www.greatoutdoors.org/ps

The Oasis Volume 6, Issue 1 January 2005

The General Meeting is at Desert Pride Center, Palm Springs 760 327-2313. The meeting is the first Tuesday of the month, January 4, from 7:30-8:00 PM for social hour, and member’s meeting from 8:00-9:00 PM. The Core Group meets from 6:30-7:30 PM. The Center’s ad-dress is 611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Unit A. , Palms Springs , CA.

January Speaker Mike Bergan

Mike is Administrative Services Officer with “ The Desert Water Agency.” He will discuss water and wa-ter related conservation issues at our Tuesday, January 4, 2005 General Meeting.

Up Coming Speaker

On Tuesday, March 1, 2005, Ms. Wanda Raschkow who is an archeologist with the Bureau of Land Management, will speak at the General Meeting.

UP COMING EVENT On Saturday, February 12 , 2005 at 7:00 PM, Mr. Mark Legassie will present Winter Star Watch Program at Century Park in Cathedral City. Mark is the Corporate Chair for California Great Outdoors Chapters and is employed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. He has a Meade LX200 10” computerized telescope. With it, we’ll be able to see among other objects, the Rings of Saturn and a glowing gas nebula in Orion. More information in the February newsletter.

Pink Rocks Reveal Their Mystery By Patrick Hinrichsen

Hikers on Doug Quigley’s Snow Creek hike November 27 spotted hundreds of distant pink boulders. We questioned if the un-usual color was desert varnish, algae or perhaps a natural mineral color—but the rocks were too distant to explore that day. I re-turned to the sight and found the rocks were covered with a bright pink, plastic and sticky coating, undoubtedly a fire retardant emptied from a tanker during last July’s wildfires at Snow Creek.

ATTENTION

Most hikes meet at Tomboyz Café on Arenas Rd. unless otherwise specified. Bring plenty of water and a snack or lunch.

Non-Members We will add you to our newsletter mailing list free of charge for 3 months. Please note, however, that a two dollar fee will be charged on day hikes, 4x4 outings, and moonlight hikes effective Oct. 1, 2004.

Stone Fish Traps Archeological Site Tour, Saturday, January 8, 9:00 AM This guided hike will unlock the mystery of stone fish traps and petroglyphs found on a spectacular county-owned archeological site south of La Quinta. The group will go on several short, easy walks at a beautiful mountain shoreline of Ancient Lake Cahuilla where member Patrick Hinrichsen will interpret how the Cahuilla built and used the traps. Hikers will locate traps and petroglyphs and learn how they fit into Cahuilla history. We will also explore the hillside’s curious tufa formations, and visit other nearby historic sites.

Length: 3 miles Hiking Time: 3 hours Elevation Gain: 25 feet Difficulty: Easy, some rock scrambling Return at: 3:30 PM Hike Leader: Patrick Hinrichesn at: 760 325-4591

Coachella Valley Preserve Wednesday, January 12 at 9:00 AM This is another Coachella Valley Preserve hike that takes us to a grove at California Fan Palms on the San Andreas Fault and offers us expansive views of the western half of the Coachella Valley. While rated an easy hike, there is a climb up a short but steep cliff.

Length: 3 miles Hiking Time: 2 hours Elevation Gain: 300 Ft. Difficulty: Easy Return: 1:00 PM Hike Leader: Tim Carey, 760 416-3102

The Grottos Sunday, January 16, at 9:00 AM This hike through Little Box Canyon in the heart of the Mecca Hills Wilderness Area offers hikers and cavers alike a truly unique experience. The hike traverses the picturesque can-yon, ending in two different “grottos”—fissure caves formed by water and collapsing can-yon walls. Make sure to bring a flashlight or headlamp and be prepared for some minor bouldering inside the caves. NOTE: Bring Flashlight. .

Length: 6 miles: Hiking Time: 3-4 hours Elevation Gain: 300 Ft. Difficulty: Moderate Return at:: 3: 00 PM Hike Leader: Ehrick Wright, 760 328-9989

Ryan Mountain, Sunday, January 23 at 9:00 AM The summit of Ryan Mountain offers an outstanding view of Joshua Tree National Park and the surrounding area. The trail runs up a canyon and ends at the 5500 ft summit. The hike provides a “great bang for the buck.” Share park admission, ($10 per car and gas).

