Minutes for Meeting of 07-07-99

Hello Ramblers!

This past 4th of July Weekend, many hikes were done in northern Arizona, in the Flagstaff area. 2 groups hiked/climed up Mt. Humphreys:

1.) Jon, Kyle, Liz, Wit, and Hanna hiked up Mt. Humphreys, via Humphreys Trail, from the Snow Bowl. They had an early start (6AM) on Saturday, reaching the summit at about 10:30AM. They has excellent scenery, but encountered lots of other people with lots of dogs.

2.) On Sunday, July 4th, Wolfgang, Erich and Paul, hiked up to Mt. Humphreys, via the Weatherford Trail, which was a long scenic trail, through lots of Ponderosa Pine and Aspen forests. They started at the Weatherford trailhead at 9AM, and after hiking about 10mi., Wolfgang reached the summit at 2:10PM. Erich and Paul stopped at scenic lookouts near the junction of the Weatherford and Humphreys Trails. They also saw lots of wild life such as elk, deer, horned toads, ravens, and Abert's squirrels.

Since the area is so interesting, and to take advantage of the 3-day weekend, other hikes were also done:

3.) En route to Flagstaff, on Saturday, Wolfgang, Erich, Farideh, and John did a day hike up the West Fork of Oar Creek Canyon. It was a spectacular scenery with interesting geological formations, cut into the Coconino Sandstone.

4.) On Saturday, after hiking up Mt. Humphreys, Wit and Hanna explored the Lava River Cave, which is a lava tube.

5.) On Sunday, Jon, Kyle, Liz, Farideh, and John did a hike up Wild Bill Hill, at Gov. Prairie. They saw coyote, deer, elk, and great scenery.

6.) On Sunday, Wit and Hanna went to O'Leary Peak and the Inner Basin region of the San Francisco Peaks. It was a day of good view, and the hike involved crossing many cris-crossing roads.

7.) On Sunday, Jon, Kyle, and Liz were in Walnut Canyon National Monument. It is also a nice and scenic canyon, which also contains Indian ruins.

8.) On Monday, Wolfgang, Erich, Wit, and Hanna were in Sunset Crater National Monument. They hiked up the Lenox Crater and on the Bonito Lava Flow. Erich, Wit and Hanna, also continued on to the Strawberry Crater Wilderness area.

These consist of 3 possibilities for this Saturday, July 10th:

1.) Pinaleno Mountains: Acadia trail & Heliograph Peak: ~9 miles (B+) Leave 7AM. Contact Wit: wisniewski@ece.arizona.edu

2.) Pinaleno Mountains: Ash Creek Falls: ~5 miles (B-) Leave 7AM. Contact Wit: wisniewski@ece.arizona.edu

3.) Oracle Ridge/Red Ridge (Santa Catalina Mountains): Leave 8AM. Contact Wit: wisniewski@ece.arizona.edu

In addition there is a hike planned for a future weekend:

4.) West Clear Creek: Possibly the weekend of July 17th, and could be a possible 4-day backpacking trip, and will involve some swimming. Drivers with high clearance vehicles are needed. If interested, contact Hanna: hanna@u.arizona.edu

Hikes continue to depart from the Park Student Center, unless otherwise announced. Continue hiking Arizona and keep Rambling!

--Wolfgang