The Oasis VOLUME 20 ISSUE 2, February, 2016

The Oasis VOLUME 20 ISSUE 2, February, 2016 Salton Sea Campout Thursday, February 25 to Sunday, February 28, 2016 and sunrises are stunning and peaceful. Activities include hiking a slot canyon in the Mecca Hills, the lush Dos Palos Preserve, Bat Cave Buttes on the San Andreas Fault, the mud pots, mud volcanoes, the former Mullet Island, the Sonny Bono Wildlife Preserve, Art Garden and Slab City. We have a section reserved in the New Camp area near the Visitor Center at Salton Sea State Recreation Area. The Salton Sea is one of the most enigmatic places in the Southwest. It is a unique place with many hidden treasures and secrets that are not well known. It has been forgotten as a busy tourist attraction of bygone years. Today, we have an amazing place to visit and explore. The sunsets On Thursday we re planning a sunset hike in the late afternoon. On Friday we plan to visit Slab City, Salvation Mountain and the mud volcanoes. Saturday we ll explore the sea by Kayak then hike the Mecca Hills slot canyon. For those interested, we plan a visit to the international Banana Museum, a one of a kind exhibition of everything banana. There will be a white board in the campsite with details of each day s activities just in case there are changes. Click here for the trip notes. Also in this issue Slab City Campout Page 2 Cottonwood Campout Page 2 Araby Loop Hike Page 3 El Dorado Mine Hike Page 3 Mecca Hills Slot Canyon Hike Page 4 Earl Henderson Trail Hike Page 4 Prime Time for Hiking Page 4 Tachevah Falls via Lykken Trail Page 5 Five Bright Planets at Once Page 5 RV 101 Membership Meeting Page 6 5th Annual Super Bowl Party Page 6 New Members & In Memoriam Page 6 Is Love all there is? Page 7 Agua Caliente-Wet! Hot! & Wild Page 8 Beautiful Murray Hill Hike Page 9 Bighorns in Cathedral Canyon Page 9 1

Slab City Campout Friday, March 25 to Sunday, March 27, 2016 A few miles east of Niland, California, is an area known as Slab City. Often called the last free place on earth, it is located on an abandoned U.S. Marine Corps base. When the camp was decommissioned and the land was returned to the State of California, all of the buildings were removed leaving just the slabs. What is now Slab City began when Riverside County and the BLM placed limits on the length of time allowed for a campground stay. The county tried to make Slab City a fee-based campground, but because it contains Salvation Mountain, a religious monument, it could not be legally be converted to a fee-based site. There are no rules or fees at the Slabs. The community has no running water, power lines, sewage service or trash pickup, giving the place a Mad Max post-apocalyptic look and feel. During the winter months, several thousand campers mostly elderly retirees flock there for the warm desert weather and the lack of fees. There are many slabs and campsite areas within Slab City. There is a church, an 18-hole golf course (in the desert, no grass), and the Lizard Library, where you can borrow, or donate/trade books and magazines. It also boasts a nightclub called The Range. Just a stage between two old buses with seats scrounged from old cars, buses and theatres, they have open mike nights and other scheduled entertainment there. Some good talent plays there on a regular basis. The freedom of the Slabs has allowed artists to create canvases out of abandoned water tanks, vehicles, scrap wood and other junk. The many open areas provide space for artistic fabrications and sculptures. One of these is called East Jesus. Founded by Charlie Russell, it is a labyrinthine complex three dimensional art like nothing found anywhere else. He had a vision of a sustainable, habitable, ever changing art installation. Since his death in 2011 a board of directors has guided and curated its expansion. We are planning a trip to this unique location in March. There will be more information in the next newsletter, or check our calendar for updates to the trip. Cottonwood Camp Joshua Tree Park Campout Thursday, April 28 to Sunday, May 1, 2016 Get this on your calendar early. This trip will be popular. Scenic Cottonwood campground offers a variety of nearby hiking and touring activities and cooler temperatures at the higher elevation with scenic views for stargazing and wildflower viewing. Bighorn sheep may be spotted. We have 2 spacious group sites for tents. RV sites are located just up the hill. RV sites are first come and you pay on arrival. There are several nearby hikes: Coyote Mine, Sylvia Wash, Morton s Mill and Mastadon Peak are easy to moderate and close by; or the longer Lost Palms Oasis hike. Also travel up into the main part of the park and do Hidden Valley, Keys View, Skull Rock. Tour WWII desert training camp and General Patton Museum and dine at the historic Eagle Café. Click here for trip notes 2

