Dec - Great Outdoors

The
Volume 8 Issue 12
Oasis
December, 2007
Palm Springs, California
Our Traditional Holiday Potluck Party
Reminder:
will be held on
December 4
General Meeting
Sunday, December 9 from 6 to 9 pm
Kurt Leuschner
This year’s holiday party is a potluck affair. Members
and guests are requested to bring their favorite main
entrees, side dishes, salads or desserts. Great Outdoors will provide plates, napkins, cups, cutlery, water, soft drinks and ice. People may bring their own beverages if they
wish. This is a free event for Great Outdoors Palm Springs members.
Guests are invited, but need to make a $3.00 dollar donation. We will
have a white elephant (please limit items to under $10.00). Those who
bring a wrapped gift will then be allowed to receive a gift from Santa.
Professor of Natural Resources at the
College of the Desert
Birds Encountered On
Our Trails
Time: 6:00 to 9:00 pm
Place: Palm Springs View Estates
Date: Sunday, December 9
Password for the December online issue is:
Directions: From Palm Springs. go east on Hwy.111. Turn left on Golf
Club Drive. Go 2 blocks and make a right on Bolero to the guard
house. Continue until you reach club house on right.
(santa) go to: www.greatoutdoors.org/ps
“Members Only” type in: santa
Great Outdoors Palm Springs
November 16, 2007
Organizational Objectives and Code of Conduct
Great Outdoors is an organization dedicated to supporting and empowering the gay community through various social
activities with an emphasis on the advancement of knowledge of our outdoor environment and the enhancement and enjoyment of camping, hiking and wilderness training. Great Outdoors recognizes the rights of others to enjoy and participate in outdoor activities without being subjected to disturbing, distracting or offensive actions by any member which
would result in an adverse opinion toward Great Outdoors, discrediting the organization in the eyes of the general public
or any public agency. The Palm Springs Core Group endorses the Code of Conduct as stated in appendix A of the Bylaws
and clarifies the following regarding official sponsored events:

We do not endorse or sponsor any nude or clothing optional events.

The use or possession of any illegal drug is prohibited.

The consumption of alcohol is not permitted during hikes and 4x4 outings. In addition , the trip leader may
prohibit the consumption of alcohol at any other outing or event. The excessive or illegal use of alcohol is never
permitted.
The Hike or Trip Leader and any Core Group members present will be expected to take a proactive position and ensure
compliance. When other options fail, a Hike or Trip Leader may dismiss a participant from an outing or event if the person
engages in illegal conduct, endangers the safety of others, or refuses to comply with the Code of Conduct.
"The GO-PS core group wishes to clarify that our change in policy on clothing-optional venues is not intended to reflect negatively
on Ron Gilbert who recently led a completely successful trip to the hot springs in Saline Valley. Several members of the core group
advised and actively participated in that camping trip. We encourage Ron and all GO-PS members to organize and lead more outings in the future."
The General Meeting is at Desert Pride Center, Palm Springs 760- 327-2313. The meeting day is the first Tuesday of the month, December 4, from 7:45-9:00 pm.
The Core Group meets from 6:30-7:30 PM. (business meeting) The Center’s address is 611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Unit A., Palms Springs, CA .
Hey you…..
Most hikes meet in front of HUNTER’S on Arenas Road,
Palm Springs, unless otherwise specified. Bring plenty of
water and a snack or lunch.
Go Take A Hike!
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.
Amboy Crater
Saturday, December 8
@ 9:00 am
Cactus to 4000 foot marker
4,000-Foot Elevation on the Cactus to Clouds Trail,
Saturday, December 15, 8:00 AM
We will hike the lower half of the Cactus
to Clouds trail. The trail leaves from the
Palm Springs Art Museum parking lot
(just north of the building), and we will
meet there. (Some think it is better to
use street parking rather than the museum’s parking lot.) After heading
straight up the mountain to some picnic
tables, the trail continues up but slightly
north to overlook Tachevah Canyon and
then slightly south to overlook Tahquitz Canyon. Our destination is
called the 4,000-foot level (it is sometimes marked that way at the
side of the trail), although the elevation is more like 4,360 feet. We
will have lunch there with a view of Tahquitz Canyon. Return is by
the same route.