Length: 4 miles Hiking Time: 3 hours Elevation Gain: 700 Ft. Difficulty: Easy Return at: 2:30 PM Hike Leader: Doug Quigley, 760-202-4936.

Moonlight Hike, Saturday January 22 at 5:30 PM (See page 7 for complete details.)

Palm Canyon Trail, Saturday, January 29 at 9:00 AM This trail is located within the Indian Canyons. It takes you through the palm cov-ered “river” bottom of Palm Canons up into desert covered plateaus There are some terrific views of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains;

Length: 4 miles Hiking Time; 3 hours Elevation Gain: 500 Ft. Difficulty: Easy Return: 1:30 Hike Leader: Doug Quigley at 760 202-4936

YARD SALE

Come one! Come all! To our yard sale on January 22,2005, Saturday Only, 8:AM to 2:PM. Only at the home of Richard Lucik and Samuel Smith in Palm Springs. Get rid of those white elephant items and such. Address is: 2179 Andreas Rd. Palm Springs, CA. 760-778-1137. They live around the corner from the P.S. Mall off the Tahquitz side of Sunset. Please start looking around the house and saving items for January. Try and drop them off by calling Richard and Sam a couple of weeks before the yard sale in January. Any big items to donate? Call Craig Courtright, 760-318-8957 or one of the CORE group members for assistance. Speaking of assistance, as you know volunteers are needed for the yard sale setup and clean-up. Your time would really be appreciated. Telephone Doug Quigley at 760 202-4936.

Jumbo Rocks Geology Hike at Joshua Tree National Park By Bill Cooksley

Fourteen eager hikers made their way to Joshua Tree National Park on Saturday, December 4, 2004, to be led on a geo-logical hike around the park by Patrick Hinrichsen of our club. Patrick’s knowledge of geology and his ability to describe the history of the rocks at the Park are certainly an asset to the hiking experience. Not only are members and guests able to get some physical exercise, they also have the opportunity to develop brain power and knowledge. Patrick explained that the granite rocks we found on the hike were formed underground from 100 million to 250 million years ago. Those present rocks were at one time in a liquid state. As the earth changed and the liquid substance was exposed, the liquid became hard and crystallized. The Jumbo Rocks remain today because there was no earth movement at the particular spot where the Jumbo Rocks are located and just by chance there were no earthquakes in that particular area. Patrick stated that more Jumbo Rocks will result from the changing earth in the distant future. The colors of the rocks are determined by the age and substance contained therein. The gray rocks—–most prevalent to the human eye in the Park—–are made up of granite. Older rocks , known as gneiss are black and have a different chemical, geological makeup than the gray granite rocks. Some gneiss rocks are over 250 million to even 2 billion years old. Patrick was able to inform and demonstrate these differences along the hiking trails. Patrick is a science journalist with a great interest in geology. He continues to take university extension courses in geol-ogy from many different educational institutions. He became interested in California geology after moving from Minnesota a number of years ago. Besides the obvious rock formation expertise, Patrick is also knowledgeable of earthquake activity and the influence of the San Andreas fault on our environment, the powerful forces which pushed up mountains, thus creating valleys, such as our own Coachella Valley. Stay tuned for Pat’s next hike January 8, 2005 at Stone Fish Traps Archeology Site south of La Quinta. We will explore county -owned land next to the Martinez-Torres Reservation, a very historical archeological area that offers a great deal of natural history of which many of us are unaware. Great Outdoors members are indeed fortunate to have such knowledgeable hike leaders as Patrick Hinrichsen. .

G reat Outdoors ‘Four Wheeling” themed Winter Jamboree will be held in Southern California’s Anza Bor-rego Desert State Park, at the Borrego Palm Canyon Campground, on MLK weekend from Friday, Jan 14th to Monday, Jan. 17th. Join tenters, RVers, and 4-wheelers for this special All-Chapter event.

