Minutes for Meeting of 01-09-2002

• The Ramblers meet every Wednesday at 5pm in the Forbes Building in room 307.
• All hikes,unless otherwise stated, will meet for departure in the parking lot behind the Park Student Union. After 8pm on Friday the lot is available all weekend for general use.

• Hanna went on a cross-country skiing trip in the Casper Mtn. area of Wyoming over the holiday season. It was a very popular area and subsequently the only wildlife spotted, with the exception of a few birds, was a high school ski team.
• Jenn spent a portion of her holiday break enjoying cross-country skiing in Norway. As all the wildlife in the area were destroyed in the 19th century the only animals present were the over-populous Homo sapiens.
• Erich chose to spend some of his holiday break swimming, sunning and of course hiking in the lush tropics of Costa Rica and Nicaragua. He also did some backpacking in Aravaipa.
• Joe enjoyed a nice hike up to Joesephine saddle over the break and "lobbed some snowballs" in the elusive southern Arizona snow. On the trip back down he and his companion spotted four deer and were able to come within 10ft of them for approximately 15 minutes.
• JJ and Josh did some scenic hiking in the Sedona area over their break. They hiked along the Boynton Canyon trail and found the old trail to some interesting Indian ruins. The also tackled the tough Wilson Mtn. trail and were rewarded for their efforts by the awesome panorama. They also spotted a deer at the top and what appeared to be bear tracks.
• Lenny did some hiking in Pima Canyon and found it quite interesting as he was forced to put his navigational skills to the test as night fell unexpectedly. The only wildlife of considerable interest was a small bear which upon closer scrutiny became a large dog (thankfully).
• Susan hiked part of the way to seven falls. It was an interesting hike for her because she approached the trail from Bear canyon instead of Sabino canyon and then took the long route from there.

• Joe, on Saturday, would like to hike in Pontatoc canyon. There are two possible trails, an abandoned mine trail and a trail overlooking Ventana canyon. The trail would be 5 miles roundtrip and is rated a C. He will be meeting hopeful hikers at PSU at 7am and returning around 2-3pm. It would be possible to meet at the trail head at 8am. E-mail Joe with questions jleisz@ag.arizona.edu. No RSVP necessary.
• Hanna, Feb 2-3, would like to do some hiking and car-camping in the Peppersauce area north of the Catalinas. She would like to drive up Sat. afternoon, car camp and then explore the area Sunday. There is a cave so 2-3 independent lighting sources would be pertinent along with other basic camping supplies. Contact Hanna if interested hanna@u.arizona.edu or 884-0131.
• Susan is planning to do a day hike in the Dragoon Mtns on the Cochise trail. The date is Sat. January 19th and departure time is 8am because of the two hour drive to the trail head. You would need money for gas, food and a possible parking fee. E-mail Susan with questions scalhoun@u.arizona.edu.
• JJ is planning a hike up Mt. Wrightson Saturday morning. He will be leaving around 8:30-9. If interested you would need to contact him for the meeting place and exact time jjvalenz@u.arizona.edu.
• Andrew-
  I am planning a cross country skiing trip to the Apache National Forest near Alpine, AZ for this weekend (Jan 11-13th). If there is not enough snow, well then it will become a winter hike trip.

  I am flexible with scheduling and could go the following weekend, but I want to go early in the semester before the going gets rough at school. Let me know if another weekend is better for you.

  I am thinking of camping, but if others really want to go and aren't willing to camp, we could split hotel accomodations.

  I plan to leave Friday in the afternoon and return Sunday evening, around 9 or 10 pm. Again this is flexible.

