Minutes for Meeting of 12-03-97

Hey everyone! Here is this week's version of the minutes for your enjoyment.

BJ Cordova, Ramblers Hiking Club Treasurer.

Just a reminder: Next week we will be meeting in the Cactus Lounge, Rm. 280. For all of next semester, we will be in Rm. 283 (the bigger room). Erich also mentioned that all the major planets and the moon will be visible in tonight's sky. So you might want to step outside and enjoy the cold air and look at all your favorite planets! Loretta is STILL taking submissions for T-shirt designs. We will be voting on the design, and taking orders for them at the beginning of next semester, so if you're feeling creative, feel free to submit your design to one of the officers.

Old business/hikes: Over the past couple weeks/Thanksgiving: Over Thanksgiving break, a friend and myself hiked up the Peralta Trail in the Superstition Mountains. It had a nice view of Weaver's needle at the top, as well as two very out of place pine trees.

Wolfgang's trip to Africa was a great success! He hiked and climbed to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro (Uhuru Peak) in Tanzania, which is the highest point in Africa, above sea level, at 19,340 ft. (5,895m). He encountered a snowstorm, between 12,500ft. and 15,500ft. Also he saw huge and amazing glaciers with ice stalactites during the climb from Gilman's point to Uhuru Peak, around the crater rim. While being in an African tropical rain forest and the Serengeti, he saw lots of wildlife. The safari also included the Serengeti, Lake Manyara, Olduvai Gorge, and the Ngorongoro Crater.</DIV> Some of the wildlife observed were African Elephant, Rhinoceros, Giraffe, Impala, Gazelle, Zebra, Wildebeest, Lions, Leopards, Cheetahs, Hyenas, Jackals, Baboons, Vervet Monkeys, Hippopotamus, Storks, Vultures, and the list continues. Very interesting also were the different types of plant life encountered in the tropical rain forest and the Serengeti.

Loretta and several others were in the Mazatzal wilderness (not as cold as Bryce!) for a 3 day, 2 night backpack/camp. Rocky trail, cool days, cold nights, with pretty canyon scenery! To top it all off, an hour after they returned to cars, it started to rain! Now that's luck!

Ross, Ron, et al. went to Brown Mountain. It was an easy, nice hike, with great views of the rest of the Tucson Mountains.

Someone went on a hike in Joshua Tree national monument, which included some rock climbing.

Todd and others were in the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge in western Arizona, with desert mountains, lots of rock=20 formations, and a surprising amount of water (2 night backpack). The high point was climbing down a canyon "wall", which seemed impassable but wasn't that bad.

*** A GREAT BIG THANKS *** to everyone who donated a couple bucks toward adopt-a-family! $50 in Fry's gift certificates was purchased for Ms. Ovilia and her 5 children, through Parent Aid; an agency dedicated to helping out disadvantaged Tucson families.

During the meeting, John Leonard, faculty advisor for the Sierra Club, sold calendars (at a = discount) to club members. He will also be in front of the arcade from 12PM to 1PM tomorrow, or contact him in his office at 621-6874 if interested in calendars. They would make great Christmas gifts.

*******UPCOMING HIKES/EVENTS*******

Onyx Cave? May still be happening! Watch for more information over the listserve from Loretta, or give her a call at 795-6892. If it happens, it will probably be this weekend, Sunday Dec. 7th.

Saturday 12/6: Afternoon hike? If you want to go, send a message out on the listserve.

Sunday 12/7: Hike up Little Kimball Peak and Finger Rock trail area. Call Fran for meeting place and to express interest (325-5292), probably leaving around 8AM. 9.5 miles round trip, 4,000ft. elevation gain, some off trail hiking.

Christmas Break: Grand Canyon Hike, 4-7 days, somewhere between Dec. 26-Jan. 7. Permit fee for Grand Canyon. Contact Paul if interested. ? Phone number? Watch for more information.

Ross: "Freeze your ass off!" hike Jan 9-12. Window Rock area. Call 623-1988, if interested.

*&*&*&*&*& PARTY! &*&*&*&*&* Where: Loretta's House, 1645 E. Hampton (1 block south of Grant, 2 blocks west of Campbell).

When: Sat. Dec. 13th. Time: ? What: Music, gift exchange if you want, whatever... Bring your own food, etc. Why: This infernal semester is almost over! That's all folks! Until we meet again! Happy hiking!