Fall 2020 (the pre-vaccine edition) NEWSLETTER Providing members a variety of hiking, social and stewardship opportunities
The Calendar’s looking just a bit skimpy...
Council members Social butterflies are still keeping their distance; for 2020 no in-person gatherings on the schedule yet. But, most trails are OPEN, and Dianne Delong trail news is inspiring! Dave Luckwell So soak up some winter sun for Vitamin D, Mike Ovesen eat your vegetables Bernard Rochet and stay healthy! Herbie Rochet Gary Ward Inside this issue…
Bernice Lepera has retired from Rest in peace, Nancy Bone Council. Many thanks, Bernice, for your service as secretary! TRAIL news
Desert Wildfires: Whitewater & Snow Creek
Seasonal hiking updates Fall 2020 Missing Nancy… Nancy Bone succumbed to COVID-19 in May, when she returned to Minnesota from the desert. She will be sorely missed by those who hiked with her and those of us who could never keep up with her but enjoyed her wit & wisdom at a slower pace.
Nancy died peacefully after a very brief and aggressive attack by COVID-19 on May 7, 2020 at The University of Minnesota Hospital. She was born in 1942 in Durham, North Carolina. She was preceded in death by both parents and her daughter Betsy. She is survived by her son Brian Bone (Jenni Klotz), her beloved grandson Isaac, her brother Jerry Davis (Marsha), nephew Greg and many friends. She grew up in Durham and earned a Bachelor’s Degree from UNC. She moved to Burnsville, Minnesota in 1969 and raised two children there. She worked for many years at the VA Medical Center and ended her career doing medical research at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Nancy was spirited, strong-willed, independent, and passionate. She lived simply, but enthusiastically, pursuing her interests in hiking, mushrooming, rock collecting, landscaping, art, classical music, nature, and travel. The bigger the challenge, the better! And she had a special love for hiking in the Palm Springs, CA area with her group of fellow adventurers. ...
A link to her full obituary (from which the above was taken) is here (kindness of Charles Buck): https://www.whitefuneralhomes.com/obituary/nancy-bone Fall 2020 TRAIL NEWS from Rich Jarvinen
The Indio Hills Badlands trail parking area (and trail) had its grand opening on November 20th. Several community leaders were in attendance, but because of Covid-19, very few members of the public, and no volunteers participated. The congratulations didn't really recognize those who did the ground work, but Friends of the Desert Mountains was recognized as a participant. On behalf of the FODM Trail Ambassador program, I would personally like to recognize and thank the hundreds of volunteers who contributed thousands of hours; in short order they built the trail, marked it and still keep it clean and open to this day. A special note of thanks goes to our DTHC member who led all that heavy work on the trail, Gordon Fiddler. And heartfelt thanks go to our good friend Nancy Bone who loved that trail as much as any. We'll miss her.
The Trails Management Subcommittee is moving forward with identifying and developing additional new trails in the North Coachella Valley area. A list of 10 potential trails was presented at the November TMS meeting, and included a "Badlands East" trail segment along with several trails leading into JTNP from the south and west. A long trail, connecting palm oases in the California State Park at Indio Hills Palms to the Coachella Valley Preserve, is also included. That current track shows it to be a shuttle hike of close to 9 miles distance. Likely timing for the first trails to be ready for use is probably three or so years.
The Bighorn Sheep of the Peninsular Range study is moving toward publication. Volunteer reporting support from DTHC will be included, but the low number of study days and limited observations will act more as a validation tool than robust data modeling feedstock. There will likely be opportunities to begin monitoring trail use and sheep interactions beginning in the spring. Fall 2020 More TRAIL news...
Efforts of the Palm Springs Volunteer Trail Rangers to inform trail users of dogs- on-trails prohibitions have really taken off. The group is being led by Jim Flanagan. Below is a brief overview of its purpose and background. Say "howdy" as you see them staffing trailheads, and pick up one of their helpful information cards to pass on to others. If anyone would like to help out, contact [email protected].
Palm Springs Volunteer Trail Rangers Purpose: To educate and increase awareness about the endangered big horn sheep population in the San Jacinto and Santa Rosa Mountains and the impact of bringing non- native animals into their habitat. We are NOT there to provide enforcement of any City, State or Federal Ordinances.
Background: To protect the Peninsular Bighorn Sheep, access by dogs has been limited on BLM and National Monument Lands. While this has been the case for several years, only recently has Palm Springs begun enforcing this with the passing of City Ordinance adding Section 11.44.100 to the Palm Springs Municipal Code on Oct 23, 2019. City fines begin at $250 for first offense and $500 thereafter. Off-leash dogs are considered a harassment to sheep and can result in Federal fines up to $10,500 per Endangered species act U.S.C. 1531 et. seq.
Materials/Support Available: Volunteer ranger t-shirts are available to those who can commit to a minimum of 20 hours of trail staffing. A handout – Hiking with Dogs in Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument – is available in print or electronic format. This handout provides a simple background about why dogs are not allowed, suggested alternative locations that are dog friendly and a list of FAQ’s that answer most questions about the ordinance. Fall 2020 Desert Wildfire Update In August 2020, San Bernadino was scorched by the El Dorado fire and Whitewater Canyon Preserve was ravaged by the Water Fire. In September the Snow Creek/ Windy Point communities were threatened by a wind-driven blaze. Thankfully we can report that all three fires were contained and restoration has begun, but the devastation at Whitewater is especially heartbreaking.
