Minutes for Meeting of 08-16-2000

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, during the summer, will continue to be held in the Forbes building lobby, in case Forbes, Room 307, isn't available.

SEMESTER BEGINNING PARTY:

A party is tentatively set for Wednesday, August 30, at Ross's house (Campbell & Elm) following the weekly meeting. Slides, volleyball and awards are some of the activities planned. Bring a few dollars to chip in for pizza and drinks.

CLUB FAIR ON CAMPUS AND FLYERS:

It was brought up that the club fair is August 25th on the Mall. Jon offered to staff the booth, although someone needs to file our request. Hanging up flyers was also discussed and people agreed it should be done.

EQUIPMENT WISH LIST:

Here is the current list of equipment items we plan to request in our budget:

1. backpack tent(s) (sleeps 2 or 3)
2. water filter cartridges (for existing pump)
3. sleeping bags (down to 15 degrees F)
4. stuff sacks
5. dry (wet?) bags for waterproofing equipment

EARLY SEMSETER HIKING LIST FOR NEW MEMBERS:

This list (in no particular order) was made up of possible places to hike to introduce less experienced members at the beginning of the school year. Comments and/or additions appreciated.

1. Lemmon Pools/Wilderness of the Rocks pool areas
2. Aspen Loop
3. Butterfly Loop
4. Lemmon Rock Lookout
5. Seven Falls
6. Telephone Line
7. Sycamore Dam/Prison Road
8. Maiden Pools
9. Bridal Wreath Falls/Garwood Dam
10. Old Sabino Draw Trail
11. Ramsey Canyon
12. Madera Canyon
13. Desert Museum/Biosphere
14. Moonlight hike (E. Saguaro)
15. Carr Peak (Huachucas)

1. water at the destination
2. driving time to a minimum
3. later starting times (up to 10 am) will get more people

PAST HIKES:

1. Ramblers explored a section of upper West Clear Creek from the Snake Tank east to a petroglyph site just past Tramway Canyon . Access to the canyon was from the end of Forest Road 142E off Highway 260. The area looked different than the lower portion visited in June. Billed as a swimpack, the water was too low to require swims. A lot of bushwacking and slippery rocks downstream from FR 142E; route considerably better upstream. A report from Matt:

Four of us (Michael, Massimo, Stephen and myself) drove out on the Friday
night to camp not far from the trailhead.  Saturday we took the steep
track down and followed the creek a little way downstream, crossing 'the
log bridge challenge' (ask Massimo for details), before dumping the
backpacks to explore further.

The sky was overcast throughout the first day, with plenty of rain,
occasionally heavy.  The canyon walls made for great acoustics when the
thunder rolled in.  Several snakes were spotted as well as many crayfish
(both alive and shelled).  My personal highlight was finding a narrow slot
just upstream from the Pillar and near the 'compulsary swim' that is no
longer.  To enter the this slot required swimming into a narrow gap
before climbing onto a muddy bank and then creeping along in the dark.  I
estimate I made it about 50 meters.  The slot still went a little further
but required some squeezing which I didn't feel comfortable to do without
my light.

Saturday night it kept raining but Sunday we met some blue sky.  We
explored upstream this time, coming across an impressive ampitheatre in a
side canyon and then petroglyphs on the canyon wall (more fake than real).

I have some photos from the trip that you can see on my web page
http://www.lpl.arizona.edu/~mc/photo

See you next time,
Matt.

2. Steve (B?) went on a short hike to Shovel Spring in the Catalinas (accessed by Mt. Lemon Trail to Sutherland Trail to Samaniego Ridge Trail). The spring was dry which was a disappointment.

FUTURE HIKES:

1.) Wolfgang is interested in leading a hike this Saturday (8/19/2000) up Mt. Wrightson, in the Santa Catalina Mountains. This would be a beginning of the school year hike, and we would go up via Madera Canyon. I am planning on leaving the Park Student Center at 8:00AM. It will be important to bring enough water (3 to 5 liters) and a rain poncho, since it is monsoon season. The hike would be rated "B", or if we take a longer route back, a "B+". If interested, please contact me at wolfgang@u.arizona.edu.

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

Steve Newcomb filling in for Wolfgang