This hike was re-scheduled from January 31 due to expected weather, and it s a great hike. This is moderate hike has a gradual 1200 foot elevation gain. It is above the former home of Bob Hope. The views of the mountains and valleys are wonderful. Most of the hike will be on a designated trail, but we ll end on a sandy wash. Then we ll return to the trail head. Pets are not allowed on this trail. Meet at the trailhead no later than 7:30 to begin the hike. The trailhead is l o c a t e d on the 111 The Araby Loop Hike February 7, 7:30 am 3 highway at the intersection of Rimcrest and Southridge Roads. Going east on 111 from Palm Springs towards Cathedral City turn into Rimcrest Rd/ Southridge Rd/Rim Rd (just east of the bridge/ wash). After turning into this road, take an immediate right and park in the unpaved lot--facing Hwy 111. Contact David the trip leader, if you have any questions. Hike Silver Bell and El Dorado Mine Old mines are an incidental attraction of Joshua Tree National Park, but there are plenty of them, in various states of disrepair. Surrounded by stark, desolate desert, most are easily reachable by trails that follow the old vehicle tracks once used by the prospectors. Few of the paths are maintained but most are straightforward to follow. The Silver Bell and El Dorado may be visited on a loop hike. The first is up a slope and has shafts and two well preserved tipples. The El Dorado is now faded and difficult to locate. The majority of the loop is essentially off-trail, but the terrain is relatively easy, the desert vegetation quite well separated. The surrounding rocks are quite obviously mineralized - generally reddish, with many flecks of blue and green ores. A little summit just above the tipples gives good views of the surroundings. Thursday, February 11, 2016 8:00 AM The Silver Bell was in operation from the 1930s to the 1950s, producing a mix of copper, gold and lead, though not, it would appear, any silver. El Dorado Mine produced a wide range of metals and ores, including gold, vanadium, galena, molybdenite and wulfenite, and was active from around 1900 to the 1940s.The trail head is about two miles from the Cholla Cactus Garden. We ll meet at Hunters on Arenas at 8:00am and carpool to the trailhead. The hike is 5 miles with a 400 ft elevation gain. It is rated moderate. We plan to return by 3:00pm. Be sure you have your ten essentials and plenty of water. Good footwear is also essential. Also plan for lunch on the trail. Contact Scott, the trip leader, if you have any questions.

Mecca Hills Slot Canyon Thursday, February 18, 2016 8:3000 AM This is a favorite hike for Mark, the trip leader. In a short distance, it offers a superlative slot canyon and then continues on to a fine viewpoint overlooking the Mecca Hills and the Salton Sea. He just hiked this trail and he could tell nobody had been on it for a while...very, very quiet and picturesque. If you have issues with claustrophobia, you need to be aware that the slot canyon part of this hike is at times narrow, covered by overhangs and of sufficient length as to make some hikers potentially uncomfortable. However, for most hikers, it s delightful. The hike is 3 miles, out and back with 300 ft gain. The drive from PetSmart on Ramon is 40 miles each way, so carpooling will be highly encouraged. We will plan on driving to the start of Mecca Hills and then following Mark to the trailhead. It cannot be easily found without following him. Please be at PetSmart no later than 8:30A If you have questions, please contact Mark IMPORTANT: Please bring water (2 liters recommended), snacks, adequate hiking footwear, a hat (or sunscreen), and a smile. Earl Henderson Trail Hike Sunday February 21, 9:00 am to 11:30 am If you do not normally hike, but can walk at least 2 miles, then consider this hike. It is an easy and scenic hike which starts at the end of Barona Rd. In the beginning is a minimal incline which levels off for the rest of this interesting hike. There s a good possibility of meeting other hikers and maybe giving way to those who enjoy riding horses, not mountain goats. This trail is one of many interconnecting trails found on the ridges and plateaus surrounding Murray Hill (peak), east of Palm Canyon. The trail is named after Earl Henderson, past president of the equestrian group ER than 8:30 am! Directions: From Palm Desert/Cathedral City, go west to Palm Springs via Hwy 111. Turn left (south) onto S. Sunrise Way which continues on La Verne Way. Proceed all the way to the end (South Palm Canyon Dr.). Go left until Bogert Trail. Take a left on Bogert Trail and after passing the bridge/wash, park on Barona Rd which is the first left turn after of the Desert Riders. Starting at near the top of this trail, the bridge/wash. you are rewarded with scenic views of the Canyon Country Contact the trip Club, South Palm Springs, and the San Jacinto Moun- leader, David, tains thrusting up from the west side of Palm Canyon. For those who would like to carpool: Be at Hunters NO LATif you have any questions. Prime Time for Hiking by Scott Hike leaders are encouraged to schedule a hike during our best hiking season as there are many locations available. Do you have a favorite hike or outing you would like to share? This could be a day hike, moonlight hike, educational outing, bicycling, volunteer work project, or any activity that would be of interest to the group. We welcome your participation and will assist you with organizing and posting the hike/event with the Club. We will provide experienced hike leaders to assist you on the trail. We also have trail statistics on file to help you with describing and posting a hike. Contact Scott with your ideas and additional information. 4