This will be a guided tour to
the rim and into the belly of
a volcanic explosion. Amboy is know for its perfect
cone shape, great views
Length:
13 miles
and as the home of dorHiking time:
6.5 hours
mant desert fairy shrimp.
Elevation gain: 3,900 feet
We will follow an easy onemile trail to the crater's
Difficulty:
Strenuous
base. Then the trail climbs
Return at:
3:00 pm
80 feet of steep, slippery
Hike leader:
Bruce Maughan @ 760.327.1789
lava and cinders to reach
the rim. (We will walk
Note: We will meet at the Palm Springs Art Museum parking lot at
slowly. Everyone can do
8:00 am to begin the hike
this.) After circling the onemile rim, we will descend into
the crater for lunch and our search
Length: 4 miles
for other desert fairies. The day will include a
taste of the Bristal Dry Lake salt works bordering
Hiking time: 3 hours
the crater. If time permits, we will make a brief
photo stop at the Route 66 abandoned town of Am- Elevation gain: 350 feet
boy.
Difficulty: Easy. But with short steep steps.
Note: Driving time will be 90 minutes each way.
Bring water, lunch. No services in Amboy.
Return at: 4:00 pm
Hike leader: Patrick Hinrichsen @
760.660.0719
Moonlight
Game
Hike
Night
Palm Springs
Core Group
http://greatoutdoors.org/ps
December 12 @ 6:00 pm
Christmas Eve
Monday, December 24th
South Lykken Trail
Meet at Hunters at 7:00 pm
We’ll drive to the trailhead, parking
just off S. Palm Canyon Drive. There
is a small on/off street parking area
that we’ll be using; carpooling is
highly recommended.
Bruce Maughan
755 North Arquilla
760.327.1789
Palm Springs
[email protected]
760.327.8509
Vice President of Outings
Directions:
Peter Worline
760.668.2400
[email protected]
Treasurer
Game Night Coordinator
Sunrise to Alejo, West to Arquilla, North to 755.
Cross street is Via Altamira.
Bill McPike
760.778.7851
[email protected]
Secretary
Scott Connelly
Feel free to don your gay apparel for
this event!
760.324.5001
December
Bring water, flashlight.
[email protected]
Events
Bob Burkholder @ 760.464.7018
4
Miniature
Bill and Rick
Please bring your own beverage, a potluck dish to share
and perhaps a game you’d like
to play.
We’ll hike up the mountainside,
roughly 1 mile to the picnic tables at
the top. From there, we’ll have scenic views of South Palm Canyon and
across the valley. We should be able
to see several holiday light displays.
President
General Meeting
Board Representative
Cliff
7:45 pm
Kurt Leuschner
760.365.3677
[email protected]
Newsletter Publisher/Editor
8
Amboy Crater
9:00 am
9
Holiday Pot
Luck
6:00 pm
12
Game Night
6:00 pm
Boomer’s
15
Cactus to 4000
8:00 am
67-700 East Palm Canyon
24
Moon Light Hike
7:00 pm
30
4x4
8:00 am
31
Miniature Golf
3:00 pm
Golf
Patrick McNeil
760.770.6040
Monday, December 31
Copy Editor
@ 3:00 pm
760.202.4936
Richard Cabitto
760.770.6040
Cathedral City
Keith Norris
[email protected]
[email protected]
Web Site Administrator
Ed Emond
760.202.7413
[email protected]
Welcome New Members
Anthony Adams - Keith Burke - Larry Fine - David Hopkins - Anna Garcia - Carl Keith - Scott Kenson
Robert Lewis - Daniel Marrs - Jim McCullough - Bob Miller - Gary Morgan - Arthur Obester - Jason Oliver
Chris O’Hanlon - David Sagar - Tony Sammo - Alan Schmidt - Frank Tinney - H.L. Todd - Thomas Veit
Great Outdoors
Palm Springs 4x4
http://groups.yahoo.com/gops4x4
Got dirt
Next 4x4 Trip is
Sunday, December 30 @ 8:00 am
Gold Park Road, 29 Palms
Meet at 8:00 am
Ed Edmond @ 760-202-7413
[email protected]
More information will be posted @
http://groups.yahoo.com/gops4x4
Editors note: The Saline Valley camping/4x4 outing was taken
prior to The Great Outdoors Palm Springs policy change.
