sep 2009 san diego sierra

8/12/2019 Sep 2009 San Diego Sierra

1/16Explore, Enjoy and Protect the PlanetExplore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet

HIISIERRANI RR NSierra Club San Diego Chapter Serving Imperial and San Diego CountiesWorking To Preserve The Special Nature of San Diego for Over Half A Century

Vol 68 No. 5 Visit our website at: www.sandiego.sierraclub.org September/October 2009

The Sierra Club San Diego Chapter has numerous outings available for people of all experi-

ence levels. Whether its a bus and hiking trip to Yosemite, a hike up Cowles Mountain or

an outing at the Foster Lodge, your chapter organizes outings and events tailored to

specific interests including bicycling, photography, skiing, singles, and families. Outings are

a very important source of appreciation for the work of the Sierra Club. We have a large

number of members who serve as Chapter Outing Leaders and many that work hard onour two Wilderness Basic Course committees. However, we need more! Our Chapter

Outing Leaders are trained and certified, which is very important to know when participat-

ing in any outing, especially when going on more advanced ones. You want an educated

and well-trained leader to be able to safely navigate the activity or event.

Become A Chapter Outing Leader!It has been said that leaders are born and not made. Perhaps thats true in some fields, but

in the Sierra Club we help interested men and women become outstanding leaders. If you

have not yet been on a club outing, you have really been missing something special. The

Chapter has a tradition of offering a broad variety of outings, from multi-day backpack

trips to the Sierra, to car camp and backpack trips in desert regions, ski and snowshoe trips

in southern California mountains, as well as exercise hikes within the county.All our outings have both a leader and assistant leader, and we could use your participation

there as well. We offer a free twelve hour training for prospective leaders. There is one

coming up October 6 and 10 (Please see the ad on page 11 for instructions on enrolling) .

Chapter Outing Leaders (COLs) are of two levels, the COL I leader needs to be a Sierra

Club member, be at least 18 years of age, have been on 4 previous outings as a participant,

take the twelve hour training course, a standard First Aid course, and must lead two evalu-

ated probationary outings. The COL II must do all the above, lead two more COL I out-

ings, complete the Wilderness Basics Course, take a second twelve hour training, and pass a

Wilderness First Aid Course.

You can do it, we can help you. Its fun, and youll be giving back and be glad you did!

Please Vote!Its that time again!

Members, please make sure

to vote for your next Chapter

(and, for some of us, group) executive

committee. Chapter and group leaders

are all volunteers. We should encourage

more volunteers to step up and run for

office. Even if there are only 4 people

running for 4 offices, it is still importan

to cast your vote and know that you are

making a difference in selecting yourleaders. Your vote is your right as a

Sierra Club memberexercise that righ

and make your voice heard! Please find

your ballots on page 5.

Pull The Plug HostsNeeded for HalloweenHouseparties

We are happily

enmeshed in plan-

ning our new cam

paign to squelch

vampire energy us

(from chargers and

appliances that dra

electricity when no

in use). Our campaign kickoff will be

Halloween weekend and we'd love to ha

your help.

SIGN UP NOW to host a Halloween

Houseparty with a Vampire Theme.

Ask your guests to dress as VampireAppliances and make some blood red

punch. The rest is up to you. Well

provide information and pledge forms,

and help promote to members in your

area if desired. Youll receive honorable

mention as a Vampire Slayer in the next

Hi Sierran (Deadline - Sept 30th). We c

all save electricity and money, and have

great time learning about it!

Contact Cheryl Reiff, 858-569-6005 or

email: [email protected].


2/16September/October 2009 Hi Sierran San Diego2

Bus TripsI went on my first bus trip a few weeks ago.Not a bus trip around town, but the

Chapters July 4th Bus Trip to four days ofwonder in the mountains south ofYosemite Valley. Led by Marty Stevens andStefanie Maio, Seven of us hiked up, down,

and all around, and camped next to beauti-ful lakes and the Chilnualna, a lovelystream running down a series of rockledges that created soaking pools and small

falls.

Just about the time you get your HiSierran, I will be off on the Labor Day Bus

Trip to the John Muir Wilderness in theSierra Nevada. I think I am hooked.

I am also considering the two Ski Sectionbus trips early next year. The first, over theNew Year holiday, will go to Bear Valley, a

bit north of Yosemite. The second, in earlyFebruary, will go to Yosemite Valley.Beginners are welcome on both trips--theleaders will teach those of us with limited

cross country ski experience (like me) howto ski and have fun. The group stays inmotels, which means creature comforts.

Mike Fry, along with a former ChapterChair, Bob Hartman, began the bus tripsback in the 1970s (actually, the ski tripsstarted before the backpacking trips).Gasoline was becoming more expensive,

and people were buying smaller cars. Thatmade it difficult to carpool to a destina-tion. Mike and Bob found that they could

rent 15 passenger vans down near the air-port, strap backpacks to the van roofs(Mike says they never lost a pack), and takeoff. When they got back late at night from

the trip, they would park the vans outside

the rental company lot

and toss the keys overthe fence.

Mike then bought hisown 15 passenger van to

use for the trips.However, gasoline pricesrose. It became difficult

even to find gasoline at some of the small

towns outside the national parks. Mikeswitched to charter buses, which had theadvantage of using diesel fuel (also, Mikewould not have to clean out the vans any

more). The first charter bus used was in1980 for several trips in the Mt. Whitneyarea.

Over the years, the bus trips have takeneager hikers to all over the Sierra Nevada,to the Channel Islands, to Utah and theGrand Canyon. Each trip requires a lot of

advance planning. There are park and for-est regulations, which always seem to be

changing. And then there are the lastminute surprises and complications that

come up. Over the years, there have beennumerous coordinators and outings leaderwho have donated their time to make thebus trips and ski trips possible. Many of

the bus trips are able to make a muchneeded donation to the chapter.

Currently, Mike Fry is the bus trip chief.Bob Smillie takes care of compliance with

the various park and forest regulations andgets any needed permits. This year,

Howard Kellogg was the coordinator forthe Memorial Day trip, Charity Dominic,

the July 4th trip, and John Challen, theLabor Day trip. Scott Blake has been thedriver for the bus trips since 1982. Scott,who is with Sundance Stage Lines, has a

great attitude and amazing patience duringthe occasional traffic jams and road clo-sures that come up. And the bus has amicrophone so we can get up and tell

everyone about our trip experiences on theway home.

Not all Sierra Club chapters have good out

ings programs--I have been on some phonconferences with other chapters that arehaving trouble getting their outings pro-gram going. It takes time, effort, and know

how. The bus trips are just one example ofhow the outings leaders of the San DiegoChapter help us have safe and enjoyableexperiences in the outdoors, whether it is a

conditioning hike up Cowles Mountain, awalk along the beach, or a climb up SanJacinto. Thank you, Chapter OutingsLeaders!

HIISIERRANI RR NSierra Club San Diego Chapter

8304 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. #101San Diego, CA 92111(858) 569-6005

Editor

Judy Thomas (619) [email protected]

Creative Director

Scott Thomas (619) [email protected]

Advertising

[email protected]

Hi Sierran Committee ChairEllen [email protected]

[email protected]

MeetingsCheryl Reiff(858) 569-6005

[email protected]

One Club ListservTo subscribe go to:

http://whistler.sierraclub.org/ListSub/?