This is one of my popular, adventure hikes for good hikers ONLY. It contains diverse elements such as 2 elevation gains/losses of over 700 feet and a gain/loss of over 500 feet. It also has some, minor boulder scrambling and areas of going through a few large rocks and high-growth vegetation. Therefore, long pants/long-sleeved shirt is recommended. There are plenty of wonderful sights/views along the way. This area is the northern section of the North Lykken trail. It is near the western end of Alejo Rd., in Palm Springs. Meet at Da- Tachevah Falls Hike (Strenous) Sunday February 28, 9:30 am - 2:30 pm Five Bright Planets at Once February 1, 3, 6, and 7 5 vid s house. We will walk three blocks from where I live to a not-well-known trailhead. We begin an initial STEEP CLIMB (which will require use of hands in some areas) of about 70 feet and then continue on with switchbacks which leads to the north segment of the North Lykken Trail. After a break, we ll then continue with some more switchbacks, down in a westerly direction--on our way to a connecting trail, which leads towards the Las Palmas dam/wash area. While walking a short distance on the wash in a northern direction along the dam, we ll then head back to the last segment of the North Lykken trail. From there, upward to an approximate gain of 500 feet with some switchbacks, we ll be greeted by some picnic tables. After a break, we ll turn around and head back down to the actual trail along the side of the canyon above the wash in an eventual, westerly bend to a connecting trail which directs us towards Tachevah Falls--through a deep canyon. We will then take an appropriate lunch/snack break after reaching the falls (water is likely to be flowing!). Afterwards, we ll hike out of the ca nyon towards the North Lykken trail and head south on the trail and back up eastward to the switchbacks with the eventuality of going down the steep descent--to the street. From there and two blocks away, we complete the hike. The hike is 6.5 miles long. Contact David the trip leader, for directions to his home where the hike will begin. Join Bob Victor for the rare sight of all five bright planets simultaneously before dawn! For the rest of January and much of February, early risers can enjoy all five bright planets before dawn. Four public viewing sessions will be held in Palm Springs on selected dates during Feb 1-Feb 7. During this Predawn Solar System Extravaganza the Moon passes all the naked-eye planets in the morning sky. You ll be able to view the Moon and all five bright planets with unaided eye, binoculars, and telescope. Wear warm clothes - the weather may be cold. Planet and Moon viewing sessions open to the public will be held on these four mornings, whenever the sky is clear: Mon. Feb. 1; Wed. Feb. 3; Sat. Feb. 6; and Sun. Feb. 7. All four public sky watches will be held in Palm Springs, from 5:15 a.m. until 6:00 a.m., on the pedestrian bridge crossing over Tahquitz Creek, at Camino Real between North and South Riverside Drives, three blocks north of Cahuilla Elementary School. For more information contact Bob here

