Minutes for Meeting of 03-14-2001

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.

3.) For information about the club, hikes, and meeting places, check out our website: http://www.biocom.arizona.edu/ramblers

4.) Andy Flach's trail guide is now available on the Sierra Club website, which is: http://www.sierraclub.org/chapters/az/trail_guide/

PAST HIKES:

1.) Hanna and several others went skiing up at the Sunrise ski area near Flagstaff. Snow was also falling while skiing. After, they went camping Saturday night/Sunday morning north of Safford on BLM land.

2.) Robbie was doing volunteer work with the Sky Island Alliance in the Dragoon Mountains.

3.) Wolfgang went on a moonlight hike in Saguaro National Park East on Friday evening.

4.) Wolfgang was on a hike up Pima Canyon on Sunday, were there were also wildflowers and flowing water.

5.) Jennifer hiked up Wasson Peak in Saguaro National Park West (Tucson Mountains) on Wednesday.

FUTURE HIKES:

1.) Ross is planning a hike in the Sawtooth Mountains for Saturday (3/17/2001) @ 8:00AM. For more information and if interested in going, contact Ross: rosslampert@hotmail.com

2.) Joe is planning a hike up Picacho Peak on Sunday (3/18/2001) @ 8:00AM, where there will also be lots of wildflowers to be seen. Rated "B". There is a state park entrance fee of $5:00/vehicle. Contact Joe Leisz: jleisz@ag.arizona.edu

3.) Rob Klotz is leading a backpacking trip into the Eagletail Mountains. Details are as follows:

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I, Rob Klotz (Nature Club) will be leading a two day backpack into the
Eagletail Mountains (west of Phoenix) to track and photograph Desert
Bighorn Sheep. This trip will take place March 23-25 (the weekend after
Spring Break). Current plan:

Fri. - 6PM departure, Park Student Union. Car camp at Courthouse Rock. (3
hr. drive)
Sat. - Hike to Dead Deer Tank and Triple Eye Catchment. Camp on Eagle
Ridge. (approx. 6-7 miles)
Sun. - Hike to Indian Spring to view one of the largest concentrations of
prehistoric rock art in Arizona. Return to vehicles approx. 5 PM. Return to
campus around 8 PM.

Hazards: I'll rate this trip a "B-", however water (1 gallon per person per
day, for safety) must be carried. We can cache some water at a half-way
point near Indian Spring and pick it up on Sunday. Most hiking will be
cross country in sandy washes and along ridges with loose, crumbly rock and
the ever present Mr. Cholla. This ain't no walk in the park! Still, the
area is visually spectacular and the odds of seeing wildlife are good.

Questions & RSVP Rob at robklotz@hotmail.com
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4.) Steve Newcomb's trip to Paria Canyon in May is full, but send him your name to get on a waiting list if interested (see Jan 24th minutes for details). Trips planned this far in advance often have several cancellations. sanewcomb@yahoo.com

5.) Jennifer is making arrangements for a backpacking trip in July to Havasupai Canyon. Information is presented here:

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Hello Ramblers,

As was shared at tonight's meeting, I'm planning a backpacking trip to
Havasupai July 26-29 or 30th.  For those that aren't familiar with this
destination, this campground is on the Havasu Indian Reservation, West of
the Grand Canyon National Park.  It can be reached by hiking, mule, or
helicopter.  The trail head is about 2 and 1/2 hour drive northwest of
Flagstaff.  The hike is one mile down into canyon, 7 miles of pretty
level but sandy hiking through the canyon to the village (Havasupai), 1
and 1/2 miles further to the first falls (Navajo Falls), another 1/2 mile
to the campground and Havasu Falls, and an additional mile to Mooney
Falls.  So, I'm thinking...

-drive to Flagstaff  Thursday, July 26 late afternoon
-stay with friends of mine overnight (they have some extra beds and lots
of floor)
-drive to trail head and hike the 10 miles to the campground on Friday,
July 27
-camp 27th and 28th
-day hike to Mooney Falls and explore the creek that leads to the
Colorado River (6 miles?) for those that are interested (28th)
-hike out, drive to Flagstaff, wash up and crash, or if someone has the
energy, drive back to Tucson that night, Sunday, July 29
-OR spend the night in Flag, drive back Monday am, July 30

There is no water source at the trail head or along the trail until we
get to the village.  The last convenience store is about a mile (I'm
guessing) before the trail head.  At the campground there are two natural
springs and one of them had drinkable water the last time I was there.

High mineral deposits give the water in the pools and creeks an turquoise
color, adding to the spectacular falls.

The good news is, I have a reservation that is good until Wednesday,
March 28.  The bad news is, to secure the reservation, we need to put 50%
down by the 28th.  If you think you are interested, great!  If you really
want to go, please e-mail me (jenjenabc@juno.com) and I'll put you on the
list, then we can talk about how to get your payment to me by the 28th.

Payment:
There is a $20 entrance fee per person, a $10 camping fee per person, per
night, and $2 tax per person.  So, total cost (minus lodging - my friends
charge $5-$8 per night for bed and breakfast services, minus food and
gas) is $42.00, $21.00 of which is due by the 28th.

Happy hiking,
Jennifer Nofsinger
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OTHER EVENTS:

1.) RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL: Loretta is planning to go to the Renaissance Festival, which is up in Phoenix. Additional information is presented here:

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Hey all,

I have decided to make a one day excursion to Phoenix for the Renaissance
Festival. Saturday March 24, 2001 @ 8:00 AM, Park Student Union. Please
bring appropriate clothing, it could be quite warm, sunscreen, water,
snacks, money etc. Please RSVP to Loretta, 977-3442 or llp2877@yahoo.com
by Thursday March 22, 2001, so that I can get advance tickets ($13.95?),
and let me know if you can drive. I'll bring my car. There are places to
get beverages and food at the Festival, so if you want to bring food that
is fine or we can get things there. They also sell lots of cool stuff. It
will be about a 2 hour drive to get there. The Festival opens at 10AM and
closes at 6PM, but we'll only stay as long as people want to. Any questions?

Loretta
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2.) There is a small party at Ross's house on Sunday (3/18/2001), any time in the afternoon. Location is at 1724 N. Campbell Ave. Feel free to bring musical instruments. Contact Ross: rosslampert@hotmail.com

3.) There is a breast cancer walk on April 1. 2001, in central Tucson. For more information and to sign up go to: http://sazraceforthecure.org

ANNOUNCEMENT: CLUB POLICY DOCUMENT

For those, who have attended the past couple of meetings, rough drafts of the Ramblers Club Policy have been handed out. We are encouraging people to review what is presented so far and submit any comments to Hanna hanna@u.arizona.edu. An election will be held, during the meeting after the spring break (3/21/2001), which would involve an upgrade of this club policy.

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.

ANNOUNCEMENT: SLIDE CONTEST

There will be a slide contest some time toward the end of the spring semester. You may already start planning on which slides you want to submit to the contest. Dates and times will be announced at a future time.

If anyone wants to add information or post additional announcements for any hikes and club business, please feel free to use this listserve. Meanwhile, enjoy Arizona, the desert, the wildflowers, and the mountains! Keep Rambling!

Wolfgang