Minutes for Meeting of 01-03-2001
There were about 9 members present.
For information about the club, hikes, meeting places check out our website:
http://www.biocom.arizona.edu/ramblers
FUTURE HIKES:
1). Steve Newcomb will lead a hike to Romero Pools on Sunday, Jan. 07,
leaving the Park Student Union parking lot at 9:30 am. Bring lunch, snacks,
something to swim in if you like cold water, 2 liters of water and, as
always, sun protection. We will return before 5 pm.
2). Michael Chamberland will lead a hike to the Joshua Tree National Park,
during the Martin Luther King weekend, from January 12 - 15, 2001. Please
check past minutes for details here:
http://www.biocom.arizona.edu/ramblers/Minutes/2000.html
3). Robby has announced hikes for the spring (first one in Feb). Check
minutes also.
PAST HIKES
1.) Robby hiked Desert Peak, a 600 ft hill NW of Tucson. He then rode his
bike to the Waterman Mts. to deposit his pack with lots of water for hiking
in the area. Also spent time in the Mohawk area among the sand dunes and
plains, which is east of Yuma.
2.) Torsten hiked in the Daniel Boone National Forest on his vacation in
Kentucky. The plan was to do a cross-country (bushwack) hike to Redbird
Arch, but due to difficult navigation went to Castle Arch instead. Saw lots
of icicles.
3.) Ross camped for two nights in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Hiked
in Arch Canyon which was a nice hike, but had no water. Camped in one of the
designated spots outside the ranger station campground. Hiked Mount Ajo the
next day, which is not advertised much by the rangers, but is a good hike.
Camped at Alamo Canyon Primitive Campground and hiked the canyon the next
day. Went as far in the wash as he could, then bushwacked to ridge. Saw an
old cabin and depressions in rocks where native americans ground flour.
4.) Joe hike Gold Mtn. on the Pacific Coast Trail near Big Bear, CA, for
about 8 miles. Spent New Years in New Mexico hiking up Clear Creek Trail
near Taos. Saw a frozen waterfall. Also hiked in the Parker Wilderness area,
saw several collapsed prospector's cabins and 5 elk cows.
5.) Steve and Andy went in search of hot springs in the Safford area. Turns
out there are many hot artesian wells, drilled in search of oil in the early
1900's, some of which have been developed to various stages for soaking in.
First stop was Gillard Hot Springs, the hottest in AZ at 180F, located next
to the Gila River about 7 miles SW of Clifton. It takes an off-road vehicle,
good driving and navigational skills to drive the full extent of the road,
leaving a half mile hike through a canyon to reach the river. There are many
springs that lie right on the edge of the Gila. There are no permament
(concrete) pools here, so you have to construct your own, which is no easy
task. Andy and Steve worked on the remains of a previous rock pool, and
Steve sat in it for awhile, but soaking was impossible because streams of
either very hot or cold water would come and go. The setting is very nice
here, but unless a good pool has been left by someone else, it probably
would work best if a group of 4 to 6 people brought sandbag making material
to construct one. Second stop was the Watson Wash Hot Well, a beautifully
constructed stone tub with a strong flow of 102F water on BLM land just
north of Thatcher. It's located about 500 yards into Watson Wash, on the
north side. The BLM announced a "management" plan in Aug 2000 calling for
capping the well due to late night partying, so although it is operational
now, it's future is in doubt. Steve also spent 3 days in the Blue Range
Primitive Area visiting Hannah Hot Springs with his family. The heavy
October rains scoured the area, reducing the size of the cold pools in the
spring's canyon (the first one was reduced from waist deep to knee) and
exposing a long section of white rock with cool channels before the canyon.
6.) Hannah looked for Muggins Mt. Wilderness (Klothos Temple), but couldn't
find it due to changed roads. Went to area north of Wellton next to the Gila
River, which is mostly dry here. Lots of bee hives (white boxes used by bee
farmers). Saw lots of red leaved ocotillo. Also camped in Castle Domes for a
couple of days.
7.) Annette hiked the Douglas Springs Trail, saw lots of water, red
ocotillos. Also went to Picacho Peak. Hike the north face and went down
Sunset trail last Sunday.
8). Wolfgang sent this report:
*** *** *** *** ***
I left Tucson, going to California, stopping at several Vista points along
the Salton Sea, where quite a few birds could be seen. Then, I proceeded
into the San Jacinto Mountains, where I did a short hike along the Pacific
Crest Trail, and camped over night. There were several blue jays, where I
camped. The next day, I continued north on the 395, seeing excellent views
of the Sierras, White Mountains, Owens Valley, Mono Lake, and Topaz Lake. I
visited another Rambler, Dave, in Reno, Nevada. Dave and I did a hike in
the Lake Range Mountains, next to Pyramid Lake. We hiked up Wildcat Peak,
saw wild horses, chukers (belong to the partridge family), jack rabbit, and
other wildlife. We did a 2nd hike that day on the bottom of the Winnemucca
Lake basin, which was dry. There were lots of interesting Tufa and other
geologic formations. The next day, Dave and I did another hike in the
Pah-Rah Mountains, south of Pyramid Lake. We hiked to a spring, which was
geothermally warmed, which, otherwise, would be frozen, since it was so
cold. We also stopped at the Pyramid Lake visitor's center, where we saw
some gulls at the lake. Leaving Pyramid Lake and Reno, I drove to Lake
Tahoe, where I visited another Rambler (Steve), who lives there. Steve and
I did a very interesting snowshoe hike, starting at Carson Pass and the
Pacific Crest Trail, in the Eldorado National Forest. We snowshoed to
another Winnemucca Lake and climbed up the north face of Round Top, which
is a 10,380ft. peak. We saw bear tracks in the snow, which, we believe,
were, most likely, from a mother with cub. I went on a drive around Lake
Tahoe, stopping at various state parks, where there are interesting places
to hike and with excellent scenery. [Lake Tahoe is named after the Washoe
Indian word, "da-ow", meaning Lake in the Sky.] Emerald Bay was my favorite
part of the lake. Leaving Lake Tahoe, I went south to Mono Lake, to see
some of the Tufa formations and hike at the Russel volcanoes nearby, and
Death Valley, where I spent the night, before returning to Tucson.
*** *** *** *** ***
Ramble On,
Steve filling in for Wolfgang
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