Minutes for Meeting of 01-24-2001

Hello Ramblers!

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

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

2.) Future hiking club meetings, for the spring semester, will continue to be held in the Forbes building, Room 307.

PAST HIKES:

1.) Wolfgang did a trip to the Mule Shoe Ranch, which is owned by the Nature Conservancy and is located at the southern part of the Galiuro Mountains. He did volunteer work, a day hike which had scenic views, and enjoyed the hot springs. He saw mule deer, turkey vultures, a hawk, cardinals, and robins.

2.) Steve Nicolosi went on a hike up the Finger Rock Trail in the Santa Catalina Mountains on Sunday.

3.) Robbie and Liz went to the Wilcox Playa to observe the birds, such as the Sand hill cranes.

4.) Nicole was at the Bosque del Apache in New Mexico, observing the wildlife, particularly the birds.

5.) Joe Leisz went on a ski trip to Hanagan Meadows this past weekend.

FUTURE HIKES:

1.) Liz is planning a trip to the Superstition Mountains/Apache Trail, with information, as follows: *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

Hey Ramblers,

I am planning a weekend trip to the Superstition Mountains near Phoenix for the weekend of January 27th/28th. The plan is to leave early Saturday morning, do a series of day hikes (rated B at the most) and car camp that night, maybe at Lost Dutchman State Park. The next day, we'll drive back via the Apache Trail (AZ 88, I believe), stopping to sightsee and do short hikes along the way. I expect to return to Tucson no later than 8 PM. *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

The plans, mentioned above, may change somewhat, depending upon the rain predicted for this weekend; therefore, it is important to RSVP. Contact Liz at crapoe@u.arizona.edu and enc40@hotmail.com

2.) Liz is leading a hike on the Elephant Trail in the Santa Ritas on Friday (1/26/2001). Please RSVP, by contacting Liz at crapoe@u.arizona.edu and enc40@hotmail.com

3.) Steve Newcomb is leading a hike on the Dave Yetman Trail in the Tucson Mountains on Saturday (1/27/2001) @ 10:00AM. If interested, contact Steve: sanewcomb@yahoo.com

4.) Matt is leading a hike in the Santa Catalina Mountains: *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

Greetings All,

I would like to go for a day walk on this Sunday (28 Jan) up to Window Rock. This is another hike that goes up the front of the Catalinas. Note, by 'up' I mean 'up!' The trail climbs 4000+ ft in 4mi. At the top there will be views of over Tucson to the south and up to Oracle in the north. I will take the Ventana Canyon trail, meeting at the trailhead at 06:45. This will not be an ironman trip, but nor will it be a Sunday stroll. I would like to get up and back in around 6-8 hours. You can contact me if you are interested, want more information or need directions, or you can just rock up Sunday morning.

Cheers,

Matt. *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

If interested, contact Matt Chamberlain: mc@lpl.arizona.edu

5.) Robbie is leading a hike to Ragged Top Mountain in Iron Wood National Monument on Saturday, February 3, 2001. If interested, contact Robbie Hannawacker hannawacker@hotmail.com

6.) Liz is leading a trip to the Grand Canyon for March 14-17, 2001, which is during the spring break. Details are presented here: *** *** *** *** *** *** ***

Hey Ramblers,

I am planning to do a trip to Northern Arizona over Spring Break. I am tentatively planning to leave Tucson on Monday March 12 and do at least a 1 night/2 day backpack (maybe longer) in the Painted Desert in Petrified Forest National Park. This area contains lots of multi-colored Chinle formations, and is really spectacular.

After that, I'll be heading to the Grand Canyon. I have a permit for a three-day, two-night trip in the Canyon. There are TWO spaces left on the permit (however, the Petrified Forest trip is wide open, we don't have to get the permit till we get there). Cost is $12.50 per person, plus gas. We'll need to meet in Flagstaff or the Canyon on the evening of Wednesday the 14th so we can begin hiking early on Thursday (15th) morning. We'll go down the South Kaibab Trail, and spend the night at the Bright Angel Campground in the bottom of the Canyon. The second day (16th) we'll hike halfway up Bright Angel Trail to Indian Garden Campground. The third day we'll hike out of the Canyon, and return to Tucson that night or the next morning.