September/October 2009USPS - 896140

The Hi Sierran is published bi-monthly by the SanDiego Chapter of the Sierra Club, 8304 ClairemontMesa Blvd. #101, San Diego, CA 92111, formembers in San Diego and Imperial counties.$1 of the annual membership fee is for a sub-scription to the Hi Sierran. Periodicals Postage Paidat San Diego, CA. Postmaster: Send addresschanges to Hi Sierran, Sierra Club MemberServices PO BOX 52968, Boulder, CO 80322-2968.

Address Correction?Send your current mailing label and

your correct address to:Sierra Club

PO BOX 52968Boulder, CO 80322-2968

Or email membership number andyour correct address to:

[email protected] allow 4-6 weeks for processing. IN THIS ISSUE:

Ballots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Chapter Outings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Outings Leader Training . . . . . . . . . . 11

Chapter Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet


3/16

Sunday,October 25th

2:00 pmJoin the Sipping Sierrans as

we celebrate the wonders of

beer at an Oktoberfest

celebration on Sunday,

October 25th at 2pm at

Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens

1999 Citracado Parkway, Escondido

www.stonebrew.com/visit/map.

We will partake of 4 specially crafted beers, accompanied by Stones

famously light appetizers - Mac n Beer Cheese (meat & veggie

styles), cheese, olives and hummus.

Cost is $30 per person in advance, $35 at the door. Payment in

advance really helps as we need to confirm attendance and are

responsible for payment for the number we provide.

Sunday,September 27th

3:00pmJoin fellow Sierrans and friends in a tasting of locally

produced wines from Hacienda de las Rosas on Sunday,

September 27 at 3:00 pm at Hacienda de las Rosas Wine

Tasting Room, located in historic Old Town, San Diego

in the Plaza del Pasado. Use the Juan Street entrance .

Hacienda de las Rosas Winery will present an afternoon of

Delightful Desserts and Wine Pairings! Participants will enjoy

four wines paired with specially chosen desserts, along withwine making presentation by the winemaker, William

Holzhauer. The garden room, gift shop and artist gallery are a

wonderful setting to relax for the afternoon and enjoy the

desserts and wine pairing experience!

The selections will include: Princessa Champagne paired with

Fresh fruit tart with apricot glaze and vanilla bean creme

filling, Rosa White Syrah with White chocolate raspberry

cheesecake, Sombra Petite Syrah with Double chocolate truffles aShireen Late Harvest Port with Brownie made with Ganache por

Space is strictly limited to 40 participants and of course you mu

be of legal drinking age. This event is open to the public, no nee

to be a Sierra Club member.

Cost is $30 per person in advance. We need to collect payment i

advance as we need to confirm attendance and are responsible fo

payment for the number we provide. This will cover all expense

and includes a small donation to the Chapter.

Please RSVP to Richard at [email protected] . You

can pay by check or charge it to your Visa or MasterCard. Paym

can be made online at www.sandiego.sierraclub.org and clicking

DONATE NOW. This is a safe, secure and easy way to pay, or yocan mail your check (with names and contact information) to

Sipping Sierrans, 8304 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Ste. 101, San Dieg

CA 92111-1315.

San Diego Sipping Sierrans is a social group of fellow members like

you that gather on a regular basis to enjoy and learn about wines,

tasty micro-brews and good food, all while having the opportunity

engage in conversation and hear about the Chapters programs.

Stone Brewing Co. doesnt make weak beer. In fact, theyre

known for quite the opposite; perhaps strong enough to save

the planet or at least, one little corner of it. In 2008, Stone

Brewing Co. unveiled two major projects that reduced the

brewerys environmental impact: a 1,561-panel solar system

and an on-site wastewater treatment facility.

"Green" practices dont just happen behind the scenes. The

Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens is the largest restaura

purchaser of local, small farm organically-grown produce in County, and selects only quality artisan cheeses, breads, and 1

percent naturally-raised meats. Its also completely high-fruc

tose corn syrup free.

Please RSVP to Richard at [email protected] .

You can pay by check or charge it to your Visa or MasterCard

Payment can be made online at www.sandiego.sierraclub.org

and clicking on DONATE NOW.

This is a safe, secure and easy way to pay, or you can mail you

check (with names and contact information) to Sipping

Sierrans, 8304 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., Ste. 101,

San Diego, CA 92111-1315.



Carolyn ChaseI'd like to continue to

make a difference in

the areas of volunteer

recruitment,

fundraising and over-

all Chapter sustain-

ability and vitality.

With many economic

challenges coming

from the National

level, I hope you will vote for me to con-

tinue to serve. Please email me at

[email protected] with any of

your questions, suggestions or how you'd

like to begin to become more active in the

Chapter. You can also call me at 858-272-

2930. Introduce yourself! I'm always inter-

ested in hearing from members. We needyour input and support for a strong

Chapter.

Renee OwensI have been asked by

ExCom to fill one of

the vacancies, and

would be grateful for

your support. Ive

been active with the

Chapter for 15 years,and had the honor of

receiving the Emily

Durbin leadership in

Conservation Award

in 1996. Ive devoted much time to

advancing Club campaigns: leading CEQA

training and conservation activist work-

shops, writing comment letters and arti-

cles, acting as media and community

leader liaison for wildlife campaigns,

tabling events, adopting wilderness areas,

and sitting on stakeholder panels. I organ-

ized and led the first whale watching out-

ing that I adapted into a successful annual

fundraiser. I chaired the wildlife commit-

tee for 7 years, was CAN Chair for 2 years,

and currently serve as Conservation and

also Wildlife Committee Chair again.

San Diego Chapter Candidate Statements

Chris SchmidtI am once again

running for ExCom

because I want to

make a difference.

More than just car-

ing about what hap-

pens to the environ-

ment, I want to

work with like-

minded people who

share this view. I want to work to keep th

chapter strong both financially and in

terms of member participation. To

accomplish that, I want to reach out to

members to be come more involved and to

create a legacy of giving. At the same time

I want to help empower my fellow mem-

bers by supporting them in protecting andenjoying the natural beauty of our region.

A strong chapter makes that possible.


5/16

September/October 2009 Hi Sierran San Diego 5

San Diego Chapter Executive Committee BallotAll Members please vote for no more than five individuals to serve on the San Diego County Chapter Executive Committee

during 2010 and 2011. Please check box to vote for your candidate(s) including any write ins.Joint membership please check a total of 10 names including write-ins.

Carolyn Chase Write In:____________________________________

Renee Owens Write In:____________________________________

Chris Schmidt

Membership number____________________________

North County Coastal Executive Committee BallotNorth County Costal Members; Please alsovote for no more than three individuals to serve on the North County Coastal Group

Executive Committee during 2010 and 2011. Please check box to vote for your candidate(s) including any write-ins.Joint membership please check a total of 6 names including write-ins.

Sue Corringham, San Diego (Incumbent - Secretary) Write In:______________________________________

David Grubb, Encinitas (Incumbent - Chair) Write In:______________________________________

Margaret F Kessler, Carlsbad (Incumbent)


The following ballots are to elect members of the Chapter andgroup executive committees for the 2010-2011 term.

The Chapter and group executive committees govern the businessof the Chapter and groups. They are the key committees making

important policy decisions and setting priorities for the future.

Your membership number is required for your vote to count (this ishow the election committees can verify that you are a member). Allballots must be received by 5 p.m. on November 1, 2009 at the

address listed on the ballot. Please follow the instructions on theballots regarding the number of votes allowed. Write-in candidatesare allowed.

