Coachella Valley Hiking Club Blog

The purpose of this Blog

This is a blog for the education and amusement of members of the Coachella Valley Hiking Club and anyone else interested in hiking in and around the Coachella Valley. We will publish anything that has to do with hiking, nature, club social events, and activities, adventures, and events involving individual members. Send pictures and text to cvhikingclub@gmail.com if you would like to publish in the blog.

Many of our members spend the summer in the North: Minisota, Washington, Canada for example. It would be nice if we received some pictures and text about what they are doing up there.

Link to main website

News Release from the BLM concerning the land swap

 

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Management

News Release

BLM Schedules Public Scoping Meetings on Proposed Land Exchange

 Two public scoping meeting regarding a proposed land exchange between the Bureau of Land Management and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians will be held in Palm Springs next month.

 The first meeting is scheduled for March 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Spa Hotel, 100 North Indian Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92262. A second public scoping meeting will be held on March 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the BLM Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262.

 The public is asked to identify relevant issues that will determine the scope, including alternatives, of an Environmental Impact Statement to be prepared for the proposed exchange, which would occur within the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. In addition to comments made at the public scoping meetings, written statements identifying relevant issues will be accepted through April 27, 2012. They should be sent to Field Manager, BLM Palm Springs-South Coast Field Office, 1201 Bird Center Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92262, or via e-mail to AguaCalienteExchange@blm.gov.

 On July 27, 2010, the BLM released an environmental assessment addressing effects of the proposed land exchange for public review and comment. Based on comments submitted to the BLM and upon further internal review, BLM determined that preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement would best address the potentially significant effects of the proposed exchange. Public scoping to identify relevant issues is part of the EIS process.

 In October 1999, the Tribe and the BLM entered into an agreement to coordinate and cooperate in the management of federal lands within and outside the external boundaries of the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation that were within the then proposed national monument. The Tribe and the BLM agreed to meet annually to identify specific resource management, land tenure adjustments, and joint management goals, including implementation of a memorandum of understanding for acquisition and exchange of lands within the proposed monument.

 For more information regarding the proposed land exchange between the BLM and the Tribe, please contact Jim Foote, Monument Manager, at (760) 833-7136.    

 

Hike to Mad Women Springs

Robin's Comments:

"We were expertly guided by Jeff Morgan via the West Fork route to the Cabin at Mad Women Spring in Indian Canyons. There was a lot of heavy bushwacking and it took all day - we actually got out at 5:05, after the official closing time."

Hike description:

2/15/2012  Wednesday - MAD WOMEN SPRING 
Extremely Difficult!   12 miles. Elevation gain 4000 ft.
Hike Leader(s): Robin and Larry
Rigorous, mostly off trail hike to a secluded cabin and spring in the Indian Canyons

Pictures by Robin

Emails from Charles and Jim Foote (also pictures)

Trail Lovers:

Today was our first workday on the initial phase of the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains Trail Restoration Project. We met at the south trailhead to the North Lykken Trail at 8:00 am. Steve Harris of the BLM and Rich Jarvinen of DTHC welcomed the twenty four volunteers: seventeen from DTHC and seven from CVHC (Nancy Bone, Ron Chang, Susanne Randell, Ellen Willinger, Doug Young, Cutler Lewis and Charles Nisbet). Some people, of course, belong to both hiking clubs. Steve and Rich went over the tasks of eliminating short-cuts and explained safety measure with each of the hand tools pertinent to this type of trails work. Teams of four proceeded up the mountain in piggy back rotation from one short-cut to another. The volunteers from DTHC were totally familiar with this kind of work and spearheaded the effort. I for example, was mentored by, Dave, Kathy, Charley, Bob, and Alan.

We chopped up and disturbed the ground on short-cuts, brought in dead vegetation to disquise, transplanted other vegetation, raked the ground and moved small and large rocks.We lunched at the picnic tables above the Museum Trail and some of us bragged about CVHC’s efforts in rebuilding four sets of picnic tables in the National Monument over a three year period. After lunch we proceeded down the trail improving and putting in new water breaks along the way. The route down was so obvious, so clear, so clean. At one point I asked Dave, “Where are the short-cuts.” He replied, “Charles they are gone.”

I can’t believe what we accomplished in one outing. We finished the entire North Lykken up to the picnic tables when I thought it would possibly take three such workdays to complete the job. Up, up we went, tackling some problems along the way. It was fun. It was productive. People worked so well together. What a great way for people from the two clubs to get together.