If you can't make the whole trip, you are welcome to come on any part of it, as long as you can find transportation. Rachel has told me she will be driving up on Wednesday the 14th and can take passengers for the second half of the trip. Send me an e-mail if you are interested.

Liz

*** *** *** *** *** *** ***

If interested, contact Liz at crapoe@u.arizona.edu and enc40@hotmail.com

7.) Stephen Newcomb is planning a trip to Paria Canyon in May. Updated information is as follows:

*** *** *** *** *** *** ***
Ramblers,

The permit has been purchased for an entry date of Thursday, May 17th, for
10 people. This is the max allowed per permit; the 20 mentioned in the
minutes was the number of available spots on the reservation calendar when
I was asking for dates in December.

The number of people who responded to the date request and expressing
interest already exceeds the number of available spots. I have your names
and you don't need to email me again. I'll email you shortly reconfirming
your interest. Although this isn't the most egalitarian method for the
whole club, we will draw these names from a hat after next Wednesday
meeting to form a list. Due to past problems collecting fees and since the
permit is already paid for, those who win will have two weeks to pay me for
the permit (preferably at the meeting if you can come). After that, the
spot will be offered to the next person on the list. If you buy a spot, but
cannot go, the position will be offered to other club members first (from
the list) and they will pay you back. If no one can be found to take the
position, there are no refunds. The cost of each spot is $21 ($5 per day, 4
days + $1 overall permit fee). This is not the cost of the trip, which
includes gas, food, etc...

I will add the names of the people who have recently responded to the end
of the first list of names in a first come basis and encourage anyone who
has interest to email me. History has shown that trips planned this far in
advance have a lot of turnover.

This isn't how I planned setting up this trip, which was to announce the
trip shortly after receiving the permit. Here are the details: Paria Canyon
Backpack: May 16-20, 2001:

Paria Canyon and its side canyon, Buckskin Gulch, is a one-of-a-kind
backpacking experience in a truly remarkable slot canyon near the border of
Utah and Arizona. It involves walking in between high rock walls for miles,
sometimes separated by only a few feet, and the beauty is derived from the
way the light interacts with the shapes and curves of the walls. At times
it is like walking through a cave. At least this is how I understand it.
Challenges include climbing up, down, or around boulders, wading through
pools up to waist deep (although the pools shouldn't be as deep in May),
dealing with "quick-mud" areas (sort of like quicksand, but mostly mud and
not as dangerous) and finding water in the dry months.

I will be leading a 10 party joint effort with our friends in Flagstaff
(I've given Andy 3 spots to offer hikers at NAU) starting from the White
House Trailhead near the top of Paria Canyon, continuing into Buckskin
Gulch and exiting through Wire Pass Trailhead. It's approximately 21 miles
over 4 days with little elevation change. You can see a map of the route
here (but in the opposite direction from the arrow):
http://www.biocom.arizona.edu/~ramblers/hikes/buckskin.htm
The scale of the map doesn't show much; a more detailed view is here:
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=12&n=4096893&e=421472&s=25&size=l
The official BLM Paria site has pictures, info about what to expect and bring:
http://paria.az.blm.gov
People from Tucson will leave from the PSU at 6 PM, Wed. May 16 to drive to
Flagstaff and stay at Andy's awesome "cabin" in the woods. We enter the
canyon the next day, exit on Sunday, May 20, and return to Tucson that
evening, probably late.

Cheers,
Steve
*** *** *** *** *** *** ***

ANNOUNCEMENT CONCERNING RAMBLERS T-SHIRTS

Ramblers T-shirts are still available! The shirts look great! They are made with Hanes preshrunk cotton. They are natural (a light tan) with dark brown print. The design on the back is an accurate drawing of a hiker's boots with cholla cactus segments stuck to it. On the front upper left, it has printed: RAMBLERS HIKING CLUB, with a list of seven important uses for the shirt in case of an emergency. There are 3 sizes available: 6 mediums, 12 Large, and 6 Extra Large. They are only $7 a shirt. Place your order to reserve you shirt by making payment to our Treasurer Eric: shiers@ag.arizona.edu. Phone: 791-0232. NOTE: Old T-shirts are also available at a discounted price of $5.00 OBO.

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

Wolfgang