Outings
Following is a list of desert trips. Outings are not rated. Distance and elevation gain can give you an indication of the suitability of a trip, but the condition of the trail, or lack of a trail, can change the degree of difficulty. An eight mile, 900’ elevation gain hike on a good trail would be easy to moderate, a similar hike up a brush-filled canyon could be strenuous. If you have not previously participated in a desert outing, it is recommended that you call the leader and ask about the suitability of the trip given your conditioning.
For questions concerning an outing, or to sign up, please contact the leader listed in the write-up. For questions about Desert Committee Outings in general, or to receive the outings list by e-mail, please contact Kate Allen at kj.allen96[at]gmail[dot]com or 661-944-4056.
The Sierra Club requires participants to sign a standard liability waiver at the beginning of each trip. If you would like to read the Liability Waiver before you choose to participate, please go to http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/ chapter/forms, or contact the Outings Department at 415-977-5528 for a printed version.
WINTER ESCAPE IN THE CARRIZO PLAIN
January 28-29, Saturday-Sunday
This outing combines a day of assistance to the Carrizo National Monument with a day of sightseeing and/or hiking. Weather can be cold, gray, and rainy, or it can be warm and bright – we take our chances. The service will be in removing or modifying fences to give pronghorn greater mobility on the Plain, and the recreation will be determined by the wishes of the group. This is an opportunity to combine carcamping, day-hiking, exploring, and service in a relatively unknown wilderness. Leader: Craig Deutsche, craig.deutsche@gmail.com, 310-477-6670. CNRCC Desert Committee
EXPLORE AND SERVE IN THE GRASS VALLEY WILDERNESS
February 18-20, Saturday-Monday
Slightly east and south of Ridgecrest, CA, the Grass Valley Wilderness was created in 1994. It features rolling hills and a few higher rock outcroppings. As it is no longer available for grazing we will join a group of college age SCA interns in removing old fence poles and disguising an illegal road. Saturday and Sunday are for work, and Monday, President’s Day, will be reserved to hike and explore the Wilderness. This is an opportunity to combine car-camping, day-hiking, exploring, and service in a relatively unknown wilderness. Leader: Craig Deutsche, (310-477-6670), craig.deutsche@gmail.com. CNRCC Desert Committee
DEATH VALLEY AREA TOUR
March 3-4, Saturday-Sunday
Meet in Shoshone, south of Death Valley at 8:00 am Saturday morning, or camp overnight nearby. Tour will take us to stops at Badwater, Natural Bridge, Golden Canyon, and Artists Palette. Short hikes and lunch stop along the way. Camp Saturday night at Texas Springs (fee). Sunday morning, visit Zabriskie Point, then drive through 20 Mule Team Canyon. Continue to Death Valley Junction, then to Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. If time allows, we will go south to Amargosa Canyon and China Ranch for a hike and date shakes. For those wanting to stay over Sunday night there will be primitive camping in the area and we could do more hiking in Amargosa Canyon. Contact leader for reservations and trip details. Carol Wiley, desertlily1@verizon.net or 760-245-8734. CNRCC Desert Committee
ANZA BORREGA STATE PARK SPRING WEEKEND
March 8-11, Thursday-Sunday
We travel to Southern California and visit this amazing California desert state park east of San Diego when temperatures are cooler and wild flowers may be blooming. We are staying in a developed campground ($30 per person) which includes flush toilets, showers, camp fire rings and picnic tables. We have the campsites from 2pm Thursday until noon on Sunday. Thursday is a free day. Arrive anytime and explore the park on your own. An optional half day off-road adventure to Split Mountain is planned for Friday with a commercial outfitter ($100, includes transportation and lunch). In this optional tour, as the vehicle rumbles up Fish Creek Wash at the bottom of Split Mountain Gorge, rock starts to rise up on both sides exhibiting fascinating geologic features. Soon we are entering the insides of Split Mountain itself. The ancient torrents of Fish Creek have literally carved this mountain in half. This tour includes a short hike to the Wind Caves geologic formation. Saturday we will hike up Hellhole Canyon to a lovely oasis with lush vegetation and if conditions permit, a flowing waterfall. Sunday morning we will visit Borrego Palm Canyon with year round flowing water and a nice stand of native palm trees. Hikes may require walking over rocky trails and some areas of rock scrambling off trail. Maximum hiking distance is 6 miles with limited elevation gain. Deposit required by February 1st to confirm participation. Limited to 20 people. Email or call leader for reservation information. Leader: Rich Juricich, raj082806@pacbell.net, 916-492-2181.
WHIPPLE MTS DESERT SERVICE
March 16-18, Friday -Sunday
Join CA/NV wilderness committee and Mojave Group’s annual service trip with the Needles office of BLM; for this patrician greening of the desert, we’ll return to the Whipple Mts, home of elusive saguaro cactus. Actual work project details still a secret, to be revealed to those who sign up with leader Vicky Hoover, 415-977-5527 or Vicky.hoover@sierraclub.org. Central commissary, usual exorbitant fee. CNRCC Wilderness Committee
MOJAVE NATIONAL PRESERVE
April 7-8, Saturday-Sunday
Saturday morning we will meet at Teutonia Peak trailhead on Cima Road for a hike to Teutonia Peak and out onto Cima Dome and then camp at Sunrise Rocks, which is primitive camping. Sunday we will hike from Midhills to Hole-in-the-Wall. This is an 8 mile, downhill hike and if the timing is right could have wonderful windflowers. For those wanting to arrive on Friday we can go out to the Rock Springs Loop Trail. For those wanting to stay over night on Sunday we can primitive camp near the Kelso Dunes and hike the dunes on Monday morning. For reservations contact Carol Wiley at desertlily1@verizon.net or 760-245-8734. CNRCC Desert Committee
ESCALANTE RIVER CANYON – Service Trip/Backpack
April 29-May 5, Sunday-Saturday
We will work with National Park Service Ranger Bill Wolverton on this ongoing Russian olive eradication program. 42 miles of the Escalante River have been cleared. This project will clear more, using loppers, small handsaws, and herbicide. Meet in Escalante Sunday morning, caravan to the trailhead and hike in about 7 miles. Expect knee to thigh deep river crossings, and some bushwhacking. We work 4 days, dayhike 1 day and hike out Saturday morning. Participants must follow work-clothing requirements, provide their own food and gear on the trail, and travel expenses to the trailhead. For more information contact leader, Paul Plathe at 209-476-1498. Delta-Sierra Group/Mother Lode Chapter
Sierra Club California Seller of Travel number is CST 2087766-40. (Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.)
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NON-SIERRA CLUB ACTIVITIES
The following activities are not sponsored nor administered by 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 as they may be of interest to the readers of this publication.
Friends of Nevada Wilderness
Friends of Nevada Wilderness is dedicated to preserving all qualified Nevada public lands as wilderness, protecting all present and potential wilderness from ongoing threats, informing the public about the values of and need for wilderness, and restoring and improving the management of wild lands. Go to www.nevadawilderness.org to see their list of service trips.
California Wilderness Coalition
The California Wilderness Coalition works to protect the natural landscapes that make California unique, providing clean air and water, a home to wildlife, and a place for recreation and spiritual renewal. CWC is dedicated to protecting and restoring California’s wild places and native biodiversity on a state-wide level. Learn more at www.calwild.org
Desert Survivors
Desert Survivors is an affiliation of desert lovers committed to experiencing, sharing, and protecting desert wilderness. They conduct trips to give others the opportunity to experience the desert as they do, as part of their efforts to protect the wild places they love to explore. Must be a member to participate in trips. For a list of trips, go to: http://www.desert-survivors.org.