Desert Survivors Past Trip Schedule
Fall 2003
The trips on this page are completed. Any member that went on a trip is encouraged to send pictures, trail notes, stories for posting on the website.
Email your contributions to: webmaster@desert-survivors.org
COMPLETED FALL 2003 TRIPS
1.
September 19-21 (Fri-Sun)
Carrizo National Monument (M)
Service Trip Carcamp
Our objective will be to install an irrigation system for the native-plant
garden at Goodwin Education Center. Time permitting, we'll hike to Caliente
Mountain to visit marine fossil beds and see spectacular views of Carrizo Plain,
Cuyama Valley, and the San Andreas Fault. Primitive camping, potluck dinner, and
campfire stories. Limit 15.
Contact Leader: Bob Lyon (415-674-6885)
2.
September 27-29 (Sat-Mon)
Black Rock Desert Carcamp (M)
Service Trip, Northwest Nevada
On Saturday, join volunteers from several
organizations working with the Nevada BLM on projects in the Black Rock
Desert/High Rock Canyon Conservation Area. Volunteers may choose from several
different projects. A long canyon hike of moderate difficulty is planned for
Sunday, but individuals may work again instead. Monday will feature a shorter
hike. We'll camp with the other volunteers in the Soldiers Meadows area and
enjoy potlucks, the huge playa, and the hot springs. Weather should be just
about right.
Contact Leader: Lucy DuPertuis (530) 573-0965
ldupertuis@mindspring
3.
October 2-5 (Thu-Sun)
Reveille/Worthington Backpacks (M/S)
Southeast Nevada
Two separate overnight backpacks off the
Extraterrestrial Highway: First we'll hike past Fang Ridge to a camp on Bongo
Butte in the Reveille Range. Next a visit to Rachel (Al-e-Inn and Area 51
Research Center). Then up steep chutes in the Worthington Mountains to Leviathan
Cave for some cave exploring and a climb to Meeker Peak. Experienced off-trail,
loose-rock, carry-water backpackers only. Limit 10.
Contact Leader: Bob Ellis (510) 525-8742
bobellisds@earthlink.net
See and read details of the Reveille/Worthington Backpacks Here
4. October 3-5
(Fri-Sun)
Boundary/Montgomery Peaks Backpack (S)
Join us for a trip to the peaks
from which the White Mountains got their name. Vigorous hiking and awesome views
are expected as we go for 13,140' Boundary Peak and its higher, more difficult
sibling, 13,441' Montgomery Peak. We'll camp high and dayhike to the peaks on
the second day -- 4,800' elevation gain, and we carry all water! Limit 12
seasoned hikers.
Contact Leader: Paul Menkes (510) 525-9347
pmenkes@pacbell.net
5.
October 10-12 (Fri-Sun)
Black Rock Crossing Backpack (M)
Northwest Nevada
Hike 36 miles in three days on the Desert
Trail, across the Black Rock Playa from Trego to Double Hot Spring and on to
Wheeler Reservoir. On the way, we'll soak at Black Rock Hot Spring, and check
out Mud Meadow Creek and the historic Applegate-Lassen pioneer route.
Temperatures should be warm during the day, cool at night. Carry all water (two
gallons plus). What a sensation, walking across the playa! Stark beauty, open
space, and the spirit of the pioneers will accompany us on this unique trip.
Limit 15 sturdy backpackers.
Contact Leader: Steve Tabor (510) 769-1706
6.
October 17-19 (Fri-Sun)
Winnedumah Carcamp (M)
On top of the Inyo Mountains sits Winnedumah, a vertical granite
shaft also known as the Paiute Monument because of its significance in native
folklore. The Saturday hike to Winnedumah will take 8-9 hours round trip, with
an elevation gain of 2,200'. Side trips to Mazourka Peak and Badger Flat or the
scenic Alabama Hills. Limit 12.
Contact Leader: Bob Lyon (415) 674-6885
7.
October 25 (Sat)
Annual Meeting/Desert Conference (E)
We gather at the annual meeting to hear
about the previous year's achievements, set next year's priorities, discuss the
budget, and members stand for election to the Board of Directors. Special guest
speakers will give presentations on desert ecology and current issues, followed
by a potluck dinner and contra dancing with a live band and caller. Watch for
details in a September mailing.
For information, call: Steve Tabor (510) 769-1706
8.
October 25-28 (Sat-Tue)
Lost Mining Trail Exploration (S)
Inyo Mountains Backpack
There's a trail heading up from the mouth
of Daisy Canyon in Saline Valley. There's a mill-site in Craig Canyon. The
Trepier Mine and Monkeyflower Spring are on the Craig/Daisy Ridge. Do they
connect? Known water at 5,000' in Craig. We'll also be seeking rare limestone
plant populations. Expect to come out Hunter Canyon. Lots of up and down.
Experienced off-trail, loose-rock, carry-water, uncertainty-accepting
backpackers only. Limit 6.
Contact Leader: Bob Ellis (510) 525-8742 bobellisds@earthlink.net
9.