North County Group Inland Executive Committee Ballot

North County Inland Members; Please alsovote for no more than three individuals to serve on the North County GroupExecutive Committee during 2010 and 2011. Please check box to vote for your candidate(s) including any write-ins.Joint membership please check a total of 6 names including write ins.

Pattie Warnick (incumbent) Write In:____________________________________

Stephen Ellis (incumbent) Write In:____________________________________

Chrissy Magee (incumbent)


Ballots must be receivedat the following address no later thanNovember 1st, 2009: Sierra Club Coasters, P.O. Box 765, Cardiff, CA 92007North County Coastal includes: Del Mar, Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe, Encinitas,Carlsbad, or Oceanside.

Executive Committee Ballots

Ballots must be receivedat the following address no later than November 1st, 2009North County Inland Group P.O. BOX 2481, Escondido, CA 92033.North County Inland includes: Fallbrook, Bonsall, Vista, San Marcos, Poway,Ramona, Escondido, Valley Center, Pauma Valley and those parts of San Diego Citywithin those municipalities.

Ballots must be receivedat the following address no later thanNovember 1st, 2009: San Diego Sierra Club8304 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. #101, San Diego, CA 92111

The candidates receiving the highest number of votes in descendingorder will be elected. If you have misplaced your membership card with

your number, check your Sierra Magazine label for your eight digitmembership number. If you are unable to locate your membership number, please call the Chapter office at 858-569-6005.

All members of the San Diego Chapter can vote for Chapter ExComcandidates.Members that belong to the North County Coastal Groupor the North County Inland Group can also vote for members of theigroup executive committees. If you are not sure whether you belong tone of these groups, please call the Chapter office at 858-569-6005.

We urge you to vote!



Cross Country Ski SectionFounded in the mid 1970s

Mike Fry, Chair

The Ski Section now includes cross country skiing, snowshoeing,

telemark skiing, and alpine touring (randonee). Our season starts in

early November and can last until July in a heavy snow year. Most

of our outings are day tours in Southern California, or overnight

trips with modern, heated, indoor lodging. We also offer a few ski

backpacks with camping in the snow.

We have 5 instructional meetings at the Chapter Office (2nd Thurs,

Nov-Mar) covering ski and snowshoe equipment, winter clothing,

and a program presentation of an outstanding ski trip.

Our season starts with a sand skiing outing and car camp in the

Mojave Desert. The outing is free, and we provide old skis and

boots.

Our first outing with a chance of snow is Thanksgiving weekend in

at Mammoth Lakes. There is skiable snow about 3/4 of the time,

and good hiking the other time. The home cooked Thanksgiving

dinner is always excellent.

When there is local snow, we use our email list to announce thoseoutings. Last Dec and Jan, we had 4 outings to the Cuyamaca and

Laguna Mtns. We had another 4 outings to Mt.San Jacinto and Mt.

San Gorgonio. Some years we can ski until June and July! Send me

an email to get on the list.

We have two bus trips to the Sierra Nevada Mtns: Bear Valley and

Yosemite. See our webpage for the details. The Bear Valley trip is on

New Year's weekend, and the snow has been excellent almost every

year. The Yosemite trip is the first weekend in February and it is a

long running favorite since 1983. The two bus trips are ideal for

beginners. We include beginner instruction, and divide the bus into

groups of similar ability. Both trips have groomed tracks, backcoun

try trails, and downhill resorts with chair lifts.

March and April start our spring ski season. California is blessedwith an excellent snow pack that lasts into summer. After a week or

two of good weather, the snow surface "corns up" and becomes very

easy to ski (also called "ego snow"). This year, our spring trip is to

Mt. Lassen and Mt. Shasta during Easter week.

http://sandiego.sierraclub.org/ski/Email and email mailing list: [email protected]

Family Tales From The TrailJacqueline Kim

My husband and I back-packed down the GrandCanyon when I was fivemonths pregnant. Thatmight give you an idea ofthe kind of family wewanted to be: continuing

to do what we love hiking and backpacking -and sharing that love withour little one. Just asimportantly, we believe that achild who had a chance tofrolic in nature and formed anintimate connection with it,would care for it better.

Of course, we soon learnedthe challenges of going outdoors with a young one. Ten essen-tials? With a baby in tow, it is twenty essentials and more. What

took us a mere hour or so in the past, now with Zoe, becamehalf-day affairs because of the times we stopped to nurse and tochange diapers. On our first camping trip with Zoe, even thoughwe planned amply, the first night was rough going. We took turnsworrying if Zoe was cold or overheating under the layers we puton her. Then, Zoe woke up frequently that night, even though sheis a great sleeper at home. The tight fit in our backpacking tentdidnt help. None of us slept very much that first night.

But we learn, we adapt, and we changed our expectations aboutour outings. We forgot about mileage, accepted that things some-how take a lot longer with a child, and we were simply glad to beoutdoors. We decided to stick to local hikes we can get to withoutgreat investment in time and gas. It didnt take long for us to fig-

ure out that our backpacking trips are over for the foreseeablefuture. Car camping is the next best thing for now with a smallchild.

It has worked out well. Over time, as Zoe grew and got used tothe experience of hiking and sleeping in the various carriers shegot tucked into, weve managed to do longer hikes. These days,five miles are perfect for us, but we manage six miles from timeto time. And car camping, though not quite the same as the expe-rience of being backcountry, has been great fun. It took a lot oftweaking: we acquired a luxuriously large tent (enough space fora portable crib), we figured out that an air mattress is not warmenough and that two 3.5-inch thick sleeping pads are the way to

go. We dont quite bring the kitchen sink, but we sure allow our-selves much more now. And we certainly dont quibble with theglass of wine or two we nurse in front of the fire at night.

We found out just how fun it is to invite other families with chil-dren along for car camping too. Aside from companionship, withmore adults around, one could be set to watch the kids while theothers set up camp. More importantly, the children get to enjoybeing outdoors in the company of one another. Their laughter,the joy they have in simple things like dirt and twigs, theiramazement at the sight of a blue jay or a shooting star makeslight any inconvenience there may be of going outdoors withthese little people.

858-569-6005


7/16 7

Did you ever dream of having your own

cabin in the mountains? Above the snowline at 5,500 feet with a huge Ben

Cartwright fireplace inside? With a barbe-

cue on your own wooden deck? With a

million-dollar view of the setting sun

casting a rosy hue on the peaks to the

north during dinner?

This is no dream; its a reality! As a Sierra

Club member, you are part owner of

Foster Lodge! The larger cabin is availableto all Sierra Club members for reserva-

tions year round. Call Susan Parrish at

(619) 478-5188 to reserve a weekend for

your family & friends; holiday, birthday, or

anniversary parties; weddings, church

groups, school trips, retreats, chapter

events, hikes, and other outings.

Individuals are also

welcome to stay in the

smaller cabin at Foster

Lodge. The member

fee is only $7 for anovernight stay and no

reservations are

required. This is a

great way to experience

the lodge for yourself!

Foster Lodge is the

perfect home base for a

drive to Julian to the

north; or a short hike

to Foster Point, with its

spectacular desert view

to the east; or a jaunt to the Laguna Lak

in the meadows to the west; or for longe

hikes along the Pacific Crest Trail.

