meet at the home of Bruce Maughan for the business 6:30 pm on 7/13/ E. Paseo Gracia. Palm Springs No Social this month Thanks Andy and Tim for hosting The 333 Want Logo Wear Better Hurry GO Ball Caps $15.00 ( 2 only ) Tee-shirts $12.00 ( 7 med., 9 lg., Orange Sunrise/Sunset ) Tee-shirts $12.00 ( 24 lg. only, Yellow Rise/Sunset ) Tank tops $12.00 ( 1 each S. M. Lg. and XL in gray ) They re Almost Gone Please telephone Craig After this sell out there are no more. The General Meeting is at Desert Pride Center, Palm Springs The meeting month, is the first Tuesday of the month, 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 Center s address is 611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Unit A., Palms Springs, CA. No July Meeting, it falls on the 4th, Pride Center is closed.

2 GREAT OUTDOORS PALM SPRINGS PRESIDENT BRUCE SAYS: GO TAKE A HIKE! Forest Falls, Tuesday, July 9:00 am This will be a day outing at the Falls, near Big Bear in the San Bernardino Mountains. Bring snack, water, swimsuit. We will meet at Hunter s on Arenas and car pool. Note: We must carpool and must have a National Forest Adventure Pass UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE: Most hikes meet in front of HUNTER S Video Bar on Arenas Rd., Palm Springs, unless otherwise specified. Bring plenty of water and a snack or lunch. Length: Hiking time: Elevation gain: Difficulty: Return at: Hike leader: 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. 2 miles round trip 40 minutes 300 Easy 3:00 pm Monte Saddle Junction Loop, Sunday, July 7:50 am From the top of the tram, we will hike through pine forests to Round Valley on a trail that works its way up a small valley with a stream that should still be flowing. From there, we will climb to Wellman s Divide, the highest point of the hike, which offers great views to the south, including a good view of Tahquitz Peak. From there, the trail descends through an area with springs and then forests as the trail goes south to Saddle Junction, where we will have lunch at the junction of five trails. After lunch, the trail continues to descend until we cross Willow Creek. We will pass through a forest of large pines towering over ferns and climb 1,000 feet on our way back to the Tram. Length: Hiking time: Elevation gain: Difficulty: Return at: Hike leader: 11 miles 7 hours 2,700 feet Strenuous 5:00 pm Trip Leader: Bruce Note: There is a $21.00 charge for the tram. Also note: The early meeting time will allow us to catch the 8:30 am tram. Mission San Gabriel Outing, Wednesday, July 9:00 am This is will be a guided historical walk-about of Mission San Gabriel, perhaps the best-preserved of the California Missions. Emphasis will be on the collision of the Stone-Age civilization of the Native Americans in the Los Angeles basin with the highly-developed Spanish colonial economy, beginning in The Mission is located 5 minutes from I-10, just south of Pasadena. Estimated driving time is minutes. We will carpool. Admission is $5 ($4 for those age 62 or over. For those who want to brown-bag there are a number of picnic tables in a close-by park. Others may want to consider the 10-minute drive north to old town Pasadena. Moonlight Hike, Tuesday, July 7:00 pm See page 7 Round Valley Loop, Wednesday, July 9:00 am From the top of the tram, we will hike through pine forests to Round Valley on a trail that works its way up a small valley with a stream that should still be flowing. From there, we will retrace our steps 3/10 ths of a mile to a junction with a trail that heads east and provides nice views of Mt. San Jacinto and its college neighbors before joining a trail that returns to the tram. Length: Hiking time: Elevation gain: Difficulty: Return at: Hike leader: Length: Hiking time: Elevation gain: Difficulty: Return at: Hike leader: 1 mile 2 hours None Easy 2:30 pm Tom miles 3 hours 900 feet Moderately easy 3:00 pm Bruce Note: There is a $21.00 charge for the tram