This outing will no longer be scheduled.
after we scout this trip.
W
hen you mix salt and hot water you probably have something
cooking huh? That's Saline Valley in Death Valley an Oasis in
the midst of the desert with natural springs of hot water and nice
pools, and a few miles away the most awesome and amazing lake of pure
salt. The lake is filled with a pure black mud (which I think must have some
medicinal property) and is covered with a thick layer of salt which even allowed me to walk on it and feel like I was ice
skating.
It was very nice meeting the guys, making new
friends, experiencing the camaraderie and going
off on side trips visiting the surrounding places.
Spending some time in Saline Valley is much like
going to a free spa: free treatment by nature.
Spending some time in
Saline Valley is much
like going to a free spa:
free treatment by
This was my first trip with The Great Outdoors. It was a total adventure,
nature
and a stretch for me as well, as I went all by myself with the truck I bought
recently and am not familiar with and facing a road where there are NO
signs into the wildest place that I have ever been. I couldn't stay for the
whole time but enjoyed a good day and a half and two nights there. Although I was
careful to
take provisions along, on the way back, Saturday morning I had a tire which completely blew on the
gravely road. I found out soon how inexperienced I was at changing a tire on that truck! First I had no
clue how to remove the tire. Couldn't find a jack either. So for a good half hour I found myself completely stranded from civilization, and I just became friends with that feeling. No radios, no cell, no one around except the arid landscape, the rocky
road and the cliffs that I had passed by. Fortunately, someone who also had
a Toyota stopped by to help. Among other things, he taught me a humbling
lesson—— that I did have a jack! So it was also a total learning experience
for me in many ways, including my truck and getting more camping savvy.
Saline Valley was a good place to sit in the quiet too and though I liked
company, I loved sleeping in my new tent and being by myself there too
those two nights. I needed that. I needed that silence, that feeling of expanse and of feeling more at ease being totally nestled in nature, bathing in the moon's generous light
and the comforting warmth of the sun and of those healing pools. It just helped me to feel how much I
really love camping in The Great Outdoors. Wil
Sheldon Katz, Outreach Chair/Publicist
California Great Outdoors Inc.
ON
SALINE VALLEY HOT SPRINGS
DEATH VALLEY
(Editors note: This outing is no longer a
Great Outdoors Palm Springs event.)
Newbie - Not No More or
Hang on Fellas—It’s Gonna be a
Bumpy Ride!
I lived in the high desert for four years, many
years ago, and greatly disliked it; so, late fall a
half-dozen years ago, I snaked from Las Vegas to
Death Valley on my way home to find out exactly
what I hated about it.
Wow! Ecosystems I'd never imagined. Beauties
I'd not dreamed. An almost unnerving isolation
and silence I'd never before experienced. A scary
yet exhilarating 20 mile drive in the dark across
and winding up and through Panamint Springs. No light other than
my headlamps and a galaxy of stars. No 7-11. No gas station. No
nothing but a wondrous and humbling feeling that I can't convey. The
science fiction-like red tail of a night-launched rocket from Vandenberg AFB, seemingly arching its way across the sky as the earth rotated beneath it. The knowledge that I'd be back to explore it more.
When? Alone? With one other to share?