The lodge is located on the SunriseHighway in the Laguna Mountains of th

Cleveland National Forest, only an hour

away from San Diego. For more inform

tion and driving directions, please visit

http://www.sandiego.sierraclub.org/lod

The Pacific Crest Trail SectionRob Langsdorf

The Pacific Crest Trail is a 2660-mile trail, which starts at th

Mexican Boarder, just south of Campo and works its way

north through California, Oregon, and Washington to

Manning Park in British Columbia. You could quit your job

and hike it over a 5-6 month period next summer. Or you

could cover the distance by hiking a bit here and a bit there

over weekends and vacations. (Trying to contiguously hike PCT almost guarantees that you will be hiking it solo.)

In 1991 a group of us decided to start hiking portions of th

trail and we set up an outings section for it. In time, most o

us completed the trail through Southern California. Since i

was difficult to get chapter outings organized to hike section

of the trail north of Yosemite, we set up a Yahoo Group. Th

members can coordinate trips to hike northern portions of

the trail. If you would like to meet others who want to hike

the PCT, join us at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCTSection/

Or join us when we have a meeting in November or January

(We had planned to meet in October, but our meeting placdisappeared with the recession.) So you will have to stay

tuned to the Hi Sierran or our Yahoo Group to find out wh

and where our next meeting will be. We hope that you will

become part of a new wave of Sierra Club PCT hikers to co

the trail through Southern California over the next few year

Update On the Wildlife FrontRenee Owens, Wildlife Committee Chair

For our wildlife activists this year continues to be a busy one: The

Marine Life Protection Act, created to establish much needed coastal

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), is in the final planning stages in

southern California. Although MPAs are the best way to ensure a

long term future for fishing industries and marine ecosystems alike,

the Acts stakeholder process has been heavily weakened by the fish-

ing lobby. Public input is now crucial to let the leaders know theimportance of preserving our coastal ecosystems.

The struggle continues to protect raptors in the Cleveland National

Forest. Despite intense pressure from local climbers, the Forest

Service has tentatively agreed with Club recommendations to tem-

porarily close small areas during breeding season where eagles are

known to have nested in recent years. Although eagles are highly

sensitive to human disturbance and protected under federal law, the

CNF has resisted enforcing closures in the past.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of many, state bill SB428 passed, revis-

ing the management of the La Jolla Casa Beach to include "a marine

mammal reserve for the enjoyment of children". Despite this, Judge

Yuri Hoffman is still insisting that the entire breeding rookery including 47 pups born this year - be permanently removed, even

though such an act would violate federal law. The next hearing on

this will be October 6th.

For more information on how you can help these and other efforts,

contact Renee at 619-447-4979 / [email protected] .

Attention Life MembersCarolyn Chase

Looking to help with a new volunteer eventAre you a Life Member of the Sierra Club?If you say yes to either of these questions,

please email or call me to discusshow you can help.

[email protected] or 858-272-2930

I'm forming a new committee to create anevent for Sierra Club Life Members - and toconsider if it's worth forming an ongoingSection. We'll start with doing a survey ofour Life Members - the Chapter has about600 of them - to find out why they becameLife Members and how they are active for tenvironment.

Foster Lodge: Your Mountain Retreat

September/October 2009 Hi Sierran San Diego



Saturday, September 5Dayhike (E5A) Coasters Oceanside HarborLeader: Mac Downing

858-490-0583 or [email protected]

Assistant: Needed

Morning walk in beautiful Harbor area. Bringwater, walking shoes or light boots. Optionalrestaurant lunch at hike end. Rain cancels.Reservations required, Email (prefer)

Wednesday, September 16Dayhike (M6C) MIDDLE PEAKLeader: Ellen Shively


Assistant: NeededWe're back for another season of hiking. Please

join experienced friends and some fresh leaders

for this first of the year's mid-week outing andannual potluck to Middle Peak via the scenic

back route. Bring enough light fare for ten peo-ple, plenty of water, broken-in boots and allweather gear. Car pool from Mission Valleyleaves at 8:00am. Meet at the Milk Ranch Roadparking lot before the Lake Cuyamaca restau-rant at 9 am. Conservation update duringlunch.

Sunday, September 20Dayhike (H12D) San Jacinto Peak Day HikeLeader: Sharon Rhodes

[email protected]

Assistant: Alice FichandlerCome join us in hiking the easy way (?) up to

San Jacinto Peak from the Palm Springs AerialTramway. We will see great views from the

peak, Wellmans Divide, and the Tramway (cost:$22.95 [AAA and military discounts available].Wear sturdy boots and bring three quarts ofwater and lunch. 15-hiker limit.

Sunday, September 20

(3-B) MISSION BAY SUNDAY BICYCLE RIDELeader: Jerry Fitzsimmons

858-453-5787 [email protected] us for a Sunday Ride bike ride startingfrom Mission Bay traveling to Harbor and

Shelter Island. Meet at 9 AM in the parking lotimmediately north of the Mission Bay VisitorCenter. Come for the social pace of this basi-cally flat ride of about 25 miles. A helmet andwater are required.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009(M4B) COWLES MOUNTAIN 6:30pmHIKE FROM BARKER WAYLeader: Diane Purkey

619-865-8598

Assistant: Robert BurroughsAbs? What are abs? Where? Oh, they're hiddenabs. Join us on this fun, fast-paced eveningconditioning hike up the trail less traveled tothe top of Cowles Mountain. We'll cover verybasic astronomy at the summit, with our greatview of the night sky, then loop back down onthe dirt fire road. Bring your flashlight and alight jacket. Call leader for required signup.

Saturday, October 3Dayhike (E4A) Coasters East San Elijo/PicnicLeader: Mac Downing


Assistant: NeededWalk, then picnic provided by Coasters. Bringwater. NO hike reservations required.Picnicabout 11:45am-cost is $5,choice of chicken or

veggie. RSVP for picnic by Oct 1 to Peg at760-753-0899 or [email protected] meets 9 am. From Hwy 5 drive east onLomas Santa Fe Drive to El Camino Real. Gonorth on El Camino Real 1.1 miles to trailheadwest side of El Camino Real,Thomas 1167-J5.

Wednesday, October 7Dayhike (M6C) THE PARK IN THE DARK:NORTH FORTUNA LOOPLeader: Diane Purkey619-865-8598

Assistant: Aaron SweeneyHere's an energetic evening conditioning hike for

you in Mission Trails Park.From Tierrasanta we'llstart out with great views of the city, then chugalong at a moderate pace over the top of NorthFortuna Mountain. VERY STEEP! Very rocky and

very fun, and you can learn how night hikingworks. Wear hiking boots and bring your flash-light.We can add South Fortuna if we're quickand still eager.

Saturday, October 10

Dayhike (V22E) Cactus 2 CloudsLeader: Jim Jafolla


Assistant: Diane PurkeyThe big one from Palm Springs desert floor tothe San Jacinto summit, 10,400 vertical feet.This extreme endurance climb requires leaderapproval and evidence of capability. We willbegin at dawn or earlier if hot and may end inthe dark, $15 for tram ride down, storm can-cels. This will be moderate paced for about 13-14 hours.

Wednesday, October 21

Dayhike (M6C) THE PARK IN THE DARK:NORTH FORTUNA LOOPLeader: Diane Purkey

619-865-8598

Assistant: Aaron SweeneyHere's an energetic evening conditioning hikefor you in Mission Trails Park. From Tierrasanwe'll start out with great views of the city, thenchug along at a moderate pace over the top ofNorth Fortuna Mountain. VERY STEEP! Veryrocky and very fun, and you can learn hownight hiking works. Wear hiking boots andbring your flashlight.

