Activists gather outside Congressman Mckeon's office hours in Victorville

July 2009 Desert News Update

Welcome to the Desert E-newsletter of the California Wilderness Coalition! Summer is in full swing and so is our campaign to save some of our remaining wild deserts. Not many people brave the desert backcountry this time of year, but we’ve got a lot of opportunities to get involved in the coming months.

In this issue, you will find:
Local residents attend Congressman McKeon's office hours
Upcoming Outings & Events
Spotlight on the Death Valley Proposed Wilderness Additions

Local residents attend Congressman McKeon's office hours
Like all wilderness campaigns, our campaign to preserve unique wild desert areas requires the leadership of our congressional representatives. It is only through an act of congress and a signature of the president that a beautiful wild place can become wilderness and gain the protection necessary to remain in its natural state forever.

Last month, desert wilderness supporters in Congressman McKeon’s district attended the Congressman’s office hours throughout San Bernardino and Inyo counties. Teachers, scientists, moms, dads, students, and business owners alike took time out of their busy days to thank the Congressman’s office for their past leadership in protecting the wild beauty of California during the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act. People also made their message about the desert crystal clear: please continue this legacy by helping craft and pass a desert wilderness bill. People talked about their experiences hiking in the Soda Mountains or fishing along Deep Creek. Many folks mentioned that the Mojave Desert is a very special environment not found anywhere else in the world.

A number of people handed in photos of their favorite places and explained that not only does each area need to be protected because of the cultural and ecological treasures found there, but these places need protection now. As the fragile desert continues to be gobbled up by military base expansion, irresponsible OHV use, and inappropriately sited development, it’s more important than ever for our truly wild places to be recognized and protected for future generations. All in all, several dozen people from Bishop to Victorville voiced their support for more wilderness in the California desert.

Upcoming Outings & Events
We have a full line up of outings for exploring the proposed wilderness and wild and scenic rivers. There are a variety of activities for all ages and abilities. Join us to enjoy some of these incredible places first hand!

August
Find us at the Victorville Farmer's Market every Thursday from 8am to 12noon. Victor Valley College campus.

September

Sat 12th Deep Creek Hike

Deep Creek flows out of the San Bernardino National Forest and into the great Mojave River, providing important habitat for a variety of wildlife like bobcats, bears, bighorn sheep and the endangered Southwestern Arroyo Toad. Join us for a moderate 7.5 mile round trip hike along the proposed wild and scenic section of the river. We’ll be following the famous Pacific Crest Trail and will likely get our feet wet and cool off in the river! For details, contact Marisa mlcalderon@msn.com

Sat. 19th Indian Pass Day Hike

This area of the Sonoran desert has long been important to the Quechan tribe and is a truly magnificent area of rugged peaks and desert washes along the Colorado River. We’ll hike about 4 miles round trip and cross country through the largest Sonoran woodland in North America. Our hike will allow us to get views of the Palo Verde Mountains, the Trigo Mountains, and the river. For details, contact Laurel 909-260-8833 lwilliams@calwild.org

October Sat. 10th Castle Mountains Auto tour & day hike with lunch at Hotel Nipton

The Castle Mountains are located along the California-Nevada border and are surrounded on three sides by the Mojave National Preserve. We’ll drive past the densest Joshua Tree forest in the world and take a few short hikes to get a glimpse of some of the interesting desert species, expansive views, and history of Hart mine area. We’ll also enjoy lunch at the unique Hotel Nipton. For details, contact Laurel 909-260-8833 lwilliams@calwild.org

Sat. & Sun. 17th-18th Exploring the Soda Mountains
East of Barstow and north of I-15, the Soda Mountain Wilderness Study Area (WSA) is rugged and largely unknown. We will car camp Saturday evening in the open flats near the Cronese Lakes. With an early start on Sunday we will have a full day to hike and explore the ridges and deep washes that define much of the area. Our experience will help us appreciate a unique place and to comment upon the future of this WSA which is currently uncertain. Hike is moderate difficulty; potluck Saturday evening. Join us for the day or overnight. For details contact leader: Craig Deutsche, (310-477-6670), craig.deutsche@gmail.com.

November

Sat. & Sun. 7th-8th "Bowling Alley" Car camp & hike
This narrow strip of land between Death Valley National Park and Fort Irwin is lovingly referred to as the “Bowling Alley” and is an ideal wilderness candidate. With unique and beautiful geology, several perennial springs, and habitat for desert tortoise and bighorn sheep, we’ll have lots to explore! We’ll drive in on some rough routes and then day hike from our car/tent camp site. Potluck dinner Saturday night. Join us for the day or overnight. Hike leaders: Kate Allen & Carol Wiley. Contact Laurel 909-260-8833 lwilliams@calwild.org for details.

21st-22nd Surprise Canyon trip
Surprise Canyon is a beautiful desert canyon with a year-round stream on the eastern edge of the Panamint Valley. This canyon was once degraded by extreme off road vehicle use but is now recovering. We'll hike and rock scramble several miles up the canyon to explore the proposed wild and scenic river and riparian habitat. Car/tent camp and potluck dinner in the flats of the Surprise Canyon wilderness on Saturday night. Join us for the day or overnight. Hike leader: Tom Budlong. Contact Laurel 909-260-8833 lwilliams@calwild.org for more details.

Getting people out to enjoy our wild lands is a great way to build support for protecting these amazing places and to have fun. If you have special expertise on one of the areas above, would like to be a hike leader, or would just like to learn more about leading a hike, please call or email Laurel 909-260-8833 or lwilliams@calwild.org.

Spotlight on the Death Valley Proposed Wilderness Additions
On the extreme southern boundary of Death Valley National Park, the narrow strip of land between the Park and Fort Irwin, known as the "Bowling Alley," is a remote area featuring rugged mountains and deep canyons, separated by open valleys, bajadas, and pristine dry lake beds. The geological history of the area dates back nearly two billion years, and the earliest human inhabitants appeared about 1,000 years ago. The land is a natural, common-sense extension of Death Valley National Park.

For the patient visitor, this desert reveals her charm slowly. The one permanent spring, Quail Spring, exists at an elevation of 4,000 feet creating a rich riparian area while attracting a wide variety of birds. Owl Hole Spring provides intermittent water for an array of animals and a green oasis for visitors. Sparse rainfall may drain into Owl Lake or Lost Lake--dry lakes that see water just a few days a year, or not at a all. These ephemeral lakes offer a changing landscape based on the season and the year's rainfall. The diverse topography and vegetation support a variety of wildlife, including two protected species, the desert tortoise and the desert bighorn sheep.

This area's vast, rugged terrain offers outstanding opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation, including backpacking and hiking. Its pristine and isolated nature offers unique opportunities for geological, archaeological and ecological research.

Photo by John Dittli

About Us
CWC protects our wild landscapes through public education, legislation and advocacy. We believe that a well educated and activist citizenry is essential to the preservation of wild California. Please support our efforts and join our community as a CWC member.

CWC
1212 Broadway, Suite 1700
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 451-1450
info@calwild.org

Desert Office
167 North Third Ave, St. M
Upland, CA 91786

(909) 946-1855

http://calwild.org