Minutes for Meeting of 03-22-2000

Hello Ramblers!

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1.) Future hiking club meetings, for this semester, will continue to be held in Forbes 307. Signs will be posted in case you forget!

2.) Important: Unless otherwise announced, the meeting place for all hikes is behind the Park Student Center, in the parking lot.

ANNOUNCEMENTS CONCERNING CLUB PROPERTY:

If anyone has any maps, hiking guidebooks, pictures, or other borrowed items from "The Box", please contact Joe Leisz @ 621-9783 or E-mail: jleisz@ag.arizona.edu. Provide him with a quick list of what you've got, who you are, and when you are planning to return it. In addition, if anyone else wants to borrow stuff, see Joe after the meetings each Wednesday or drop by his office (Forbes: Room 325) to check things out as needed.

Ross Lampert is the new gear warden for the club. If there are members of the club, who have borrowed any equipment, such as backpacks, sleeping bags, stoves, etc., please contact Ross @ 325-5912, so that arrangements can be made to return items.

ANNOUNCEMENT CONCERNING THE BOYCE THOMPSON ARBORETUM:

There is a Spring Plant Sale and Festival being held at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. The dates are from Friday, March 17, 2000 to Sunday, April 2, 2000 @ 8:00AM to 5:00PM. There is FREE admission with UA Cat Card for UA faculty, staff, and students. (Otherwise it is $5.00/adult or $2.00/child 5 -12.) There is also a 10% discount on all merchandise with the Cat Card. Also, it is an easy and scenic 2-hour drive from Tucson. For more information: (520)-689-2811.

ANNOUNCEMENT CONCERNING EARTH DAY:

U of A's Earth Day celebration will be held on Friday, April 21st on the UA Mall. If the Ramblers or any other club is interested in having a member recruitment/information table, this would be an excellent opportunity to publicize the club, inform people on outdoor safety, and responsible use of the environment as part of the Earth Day celebration. If interested, space will be available - let BJ know, and he'll save a spot, or if anyone else has something they'd like to present on the mall that day, the entire mall is reserved for Earth Day festivities and we are looking for a very diverse set of booths! It's free of charge to non-commercial groups, or for commercial groups that are not actually selling a product.

ANNOUNCEMENT: T-SHIRT CONTEST:

Please submit your drawings, ideas, etc. for this year's Ramblers Hiking Club T-shirt.

PAST HIKES:

1.) Liz and several others returned from the spring break trip to Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly, and southern Utah. They went on a guided hike to Canyon del Muerto and another hike in Canyon de Chelly National Monument.

2.) Wolfgang was at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum on Saturday, and did a morning day hike on the Pontatoc Trail on Sunday.

3.) Hanna returned from her spring break trip to the Blue River Primitive Area. They went to Hannah Hot Springs and camped along the Blue Creek. They saw interesting rock formations, a cave (lots of gnats), narrows, a blue heron, 2 ducks, other birds, and cat and canine tracks. Ryan Ekins also has pictures available on his web site: http://www.cluester.com/ramblers/, which are from that trip.

4.) Michael did a hike on Sunday up Sabino Canyon to Hutchess Pools and returned via Bear Canyon.

5.) Wit was in Southeastern Utah for 1 1/2 weeks, starting at Gooseneck State Park, and continuing to White Canyon, Natural Bridges National Monument, Canyon lands and Arches National Parks, the Painted Desert, and Petrified Forest National Park.

FUTURE HIKES:

1.) Ryan is leading a hike to "The Jug" in the Sierra Anchas later this semester. Contact Ryan: ryan@BPA.ARIZONA.EDU.

2.) There is a trip to the Mule Shoe Ranch area being planned, which will involve some volunteer work and a hike to some hot springs. Contact Andy: andy.odell@nau.edu.

3.) Paul Strominger is interested in doing a trip in the Guadalupe Mountains of Texas sometime in April. He would fly to El Paso and meet people, who are interested. He has in mind either a normal weekend or a long weekend, and either day hikes or backpacking. Contact Paul at: pstrominger@CYC.COM.

4.) Michael is leading a day hike up to Thimble Peak in the Santa Catalinas, starting at Bear Canyon and 7-Falls. Rated "A". Bring lots of water! Departure is from the Park Student Center on Sunday (3/26/2000) @ 8:00AM.

MISCELLANEOUS OUTDOORS INFORMATION:

1.) Information concerning harnesses (for Ryan's trip): Here is some web site information for a few harnesses. Ryan can get an additional 20% off. If interested contact Ryan Ekins: ryan@BPA.ARIZONA.EDU:

Small Harness 1, Small Harness 2, Large Harness 3 Here are also a few others, available at REI for $29.95: Harness 4, Harness 5

2.) There is a web site (free), providing topographic maps of the US: http://www.topozone.com. There is other topographic information, along with statistical information about routes to take also available. Contact Steve: sanewcomb@yahoo.com.

3.) Another good web site, providing a fun resource: www.soak.net.

4.) Ramsey Canyon, which is in the Huachuca Mountains, south of Sierra Vista, AZ., has been reopened. This is a very scenic and interesting canyon, which is famous for its diversity of bird species and other interesting wildlife.

If anyone wants to post additional announcements for any hikes, etc., please feel free to use the listserve. Meanwhile, keep Rambling!

Wolfgang