Sunday, October 25Dayhike (M10D) Red Tahquitz PeakLeader: Alice Fichandler


Assistant: Sharon RhodesEnjoy the beauty of the mountains around

Idyllwild as we hike at a moderate pace up theDevil's Slide trail to Saddle Junction, and alonthe PCT towards Red Tahquitz Peak. Bring 2quarts of water, lunch and sturdy shoes. Meet a7am at the Sabre Springs Park and Ride. To sigup, contact leader at 619-226-6083 or [email protected]. Rain Cancels. Limit 12.

Wednesday, November 4Dayhike (M6C) COWLES MOUNTAIN 6:30EVENING HIKELeader: Diane Purkey

619-865-8598

Assistant: Christine DriscollTake a quick, fun hike up the Big Rock side ofSan Diego's highest point. Learn about the

chaparral world by flashlight. Bring hikingboots, a light jacket, flashlight, water and a

munchie. Call for required signup, and leaveword how late in the evening I can return

your call.

DIFFICULTYE -Easy M -Moderate H -Hard

S -Strenuous V -Very Strenuous

ELEVATION CHANGEA Less than 500 ft. B 500-1,000 ft.C 1,001-2,000 ft. D 2,001-3,000 ft.

E Over 3,000 ft.

Outings are available via

E-mail subscription at

http://sierrasd.org/outings/index.htm.

For complete current listings, see the Chapter

website at http://sandiego.sierraclub.org. Lookunder "get outdoors" for "more about outings".

All participants on Sierra Club outings arerequired to sign a standard liability waiver.

Please remember that outings are intended foradults 18+ and pets are not allowed unless

otherwise indicated.


9/16September/October 2009 Hi Sierran San Diego 9

We offer bicycle rides for all levels and distances (beginner t

fast-paced) throughout the year. Weekends at Foster Lodg

Warner Springs Ranch, Anza Borrego,Agua Caliente and mor

Potluck suppers, annual beach barbeque and our very ow

book club. Our monthly schedule of road rides is posted onlin

and in our monthly OutSpoken newsletter.

Check us out at: www.sandiego.sierraclub.org/bicycle

For a free sample of our newsletter OutSpoken, phone Tom Yager(760) 479-0187 or email [email protected]

Get On Your

Bicycle and Ride!Enjoy the outdoors and make friends too. Explore theback roads of San Diego County and neighboring areaswith the Sierra Club Bicycle Section.

Sierra Club Bicycle SectionEllen Warner Scott

Nothing quite beats group

bicycling for its aerobic

exercise, ease of travel, and

opportunity to make new

friends. Meet the hardy

members of the Sierra

Club Bicycle Section - 100riders strong. On any given

weekend, year-round, youll

find us tackling the roads

of the county: north, south,

and in-between the Laguna

Mountains, Alpine, Valley

Center, Ramona, Santa

Ysabel, Mission Trails Park,

Cabrillo Monument, UCSD

campus, Rancho Santa Fe,

Camp Pendleton, Highway 56

and 52 bike paths. You name it; weve probably biked there. In

warmer months, we usually stick to the coast from theMexican border to San Clemente. When it gets colder, we

venture further inland. Spring to early Fall, when the days are

longer, we ride mid-week too. Our after-work rides usually

end with dinner at a local casual eatery.

Youre bound to find rides at your own pace or style. If you

picture yourself as Lance Armstrong tackling the steep grades

of East County at over 16mph, try our Express rides. Prefer a

more leisurely 10-12 mph? Try our Social rides. Not quite sure

where you fit in? Make your inaugural ride a Mission Bay

Park Sunday Social ride that offers fewer miles, gentler hills

and a more relaxed pace. Regardless of the ride you choose,

make sure your bicycle is in good working order. And remem-ber your helmet, water, snack, spare tire, pump, and sense of

adventure.

The Bicycle Section also hosts weekends away for the work-

weary. In early May, we head to Warner Springs Ranch for a

weekend of cycling up Mt Palomar, walking the Pacific Crest

Trail, horseback riding, and hot-springs soaking. Theres plen-

ty of time to relax around the sulphur pools, visit the stables,

and have a facial or a well-deserved massage before happy

hour. In the Fall, during grape harvest, we head to Temecula

for our Wheel and Wine Weekend. We bike the back roads

past vineyards and wineries, leaving plenty of time for an

occasional tasting. Mid-September brings our Fall outing atFoster Lodge. The truly adventurous may try the (in)famous

Laguna Triangle or Cuyamaca Lake rides. Others may opt for

a social ride to Julian for some apple pie.

Still curious? Give us a try! Read more on-line:

sandiego.sierraclub.org/bicycle For a paper or e-mail copy of

our monthly OutSpoken newsletter, contact Tom Yager:

[email protected]. It features our bicycle rides, potluck

dinners, barbeques and day and weekend rides. Look for a

special bicycle ride under Chapter Outings in this issue of the

HiSierran. See you on the road! Ride safe.

Wednesday in the MountainsLois Day

Mid-week is a great time to get some exercise. Anyway, thats wh

the Wednesday in the Mountains section thinks. We hike 6 to 10

miles every Wednesday somewhere in the mountains during the

school year and enjoy summer days and shorter hikes at the bea

No pre-sign up is required and we gladly welcome newcomers as

old friends. Best to be at the trailhead usually by 9:00 AM, brin

ing your ten essentials along. This section fills a special niche forthose able to hike mid-week, avoiding the crowds. Thanks to the

original leaders, Sid and Joyce Alpert for bringing this special se

tion to the chapter about 40 years ago. Look for outings write-up

that mention "Wed-in-the-Mtns". We may be up in years, but do

think we don't offer some beautiful and challenging hikes. Join

Al Hofstatter

Probably the best hike I ever did for the Wednesday in the

Mountains section is in three parts. First we went to the Califor

Wolf Center near Julian for a private tour and then observation o

Grey Wolf pack in their natural habitat. Then a hike down Bann

Canyon to the old Warlock Gold mine and a lecture on the late

19th century gold strike. Back to Julian for lunch and apple pie.After lunch a visit to the Pioneer Museum in Julian. Here you se

the history of this famous California town from 1860 to today.

Then we walked Julian to all the many historical plaques and the

final highlight was the old Julian cemetery. Drue Bailey, the

founder of Julian, is buried there. It was an unforgettable day:

wolfs, gold mine, museum, old cemetery, and APPPLE PIE.

Taking a break atTemecula Winery

On the road nearWarner Springs Ranch



October 16th

Come join Rene Owens, wildlife ecolo-gist and our own ConservationCommittee Chair, as she shares how anAmerican living in a remote region ofVenezuela learned how to catch thelargest snakes in the world, wrangledendangered crocodiles without becom-ing dinner, rehabilitated ornery otters,shared her living space with capybaras,bats, and cane toads, and entertainedthe occasional film crew.

When she and her colleague first tookan interest in the study of the greenanaconda, they were told by the expertsthat the snakes would be impossible to

find and harder to study, due to theirsecretive nature and aquatic lifestyle.Over 800 anacondas caught andreleased later, they proved the expertswrong. More importantly, they learnedvital information about how the preservationof this unusual species boosts the local econo-my and translates into broader conservation ofthe local habitat, seasonally flooded wetlandsthat support incredible biodiversity includingover 450 species of resident birds.