Below are two letters about the damage to the Whitewater Canyon Preserve from Jack Thompson (the Desert Reserves Regional Director, Whitewater Preserve Manager & Staff Photographer for the Wildlands Conservancy). Links to newspaper articles about the fire, its containment and its effects on surrounding communities follow Jack’s letters. Many individuals and organizations have chipped in to help toward the Preserve’s recovery, including the DTHC, but fund-raising is going slowly, as Jack’s second letter reveals.
Jack Thompson's first letter (September 2020): "Friends... You may have read in the Los Angeles Times how I personally risked my life to save the beauty that so many people have come to love at Whitewater Preserve. Shortly after the Water fire ignited the afternoon of August 2, I rode the lead fire engine back into the blaze with one courageous firefighter who was willing to risk it all with me to beat the fire back. In those critical moments, we were able to save our visitor center and park, but suffered $200,000 in damage to the park's infrastructure and lost most of our willow forests. “It would be easy to see the fire damage at Whitewater Preserve and to give in to despair. The charred willow forest was lovingly restored over a decade by impassioned volunteers and Wildlands staff, myself among them. Together, we watched a barren landscape transform into a verdant wetland that became home Fall 2020 to a multitude of wildlife, some rare and endangered. Perhaps most beautifully, the riparian forest inspired the wonder of over 60,000 schoolchildren who visited this special place on Wildlands’ free nature-based field trips. But we need not despair. We have every confidence that with help, the Preserve will spring back in all the beauty we remember. Kind Regards, Jack Thompson”
More from Jack 6 November 2020: “Friends, It’s been nearly three months since the Water Fire raged through the park and wetlands at Whitewater Preserve. In that time we’ve raised nearly $35,000 to help rebuild the park and restore the wetlands. With the help of hardworking and dedicated volunteers, we’ve already begun clearing burned vegetation and repairing trails that will eventually be used by thousands of visiting school children, and our goal is to open the park by mid-December. “The outpouring of community support for the recovery of this cherished place has been both inspiring and heartwarming. It’s with our deepest gratitude that we ask for your help in carrying us through the final weeks of this fundraising campaign. We have every confidence that with your help, the Preserve will heal from this terrible event and be returned to the beauty we all remember. “We extend our most heartfelt thanks to everyone who has made a donation, volunteered their time, or spread the word about the Whitewater Preserve Water fire recovery efforts. There’s still time to make a donation, and more volunteer days will be scheduled this fall and winter (follow us on Facebook and Instagram for volunteer updates). Stay tuned and thank you again. With gratitude, Jack Thompson”
To help restore Whitewater Preserve, go to: https://getinvolved.wildlandsconservancy.org/campaign/help-restore- whitewater-preserve-from-the-water-fire/c297131
Desert Sun links to the Whitewater wildfire: https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/wildfires/2020/08/03/ water-fire-whitewater-preserve-monday-cause-unknown/5572808002/
https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/wildfires/ 2020/08/04/water-fire-update-whitewater-preserve-blaze-90-contained- all-trails-closed/3288917001/ Fall 2020 Snow Creek Fire
The blaze broke out Thursday (17 September 2020) in the 15000 block of Snow Creek Road and was first reported as a car fire. Flames had threatened about 450 homes in the Snow Creek and Windy Point communities, fanned by strong winds. Evacuation orders were in place for both Snow Creek and Windy Point residents until the fire was contained. More than 6,000 acres were burned, but no structures were lost or injuries reported.
Desert Sun links to the Snow Creek blaze:
https://www.desertsun.com/picture-gallery/news/environment/wildfires/ 2020/09/18/photos-wildfire-burns-around-snow-creek- community-near- palm-springs/3488236001/
https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/wildfires/ 2020/09/18/snow-fire-crews-work-overnight-defend-community-near- palm-springs/5823679002/
https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2020/09/21/snow-fire- firefighters-keep-blaze-burning-near-palm-springs-bay/5854679002/
Fall 2020 Current Hiking Opportunities The good news is that most trails are open and hikers are out there using them. The not-so-good news is that (as of this writing) many of our winter hiking visitors have not returned to the valley. The U.S.- Canada border remains closed to non-essential travel, and many visitors from other parts of the U.S. are reticent to leave home during the pandemic. Thus, we have fewer hike leaders on hand for the winter season, and scheduled hikes tend to be closer to “home” (absent our usual car-pooling) and limited to smaller groups. The DTHC hike schedule page lists suggestions for public-health etiquette during hiking (masks, physical distance, etc.) In addition, individual hike leaders may specify precautions/requirements in their hike descriptions. Most of the usual trails are open, but restrictions and/or temporary closures may apply, so please check local websites for current status. In addition to the COVID-19 situation, there are the usual winter weather, trail and road conditions to consider. Whitewater Canyon Preserve has been issuing temporary closures. Joshua Tree National Park is essentially open, but check for weather alerts and trail-access road closures. Mission Creek Preserve & Pioneer Mountains Preserve facilities, including restrooms are CLOSED. Most trails are open EXCEPT Chaparrosa Peak, which is CLOSED for re-routing. Thousand Palms Oasis/Coachella Valley Preserve is operating on winter hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 7 AM to 5 PM. Trails are open, but the parking lot, visitor center, restrooms and Simone Pond are CLOSED for the season. Do check the website before heading out there - especially with a group - because of parking limitations. Fall 2020
Best wishes to everyone for healthy, happy holidays and a productive start to the new year!