RVing 101 at the Membership Meeting Tired of waking up at 2:00 in the morning with your butt bouncing on the cold ground because your air mattress just isn t keeping you afloat? Interested in owning an RV? Byron will cover some basics about RVs and provide some resources for learning more. Topics covered include types of RVs, how to figure out which type might be best for you, approximate costs, where to purchase, what to look for in a used RV, and basic information about RV electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems. If you haven t been to one of our membership meetings you should give it a go. We meet on the fourth Tuesday of the month in The Center. There is a core group meeting at 6:30. This is the group that runs the chapter. After this meeting we have a short social time and then Byron will make his presentation. Put it on your calendar now. If you only want to hear the presentation, that s OK too. The speaker begins at 8:00 pm We are looking to have more speakers too. If you have an idea for a speaker or a topic you d like us to explore let me know at newsletterps@greatoutdoors.org GOPS 5th Annual Super Bowl Party Sunday, February 7, 2016 3:00 pm to end of the game. Kickoff: 3:30 pm Steve will host the 50th annual Super Bowl classic. He has two large high definition quality TV screens and plenty of room to sit comfortably. Betting squares will be available with a winner after every quarter, plus a bonus prize of Steve and Dan s book at the end of the game for the final winner. One thing to look for this year is the Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles which will be performing during the half-time show. This orchestra, started by Gustavo Dudamel is made up of disadvantaged Los Angeles kids. Please bring your own drink and a potluck dish to share. Kosher hotdogs grilled to order with all of the fixings will be served. Address: 14 Kavenish Dr., Rancho Mirage CC Because of the front gate guard rules, RSVP at 760-202-3567 by Tuesday, Feb 2 1:00 pm so we can inform the guard house that you will be attending. One call per car, not per person. Directions from Palm Springs/Cat City: Travel East on Ramon to Bob Hope. Turn Right at the Agua Caliente Casino, stay on Hope until you cross Sinatra (4 miles). You will see Rancho Mirage CC on your left. On the next light after crossing Sinatra, Turn left on Kavenish Way to check in with guard house. After entering the complex, turn left on Kavenish Dr. and look for 14 Kavenish. Located on 7th house on the right with fire hydrant. Directions from Palm Desert: Off of 111, turn North on Bob Hope for 2 miles. Just past the Eisenhower hospital, turn R on Kavenish Way and drive to the guard house. Welcome to our new members A quick welcome to the two people who joined the Chapter this month: Les and Earl. This club is a volunteer organization and it goes without saying that without volunteers there is no club. If you enjoy being with us and participating, volunteer for something. Maybe it s only serving drinks or snacks at a social hour, but it s a start. In Memoriam As happens with any group of people, we make friends and learn to enjoy their humor and support. And then they re gone. The hole in our hearts they leave is never completely filled. We as a community of friends and lovers want to honor those who have gone on. In the past few months we have lost two of our members: Dan Robertson and Jim Hayes 6

Is Love all there is? It s February, the month of love. Or that s what we re supposed to believe. The Valentine tradition itself appears to be rooted in transgressive affection. There are several traditions about how the holiday came to be. One tradition suggests that, unable to get young men to join his army (he believed they loved their wives too much), Emperor Claudius II of Rome, outlawed marriage. A local priest named Valentine ignored the order and continued to marry young couples. When Claudius found out, he had him executed. The order was carried out on February 14. Another tradition suggests that the celebration of Saint Valentine was a reaction of the church to the pagan festival of Lupercalia. This festival was a fertility rite. On Lupercalia, the names of available women were placed in a box and the names were drawn out, pairing couples as chance directed. The rite started with a sacrifice and the skin of the goat was then carried through the town striking at random people. It was believed that being struck by the skin made men more masculine and women more fertile. Pope Gelasius decided in 496 CE to put an end to the Lupercalia Festival and that February 14 be celebrated as St. Valentine s day. This version makes the most sense as the church often created their own rites to compete with pagan festivals: Christmas for Saturnalia Easter for the Festival of Aphrodite. So what s the point? The contrast between Lupercalia Festival and Valentines is that one stands for sexuality and the other stands for chaste love. Many people feel that life isn t complete unless they are in a relationship and sometimes, even in a relationship, they have their eye on the door in case something better comes in. Some don t want the complications that come with a relationship and just seek hookups and friends. Either of these can be justified. But what has this to do with Great Outdoors? When GO was founded, about the only place where you could depend on meeting other gay people was in the bars. This worked, but it could also be dangerous. Anonymous sex helped to fuel the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The club s original motto was Out of the bars and under the stars, and it was an alternative place to meet gay people. And it worked too. But today there are so many other ways to get together. Depending on what you re looking for you can find it at Zoosk, Match or GRINDR. I met my husband online so, in spite of our advanced years we re a modern couple. So do we still need Great Outdoors? Without much controversy, I can say that the members of our chapter are some of the nicest and most congenial people. Byron and I have great friends in the club. But more than that, the club offers new and often unique places to meet new people. Hiking is good exercise, yes; but it also is a great way to meet people. Sitting around a campfire on a weekend trip? You can learn a lot about a person with all the casual chat. The chapter doesn t just visit fascinating places; the members are fascinating as well. This month alone, we have five hikes, a Super Bowl party, a Game Night, and a talk about getting started with RVs. Byron said the other day, We re busier now than before we retired. You might not find the love of your life in the club, but you will certainly find good friends. So pick an event, a trip or a hike and come see what this club is all about. 7 Our Phone: 760.282-GOPS Palm Springs Core Group core-ps@greatoutdoors.org www.facebook.com/ groups/223204697703551 President Newsletter Publisher/Editor Ritch Barron president-ps@greatoutdoors.org newsletter-ps@greatoutdoors.org V.P. Outings Scott Connelly vpo-ps@greatoutdoors.org Treasurer Bob Jaworski treasurer-ps greatoutdoors.org Publicity Coordinator Gary McGrath outreach-ps@greatoutdoors.org Game Night Coordinator David Warren gamenightcoordinator-ps @greatoutdoors.org Social Events Coordinator Position Currently is Vacent Member-at-Large Cliff Brown memberatlarge-ps@greatoutdoors.org Secretary John Morrison secretary-ps@greatoutdoors.org Board Representative Cliff Clue boardrep-ps@greatoutdoors.org 760.365.3677 Webmaster Membership Chair Ed Emond webmaster-ps@greatoutdoors.org membership-ps@greatoutdoors.org The Oasis VOLUME 20 ISSUE 2 Feb., 2016 The Oasis is published monthly by the Palm Springs Chapter of Great Outdoors, Inc. The opinions expressed are those of the authors. All rights are reserved.

