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, the same hike cross-country 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.allen[at]wildblue[dot]net 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.
BRISTLECONE PINES
August 21-22, Saturday-Sunday
Come with us to the beautiful White Mtns to camp, hike and just relax. On Saturday, we’ll hike the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest on a moderate 5 mi rt interpretive trail, followed by a picnic lunch and a short optional hike to a nearby old mining cabin. Back at camp, we’ll enjoy Happy Hour, a potluck feast and a campfire. Sunday pack up and head home. Group size strictly limited. Send $8 per person, 2 large SASE, H&W phones, email, rideshare info to Reserv/Ldr: Lygeia Gerard, P.O. Box 294726 , Phelan , CA 92329 , 760-868-2179. CNRCC Desert Committee
GORGE SCRAMBLE LEVEL 3
DEVIL CANYON. MIDDLE FORK. FEATHER WILD AND SCENIC RIVER CANYON.
August 28-29, Saturday-Sunday
This spectacular canyon receives big flows that scour the granite walls to a light gray finish. Cook your dinner on an open fire. 1800 feet of elevation gain on hike out. Bring a good quality air mattress and overnight gear packed for floatation. Experienced gorge scramblers only. This strenuous outing requires excellent swimming skills. For more information on this activity go to: http://www.motherlode.sierraclub.org/deltaSierra/GSPAGES/gspage0.htm. Leader; Paul Plathe; 209-476-1498. Motherlode Chapter Gorge Scrambling Section
TAMARISK BASH IN SURPRISE CANYO N
September 4-5, Saturday-Sunday
This is a traditional end of summer outing as we help remove invasive tamarisk from Surprise Canyon north of Ridgecrest, CA. It is warm weather, but the year-round stream will let us soak and cool as the spirit moves us. We will work Saturday with Marty Dickes, our coordinator from the BLM. Sunday is reserved for a hike to cooler elevations above the desert. Enjoy carcamping, a potluck dinner Saturday, and campfire stories. Contact leader Craig Deutsche, craig.deutsche@gmail.com, (310-477-6670) CNRCC Desert Committee
SERVICE AND HIKING IN THE CARRIZO PLAIN S
September 24-26, Friday-Sunday
This is an opportunity to visit and to assist an outstanding and relatively unknown national monument. There will be an optional and scenic hike high in the Caliente Mountains on Friday. Others may join us for National Public Lands Day on Saturday when we will participate with other volunteers restoring one of the historic homesteads in the center of the Plain. On Sunday, we will tour a number of the historic, prehistoric, and geologic sites in the Monument. Leader Craig Deutsche, craig.deutsche@gmail.com, (310-477-6670) CNRCC Desert Committee
BLUE LAKES BACKPACK AND DAYHIKE
October 23-25, Saturday-Monday
The Blue Lakes Wilderness Study Area is tucked away in the remote northwest corner of Nevada in the Pine Forest Range. We’ll backpack to Blue Lake on Saturday, do a day hike on Sunday, and return to the cars on Monday, perhaps making a partial loop. I have not been there yet, so right now, it’s a mystery to all of us, but I do plan to scout it. The backpack will be 5-8 miles with 2000-3000 feet of elevation gain, depending on the state of the roads. Participants are responsible for their own meals. Leader: John Wilkinson, johnfw1@mac.com, 408-876-8295.
GHOST TOWN EXTRAVAGANZA
October 30-31, Saturday-Sunday
What could be more appropriate this Halloween weekend than to visit the ghosts of California’s colorful past? Come with us to this spooky desert landscape near Death Valley. Camp at the historic ghost town of Ballarat (flush toilets & hot showers). On Sat, do a challenging hike to ghost town Lookout City with expert Hal Fowler who will regale us with eerie tales of this wild west town. Later we’ll return to camp for Happy Hour and a special holiday potluck feast, followed by a midnight visit to the ghosts and goblins in Ballarat’s graveyard. On Sun, a quick visit to the infamous Riley townsite before heading home. Group size strictly limited. Send $8 per person (Sierra Club), 2 large SASE, H&W phones, email, rideshare info to Ldr: Lygeia Gerard, P.O. Box 294726, Phelan, CA 92329, (760) 868-2179. CNRCC Desert Committee
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 complete listing of trips, go to: http://www.desert-survivors.org.
July 30-August 1 (Fri-Sun)
CLAN ALPINES DEEP CANYON BACKPACK (M)
CENTRAL NEVADA
The second three-day backpack into the Clan Alpine Mountains. This time we’ll do Deep Canyon, a steep-walled penetration into the range’s interior. The topo map shows trees, two springs and some amazing cliffs and outcrops. Our backpack will be benign, but the dayhike to the head may be a humdinger. We’ll hike as far as we can. Another real exploration, worthy of Desert Survivors. Note: On this wildlife-viewing trip, you must stay behind the leader while hiking. If you cannot do this, please choose another trip. Limit 15. Contact Leader: Steve Tabor (510) 769-1706
August 13-15(Fri-Sun)
SHELDON WILDLIFE REFUGE CARCAMP(M)
NORTHERN NEVADA
We’ll make a base camp at the west side of the Sheldon near Fish Creek and dayhike into Echo and Fish Creek Canyons. August is prime time for viewing migrating pronghorn antelope. The high elevation should make for comfortable weather and moonless night skies will offer fine star gazing. Limit 15. Contact Leader: Bob Lyon (415) 586-6855
August 14-22(Fri-Sun)
MOQUI CANYON BACKPACK(M)
SOUTHEAST UTAH
In 1992 we did a classic week in this wonderful redrock canyon. We saw cliff dwellings, pictographs, rock pools, green trees, sheer cliffs and thunderstorms on our cross-country quest. This time we’ll explore farther north, searching for springs and seeps in tight canyons. Seven days hiking includes two dayhikes. Summer monsoon rains mean full rock pools. Cliff walls and trees provide shade. Note: On this wildlife-viewing trip, you must stay behind the leader while hiking. If you cannot, please choose another trip. Limit 15. Contact Leader: Steve Tabor (510) 769-1706
September 4-6 (Sat-Mon)
BUFFALO HILLS CARCAMP (M)
NORTHWEST NEVADA
Three days west of the Black Rock in remote hills, watching for wild horses, antelope, coyotes, burrowing owls, and eagles. Day one: Hike Buffalo Creek Canyon in the Twin Peaks WSA. Day two: Hike to the top of Burnt Mountain in the Poodle Mountains. WSA. Day three: Chimney Creek on the west side. Campfires both nights far from the Burning Man urban zone. Note: On this wildlife-viewing trip, you must stay behind the leader while hiking. If you cannot do this, please choose another trip. Limit 15. Contact Leader: Steve Tabor (510) 769-1706