3 4th of July Summer Jamboree 2006 G reat Outdoors "4th of July Summer Jamboree 2006" will be held in California's beautiful San Gorgonio wildness near Big Bear Lake, CA. Bring your tent or RV and join up to 100 other campers at the Oso Group Camp for 4 days of fun. High in the mountains with forests, lush sub-alpine meadows and sparkling lakes, this magical place is a refreshing summer getaway! Scheduled activities include a party cruise on Big Bear Lake in an all-gay chartered 85-passenger cruise boat, reservations for 50 for a BBQ dinner at a lakeside restaurant, and the free Big Bear fireworks show, rated the third best pyrotechnial display in California. Preregistration required for this event ($35 members/$45 non-members, not included optional BBQ dinner & party cruise). Register online or download trip notes at: Saturday, August 12, 2006 Ship Sails at 7:00 pm (sharp!) Special Sunset Cruise To celebrate summertime, Los Angeles and Orange County chapters will sail aboard the Luxury Yacht Caroline, departing from Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach, Dock #2, next to the Long Beach Aquarium Saturday, August 12, 2006 Ship Sails at 7:00 pm (sharp!) Event includes a 3 hour privately chartered, all-gay cruise of Long Beach Harbor, buffet dinner, and full no-host bar with soft drinks, beer, wine and mixed drinks for everyone 21 and older. Tickets (purchased in advance) are required for this event: $45 members, $65 non-members Questions: Go to: to register. GREAT OUTDOORS PALM SPRINGS WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Stephen Kaleda Gerald Salvo Bill Plummer Allan Smith Notice Notice Newsletter Publisher - Editor wanted Please don t be lazy when you renew your membership. Please turn in the form with your payment Would you like an Tell readers to mail this back for a catalog, brochure, or price list. Exciting-Rewarding and Fulfilling job in the NAME publishing industry? This newsletter needs a good ADDRESS house cleaning. We need fresh faces, new ideas. Apply now! List your hours or the time and date of your event. Contact: newsletter@dc.rr.com Mail to: Place your address here. 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.

4 GREAT OUTDOORS PALM SPRINGS Next 4x4 Sunday, July 9 9:00 am 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. Have you gone out on a 4x4 trip you d like to share with our group? Please consider leading a trip for our group! We ll help organize it. Ed Our June Beefcake Computer Repair and upgrades! Full Service Computer Technician For late breaking 4x4 news, join our Yahoo Group at: Questions: Ed or EdEmond@gmail.com Description: Join the Great Outdoors for another 4x4 (4 wheel drive) off road adventure. We'll leave the valley heat and head for the cooler hills off of Highway 74 and start our trail at an altitude of 4,599 feet and end at an altitude of 1,902 feet. We'll travel almost 32 miles on dirt road with ups and downs and bumps along the way. It's an easy path and some may find it unchallenging for a 4x4 outing. But, you'll get out of the valley, see some great views and explore some old relicts along the way. There are no rocks or boulders to test your 4x4 driving skills on with this trip. Any 4x4 vehicle should do just fine. High clearance vehicles are not required for this one. We'll be on a trail called "Rouse Ridge" which goes through Thomas Mountain, part of the San Bernardino National Forest. We'll stop along the way for lunch and at several spots to enjoy the views, including Lake Hemet, Anza Valley, pine trees, perhaps a snake... We'll come off the trail on Highway 74 further north from where we started. The driver and passenger of each vehicle can decide which way to return to the valley... through the cities of Hemet and San Jacinto back to I-10 or back on Highway 74 to Highway 111. For you GPS types, here the coordinates for the beginning and ending of the trail: Start: N. Latitude: , W. Longitude End: N. Latitude: , W. Longitude As of 6/20/06, we have 3 vehicles signed up. We are taking passenger names on a waiting list. Additional 4x4 drivers, vehicles and passengers are welcome to join. Rear passenger seats in many 4x4 vehicles only have a small amount of leg room, but worth the trip if you've never been off roading. Passengers who call the contact (listed above) will be accommodated on a first come, first served basis. It all depends upon how many 4x4 vehicles sign up. We will only assign 3 people to the smaller jeep vehicles. This will leave room for carrying backpacks and supplies in the rear of the smaller vehicles. Also, in case a vehicle has to drop out at the last minute (which has happened), the extra space will prevent someone from being turned away on the day of the event. Home or Business Software or Hardware Wireless Networking Call for an appointment Reasonable Rates