We are planning our second joint DTHC/CVHC workday for March (notice will be sent as soon as we know the date) where we will complete the initial phase of this project by eliminating the small short-cuts on the South Lykken Trail and installing new trail signage on the South Lykken and North Lykken Trails.

I can’t believe what we accomplished in one workday! What a group. What an effort. Check out the North Lykken Trail for yourself at the end of Ramon.

If this e-mail contains mistakes, please forgive, I am tired, but a good tired,

Charles

Hi all,

I was greeted this morning by an ebullient voicemail message from Chuck Nisbet describing the success of yesterday’s project on the North Lykken Trail … a great start to my week!

My heartfelt thanks to all that participated in and/or supported the project. It’s so encouraging to me to see this much positive energy directed to a project that improves trail experiences for everyone.

Again, thank you and happy trails!

Jim Foote Monument Manager

Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument

       

       Pictures by Rich Jarvinen

 

 

 

On Friday 2/17/2012 Ron led a trip to the Anza Borrego Desert to look for pictographs

We found them!!!

    
 

Some pictures from a snow hike up at the Tram

Here are some pics taken last Fri. above the upper tram station going up the Sid Davis drainage. Fresh snow, a couple of feet of it!

                                                                                           Robin

Pictures by Carl Gorretta

           

   

Mission Creek Preserve Hike 2/12/2012 Sunday

This was a club hike to the Mission Creek Preserve led by Eric. The pictures were taken by Kip Lundquist.  

Remember: click on the picture to embigen. 

Lunch break at Dunn Road

Lunch break at Dunn Road on our 17 mile jaunt on Art Smith between Palm Desert and Palm Springs. February 8, 2011.

Some information from Ken on the land exchange

Land Exchange Announcement

The next step in the land exchange process has now begun. The BLM has officiallyannounced that it plans to prepare a draft environmental impact statement to assess theeffects of the land exchange and will hold one or more public meetings to solicit publicinput for it. We can read the announcement at the BLM Palm Springs website.

Here is a direct link: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/02/10/2012-3118/notice-of-intent-toprepare-a-draft-environmental-impact-statement-for-a-proposed-land-exchange#h-6

We can participate in the public meetings. They will be announced at the BLM website15 days before they occur. We can also submit written comments. The BLM has set upa special email address for public comments. AguaCalienteExchange@blm.gov

For those who may not be familiar with this land exchange, here is a brief summary.The BLM has proposed exchanging a little over 9 square miles of land in the NationalMonument for 2.3 square miles of land that the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indiansacquired for the sake of making the exchange. The land the public would give up in theexchange includes Garstin, Theilman, part of Skyline and numerous other popular trails.In addition, the land that the public would give up is home to several endangered andthreatened wildlife species, including bighorn sheep. The public would lose the ability toprotect the species and the trails, unless terms of the exchange allow it.

Mike Schuler has died

Mike Schuler has died, at 58, from a heart attack. Many people may recognize his name from seeing it at trailheads or from hearing about his work on trails. He has been important to our enjoyment of so many trails.

Ken

An incomplete list of trails that Mike Schuler built: 

        Hoppalong Cassady

        Jo Pond

        Clair Burgess

        Mike Schuler

An article from the Desert Sun on the Mike Schuler trail in Palm Desert.

http://www.hikingacrossamerica.com/California/mike_schuler_trail.html

If anyone has anymore information, please let me know

Eric

Hike to Eisenhower Peak

 

On Saturday January 14^th the Coachella Valley Hiking Club and DTHC joined forces to conquer   Eisenhower  Peak.  We started at 8:00 a.m. and traveled 7 miles and gained 1300’ of elevation.  The weather was perfect and the views of the Mountains and Valley were fantastic.  Rich Peregrin and Ben Lantz led the hike for the CVHC.  Here is a picture of all the happy hikers on the summit.

Rich

Some comments from Ken about the trails closed because of the lambing season

    Lambing Season

It is lambing season in the mountains now for bighorn sheep. Hopefully their offspring will be plentiful and strong.During lambing season it is especially important to stay at a distance from bighorn sheep and to stay on the official trails where we can hike in the national monument legally all year long. That reduces the chance that we might harm bighorn sheep and other wildlife that livethere. In the months of October, November and December, we can hike on all the trails, the unofficial trails and even off trail, but the rest of the year only on the legal trails listed below.    

Not everyone respects the sheep and their lambs, of course. A friend of mine who hikes regularly near a lambing land has observed hikers trying to get close to the sheep, some evenwith dogs, which the bighorn sheep associate with one of their predators - the coyote. A coupleof weeks ago, in the lambing land, he saw a hiker chasing the sheep with two large dogs. He watched with dismay. At the end of the chase, he asked the hiker why he was doing that. The hiker said he wanted to get close to the sheep. The next day he saw another hiker trying to get close to the sheep with a pit bull. Fortunately, that day, a ranger caught the hiker and issued acitation. While the ranger wrote the citation, the hiker verbally abused the ranger and protested that hikers and their dogs cause no harm to the sheep.

Gradually, the laws enacted to protect the sheep and other wildlife on our lands are being enforced. Social trails into lambing areas are being eliminated, rules are being posted on signs,and rangers are catching those who break the law.

These are the legal trails where we can hike all year long:

West of Palm Canyon

    Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail

    North Lykken TrailSkyline Trail

    Museum Trail

    South Lykken Trail

    Picnic Table Trail

South Palm Springs

    Araby Trail

    Shannon Trail

    Berns Trail

    Garstin Trail

    Henderson Trail

    Alexander Trail

    Goat Trails

    Eagle Canyon Trail (not including portions of trail on Indian Reservation     land)

    Wild Horse Trail

    Clara Burgess Trail

    Fern Canyon Trail

    Vandeventer Trail

    Hahn Buena Vista Trail

    Dry Wash TrailDunn Road

    Dry Wash to Vandeventer Trail connector

    Thielman Trail

    Palm Canyon Trail

    Indian Potrero Trail

    Potrero Canyon Trail

Cathedral City / Rancho Mirage

    Cathedral Canyon Trail

    Bighorn Overlook Trail

    Mirage (“Bump and Grind”) Trail below its intersection with the Hopalong     Cassidy Trail

Palm Desert / Indian Wells

    Art Smith Trail from the Art Smith Trailhead to the Hopalong CassidyTrail

    Hopalong Cassidy Trail

    Eisenhower Mountain Trail (access through The Living Desert)La Quinta

    Bear Creek Canyon Trail north of its intersection with the Bear Creek

    Oasis Trail

La Quinta Cove to Lake Cahuilla Trail (includes Morrow Trail and part of Boo Hoff Trail)

    Guadalupe Trail

    Boo Hoff Trail

    Southern Santa Rosa Mountains

    Cactus Spring Trail

    Martinez Canyon Trail

Here is a link to the latest Skyline Trail Rescue

Link to Riverside Mountain Rescue Report

Thanks to  Ron's Log and Cy Kaicener

'We were abandoned' atop tram, hiker says

After reading this article from the Desert Sun, do you really think they have anything to comlplain about.

Link to Article

Photography Hike in Joshua Tree

On Sunday, 1/22/12 Astrid led a hike in the Barker Dam/Wall Street Mill area. The idea was to go on a hike that would enable people to stop and take pictures without irritating the people who just came to hike. No one minded amoung the people who came on the hike when somone stopped and took a group of pictures. People where giving each other technical advice and pointing out good shots. It looks like we are going to have to do this again. Look for it on the schedule for February.

                      

An interview in the Desert Sun with Larry Liguori

Here is the Link to the article.  Link

Some qulifications from Robin. "Will Dean did a good job but we don't charge hikers after the first hike and hikers don't sign up online."

Note from Philip on The Ladders

Was out to ladder canyon via Painted Canyon Rd. Dec. 30.

Road now passable by passenger car...no 4wd needed (but helpful!)

Road crew regraded road...still soft in a few places. Broken or washed away

Ladders replaced....but a massive amount of erosion, rock collapses, ground trenches etc. can be seen.Flash flood in September really knocked things about.

Philip Ferranti

 

Fall foliage

I know we don't have displays like New England but here is some foliage from The Whitewater Preserve. A few days late but still spactacular.

          

Pictures of Ladders Hike showing conditions

Hi everyone! Here's an update & pics of Ladders Canyon.

A group of us hiked it Sun. and it is still doable but now we would say it is strenuous, no longer moderate. The last 2 ladders are missing, so down climbing is required via a marginal sisal rope. Also there is more exposure involved in navigating thru the other areas where the ladders are missing.

The road is OK but a 4 wheel drive is definitely best. We had no trouble with car break ins. There were maybe 6 vehicles parked there on Sun.

The pic of Christine on the long ladder is a side canyon that was new to us. There's at least one other (good) ladder further up that canyon - to be further explored!

It's now definitely WAY more of an adventure!!

Cheers,

Robin

                    

Decadent December day up the tram

Hike leader Christmas Party

Last Saturday we had the Hike Leader  apprreciation Christmas party at Tracy and Charle's house. As usuall, the food, prepared by Jim, Ron, Suzanne, and Billie, was great and everyone had a good time.