TV commercials show pristine 4x4s climbing treacherous hills on the screen. Jeeps preen up and down the 405 with
high-gloss wax jobs and not one dent. Nice, but not very satisfying. What would a real off-road trip be like?
Hmmm?
Then, along comes PS Great Outdoors with last month's Saline Springs/Death Valley
camp -- 50 miles of some pretty narrow dirt roads to get to the hot springs. Members
with their trusty yet worn 4x4s. My who-what-where questions were answered.
Trip leader Ron (left) paired LA's Vitaly (far left) with me as a van-pooler - a perfect
match, I think. He was as unabashedly excited about the trip as I, and served as navigator in addition to being interesting and intriguing company, We took the long way north,
through Los Angeles National Forest and then up the indirect 178 to Trona Pinnacles and
played with the vista for a bit. I was lazy and stayed near the road. V. ran to the top of
one of the peaks with glee and came down with a most-satisfied look.
Since I often underestimate time, we weren't even close to Saline Valley at dusk. Even
in daylight, Ron's excellent trip-notes (i.e. - make a right on the unmarked Stove-Pipe Road) would make an iffy trip
-- let alone in the dark. He also included directions for entry from Big Pine in the north (i.e. - you've gone too far if
you've passed two houses on the right). That was a great help, since, in my unusual in/efficiency, I printed out
those instead of the southern entry directions.
I had no doubt that we were going to have to camp somewhere for the night and "hopefully" find our way to the
springs in the morning. I still can't figure how he did it, but Vitaly, who'd not been there before either, figured out
how to reverse the directions and got us directly "home" in time for the evening's campfire - without one wrong
turn. That was amazing. My first camp with G.O. last year set the tone for all five since. I'd felt immediately welcomed by people I'd never met. A quiet conversation here, an outrageously funny story there, and the subtle getting-to-see-and-know these new people in an expanded light bit by bit over the three days together. It just gets
better with each event. Little-known acquaintances from previous trips become closer and even more interesting
over time. Some become friends. New people to meet. New people to welcome. Nice!
Suddenly, we heard a great roar and felt the ground tremble. Out of nowhere, two USAF jet fighters buzzed us with
such vigor and speed, we could almost feel the heat from their afterburners. How great is that? I left the quiet talkabout –everything-and-nothing-at-the-all campfire, put me to sleeping bag, briefly wondered what tomorrow would
bring and immediately fell stone-dead asleep from the day—- probably keeping everyone else awake with my snoring.
Continued next page
Sunrise. I could hear respectfully quiet conversations and easily went back to sleep for an extra wonderful stolen
hour. I thought I heard a violin playing something from "The Phantom of the Opera." Actually, I did --hear Wil, a
classical violinist, was serving a subtle wake-up call --definitely much finer than the crass bugle someone in another
camp played.
Yawn. Stretch. Now I'm really ready for the day. I'm gonna jump in and join the group in Darryl's jeep and go over
the roads and up the steep and shoulder-less hills as part of a five vehicle adventure. All fired up and ready to go!
Excited like waiting for Santa -- and I'm Jewish.
Why aren't we getting this show on the road? Who's holding us up? I learned the first camp rule -- no-one goes
anywhere until newsletter-Pat has his second coffee. I'll sleep a bit
It was enthralling—from the ride, longer tomorrow.
Ron's advisory was right: If ya can't handle heights, rough roads and
the vistas, the hike, the mine……. are the least bit prone to car-sickness, you'd best think about not going
and staying near camp. Yeah, the Jeep tousled more than a bit, but it
was surprisingly comfortable. D's competence kept me in secure hand and feeling. I rode with John's Cliff on the
return trip. We howled as the road almost disappeared beneath us and he shouted, "Thelma and Louise."
It was all a primitively civilized experience, knowing that our trek has probably been taken by less people in a hundred years than those that fly down SoCal's highways in an hour.
It was enthralling - from the ride, the vistas, the hike, the mine, brown-bagged lunches to the other side-trips.