October 31 - Nov 2 (Fri-Sun)
Steam Wells Carcamp (E)
Service Trip, Golden Valley, Northern Mojave
We will work with BLM wilderness
coordinator/specialist Marty Dickes to protect a critical cultural site, which
has been a victim of vehicle intrusion and vandalism. The project will include
construction of a fence, disguising vehicle access, and installing interpretive
signs. The third day is reserved for recreation, with a hike to the interior of
this designated wilderness area and perhaps a climb of Klinker Mountain. Limit
10.
Contact Leader: Craig Deutsche (310) 477-6670 deutsche@earthlink.net)
10.
November 7-9 (Fri-Sun)
Sheephole Wilderness Carcamp (M)
Guzzler Monitoring Trip, Southern Mojave
On this carcamp we'll visit two "game
guzzler" water catchments whose condition has long been in contention. Bighorn
sheep become dependent on them, yet they chronically dry out and become
polluted. We'll examine and photograph them and look for signs that bighorn use
them, then write a monitoring report on our findings. The first day, we'll look
for sheep in the adjacent Cleghorn Lakes Wilderness. Note: This is a
wildlife-viewing trip. Participants must stay behind the leader while hiking. If
you cannot do this, please choose another trip.
Contact Leader: Steve Tabor (510) 769-1706
Additional Information
http://www.ca.blm.gov/needles/sheephole.html
http://www.ca.blm.gov/pdfs/needles_pdfs/Sheephole.pdf
11.
November 7-9 (Fri-Sun)
LeMoigne & Marble Canyons Backpack (S)
Death Valley National Park
From Emigrant Junction, we'll cross the fan and climb to camp at the head of
LeMoigne Canyon. The second day will take us over a broad valley to Cottonwood
Creek. On Sunday we'll hike to Dead Horse Canyon and down through the vertical
walls of Marble Canyon. Enjoy high desert parks, petroglyphs, and slot canyons,
with minimal water carry. Limit 12.
Contact Leader: Bob Lyon (415) 674-6885
Additional Information
http://wrgis.wr.usgs.gov/docs/parks/deva/ftmos1.html
12.
November 14-16 (Fri-Sun)
Searching for Mary Austin Carcamp (M)
Owens Valley
Between 1890 and 1910 Mary Austin wrote a series of
remarkable essays and short stories set in the deserts of eastern California.
The locations were sometimes identified, sometimes only described, and sometimes
fictional. We will follow her trails and search for her mines, ghost towns, and
Indian villages. The destinations are on the Darwin Plateau and include the
Malpais and Coso wilderness areas. We will be joined by Kelly Fuller, a Desert
Survivor who is currently preparing a dissertation on Mary Austin and her
writings. Limit 12.
Contact Leader: Craig Deutsche (310) 477-6670
deutsche@earthlink.net
Additional Information
http://www.owensvalleyhistory.com/mary_austin/page49.html
13.
November 21-23 (Fri-Sun)
Argus Range Backpack (M/S)
Southern Inyo County
This wilderness area is in a rugged, little-known range lying between the
Panamint Valley and the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station. It is dotted with
abandoned mines from the end of the 19th century and is cut with deep canyons.
Our trip is a strenuous three-day backpack up Stone Canyon via the 19th century
Ballarat-to-Darwin wagon route, down the ridgeline across Zinc Hills to Darwin
Wash, and out via Panamint Springs. Carry all water. Limit 12.
Contact Leader: Craig Deutsche, (310) 477-6670
deutsche@earthlink.net
Additional Information
http://www.ca.blm.gov/ridgecrest/argus.html
14.
November 24-27 (Mon-Thu)
Hungry Bill's Ranch Backpack (S)
Death Valley National Park
A wonderful hike up Surprise Canyon to
Panamint City ghost town for our first night, then over Panamint Pass to the
"ranch" site, maybe bagging Sentinel Peak along the way. After enjoying the
amenities there, the third day we head back up, albeit southerly, over Porter
Pass into the upper reaches of Happy Canyon. Finally, a quick downhill hike to
where we started. A long haul up and down rocky, wild canyons filled with
historic, biologic, and geologic wonders. Water along the way. Get in shape!
Limit 10.
Contact Leader: Dave McMullen (510) 559-9114
malakai@sbcglobal.net
Additional Information
http://www.americanparks.net/death_valley_hiking.htm (#9
on the map, scroll down for information)
15.
November 27-30 (Thu-Sun)
Jacumba Mountains Wilderness Backpack (M)
Monitoring Trip, Southwest Imperial County
The Jacumbas are stressed by competing
groups -- smugglers, immigrants, off-roaders, BLM law enforcement, the Border
Patrol, and hikers. Yet the interior is rumored to possess hidden wonders --
exotic plants, strange wildlife, Native-American sites, and dynamic topography.
We'll do a loop trip carrying all water, and then write a monitoring report.
We'll be careful but may meet up with smugglers, immigrants, or the Border
Patrol as we hike. We'll need a minimum of six backpackers. Note: This is
a wildlife-viewing trip. Participants 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
Additional Information
http://www.ca.blm.gov/caso/jacumb.html