MOUNTAINS GROUP
San Gorgonio Chapter

 

 

May - June 2013

Be aware that bad weather conditions may cancel a scheduled event. If in doubt, call the listed leader, or Dave Barrie, 909-337-0313, or Steve Farrell, 661-449-2867.

For more information see the Mountains Group's Bad Weather and Fog Policy.
May 4 (SAT) 9:00 AM
ROCK CAMP ECOLOGY WALK
In our local mountains we will learn about forest and stream side ecosystems.  We will be doing a short and casual hike, a little elevation gain, with frequent discussion stops. WEAR boots, sun hats BRING: snack, water, extra clothing. MEET: Rock Camp parking area, Highway 173, north of Lake Arrowhead. Adventure Pass required for parking
INTERPRETER AND GUIDE, DAVE FICKE, 909-336-4706. LEADER: BILL ENGS, 909-338-1910 
MAY 6 (MON) 6:00 PM
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
Lake Ridge Escrow office, 27236 Hwy 189.  (Next to Country Furniture in Blue Jay Mall. You go in through the double doors and straight down a long hallway to their "public" room.)
Mountain Group members are encouraged to attend the Executive Committee meetings and share their ideas about how we can protect and preserve our natural mountain environment. A call ahead to chairman Dave Barrie at 337-0313 would be appreciated, especially if you have thoughts or opinions to share, so that he can make space for you on the agenda.
MAY 11 (SAT) 8:00 AM
LAKE GREGORY SPRING BIRD WALK
MEET: North Shore Parking Lot, across from Goodwin's. See new spring arrivals and year 'round residents as we walk around the lake. Optional breakfast afterward. LEADER, BILL ENGS, 909-338-1910,

MAY 13 (MON) 7:00 PM
GENERAL MEETING
St. Richard's Episcopal Church, 28708 Highway 18, Sky Forest
Program TBA.
MAY 18 (SAT) 9:00 AM
LITTLE BEAR CREEK HERE AND NOW HIKE
While on this moderate hike, we will focus on what is around us at the moment; sights and  sounds of the forest, and our reactions to them. While on the trail, by talking about only what we see, hear and experience, we should be able to better appreciate what is out there. We will hike the North Shore Trail to Little Bear Creek. Distance: 5 miles RT. Elevation loss and gain: 600 feet.  WEAR: hat and boots. BRING: water, snacks and lunch. Adventure Pass required.
CONTACT: LEADER, BILL ENGS, 909-338-1910  for MEETING PLACE. 
MAY 25 (SAT) 9:00 AM
FLOWER WALK
Join us to see plants blooming in the mountains. Easy hike. BRING: water and snack.
CALL: BARBARA LEVERING, INTERPRETER AND GUIDE, 909-338-1253, for meeting place. LEADER: BILL ENGS, 909-338-1910  Adventure Pass required.
MAY 30 (THU) 9:00 AM
STRAWBERRY PEAK, MEANDER
Join us for an easy 1.5 mile hike with views (a Royal Rendezvous) through the beautiful forest land recently acquired by the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust.  For nearly 10 years, this natural area between Highways 189 and 18 below Strawberry Peak was threatened by an ill-conceived proposal for an oversized, environmentally-destructive Adventure Camp development.  However, the Sierra Club and other allied conservation-minded groups and individuals were determined to save the area from development.  Fortunately, their long fight was ultimately successful and provided the SBMLT the opportunity to step in and purchase the land as part of their ongoing commitment to local forest preservation.  Today we will celebrate this success as we explore and learn about this valuable parcel. BRING: Water and snack.
MEET: Across from Pinecrest Camp on SR 189. CONTACT LEADER: STEVEN FARRELL, 661-449-2867,
JUNE 1 (SAT) 10:00 AM TO 3:00 PM
FOREST FESTIVAL OUTDOOR EVENT
A Non-Sierra Club event sponsored by the U.S. Forest Service and the Southern California Mountains Foundation. Join us for this year's Forest Festival, celebrating the San Bernardino National Forest. Learn about local, non-profit, service agencies, networks, groups, and organizations; all of the wonderful things the forest has to offer; and how we preserve, protect and enjoy our mountain environment. Arts and crafts, music, hiking at the nearby Children's Forest Exploration Trail, and lots of clean mountain air!
LOCATION: The Children's Forest Visitors' Center on Highway 18 just east of Charles Hoffman Elementary School in Running Springs. Parking is available at the nearby Brulte ball-field.
INFO: DAVE BARRIE, 909-337-0313,
JUN 8 (SAT) 9:00 AM
GRAYS/PEAK HIKE
A moderate enjoyable trail to the summit/of Gray's Peak at 7,952 ft. Elevation gain: 1,200 ft., 6 miles
round trip. Good views of Big Bear Lake and surrounding mountains. BRING lunch, 2 quarts of water,
jacket, sun block. MEET at the signed Gray's Peak trailhead parking lot on the left side of Hwy 38 before you reach Fawnskin.
Please CALL ahead for additional information or if you want to carpool from Running Springs.
LEADER: DON FISCHER, 909-939-0332. Adventure Pass required.

JUN 10 (MON) 7:00 PM
GENERAL MEETING
St. Richard's Episcopal Church, 28708 Highway 18, Sky Forest
Program TBA.
JUN 15 (SAT) 9:00 AM
MT. SORENSON HERE AND NOW HIKE
While on this light hike, we will focus on what is around us at the moment; sights and sounds of the forest, and our reactions to them. While on the trail, by talking about only what we see, hear and experience, we should be able to better appreciate what is out there. Wildflowers will be in bloom and we will see how the area has recovered from the 2003 fire as we hike to Mt. Sorenson. Distance: about one mile RT. Elevation gain: 300 feet. WEAR: hat and boots, BRING water and snacks. MEET: Arboretum, east of Sky Forest, on highway 18. Contact LEADER, BILL ENGS 909-338-1910 , for information. Adventure Pass Required.

JUN 22 (SAT) 9:AM

ARROWHEAD RIDGE WALK
Eighty acres of the last remaining island of undeveloped forest within the Lake Arrowhead community, known as Eagle Ridge, was acquired by the San Bernardino Mountains Land Trust in 2011 to protect as forest open space (but not yet officially open to the public). We will follow the Land Trust's newly created trail on the property, a little over a mile with a few steep stretches of medium elevation gain. Walk will take 2 hours or more with frequent discussion (and rest) stops as needed. BRING: snack, water, extra clothing WEAR: boots, sun hats.

MEET: Eagle Ridge Parking area, Grass Valley Road, across from golf course.

LEADER: STEVE FARRELL, 661-449-2867, 
For more hikes and events in our area, check
the Sierra Club San Gorgonio Chapter and Big Bear Group
the Mountain Top Hiking Club schedule, 
the San Bernardino Valley Audubon Calendar
and the Children's Forest Event Calendar.

Be aware that bad weather conditions may cancel a scheduled event. If in doubt, call the listed leader, or Dave Barrie, 909-337-0313, or Steve Farrell, 661-449-2867. For more information, see the Mountains Group's Bad Weather and Fog Policy.

General meetings /strong>are usually held at 7:00 pm on the second Monday of each month at St Richards Episcopal Church, 28708 Hwy 18, Sky Forest. Exceptions are August when we have a camp-out, and December when we have a Holiday Party at Keller Ski Hut.

If you would like to receive notification of meetings and other events and are not already on our email list, send en email to the webmaster, with the words "mountains group email list" on the subject line.

Participants in Sierra Club outings are required to sign a liability waiver. The outings leader will have a copy of the waiver on the sign-in sheet.  Text of Waiver. FAQs. General information about meetings and outings.