I later told Pat how thrilled I was with the entire event and asked him if he and the others ever became jaded to all
that I'd experienced thus far. He told me that such trips were always exciting and asked me to write this little ditty
to possibly help convey the exuberance.
Back to the story: We make it to the salt flats and poor k-9 Ben breaks through a thin spot
and thick salt water covers his head and he sadly panics a bit, but, the trooper he is, recomposes himself quickly. Will goes out a hundred feet or so and does an expressive slow-motion
stretching-like dance, white on white on the lake, for his enjoyment ... and ours. Wil, spreads
some spa-mud on newsletter Pat's face to rejuvenate his aged and weathered face of so
mannnny years. Pat looks great. The mud dries. It flakes off. Darn! Didn't help! (Why is it
always about Pat? Simple -- he's the editor.)
Blah, blah, blah -- the trip gets better and better. The next camp rule I learned was that we
must always be back at camp by 5pm 'cause that's when Pat (heavy sigh) has to be back in his
chair for late-afternoon wine. Amen.
There was a bit of dissension amongst the troops, though. KC was a bit enamored of Boswell. Boz couldn't be
bothered much with the kid because he was usually too Shitsuianly busy posturing for anyone's camera. Puppy KC,
with his big floppy Bassett Hound ears that he has yet to grow into, decided his then best tactic would be to scamper
all over, steal our hearts and nip constantly at our ankles. Ben, in his stately Labradorian manner, just had no need
for either of them.
A small rattlesnake here. A haggard lone coyote there. Fortunately, not one scorpion anywhere.
Three great days later and time to break camp. Byes to the guys, an admiring look at Boz, a great sloppy and wet
full-face lick by KC, Ben won't kiss, and V. leads us out the long way through the picturesque
north. Sweetheart Nick keeps us in rear-view hindsight (and dust) since our van was too low and
not ideally suited for the roads. We stop every mile or so for a minute almost gasping at how the
terrain changes so drastically with each curve. Down the valley, back on 395 and we're really
awestruck by the back of the Sierras. Lunch in Lone Pine followed by Manzanar - the nothingness
that is there to hide America's almost hidden and forgotten dirty little secret -- the incarceration
of our American Japanese during WWII.
V and I lapse into an individual kind of reverie, having enjoyed the trip to such a great degree.
We seriously listen to music and talk little. I start to grin like the Cheshire cat I am, giving out
my personal awards for the trip: The first was for the butchest tent of all - my Bedouin-wanna-be torch-lit whatever
creation. Ron as best couturier - looking so fine with glow-in-the-dark round thingies around his neck and his
"uhum" as he walked to the lower springs at night. Darryl as movie-maven supreme for having shown "The Devil
Wears Prada" on his dash screen on the way up the mountain, and "Moulin Rouge" on the way down. The electronic
wizard award to Ed for his educating me that my 350w DC/AC inverter was not powerful enough to run my 1,500w
espresso machine. And, lastly, the "My Hero" award to Gardner for saving us from that rattlesnake.
Sadly, but no tears, please, this is probably my last hurrah. Next week is our all-chapter freeze-yer-arse-off
Thanksgiving weekend trip in Anza Borrego. Can I survive? Doesn't matter anyhow -- Roth says that will be his last
"cook" for several years. We might as well just break up the org now.
All that's just part of why G.O. has become such a focal point of my life. That's why I'm riding Priapus, my bicycle,
545 miles next June with AIDS Life Cycle as part of Team Great Outdoors to end AIDS. That's why I have a donation/support page at http://www.aidslifecycle.com/5610. Please don't misinterpret that as a shameless plug -our G.O. Outreach Chair/Publicist would never do that, would I?
[ For remarkable portraits of the evanescent Saline Valley, Anza Borrego and other world emeralds, pleasure yourself by viewing Dr.
