Minutes for Meeting of 03-29-2000

Hello Ramblers!

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

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

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

ANNOUNCEMENTS: CLUB PROPERTY:

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.

Joe Leisz is the librarian for the club, taking care of "The Box", containing maps, hiking guidebooks, etc. If anyone wants to return or borrow stuff, see Joe after the meetings each Wednesday or drop by his office (Forbes: Room 325) to check things out as needed, or contact Joe @ 621-9783 or E-mail: jleisz@ag.arizona.edu.

ANNOUNCEMENT: BOYCE THOMPSON ARBORETUM:

There is a Spring Plant Sale and Festival being held at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. The dates are from now until 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: 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: RAMBLERS T-SHIRT CONTEST:

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

ANNOUNCEMENT: WILDERNESS PLANNING MEETING:

There is a Bureau of Land Management's Baboquivari Peak and Coyote Mountains Wilderness Planning Meeting being held on April 8, 2000 @ 9:00AM to Noon. The location is the Mary Dill Elementary School cafeteria (look for the blue roof) at 16350 W. Ajo Way, in Three Points, AZ. Breakfast is provided. Contact Catie Fenn @ or (520)-722-4289 for more information.

ANNOUNCEMENT: PRESENTATION:

There is an Arizona Highways exhibit being presented at the Center for Creative Photography from now until April 9, 2000.

PAST HIKES:

1.) Liz returned from her spring break trip to Monument Valley, Canyon de Chelly, and southern Utah. She will be showing a slide presentation at next week's meeting.

2.) Wolfgang and Michael went to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum on Saturday, seeing lots of interesting plants. They also saw turkey vultures and cardinals.

3.) Michael and another person did a hike on Sunday up to Thimble Peak via Bear Canyon. There was water flowing at 7-Falls and in Bear Canyon. They also saw a rattlesnake.

4.) Jon went to "The Crack" in Sabino Canyon on Saturday (leading a group of prospective optical science students).

5.) BJ did a hike in Saguaro National Park East on Saturday.

6.) Joe did a hike on Sunday near Lake Roosevelt. He saw lots of fish, such as chubs.

FUTURE HIKES/EVENTS:

1.) Ryan is leading a hike to "The Jug" in the Sierra Anchas later this semester. Contact Ryan: ryan@BPA.ARIZONA.EDU. Here is some web site information for a few harnesses. Ryan can get an additional 20% off.

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 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.) There is a volleyball game at Hanna's house (826 E. Lester - notice the posters) on Friday (3/31/2000) @ 4:30PM.

MISCELLANEOUS OUTDOORS INFORMATION:

1.) 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.

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

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

Wolfgang