Minutes for Meeting of 10-11-2000
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.
3.) The web site http://www.biocom.arizona.edu/ramblers for the
Ramblers Hiking Club has been greatly improved and enhanced, with new
features added, such as the historical web pages
and a calendar. We
encourage the membership to take a look and provide their comments and
suggestions, as we continue to improve, add to, and polish up the
presentation of the pages. We should give credit to Kyle, Steve, BJ,
Wolfgang, Hanna, and Robbie, who have contributed their work and time as a
team effort to the web pages.
ANNOUNCEMENT: FALL PLANT SALE AT BOYCE THOMPSON ARBORETUM:
There is a fall plant sale from Friday, October 13, through Sunday, October
29, 2000, open from 8:00AM to 5:00PM. Available are a diverse and abundant
selection of drought-tolerant plants for use in southern Arizona, such as
trees, shrubs, vines, groundcovers, perennials, cacti, and other
succulents. There is FREE admission with the UA Cat Card for this event,
for UA students, faculty, and staff, and accompanying guests. There are
tours of the demonstration garden @ 1:30PM on Saturdays and Sundays. There
is also a 10% discount on all merchandise with the UA Cat Card. It is an
easy scenic drive just 2 hours north of the UA campus, on Highway 60,
between Florence Junction and Superior. For more information call:
(520)-689-2811.
PAST HIKES:
1.) 11 people (Massimo, Steve, Michael Dumke, Michael Chamberland,
Mike Dosdall, Jochan, Markus, Marc, Dale, Phaedra and Melinda) went on Massimo's
4-day Grand Canyon trip. They stopped at
Andy's place in Flagstaff on the way, and, after arriving at the Grand
Canyon, they went down the Grandview Trail. They explored some of the mines
at the Horseshoe Mesa and went along the Tonto Trail. They also did
moonlight hikes after sunset. They stopped at Miner's Spring, went to Red
Canyon, were at some sandy beach areas along the Colorado River, went to
some lookout points, where they had excellent views of the Colorado River,
Vishnu Temple, and scenic rock formations, and were inside Papago Canyon,
where they had a view of the inner gorges. They made it to Hance Canyon,
and also were at several other points along the river. They also had "fun"
with the mice, which had "fun" with people's trail mix. They went out via
the Grandview Trail.
2.) 4 people went on Jon's White Canyon trip. They camped the 1st night,
then hiked inside the Canyon, arriving at a nice point, where there were
junipers, where they took naps. They backpacked up to the "amphitheater"
area, where they camped the 2nd night, and which had very scenic views.
3.) 6 people went on Hanna's hike to 7 Falls, up Bear Canyon, where they
did some swimming. Rachel, who got separated, also saw fish, road runners,
and other wildlife.
FUTURE HIKES:
1.) Hanna is leading a beginner's backpacking trip to Kent Springs/Bog
Springs
in the Santa Rita Mountains, during this weekend (October 14/15).
Rated "C". If interested, contact Hanna: hanna@u.arizona.edu.
2.) Michael Dumke is leading a trip to Pariah Wilderness/Buckskin Gulch Canyon in
northern Arizona, during the Veterans Day weekend. Details are as follows:
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Hi Ramblers,
It's time to give you some information about the trip to Buckskin
Gulch/upper Paria Canyon I plan for the Veteran's Day weekend.
General:
Buckskin Gulch is probably the premier slot canyon in the world, with steep
canyon walls a few 100 feet high and only 5 - 25 feet apart. Wire Pass
Canyon, a side canyon we will explore, is only shoulder-wide in places. The
canyon is located just north of the Arizona/Utah border, about 30 miles
west of Page.
Dates & Itinerary:
Mon 13 November is a University holiday. The plan is as follows (as always,
still open to suggestions):
Friday 11/10: Leave Tucson around 6pm. Arrival around midnight and camp.
Saturday 11/11: Leave a shuttle vehicle at the White House Ruins trailhead
(upper end of Paria Canyon). Continue to the Wire Pass trailhead and enter
Buckskin Gulch through Wire Pass Canyon. Set up camp after about 8 miles.
Sunday 11/12: Continue. When Paria River comes in from the left, turn left
and head upstream. Set up camp. We may also continue a bit further
downstream Paria Canyon if we have plenty of time.
Monday 11/13: Continue Paria Canyon upstream and hike out. Get our vehicles
and head back to Tucson.
Arrival: about 8pm, maybe later.
The whole length we want to hike is about 20-24 miles. It would be possible
in two days, but I prefer to have some time in the canyon, in order to swim
if there are pools deep enough, and to have some choice concerning
campsites. The character of the hike depends on the amount of water in the
canyon. It may range from occasional, flat, muddy pools in dry weather to a
steady flow with lots of deep pools that require to swim. I expect
something in between, i.e. that we have to wade through some pools, but
also find some pools deep enough for a refreshing dip. I will check the
water and weather conditions a few days in advance.