  You will need:
  Money for food and fuel
  Warm clothes, boots, etc.
  Tent and warm sleeping bag
  Food to cook (if you want)
  Water
  Ski equipment (if you are skiing)

  I will bring a stove and other basic camp stuff. If anyone wants to join me, let's meet and discuss details.

  cheers,
  Andrew McCarthy
  (520) 751-7500

• Hanna is planning a volunteer opportunity in which Ramblers would go to Muleshoe Ranch where they are working to restore overgrazed land and refine grazing techniques. It would encompass an entire weekend of which the first day would include various odd jobs such as fence removal, painting or weed pulling. The second day would be available for hiking in the area. The date would most likely be Feb.16-17. Contact Hanna if interested because she needs an approximate count when she calls the Ranch. Also, if you would be able to drive please inform Hanna. Her e-mail is hanna@u.arizona.edu and her telephone is 884-0131.
• I know that periodically members of the Ramblers Hiking Club, Nature Club, Horticulture Club and others take a stand on various campus happenings, and I wanted to inform and update you on something I feel very strongly about.

  In December I learned of plans advocated by a small group of alumni (with $) that wanted the garden removed (they have relented to transplanting things but have not offered to help with the cost of doing that) to make way for an Alumni Plaza -- fountains, a stage and brick-work in front of the admin building.

  The San Francisco based architects maintain that the garden is an eye-sore, when in fact it has been there since the 1920's and the boojum trees (the central plants in the garden) are older than the UA itself. In fact, those trees, if left in place, could live well past 2502 (500 more years!), but will most likely die if they are transplanted. The fact is that no boojums of that size have ever been successfully moved.

  There are some other issues involved with the garden as well, but suffice it to say that if these alumni get their way it will mean more disturbance to the UA Mall, the continued "californication" of our campus, and the destruction of a historic garden that is the last link to our desert environment in the heart of campus.

  On Friday (and I don't know the time) a consultant and the design team are going to be on campus to discuss the viability of moving the boojum and saguaros in the garden. They are also planning to present their design (from what I have heard with the garden removed) to the ASUA Senate on Wednesday, Jan 16th at 6pm. If you, or anyone you know, would like to help to save this historic garden, please get in touch with me as soon as possible. The alumni are trying to move fast to avoid any chance for public/student input about what should be in the heart of OUR campus, and if we are to have a chance of making our voices heard we need to move even faster. We need people to come out in support of the Krutch Cactus Garden in the papers, with letters to Pres Likins and the Alumni Association, and in person on the mall. If you can help, or help us reach others who can, please let me know.

  Though the time is short, now is the time to make your voice heard with e-mails to these people:
  Pres. Peter Likins: plikins@u.arizona.edu
  Alumni Assoc Pres. Sandy Ruhl: sruhl@al.arizona.edu
  Incoming Alumni Assoc Chair Tom Keating: tkeating@ag.arizona.edu
  Alumni Plaza Advocate Philip "Flip" May: pmay@mpjblaw.com

  Also, please join us on the mall Friday to demonstrate to the design team that our Sonoran desert is NOT an eyesore (bring signs -- when I learn what time they will be there I will forward the information), and please attend the ASUA meeting on Wednesday (6pm, Modern Languages, Rm 411) to make your voices heard and make sure that the Alumni Plaza does not destroy our UA Heritage.

  Thank you.

  Joe Leisz
  621-9783
  325-6936

Equipment is available for borrowing to members of the hiking club, which is done by contacting Ross and signing it out. The following is the current Ramblers Hiking Club Inventory:

• 2 Backpacking Stoves
• 1 Coleman Dual Burner Stove
• 3 First Aid Kits
• 1 Large Stuff Sack
• 1 Compression Stuff Sack (1 Broken Strap?) 1 Fuel Funnel
• 2 6-Gal. Water Jugs
• 1 5-Ft. Floppy Roll Mat
• 1 6-Ft. Firm Roll Mat
• 1 Air Mat
• 1 Camp Trails Exterior Frame Pack (Ripped Front Pouch) 1 Kelty Exterior Frame Pack
• 1 Jansport Exterior Frame Pack
• 1 Maroon Sleeping Bag (Broken Zipper)
• 3 Red Kelty Sleeping Bags (Rated 25 Degrees ñ More Like 60) 1 Grey Sleeping Bag
• 1 5-Man Tent
• 1 Coleman Gas Lantern
• 1 Volleyball Net
• 1 Volleyball
• 2 Metal Canteens
• 2 Sets of Camping Utensils
• 1 Large Silver Tarp
• 1 Knee Brace