5 Red Canyon 4X4 Run

6 Great Outdoors-Palm Springs 2006 Idyllwild Camp Trip August 18th 20th, 2006 The village is a little over 5,000 ft. in the San Jacinto Mountains with warm days and cool nights. The campground is nestled in the pine forest within walking distance of the village where you will find many quaint shops, a hardware store, a grocery store, fresh bakeries and restaurants and affordable art and a gas station. AMENITIES: Each campsite can accommodate up to 3 tents each with a maximum of 6 people per site. Restrooms and pay showers are within walking distance. Early registration a must. Each campsite has fresh water. ACTIVITES: Friday on your own with a campfire in the evening. On Saturday there will be a day hike scheduled for 10:00 A.M. and afternoon tea with GOPS BINGO at 3:00 P.M. The traditional POTLUCK will be at 6:00 P.M. Prepare your favorite dish to feed 4-6 people. RVers: You must contact Craig Jones prior to sending in your reservation (phone and below). There are only a few sites that can accommodate a trailer or RV. For large RV s, campsites are easily accessible but you must make your own reservation by calling Park (7275). A $5.00 outing fee applies. There are no hookups or a dump station. The closest dump station is 9 miles at Lake Hemet and charges a small fee. SPACES: 9 thru 13 have been reserved. One of the spaces will be for those who will be staying till Monday. PETS: Dogs are allowed for $2.00 per day, which must be paid upon park entry. They must be on a leash at all times in the campground. The leash law is enforced. PARKING: Only 2 vehicles per campsite are allowed. Additional vehicles must park in the overflow lot at an additional $2.00 per day. Carpooling is encouraged! CHECK IN/CHECK OUT TIME is 2:00 PM. Cost: $25 members $35 nonmembers $30 RVs CANCELLATION POLICY: No refunds after August 12. DIRECTIONS: From LA, take I-10 E to Banning and exit Hwy. 243 to Idyllwild. At the first stop sign when you enter Idyllwild, turn right on Pine Crest. At the next stop sign turn right onto Riverside Cty. Playground Rd. Follow this into the campground. From Palm Springs, take Hwy. 74 in Palm Desert to Hwy 243. Just after the sign Strawberry Creek, look for the sign Idyllwild Park and turn left onto Riverside Cty. Playground Rd.. The turn is on a curve and easy to miss. Riverside Cty. Playground Rd. will take you into the campground. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED: Go to : to download the registration form. If you do not have computer access please call and we will mail you one. Mail with check made out to Great Outdoors-Palm Springs to: Craig Jones 464 Cerritos Way Cathedral City, CA Additional Information Contact Trip Leader: Craig or: sharkiesharpie@aol.com

7 GREAT OUTDOORS PALM SPRINGS MOONLIGHT HIKE Magnesia Springs Canyon Falls Tuesday, July 7:00 pm 4 Big Bear Jamboree 9 4x4 9:00 am 11 Moonlight Hike 7:00 pm We will carpool to Rancho Mirage, where we ll hike alongside a flood channel, into a catch basin and on toward Magnesia Springs Canyon. The hike offers both views across the valley as well as isolation from city lights in a broad canyon. Optionally, some of us may head to a nearby restaurant after the hike. Length: 3.5 miles Hiking time: Less than 2 hours Elevation gain Not much Difficulty: Easy Return: 10:00 pm Leader: Ron Note: Bring water and a flashlight. GREAT OUTDOORS PALM SPRINGS GAME NIGHT & Pool Party Wednesday, July 19 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Your Host: Don Adams 816 North Fair Circle Palm Springs Go to Via Monte Vista, a north-south street 1/2 mile west of Palm Canyon near the south end of Monte Vista (south of Stevens but north of Alejo) find Leisure Way on the west side. West on Leisure one block, right onto Fair Circle, house on right. Bring: Dish to pass, a beverage and any games you want to play Towel if you wish to use the pool/jacuzzi GREAT OUTDOORS PALM SPRINGS MINIATURE GOLF It s too Hot! No golf this month Location: Boomers East Palm Canyon Cathedral City Time: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Cost: $7:00 Per Person Contact: Doug Doug says it s still to hot. JULY 12 Forest Falls 9:00 am 16 Saddle Junction 19 Mission San Gabriel 19 Game Night Pool Party 26 Round Valley Loop Palm Springs Core Group President Bruce Maughan Brmaughan@dc.rr.com V.P. Outings Board Representative Doug Quigley GrtOtdrsDoug@aol.com Treasurer Craig Courtright Gpsgocraig@aol.com Secretary Membership Coordinator Chris Waasdorp Thinkd6zjs@aol.com Newsletter Designer/Publisher Patrick McNeil newsletter@dc.rr.com Copy Editor Richard Cabitto rcabitto@dc.rr.com Game Night Coordinator Jay Adler Jtadler@dc.rr.com Web Site Administrator Ed Emond EdEmond@gmail.com 7:50 am 9:00 am 6:00 pm 9:00 am 26 Power Baseball 6:30 pm

8 Great Outdoors Palm Springs PO BOX 361 Palm Springs, CA July, 2006 Address Correction Requested Great Outdoors sounds great! How do I join? Simply fill out this form and send it in. Yes. I want to join Great Outdoors. Please enter my membership in the category checked below. I am not ready to join Great Outdoors but would like additional information. Renewal MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES $25 Regular $20 Senior (60 years or older) $45 Couple ($40 2 Seniors) I do/do not want my name/address on the roster to be shared with members of group. (Circle the appropriate answer.) Name Address City State ZIP Phone By joining Great Outdoors and/or attending the club s events, I acknowledge that in order for Great Outdoors to assume full legal responsibility it would have to charge higher fees than it does now. I waive the right to ever lay claim for injuries I might suffer before, during or after any Great Outdoors event. My guests will agree to these principles in writing before attending events. Signature Date Send this form and check made payable to: GREAT OUTDOORS P.O. Box 361 Palm Springs CA QUESTIONS? Write us at: Thinkd6zjs@aol.com Phone: