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Bobcat in the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. Photo courtesy of Wayne Boyd Wilderness Legislation Needs Your Help! With your support, CWC has helped move the Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park, Eastern Sierra Nevada, and Riverside County wilderness bills to the brink of passage in Congress. If the bills do not get passed through Congress this year, then they must be reintroduced and the legislative process starts all over again next year. We need your help to make sure that this does not happen! In order for the three wilderness bills to pass this year, both the House and Senate will have to convene "lame duck sessions" after the November election, and bring the wilderness bills up for a vote. Please contact Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) and urge them to hold a "lame duck session" after the November election, to allow Congress to vote on California wilderness bills. Here is a sample message: Dear Majority Leader Reid/Dear Speaker Pelosi: As you know, there are many important pieces of legislation from the 2007-2008 Congressional session that still have not been passed. Among them are three bills that would protect California wilderness: 1) Senator Barbara Boxer's and Representative Jim Costa's Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park Wilderness Act (S. 1774 and H.R. 3022); 2) Senator Barbara Boxer's and Representative Mary Bono Mack's California Desert and Mountain Heritage Act (S. 2109 and H.R. 3682); and 3) Senator Boxer's and Representative Buck McKeon's Eastern Sierra and Northern San Gabriel Wild Heritage Act (S. 3069 and H.R. 6156). While, I understand our nation has many pressing economic issues and other concerns to address, I believe you should convene a "lame duck session." During this time, you can hold votes on these important bi-partisan conservation measures. Thank you for your hard work on behalf of our nation's wild places. Sincerely, Your Name Address
You can e-mail Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid by visiting http://reid.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm or you can fax him at 202-224-7327. You can e-mail House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi at AmericanVoices@mail.house.gov or you can fax her at 202-225-8259.
Upcoming Hikes & Camping Trips Over the past weeks, CWC staff and volunteers have explored some of our most treasured and threatened wild places. We have hiked slot canyons in the Avawatz Mountains, been snowed on while camping at Conglomerate Mesa, watched a herd of bighorn sheep traverse the side of Surprise Canyon, and discovered an ancient Native American trail in the Cady Mountains.
Robert & Evette Leonard hike up Conglomerate Mesa in the snow! It is a great time of year to explore and enjoy our wild deserts. We have a calendar chalked full of events, so check your calendars and schedule time for the outdoors! For more information regarding CWC outings or carpooling, please contact Laurel Williams at lwilliams@calwild.org or 909-260-8833.
Friday, October 31 (eve) – Sunday, November 2 Conglomerate Mesa Exploration and Camping Trip Meeting Time TBD Come with us and explore this pristine area overlooking Owens Valley and ranges to the east. Meet Friday evening near Darwin and caravan to our camping location at 6500’. The outing consists of a moderately strenuous hike on Saturday to little-known unroaded, unmined, ungrazed areas south of Cerro Gordo. These areas are currently being threatened by the potential of an open pit cyanide heap leach gold mine. The terrain is composed of trail-less cross-country land, except for part of an 1870’s freighting trail between Keeler and Death Valley. There will be some rock scrambling, a Saturday evening social and a pot luck. On we Sunday, we will explore the Malpais Mesa Wilderness from the 1950s Santa Rosa mine. The drive to the campsite requires a high clearance vehicle. Carpooling at meeting point may be possible. If you are planning on joining us, please contact Laurel Williams in advance at lwilliams@calwild.org or 909-260-8833. The resource guide will be Tom Budlong. Sunday, November 9th, and Saturday, December 20th Big Morongo Preserve Day Hike 8:00 AM to 2PM Join CWC for a leisurely hike through a biologically rich riparian forest adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park. This desert oasis boasts over 240 species of birds, cattails, desert willow, mesquite, and is an important water source for wildlife like bobcats, bighorn sheep, and black bears. This family-friendly hike will allow us to see some of the over 240 species of birds that utilize Big Morongo as a refuge. Bring 2 liters of water per person, sturdy walking shoes or boots, a hat, sunscreen, snacks and a picnic lunch. If you are planning on joining us, please leave a message in advance at lwilliams@calwild.org or 909-260-8833. The trail is stroller and wheelchair accessible. Meet at 8:00AM in the parking lot of the Preserve. From Highway 62 in Morongo Valley, head South on East Drive. After 1 block, turn left at Preserve sign. There is a parking lot at the end of the lane. Saturday, November 15th Cady Mountains Day Hike from Afton Canyon 8:30AM to 4PM Join us for a cross country hike through rugged landscape and winding slot canyons just North of Barstow. Our hike will take us through lands that were utilized by Native Americans as a water source and Jedediah Smith and Kit Carson traveled through in the early 1800’s. We will start in Afton Canyon, often called the Grand Canyon of California, with beautiful red, gold, brown, and purple striped walls. This area is one of the few places where the Mojave River flows above ground, and the surface water attracts a variety of wildlife. We will hike roughly 4 miles keeping watch for bighorn sheep and other animals. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes or hiking boots, bring 2 liters of water and a lunch. Do not forget your camera! Contact Laurel at lwilliams@calwild.org or 909-260-8833 for more information. Meet in Barstow at the Starbucks at 1620 E Main St at 8:30AM Carpooling from Claremont, Rancho Cucamonga and Victorville possible.
Afton Canyon, gateway to the Cady Mountains
Sunday, December 7 th Cady Mountains Day Hike from Hidden Valley 8:30AM to 4PM Join us for a cross-country hike over a rugged landscape and through lands that were utilized by Native Americans and Jedediah Smith and Kit Carson traveled through in the early 1800’s. We'll start in Hidden Valley, smack dab in the middle of the Cady Mountains, with rugged desert mountains rising on either side of vast bajadas. We'll hike roughly 4 miles keeping a look out for bighorn sheep and other animals. Dress for the weather, wear sturdy shoes or hiking boots, bring 2 liters of water and lunch. Don't forget your camera! Contact Laurel at lwilliams@calwild.org or 909-260-8833 for more information. Meet at 8:30 AM in Newberry Springs off Highway 40 at the Texaco gas station parking lot, north side of the highway. Carpooling from Rancho Cucamonga, Claremont and Victorville possible.
Volunteer to lead a hike, host a wilderness party, or write a letter to your elected officials! There are many ways to make a difference in this exciting new campaign. To find out more and to get involved in protecting desert wilderness, please contact Laurel Williams at lwilliams@calwild.org or 909-260-8833. Spotlight on Big Morongo Preserve The diverse landscape of Big Morongo has been an important part of the Morongo Basin’s natural and cultural history for almost two billion years. Nestled among the Little San Bernardino Mountains, the desert oasis at Big Morongo Canyon is one of the ten largest cottonwood and willow riparian habitats in all of California. Geologically, Big Morongo Canyon has some of the oldest exposed rocks in California, dated at almost two billion years. Culturally, there is a strong history of land stewardship by multiple Native American tribes, most recently the Morongo clan of the Serrano, who became the Morongo Band of Mission Indians. Ranching also played a role in the preservation of this unique desert landscape. With its riparian habitat positioned under a major migratory flyway, Big Morongo serves as a refuge for more than 240 species of migrating and breeding birds including the second highest density of nesting birds in the United States. In addition to providing sanctuary to birds, the land serves as a home and a crucial wildlife corridor for animals traveling between Joshua Tree National Park, the oasis at Big Morongo, and the higher elevations of the San Bernardino Mountains. Animals like California black bear, bobcats, desert bighorn sheep, and mountain lions depend on Big Morongo for survival. The Preserve is an internationally recognized birding site and has been designated one of the United States' Important Bird Areas by the American Bird Conservancy and the American Birding Association. CWC is working with a broad coalition of local residents, business owners, and organizations to establish more permanent protection for this unique treasure by seeking wilderness designation and adding it to Joshua Tree National Park.
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Membership If you are interested in becoming a California Wilderness Coalition member or in making a donation, please contact Angela Shih, ashih@calwild.org or visit our website at www.calwild.org. |
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