Minutes for Meeting of 12-06-2000

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.

PAST HIKES:

1.) Steve Newcomb and Stephen Nicolosi went down to Sycamore Canyon on Saturday, near the border with Mexico. It takes awhile to reach the first Sycamore, but the large trees in such a narrow canyon make unusual scenic areas. Many large pools and one particularly steep side canyon to the west were notable. Hiked approximately 2 miles in, to a place Steve calls "Chess Pieces". The leaves had changed. Best time to visit looks like late summer and when the trees are in full color.

2.) Erich did a hike up to Mt. Kimball, in the Santa Catalina Mountains, via Pima Canyon.

3.) Michael went, on Saturday, on a hike up French Joe Canyon, in the Whetstones, and, on Sunday, he hiked in the Mustang and Patagonia Mountains. He did come across several old mine sites.

4.) Robbie went on the nature hike up Sabino Canyon, on Saturday.

5.) Joe went on a hike with three other Ramblers up Agua Caliente Canyon via the Milagrosa Ridge trail. They also explored Milagrosa Wash, which was incredibly beautiful with lots of water and yellow fall leaves everywhere. Spent a nice time skipping rocks on the hike back.

FUTURE HIKES:

1.) Hanna, who is arranging a trip to the Nature Conservancy's Mule Shoe Ranch, mentioned that it is being postponed. The trip involves spending half of the time volunteering to do such things as removing brush, clean up, painting, and pulling exotic plants. With the free time, there would be some hiking and soaking in the natural hot springs. The tentative plan is to depart on Saturday (12/16/2000) and return on Sunday (12/17/2000); however, the dates are still subject to change. The Nature Conservancy has dormitories to stay in. For more information, to make arrangements, and to RSVP, it is important to contact Hanna: hanna@u.arizona.edu

2.) Mead is leading a trip into the Grand canyon, in which some spaces became available. Details are as follows:

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Ramblers,

Hello! I have a backpacking trip for the Grand Canyon planned for Dec 15 -
20 with several spots open. Here is the tentative itinerary which is
subject to a few changes at the beginning and end of the trip depending on
when people leave for and come back from the canyon.

Friday Dec. 15th drive to the Grand Canyon and stay at Mather's Point
campground on the South Rim.
Saturday 16th hike down South Kaibab trail to Bright Angel Campground and
stay there.
Sunday 17th do day hikes and then camp at Bright Angel again.
Monday 18th hike to Indian Gardens and camp there for that night.
Tuesday 19th hike out and either drive home, stay at Mather's Point
campground, or stay in Flagstaff. Everyone will probably be too tired to
drive back to Tucson on Tuesday, so we will come back on Wednesday 20th
instead.

The three nights in the Grand Canyon breaks down to $16/person. There will
also be some fees for each vehicle to enter the Grand Canyon ($20/vehicle)
and for Mather's Point Campground ($10/night w/ 2 cars and 6 people
permitted at each campsite) for Friday Dec. 15th and Tuesday Dec. 19th if
people want to camp on the rim.

Water is available, subject to pipe breaks, at Bright Angel and Indian
Garden campgrounds.

The Grand Canyon website state that the average temperature for December is
20-43 and 37-57 at the South Rim and Inner Canyon, respectively.

I am planning to drive up with one other person on our early on Friday so
we can take our time and maybe stop off in Sedona and/or Flagstaff on our
way there. So I was hoping that we can get a few more people to go at least
one of whom would be able to drive.

There are several spots open, so please let me know if you are interested.

Mead
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4.) Hanna, who is leading a trip to the Pinacate National Park in Mexico, announced that that trip would be postponed; however, she is still interested in doing a trip down there in the near future. For those people still expressing interest, and who are able to provide reliable transportation, contact Hanna: hanna@u.arizona.edu

5.) Paul Strominger is planning a hiking/backpacking trip for western Texas and New Mexico, during the Christmas/New Years break. Details are as follows:

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Hi guys,
I am planning to cruise on out to west Texas and possibly New Mexico to do
some hiking and/or backpacking the week of Dec 23-31. Probably definitely
will hit Big Bend and the Guadalupes. I am not that familiar with the area,
but I hear there is no water in Big Bend except springs that are near the
road; I think it is a similar situation in the Guadalupes. Therefore any
backpack would be a three day max.
I would be happy to meet anybody who would rather hike than open Christmas
presents.

Paul Strominger
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6.) Michael is planning a trip to the Joshua Tree National Park, during the Martin Luther King weekend, from January 12 - 15, 2001. The plan is to car camp and do various day hikes. For more information contact Michael Chamberland chamb@u.arizona.edu

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

Wolfgang