So what’s a Jamboree...exactly? A weekend of camping with other Great Outdoors members and their guests , sponsored by all four chapters of our club. Jamborees, like all Great Outdoors activities, are open to non-members as well. On Saturday and Sunday there are trips led by volunteers, special events, as well as entertain-ment and campfire activities. In addition to raffles, games and stargazing with a computerized telescope, Sat and Sun afternoon teas will held for those wishing to relax and socialize. A special BBQ dinner and potluck round off this great trip. And what about ‘Four Wheeling’? Our theme this year is off-road 4x4 activities and lots of interest-ing sites at Anza require traveling over sandy, unpaved roads (Fonts Point look-out), The Slot [canyon], Native American Village Site, etc). We encourage you to bring your Jeep or 4x4 vehicles for the entire weekend or just for the day. Interesting 4x4 events are planned to complement our normal day hikes and campground activities. Even if you don’t own a 4x4, there may be a space in other 4x4 vehicles if you pitch in fuel (no guarantees, however). If you don’t want to camp or RV, why not stay close by in a hotel? Great Outdoors has obtained a XX% discount at Palm Canyon Resort in Borrego Springs, an affordable AAA 3 diamond hotel (with swimming pool & Jacuzzi) located at the entrance to Anza Borrego State Park at 221 Palm Canyon Dr. For reservations, call 760.767.5341 (mention Great Outdoors Jamboree). Anza Borrego Desert State Park lies in the Colorado Desert and enjoys some of the mildest winter temperatures in California. Avg high in Jan is 70, avg low is 45. The park is riddled with interesting hiking and off-road trails, including a trail from the campground to the beautiful Palm Canyon Oasis. Our 3 Borrego Palm Canyon group sites can accommodate 60 tenters. Running water, flush toilets, picnic tables and campfire rings are among the amenities. RV sites can be reserved close to the group sites by calling CA State Parks at 800.444.7275. Pre-registration is required: the registration form is included below, or sign up on-line at www.greatoutdoors.org. The cost is $35 members if postmarked by Dec 31st, $45 all others. Includes campground/outing fee for day-users, RV, and hotel ($5 extra for BBQ dinner on Sat evening). Directions are provided upon registration. Carpooling is recommended to help reduce gas cost and parking. Finally, we desperately need volunteers—–sign up to help on the registration form if you can. What to Bring: Ten essentials (listed on GO website at : www.greatoutdoorsla.org/essen.html, camping/cooking gear, 1 bundle firewood per person, food, warm/cool weather clothing and swimming suits if you plan to do water activities or sun-bathe. In addition, please bring an entrée, salad, appetizer or dessert to feed 4-6 for the Sun evening potluck.

Sponsored by California Great Outdoors, Inc. Board of Directors

For daily schedule of events go to: www.greatoutdoors.org/ (See Trip Notes & Registration)

California Great Outdoors Inc presents

‘Four Wheeling’ Anza BorregoWinter Jamboree 2005

Jan 14-17, 2005

Contact: Mark Legassie at mark@legassie.com or 323.822.3046

CLOCKWISE 1. Holiday Party 2. Jumbo Rocks 3. Holiday Party 4. Indian Cyn. 5. Snow Creek 6. Indian Cyn. 7. Indian Cyn. 8. Snow Creek 9. Santa

The Oasis

Craig Courtright and Dar Bjork are putting together a Great Outdoors archive project in a MS Power-Point slide show format that can be taken to other chapter and events to promote and be enjoyed at camp-ing trips and Jamboree’s. If anyone has a usable laptop or notebook computer to donate with a MS Win-dows operation environment please contact: Craig Courtright at 760-318-8957. Thank you.

California Great Outdoors Inc. would like to know if there are any lawyers who wouldn’t mind taking a look at our Waiver and Liability and Medical Release and Assignment, as stated in our By-laws. It would be pro bono work which consists of only one page that would need to be reviewed and comments or opinions to be passed along to the Corporate Board. In-terested parties, please contact Craig Courtright at 760-318-8957. Thank you.

The core group is pleased to an-nounce that anyone who attends the Outdoors Experience Phase 1, March 26-27, 2005 and receive Day Hike Leader Certification, can be reimbursed. All you have to do is lead 3 day hikes after March 27 for our chapter or put together a camp-ing trip for our chapter. The fee this year is $40.00 for the weekend. If you are interested, contact Doug Quigley, Vice-President of Outings at 760-202-4936.