Renes research in Venezuela was featured inNational Geographic magazine, on NationalGeographic TV, Discovery, Dateline, and

Animal Planet. One of her anaconda photoswas published in TIMEs 100 Greatest Imagesof the 20th Century.

Over the years Ms. Owens work has included

September 18thAntarctica is the highest, driest, windiest, cold-

est place on earth. In 1961, the Antarctica

treaty was signed with the purpose of demilita-

rizing Antarctica and dedicating it to coopera-

tive scientific research. The largest U.S. base is

McMurdo Station on Ross Island. It has asummer population of up to 1500 and winter

population of around 200.

As a scientist, doing research in Antarctica is

both exciting and challenging. After a 5 hour

flight from New Zealand on a C-17, we arrive

at McMurdo Station and immediately begin

taking required safety classes, including "Happy

Camper" school. Anyone who travels away

from the base must go to Happy Camper

school where you learn to build a snow wall

and survive one night camping on the ice

(sometimes in blizzard conditions).

Once classes are completed, we set up our fieldcamp (Penguin Ranch) on the fast ice. Several

holes are drilled in the ice, two for penguins to

dive through and one for an underwater obser-

vation tube set about 15 feet below the ice.

After the ranch is set up, we collect penguins

and begin our research on diving. The focus

of our research is to understand how emperor

penguins manage their oxygen stores (found in

the lungs, blood and muscle) while diving.

Using the observation tube, we can also mon-

itor penguins diving behavior beneath theice. Emperor penguins are amazing divers.

The longest published dive is over 23 minutes

and the deepest over 500 meters. This is a

remarkable accomplishment for a bird.

Our research also includes doing emperor

penguin censuses, which has become even

more important in the light of potential dele-

terious effects of climate change on penguins.

There are 7 emperor penguin colonies

MONTHLY PROGRAMSMonthly programs are free and open to the public and are held on the third Friday at 7:30pm at the Joyce Beers Center located at 3900 Vermont Stre

San Diego, CA. Additional parking is available under Trader Joes and Ralphs. Program Chair: Mannie Kugler - (619) 585-3773

ecological and behaviorastudy of various aquatic

and terrestrial vertebratefrom bonobos to bobolincrocodiles to dolphin biocoustics, but what inspireher the most is how tellinthe story of a day in the lof an animal be it scalyfeathered, or furred -advances the goals of conservation by encouragingpeople to truly care abouwildlife, and helping us show our wild neighborslives are intricately tied toour own in ways we neveimagined.

Rene moved to San Dieg

from New York 20 years to attend graduate schoo

Since then she has traveled in many countries oLatin America, though she currently operates aenvironmental consulting business and humanpest control service in San Diego. Shes been acommunity college instructor in Biology andEnvironmental Science, and taught classes inEcuador and the Galapagos for BostonUniversitys Tropical Ecology Program.

around Ross Island.

For the past 25 years,

our lab has done aeri-

al surveys to estimate

the emperor penguin

populations at the

colonies and deter-

mine any significant

changes in popula-

tion.

Before turning to a lif

in biology, Cassondra

Williams was an attor

ney in Los Angeles

specializing in com-

plex corporate and

real estate litigation.

Several years ago, she

decided to change direction and went back to

school, earning a Masters in Biology fromPurdue University. Now, as a PhD candidate a

Scripps Institution of Oceanography,

Cassondra is studying the diving physiology of

marine vertebrates. Her research on muscle

oxygen depletion in emperor penguins has

taken her to Antarctica three times in the last

four years, spending most of her time at

Penguin Ranch.

Rene Owens

Cassondra Williams


11/16September/October 2009 Hi Sierran San Diego 11

Ansel Adams: A Lifes Work May 23 - October 4, 2009 Museum of Photographic Arts1649 El Prado, San Diego 92101 www.mopa.org

Featuring over 90 photographs, A Lifes Work is a comprehensive and chronological retrospective of the career of Ansel Adams.

One of the most influential and recognized photographers in the world, A Lifes Work will feature many of his iconic masterworks,alongside several of his lesser known yet equally impressive early images.

Closed for Work PartyOctober 3rd & 4th

RSVP Paul Salas(858) 309-8472

October 6th & October 10th, 2009San Diego Chapter Outing Leader Training

The Sierra Club Statement of Purpose begins, "To explore,

enjoy, and protect the wild places of the Earth" In order

to more effectively carry out this purpose, we need you as

an outing leader.

To become a Level I Chapter Outing Leader

(Lead on-trail day hikes and car camps) you must:

1. Have been on at least fourSierra Club outings.2. Be a Sierra Club Member3. Be at least 18 years of age.4. Attend all of both days of Level I ChapterOuting Leader training.5. Obtain a Red Cross Standard First Aidcard or equivalent before proceedingto step 6.6. Plan, publish and execute beforeOctober 6, 2010, two outings on whichexperienced leaders evaluate you.

Level I Chapter Outing Leader Training involves completion

of BOTH of the following sessions:

Session One: Tuesday, October 6th, 5:30pm 9:30pm at the cluboffice 8304 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., #101, San Diego, CA 92111.

Bring note-taking materials.

Session Two: Saturday, October 10th, 8:30am to about 5:00pm

How To Sign Up: Send email beginning July 1st [email protected]. Include your full name, postal mailingaddress, phone number and your Sierra Club member number(appears above you name on Sierra Magazine) in your message.

You will receive confirmation of your sign up. The training class will belimited to the first 20 qualified persons who sign up. Sign-ups will beaccepted beginning July 1st and will continue until the class is full oruntil 6:00pm Monday, September 28th, whichever comes first. If you donot have email, you may sign up by calling (858) 272-4495 between9am and 9pm beginning July 1st.

If you are not a Sierra Club member, or have not been one long enoughto acquire a member number, you may not attend this training.Training is held twice a year. The next training will be in Spring 2010.

Information on how to join the Sierra Club can be found on page 14 ofthis newsletter or online at www.sierraclub.org.

No late registrations or walk-ins will beaccepted for this training.

North CountyInland Meeting

General Membership Meeting Tuesday,

Sept. 22 6:30pm. Public welcome. Come

out and join us for an evening of infor-

mation and enlightenment. Our guest

speaker will be Cindy Stankowski:Director of the San Diego Archaeological

Center. Cindy will be speaking about

San Diego's rich collection of artifacts.

The San Diego Archaeological Center is

located in San Pasqual Valley, East of

Escondido. Take Highway 78 and drive

1.5 miles past the San Diego Wild

Animal Park. The Center is located on

the left.


12/16

4th THURSDAY POTLUCK MIXER

September 24th, 6:00-8:00 pmSustainable Economy for San Diego/Tijuana Region(repeat, because Jim was sick during the June date)Jim Bell, director of the Ecological Life

Systems Institute, will be talking about creatinga life-support sustaining economy and way oflife in the San Diego and Tijuana region. In histalk, Jim will show how the San Diego/TijuanaRegion can gracefully transform its currentnon-sustainable economies and ways of lifeinto economies and ways of life that are life-support sustaining and renewable energy, waterand food self-sufficient.

October 22nd, 6:00-8:00 pmWhat Polar Bears Can Hear and WhyConservationists Should CareDr Ann Bowles, a senior research scientist atHubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute in SanDiego, will present a manifesto on the impor-tance of sensory ecology in conservation, par-ticularly as it relates to our beloved Polar Bear.Ann is part of a group of scientists testing thehearing of polar bears to try to find outwhether the noises associated with meltingArctic ice could affect their ability to survive.

