Trips & Events

Current Trip Information

You must be a current member of Desert Survivors to join in with one of these trips. Each membership applies to one individual adult. For reasons of liability insurance coverage each adult trip participant must have his or her own individual membership. Children 17 years and younger participating on a trip will be covered by the adult parent or legal guardian's Desert Survivors membership. Trip participants are required a sign a relase of liability form at the beginning of each trip.

If you are new to Desert Survivors or contemplating joining one of our interesting desert trips as a new member please read General Trip Information at the bottom of this page.

Many of our popular trips, particularly car camps on 3 day holiday weekends, tend to fill early and quickly, so plan accordingly. We ask that if you do secure a reservation with a trip leader, please be sure to use it, but if you cannot keep the reservation then advise the trip leader immediately to allow someone on standby to take the open slot.

Our backpacking trips tend not to fill to maximum at all times and may have an open space or two. If you find yourself with an open weekend and want to join in, try phoning the trip leader, space may still be available.

A trip leader may ask that you contact them directly by telephone. This enables the leader to assess your skills and abilities and to answer any questions you may have. Your safety and enjoyment while on the trip is just one of their many concerns. They want you have fun and the trip to be a rewarding experience. This also enables the trip leaders to build a "balanced group" that will enhance everyone's enjoyment of the trip.

Upon securing a slot for the trip you will be emailed additional information concerning the meeting area, car-pooling, last minute changes, etc.

Click here for your Overnight Backpacking Checklist.

FALL 2023

DESERT SURVIVORS TRIPS & EVENTS

Trip leaders may add trips during the schedule period. Refer to this webpage for updates.
Ratings: (E) EASY (M) MODERATE (S) STRENUOUS

UPCOMING TRIPS AND EVENTS

These trips and events are for current Desert Survivors members.

Lapsed in your membership? Want to join? Please go to THIS PAGE.

September 8-10, 2023 (Fri - Sun)

BRISTLECONE CAMPOUT (M) White Mountains, CA

The Grandview Campground in the high mountains above Bishop, CA will be our base. It is a respite from the valley heat, and there is so much to see. There are the iconic and unique 4,000-year-old Bristlecones, including the Schulman Grove and a gem of a visitors’ center with lessons on dendrochronology for all ages. There is a caravan tour down Wyman Canyon, a wonderful natural feature that descends from 11,000’ to Deep Springs Valley 5,000’ below, terminating at White Mountain City, site of the biggest voter fraud scheme in California history!

An ordinary 2WD car can make the trip to the campground and to the Patriarch Grove but higher clearance is more comfortable. The Wyman Canyon drive would be for higher clearance vehicles only. We do expect some kids on this trip so their presence will affect the schedule. Nap time for everyone, young and old! Limit: 12 Adults Contact leader: Chuck McGinn cemcginn@gmail.com

October 1, 2023 (Sun) 9:30AM to 12:30AM

TRIP LEADERS BRUNCH AND MEETING, Oakland, CA (E)

All trip leaders and those interested in becoming trip leaders or co-leaders are encouraged to attend. This is a chance to get better acquainted over a meal followed by a meeting to discuss ideas, issues, leadership requirements, and future activities for Desert Survivors trip leaders. Brunch will be hosted by the Activities Director Marisa Seaman at her home in the Oakland hills. RSVP to Activities Director Marisa Seaman seaman@desert-survivrors.org or (510) 872-5341

October 8-14, 2023 (Sun-Sat)

LONESOME MINER TRAIL BACKPACK, Inyo Wilderness (S)

WAITING LIST ONLY. The classic Desert Survivor backpack and where it all began: the Inyo Mountains. We will begin at the Pat Keyes trailhead in Owens Valley and will traverse the Inyo range heading south, dropping into and climbing out of several of the canyons in the range, eventually coming out in Saline Valley via Little Hunter Canyon. All of the canyons have historic mining trails, mills, and sites and we will explore many of them. We will be at water once a day, but you must be able to carry a 1-1/2-day supply (about 12 pounds) for part of the hike. Option to spend the night we finish the hike at Saline Valley hot springs. Car-shuttle required. Limit 6. Contact Stacy Goss: stacy.goss@comcast.net This trip is already full. Sign up only for waiting list.