OUTDOORS EXPERIENCE: PHASE I

SKIING

Gene Levy, member, would

like to hear from anyone interested in midweek day ski trips at the Big Bear resorts. He can be reached at 760-320-3761. He goes to Big Bear about once a week.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Dear Editor: After going on the Jumbo Rocks Walkabout, led by Pat Hinrich-sen, I simply can not get out of my mind what a wonderful club we have in the Great Outdoors/Palm Springs! Pat did a superlative job in guiding us through the ages of the earth as witnessed by his pres-entation at Joshua Tree Park. Our club is so fortunate to have lead-ers like Pat and Bill Bulger., our desert flower trip guide. Also, the lectures that Doug Quigley has been arranging for our club membership meetings every other month have been wonderful, informative, even quite exciting and well-attended. We learned from the last speaker, Jim Cornett, that with special permission and arrangements, one can hike into the sand dunes of the Coachella Valley Preserve. Wouldn’t you know that Doug took the lead and has already arranged a future hike into the sand dunes with the Pre-serve’s specialist! The 4X4 Jeep Trips organized by Ed Emond and his partner, Gardner Pond, have added a whole new dimension to our club. Those who have been fortunate enough to reserve a seat, have got-ten to parts of our regional national parks usually only accessible to researchers in off- road vehicles. Besides all the regular hikes and campouts, we will be having a star-gazing hike/watch on February 12, 2005! Mark Legassie, the Chair of the Core Board of Great Outdoors who is employed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA, will be the leader of this extraordinary event! He will bring a Meade LX200 10” computer-ized scope to see Saturn’s tilted rings, or a glowing gas nebula in Orion. Now, tell me what club has brought anyone all this? So, as my mind keeps marveling over all this, I just want to thank everyone in this great club who are making these events happen. Tim Carey, one of the many hike leaders of the Great Outdoors/ Palm Springs.

NOTICE: Any one taking photos for submission to the newsletter or web-site, please be sure to ask permission of those persons, prior to taking them.

B OWLING: Mon. Jan, 31,from 2:00-4:00 pm.

Event location: Palm Springs Lanes.

Ramon-Landau Streets, Cathedral City. Notes: $8.00 per person, senior (55+) Discount of $2.50 per game.

Contact Doug Quigley at 760 202-4936

* On Monday, Nov. 29, 2004, Roger Gray bowled a phenomenal 234, with 8 strikes (5 of them consecutive).

KUDOS TO ROGER!!!

Web Site Administrator Ed Emond

760 202-7413 ED@dc.rr.com

Monday, January 10th, 2005 at Ed Emond and Gardner Pond’s home at 30480 Keith Ave in Cathedral City. 6:00 PM (Social) 7:00 PM. (Games). Bring ta-ble games. Bring snacks and drinks to share. From Palm Springs East on Ramon to Landau. Left on Landau 1/2 mile to Vega. Left on Vega 2 blocks to Keith Ave. Tel: 760-202-7413

Palm Springs Core Group http://greatoutdoors.org/ps

President Bruce Maughan 760 327-1789

Brmaughan@dc.rr.com V.P. Outings Doug Quigley 760 202-4936

GrtOutdrsDoug@aol.com Treasurer

Craig Courtright 760 318-8957

Gpsgocraig@aol.com Secretary

Chris Waasdorp 760 416-4281

Thinkd6zis@aol.com Newsletter Designer/Publisher Richard Cabitto 760 770-6040 Palmspringsguy3@dc.rr.com

Board Representative Dar Bjork

760 328-6916 FAX 760 328-5590

Membership Coordinator 760 202-0457

billlbulger@aol.com Game Night Coordinator

Rick Opler 760 325-8666

Ropler@msn.com

GAME NIGHT JANUARY 2005

Saturday, January 22, 5:30 PM Hike the south end of the South Lykken trail to the picnic benches. This will be easy and slow because of the twilight. There is a mysterious road off to the southwest mountains overlooking Andreas Canyon, noticeable because of the mov-ing vehicular headlights in the distance. We will meet at Tom-boyz Café on Arenas Rd. Length: 2 miles Hiking Time: 2 hours Elevation Gain: 400 feet Return: 8:00 PM Hike Leader: Tim Carey at 760-416-3102 NOTE: BRING A FLASHLIGHT

Palm Springs Chapter Events January, 2005 4 General Meeting 8:00 PM 8 Stone Fish Traps 9:00 AM 10 Game Night 6:00 PM 12 Coachella Valley Preserve 9:00 AM 14 All Chapter Jamboree 16 The Grottos 9:00 AM 22 Moonlight Hike 5:30 PM 23 Ryan Mountain 9:00 AM 29 Palm Canyon Trail 9:00 AM 31 Bowling 2:00 PM

Great Outdoors Palm Springs PO BOX 361 Palm Springs, CA 92263 January, 2005 Address Correction Requested

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