There will be no Nov and Dec potluck mixersdue to the 4th Thursday of the month

falling on/near Thanksgiving andChristmas respectively.

SINGLES ORIENTATIONWednesday September 9th 6:30-7:30PMA good way to find your interests. Meetingfeatures Sierra Singles events/activities, discus-sion of questions and overview of Sierra ClubChapter. No reservations needed.Location: Mission Valley Branch Library,Seminar Room A, 2123 Fenton Parkway, SDContact: E. L. Lotecka,[email protected], or 760.533.2725.

SINGLES BOARD MEETINGMonday September 14th, 6:30-7:30 PMHeres your chance to share ideas for theSingles Section. The meeting is primarily busi-ness rather than social, but some membersbrown bag and chat starting at 6 PM.Volunteer opportunities available. You cansign-up online through

www.meetup.com/Sierra-Singles.Location: Chapter Office #105Contact: E. L. Lotecka,[email protected] or 760.533.2725.

20's & 30's Single Sierrans(For singles age 20-39)

www.sandiego.sierraclub.org/20s30s

A section of the San Diego Chapter

September/October 2009 Hi Sierran San Diego12

San Diego ChapterGlobal WarmingCommittee UpdateThe 2009 Climate Protection Report on

San Diego, Chula Vista. Solana Beach, El

Cajon, La Mesa, Coronado and Del Mar

is available to read at the Chapter office or

online at www.sandiego.sierraclub.org. Onthe basis of the surveys and report.

Chula Vista was chosen for our 2009

"Cool Cities" for its climate action plan to

reduce its community-wide carbon emis-

sions 20% below its 1990 levels by 2010.

Chula Vista is also a leader in water con-

servation, solid waste disposal, city use of

alternative-fuel vehicles, alternative energy

sources, green buildings and "smart

growth" design principles.

The cities of San Diego and Solana Beach

were awarded honorable mentions fortheir excellent climate protection leader-

ship.

The Global Warming Committees mem-

bers have taken part in the "Sunrise

Powerlink" campaign, the California Air

Resources Boards AB 32 Scoping Plan

and recycling among other issues. We are

currently sponsoring and engaged in the

Chapters "Pull the Plug" campaign.

There is much more we could do, so if

you are interested in the climate change

issue, please join us to volunteer. We needyou! For more information call

Donald Lee at (858) 643-0024 .

1st FRIDAY POTLUCK & MOVIE NIGHT

September 4thPotluck 6:00 pm & Movie 6:30pm

Blue Gold: World Water Wars (90 minutes)Audience Choice winner as the BestEnvironmental Film of the 2008 VancouverInternational Film Fest, this movie is based onthe groundbreaking book Blue Gold: The Fightto Stop the Corporate Theft of the World'sWater. Corporate giants, private investors andcorrupt governments vie for control of ourdwindling fresh water supply, promptingprotests, law suits, and revolutions from citi-zens fighting for the right to survive.

October 2ndPotluck 6:00 pm & Movie 6:30pmKing Corn: You Are What You Eat (90 minutes)Described by the Boston Globe as "Enormouslyentertaining! Moral, socio-economic odysseythrough the American food system," King Cornshows how--and why--whenever you eat ahamburger or drink a soda you're really con-

suming ...corn.

Location: Chapter OfficeSponsor: International CommitteeContact: Jean Costa 619-463-0721

1st SATURDAY FAMILY NATURE ACTIVITYSeptember 5th & Oct 3rd, 10:00am - 11:30amEasy & educational conservation, ecology, andnature activities. All are welcome, includingpregnant women, people with babies, small,older children, seniors, and those wanting aslow-paced outdoor experience.Locations: Primarily in parks, beaches, andpublic areas.

Sponsor: Family CommitteeContact: Jennifer Douglas Vettel,

[email protected](email preferred); 858-344-5490 cell

3rd FRIDAY MONTHLY CHAPTER PROGRAMSeptember 18th, 7:30 pm

Life at Penguin Ranch AntarticaOctober 16th, 7:30 pmHow to Keep Your Garden Free FromGiant AnacondasOur outstanding monthly travelogues orlecture/slide shows and chapter news.See the ad on page 10 for more details.Location: Joyce Beers Center,3900 Vermont St in Hillcrest.Sponsor: San Diego ChapterContact: Mannie Kugler 619-585-3773


13/16


14/16


15/16

Inner City Outings:9 Years As Part of the Solution

The primary mission of ICO is to get kids

outside, submerse them in nature and allow

them to experience things they would not see

in the city. We hope this provides positivememories they will take with them as they

grow into environmental stewards of the next

generation. To further this mission, at the

end of each outing we gather in a circle andshare what each of us liked (or disliked)

about the trip. On some outings, the answers

tend to be the same: after a long, hot hike in

Cuyamaca Rancho State Park that was fol-lowed by time at Green Valley Falls, every

child picked playing in thewater as the best part of

the day. And at the end ofa hike to the top of

Stonewall Peak, nearly

every child picked the view

from the top as the bestpart. On other outings,

however, we are fortunate

enough to experience so

many different interesting,memorable and sometimes

unexpected things that the

"best" part of the trip turnsout to be different for eachof the children. One such

outing was a two-night

camping trip we took in

mid-July to the Laguna Mountains withPromise Charter School.

Despite the heat, we did plenty of hiking

(some 13 miles over the weekend) and saw a

wide variety of what the area has to offer.And what children said was their favorite part

of the outing reflected that natural diversity.

One child liked best the view late in the day

from Fosters Point when the surroundingmountain peaks were illuminated by the set-

ting sun, while another liked best the night-

time view of the stars when we returned to

Fosters Point several hours later, while othersliked best the three scorpions that our flash-

lights spotted in the trail on the hike to the

point. One childs favorite part of the week-

end was hiking to our camp site on Fridayafternoon from the Sunset Ridge trailhead

some three miles away, while another child

was more impressed by the grazing cattle that

we passed along the trail as we approachedBig Laguna Lake. Being at the top of Garnet

Peak early Sunday morning before the heat of

the day kicked in was tops for one child,

while another really liked the Coast HornedLizard that their teacher found during the

hike up the mountain. In its early morning

coolness, the lizard allowed itself to be held

for photos by several of the children beforebeing sent on its way back to the chaparral.

Much to the delight of my inner herpetolo-

gist, one of the childrens favorite part of the

weekend was the very large (and very agitat-ed) Southern Pacific Rattlesnake that loudly

rattled its displeasure at having its breakfast

of ground squirrel interrupted by our hike as

it crawled off the trail and into the scrub oak

with its head held high,making quite clear who was

in charge of the situation.

The freshly killed groundsquirrel it left behind pro-

vided a teaching opportuni-

ty about what these snakes

eat (although my holding itscarcass up for inspection

was not listed as a highlight

by any of the kids), before

being tossed in the generaldirection of where the rat-

tlesnake had gone (and

where I hoped it wouldcontinue its meal in soli-

tude).

And yes, some of the kids

did say their favorite part of the trip was the

time spent swimming at Green Valley Falls

(the nearest flowing water to our camp site),where we went after the rattlesnake hike.

With the thermometer hitting well above 90

degrees by mid-afternoon, who could argue

with that choice? Another childs favoritepart of the weekend was learning how to

whistle using an acorn cap.