Ian Parker's photography I've just found on the web. http://parkerlab.bio.uci.edu/ - click on "Non-Scientific Adventures" ]
Great Outdoors Palm Springs Chapter 4x4
presents
DEATH VALLEY 4 x 4 Adventures JAN 8-13, 2008
Death Valley, the hottest, driest, and lowest place in the Western Hemisphere
was established as a national monument in1933 and rose to national park status in 1994. The Valley encompasses across 3.3 million acres of the Mojave Desert, with its highest point, Telescope Peak, 11,949
feet above sea level to its lowest point, Badwater, 282 feet below sea level. This is primarily a 4X4 touring adventure. Passengers are welcomed and will be assigned to a 4x4 vehicle with available seats.
Sharing fuel cost is appropriate. Proposed 4x4 tours include return to some old sites visited last January.
Mengel Pass to Barker Ranch (Charles Manson’s ―last hangout‖ and Hidden Valley via the Racetrack. New
routes include Echo Canyon (Hole in the Wall) and Phinney Canyon. The proposed 4X4 day tour schedules will be refined at the campground prior to departure. The Park has many short/paved road trips that
include, visits to Scotty’s Castle, Badwater and GPS Ranger Self Guided Tours.
Campers can go for the entire trip or for a shorter period.
For additional information: www.nps.gov/deva
Restaurants: www.furnacecreekresort.com/furnace-creek-ranch-dining-1210.html
Camping - Furnace Creek Campground. We have reserved sites 87-93.
Contact Scott: [email protected] before reserving another site to discuss sharing a site
that has been reserved. Full fee is $18 per night or $90 for 5 nights, or share cost with a site holder.
The reservation website is www.recreation.gov. Map of campground:
www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/upload/FCCG.pdf
Park entrance and use fee is $20.00 for 7 days. Pay at campground upon arrival.
Itinerary
Tuesday, 1/8
2:00 pm…………………………Check-in
Wednesday, 1/9:
9:00 am…………………………Mengel Pass Trail to Warm Springs or alternate trip
(Butte Valley Warm Springs Road)
Thursday, 1/10
9:00 am
……………………Phinney Canyon
Questions? Contact:
Friday, 1/11
9:00 am …………………..Gold Canyon or alternate trip
Scott Connelly @ 760.324.5001
or: [email protected]
Saturday, 1/12
9:00 am………………………. Hole-in-the-Wall Echo Canyon to Inyo Mines
or
Cliff Clue @ [email protected]
Sunday, 1/13 ……………Check-out
Bring your ten essentials (listed on GO website at:
www.greatoutdoorsla.org/essen.html), camping/cooking gear, fireMember…………………….$5.00
wood, food, warm/cool weather clothing and swimming suits if you plan to
Non-Member………………$10.00 do water activities or sun bathe. Carpooling is recommended to help reduce gas cost and parking.
To Register go to: www.greatoutdoors.org/ps
Applicant
Fee
Click on trip notes/registration, print form and make check payable to: Great Outdoors and
mail to: Scott Connelly,
2071 Marguerite St.,
Palm Springs, CA 92264
Great Outdoors Palm Springs
PO BOX 361
Palm Springs, CA 92263
December, 2007
Address Correction Requested
Great Outdoors sounds great!
How do I join?
Simply fill out this form and send it in.
MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES
 $25 Regular
 $20 Senior (60 years or older)
If you are renewing enter your membership #_____
 $45 Couple ($40 2 Seniors)


Newsletter Format:
e-Newsletter_______ or Snail-mail________
Name___________________________________
Address_________________________________
City__________________State____ZIP_______
Phone__________________________________
E-mail___________________________
By joining Great Outdoors and/or attending the club’s events, I
acknowledge that in order for Great Outdoors to assume full legal
responsibility it would have to charge higher fees than it does now.
I waive the right to ever lay claim for injuries I might suffer before,
during or after any Great Outdoors event. My guests will agree to
these principles in writing before attending events.
Signature________________Date____________