Agua Caliente - Wet! Hot! and WILD By Byron Wet, hot, wild? All of those adjectives apply to the GOPS trip to Agua Caliente Regional Park over New Year s weekend. From Thursday to Sunday, 28 tent and RV campers enjoyed the hot (and wet) therapeutic pool, and the two outdoor pools. The indoor therapeutic spa was heated to 102 degrees and outfitted with Jacuzzi jets. There were (wild) frogs in the desert!. This year, the weather cooperated, with clear and mild days and moderate nights. The hiking was spectacular, with 13 of us hiking about 1.4 miles into Cold Canyon, and many groups hiking the 2.5- mile Moonlight Canyon loop trail. Another group went to the wind caves of Domeland. Cold Canyon needs special mention. It is not well known but is one of the most beautiful in the desert. Almost every possible plant grows in this canyon including ferns, grasses, every kind of cacti, lichen and moss. Apricots were in bloom and some of the Ocotillo were leafed out. There was evidence of many different types of animals in the canyon including Big Horn Sheep. A small group of them were sighted on a nearby ridge by some of the hikers. Bill Bulger, as always, was an excellent resource, knowing every plant in the canyon and interesting things about them. The hike included quite a bit of rock scrabbling but nothing dangerous. The rocks were extraordinary; some smoothed by water flow with variegated bands of color, and others large chunks, with almost the appearance of petrified wood. There were outcroppings of crystal 8

flows that, over billions of years became fossilized, leaving behind beautiful patterns. The group was extremely congenial, and the campfires and conversations sparkled with good humor. A very memorable campout, to be sure. quartz everywhere. We did not have a geologist with us, so there were several guesses about how the rocks were formed. One opinion was that at one time they were hot enough to flow, but not hot enough to blend together. Another possibility is that they were mud Murray Hill Hike was Beautiful by David The Murray Hill hike was very enjoyable It was a nice crisp and cool day for a hike up Murray Hill. Two others joined me. The views never fail to impress the senses. Even though we went at a slow but steady pace, for most it is certainly a workout, too. A good time had by all with interesting conversation along the way. Bighorn Sheep seen in Cathedral Canyon by Scott We were greeted by two bighorn sheep along the trail as we approached the summit. They crossed in front of us twice as we headed up the trail. Great view along the way and the ground was damp and vegetation looking happier after the recent rains which is why this hike was rescheduled. 9

February Events Calendar Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday January 2015 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 Araby Loop Hike 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 5th Annual Super Bowl Party El Dorado Mine Hike 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Valentine s Day Mecca Hills Slot Canyon Hike Game Night at Ritch and Byron s 6:00-9:00 pm Corporate Hike Leader Training 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Earl Henderson Hike Tacheva Falls via North Lykken Trail Salton Sea Campout 28 29 Membership Meeting 8:00 pm RVing 101 with Byron March 2016 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Salton Sea Campout Looking Ahead in Palm Springs Tuesday February 23, 2016 Membership Meeting RVing 101 Thursday to Sunday, February 25-28, 2016 Salton Sea Campout Friday to Sunday March 25-27, 2016 Slab City Campout Thursday to Sunday, April 28-May 1, 2016 Cottonwood Campout Thursday to Sunday May 19-22, 2016 Bartlett Lake, AZ Friday to Sunday July 29-31, 2016 Hurkey Creek Sunday to Monday August 28-September 5, 2016 Burning Man Friday to Sunday October 14-16, 2016 38th Annual GO Conference Other chapter events can be found on the Corporate Events Calendar. Find them here

Members Only! If you want to place an Ad, the mail newsletter editor: newsletter-ps@greatoutdoors.org It s free, until further notice. 11