From stars to scorpions, from peak-bagging

to rattlesnake watching, and from whistling toswimming, each child described his or her

favorite part of the weekend in a unique way.

These are the outings that remind me how

each one of us experiences the outdoors in adifferent way, and how each of us takes some-

thing unique from it. And, for me, watching

these kids enjoy (and learn from) each of

these new experiences was the best part of theweekend. Although the rattlesnake was pretty

cool too.

Bill TaylerSan Diego, ICO Co-Chair

September/October 2009 Hi Sierran San Diego 15

Inner City Outings (ICO) is aSierra Club outreach program thatprovides free wilderness experiencesto urban youth, to help them realizethe wonders of exploring the out-doors, develop the skills to do itsafely, and nurture a desire toprotect natural spaces.Please visit our website at

http://sandiego.sierraclub.org/ico/.New Volunteer Orientations6:30 to 7:30 PM every 3rd Thursdayof the month, at the San DiegoChapter office: 8304 ClairemontMesa Blvd., Suite 101. Anyone interested in ICO is welcome to attend.Please contact Jim Davis for moreinformation: [email protected] or call760-739-8407.

Join us on an ICO Trip Want tosee us in action? Join us as a guest

on a day trip. Please check the ICOcalendar at http://sandiego.sierra-club.org/ico/ and contact the leaderlisted for more information.

How to Donate We appreciateyour support helping us to provideexciting, safe adventures free ofcharge. To receive a tax credit foryour donation, please make yourcheck payable to "Sierra ClubFoundation/San Diego ICO" andsend to:

San Diego ICO

c/o Mike Gilligan, 906 Hayes Ave.,San Diego, CA 92101.

Contact info for this article:Bill Tayler, e-mail:[email protected]

ICOs Need For Used Gear

Your Used Gear Can Help

Kids Explore The Outdoors!

Please consider donating

your used hiking and

camping gear to Inner CityOutings. We especially are

in need of small sizes of

hiking shoes and boots with

life left in them.

To donate, contact Bill Tayler [email protected] for your support!


16/16

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEThe Executive Committee meets the 3rd Wednesdayof every month at 6:30pmChair Joe Zechman (2010)(619) 709-6268 [email protected] Chair Carolyn Chase (2009)(858) 272-2930 [email protected] Chrissy Magee (2009)(858) 635-8908 [email protected] Larry Klaasen(619) 582-7407 [email protected] Grubb (2009)(760) 753-0273 [email protected] Klaasen (2010)(619) 582-7407 [email protected] Schmidt (2009)(858) 794-8919 [email protected] Stevens (2010)(858) 673-0891 [email protected]

NORTH COUNTY GROUP (NCG) (INLAND)The NCG Executive Committee meets the 2nd Tuesday ofthe month. Contact Chair for time and location.Chair Pattie Warnick(760) 788-2106 [email protected] Chair George Greer(760) 788-5450 [email protected] Ken Quigley760-723-4425 [email protected] (Wilderness Basics Course) Jeff Marchand

(760) 728-8220 [email protected] COUNTY COASTAL GROUPThe "Coasters" meet the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7pmEncinitas Community CenterChair Dave Grubb(760) 753-0273 [email protected]

INNER CITY OUTINGSCall or check website for meeting informationhttp://sandiego.sierraclub.org/ICOCo-Chair Bill Tayler, 858-272-8574,[email protected]

Co-Chair Ed Barber, [email protected]

SECTIONS

Younger Sierrans -20s & 30s Singleswww.sandiego.sierraclub.org/20s30s

BicycleCall for meeting information: Tom Yager(760) 470-0187 [email protected]/bicycle

FamilyJennifer Douglas(858) 344-5490 [email protected]

PhotographyJonathan Fennell [email protected]/photoclub

SinglesE.L. Lotecka (760) 533-2725Meet 2nd Monday of month at 6:30 pm Chapter Office #105

CONSERVATION COMMITTEEMeets the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 6:30pmChair Renee Owens - [email protected]

CoastalCall for meeting information Joanne Pearson(858) 459-7041 [email protected]

DesertCall for meeting information: Larry Klaasen(619) 582-7407 [email protected]

Forest & WildernessMeets the 1st Wednesday of the month at 6:30pmCall for location: David Voss

(760) 717-8823 [email protected] Paxton(760) 744-3282 [email protected]

Global WarmingMeets the 1st Monday of the month at 6:30pmCall for location: Donald Lee (858) 643-0024Jean Costa (619) 463-0721

InternationalMeets the 4th Monday of the month at 6:30pmCall for location: Jean Costa(619) 463-0721

Land UseCall for meeting informationJeanette Hartman(619) 318-6634 [email protected]

Parks

Call for meeting information: Devore Smith(619) 286-8905

Seals CampaignCall for meeting information.Ellen Shively(619) 479-3412 [email protected]

Smart Energy Solutions Task ForceDave Grubb(760) 753-0273 [email protected]

TransportationMike Bullock(760) 754-8025 Call for meeting information

WaterCall for meeting information: Ed Kimura(858) 569-2025 [email protected]

Webmaster (ConsCom)Dave [email protected]

WildlifeCall for meeting information: Rennee Owens619-447-4979 [email protected]

OUTINGS COMMITTEEMeets quarterly, call for informationChair Jim Matlock (858) 505-2385

Bus TripsMike Fry (858) 748-5166

Chapter Outings Leadership Training (COL)Skip Forsht(858) 272-4495 [email protected]

Leadership Review & Safety CommitteeMarty Stevens(858) 673-0891 [email protected]

MountaineeringByron Cook(619) 888-2831 [email protected]

Pacific Coast TrailOccasional work partiesRob Langsdorf(858) 459-1726

SkiMeets the 2nd Tuesday of month 6pm (November- April)Mike Fry (858) 748-5166

Wednesday in the MountainsCall for information: Dale Laney (619) [email protected]

Wilderness Basics Course (WBC)WBC Information Line(858) 467-5074 [email protected] Marchand (WBC N. County)(760) 728-8220 [email protected]

STANDING & SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Foster LodgeMeets 3rd Tuesday of each month at 5:30pm atChapter Office (No meeting in December)RSVP for pre-meeting dinner toMary Eggen (858) 453-1615For lodge Information call:Susan Parrish (619) 478-5188

4th Thursday MixersJan Schalkwijk (619) 269-0329

[email protected]

FundraisingMeets 4th Thursday of each month at 6:00pmRichard Miller (858) 569-6005

[email protected]

Hi Sierran NewsletterMeets the 2nd Monday of each month at 6:00pmCommittee Chair Ellen [email protected]

LibrarianBobbi Weaver (leave message at Chapter office)(858) 569-6005

MembershipRichard Miller (858) [email protected]

Monthly ProgramMannie Kugler (619) 585-3773

Nature Knowledge Workshop (NKW)Lee Siegel (619) 583-3261Barry Hite (Assistant)[email protected]

PoliticalCall for meeting information:Carolyn Chase (858) [email protected]

Committee & Contact Information

San Diego Chapter8304 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. #101, San Diego, CA 92111On the north side & just west of the 163.

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 12:00pm 5:00pmPhone: 858-569-6005Chapter Coordinator: Cheryl Reiff email: [email protected] Coordinator: Richard Miller email: [email protected]

Meetings are held at the Sierra Club office or conference room unless otherwise indicated.

sep 2009 san diego sierra

Documents