Costs:
You need money for fuel (maybe $15 - $20/person, depending on the number of
people and cars), as well as for dinner (Fri) and lunch (Mon) somewhere on
the road. Further, we need a permit to backpack there. The cost is $5 per
person and day - $15 total/per person.
What you need:
Usual wilderness backpack equipment. In addition:
* sandals: for the wading through pools. You may also be happy to get rid
of your hiking boots in the evening.
* swimsuit.
* towel: the evenings may already be cool, so you want to be dry.
* some warmer clothes: same reason.
I plan to submit the permit request end of next week. There is a limit of
20 backpackers who can enter the canyon each day. Currently all 20 places
are still available for Nov. 11. However, the maximum group size is 10. If
you're interested in this trip, send me an email mdumke@as.arizona.edu.
You may also indicate if you have some of the following:
* car
* tent (which sleeps more than 1)
* stove
* water filter
FYI: There is a web site about the Paria Canyon Wilderness:
http://paria.az.blm.gov.
Michael
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
3.) Michael Chamberland is leading a trip to the Gila Box, north of
Safford, with detailed information as follows:
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Hello Ramblers,
I'm planning a trip to the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area for
the weekend of Oct. 21-22. In spite of its name, the Gila Box is not a box
canyon or a slot canyon. It is a wide shallow river and riparian zone
winding through desert hills. If you've seen the Gila River along Highway
77 north of Winkleman, the Gila Box is rather like that.
What is special and unusual about this hike is it's mostly done in the
water. The river is shallow and mostly sandy-bottomed. There are abundant
wide banks to walk on out of the water too. There's no noticeable elevation
gain so the going is quite easy.
You may do a backpack or a car camp. The plan is to leave Friday evening at
6:00 PM from the usual spot behind the Park Student Union. Drive to
Safford, then another 30 minutes or so north to the established campground
located at the confluence of Bonita Creek and the Gila (there is likely a
small fee). Saturday we'll all hike upstream through the Gila Box. By early
afternoon the car campers will turn back and return to car camp at the
campground. Backpackers will continue upstream. Sunday, backpackers will
return downstream, while car campers have the day to explore the
side-canyon of Bonita Creek, which is a narrower and lush tree-filled
canyon that opens up right at the campground.
You may return to Tucson after Saturday if you'd like, but I plan to lead
the backpack and do not want to organize multiple trip venues. So if there
is a desire to leave early I'll ask those that do to organize that.
General stuff to bring: clothing for hiking in the water, shorts and
sneakers or tevas for wading. There should be no need to swim or get your
pack wet, but if you slip you could douse the pack, so placing the contents
in a dry bag or garbage bag might be a wise precaution. Leaving
wallets/valuables in the car is a related consideration, but come with a
few bucks for shared gas expenses. A walking stick can offer some
additional stability, and for probing water depth. The Gila Box is very
exposed so bring sunscreen and a hat, etc.
Backpackers, we will need a few water purifiers and stoves for the trip. We
can share these, as well as tents. The Gila Box has a lot of wildlife, so
you may want a tent and also a rope and bag to hang food (I am not certain
if bears are in the area, but I know javelina, skunks and ringtails are).
The route is the highway to Safford and an average quality dirt road
(rather hilly) on the last stretch into the natural area. This should be OK
for passenger cars unless they ride on the low side.
Email me if you are interested in going. Mention if you can provide
transportation, and if you intend to day hike or backpack. If you will
backpack, say if you can provide a water purifier, stove, tent space, etc.
I'll want to make sure we have enough water purifiers, since that'll be a
critical item. The Gila is turbid, if you can bring a container to settle
water in overnight, that will increase the purifier's effectiveness.
Michael
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
If interested, contact Michael Chamberland: chamb@u.arizona.edu.
4.) Robbie is interested in leading a trip up to the Vermilion
Cliffs/Pariah Wilderness in northern Arizona, during the Thanksgiving
weekend. Rated "A", since this is a "Kick-A** Hike". There is a 10 person
limit and a $5.00 entrance fee. If interested, contact Robbie:
hannawacker@hotmail.com.
5.) Hanna is leading a trip to the Pinacate National Park in Mexico and the
Castle Dome Mountains in Arizona, during Christmas time, for 6 days -
possibly more. If interested, contact Hanna: hanna@u.arizona.edu.
6.) Steve Newcomb is leading a day hike to the Mt. Graham area, in the
Pinaleno Mountains. Departure is on Saturday (10/21/2000) @ 6:00AM. If
interested, contact Steve: sanewcomb@yahoo.com.
If anyone wants to add or post additional announcements for any hikes,
etc., please feel free to use this listserve. Meanwhile, enjoy Arizona!
Ramble On!
Wolfgang
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