October 20-22 (Fri.-Sun.)

DESERT MUSEUM TOUR, Mojave Desert (E/M)

This trip starts Friday afternoon on the western edge of the Mojave Desert at Saddleback Butte State Park in the Antelope Valley. We will visit the Antelope Valley Indian Museum on Saturday. This was originally a Swiss chalet-style house built in 1928 amidst the rock formations of Piute Butte to display a collection of Native American artifacts. The home was later acquired by second owner who added her own artifacts. Today it is a California State Park Museum with outstanding exhibits of the native cultures of the western Great Basin.

On Sunday morning we head to Barstow, CA for a docent-led tour of the Mojave River Valley Museum. It is packed with Mojave Indian artifacts and displays of European & American settler activities, beginning with the arrival of Father Garces in 1776. From there we go to Route 66 "Mother Road" Museum located at the historic Harvey House to view the collection of historic photographs and artifacts related to U.S. Highway 66 and the Mojave Desert Communities. The trip ends here.

If you have signed up for Dave Oline's trip to Ave Kwa Ame, we will caravan east to camp at Goffs Schoolhouse in the Mojave Desert Preserve, arriving late Sunday afternoon. No dogs. Limit: 15. Contact leader: Marisa Seaman seaman@desert-survivors.org. or (510)872-5341

October 22-26, 2023 (Sunday evening - Thursday)

AVE KWA AME NATIONAL MONUMENT, Searchlight, NV (M)
Be some of the first to visit America’s newest national monument, Avi Kwa Ame––proclaimed by President Biden in March 2023. Driven by a coalition of local tribes to protect cultural resources from large-scale energy development, this huge monument in the southernmost tip of Nevada has multiple mountain ranges along with broad valleys, many of which are protected habitat for the endangered desert tortoise. We will explore sculpted granite canyons, petroglyphs, critical bighorn sheep habitat, and ancient forests of some of the largest and oldest known Joshua trees. The trip finishes right in time for the Desert Survivors Annual General Meeting at Goffs Schoolhouse. Requires a high clearance vehicle; no dogs. Limit: 8 vehicles, carpooling encouraged. Contact leader: Dave Oline olined@sou.edu (458) 658-7307

October 26-29, 2023 (Thurs-Sun)

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING RETREAT, Goffs, CA. (E/M)

This year's Desert Survivors Annual General Meeting Retreat (AGM) will be held in Goffs, CA (est. 1883) on the property of the historic Goffs Schoolhouse and museum, on the south-east part of the Mojave National Preserve. The schoolhouse was built in 1914 near the railway line along the old Route 66, for the families of the area's miners and railroad workers. The building was restored in 1998 by Dennis Casebier, and is now the site of the Mojave Desert Heritage and Cultural Association. The school building houses a vast collection of books and research materials pertaining to the American desert west.

We will be camping in the community within the museum, where we will learn its rich history and explore various points of interest along the East Mojave Heritage Trail. Activities will include various hikes, a tour of Mitchell Caverns, 4WD vehicle trek to the ruins of Fort Piute, and presentations and evening entertainment with ragtime piano accompaniment to an old western movie. Contact: Marisa Seaman seaman@desert-survivors.org 510-872-5341

October 29, 2023, Sunday morning

DESERT SURVIVORS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, Goffs, CA

We will discuss organizational issues, hear reports from board members and elect a new board of directors. The meeting is open to all Desert Survivors members. You do not have to take part in the retreat to participate in the meeting. More information to come. Contact: Marisa Seaman seaman@desert-survivors.org 510-872-5341

November 10-12, 2023 (Fri - Sun)

JOSHUA TREE BACKPACK (S) Joshua Tree National Park

Test your endurance with this 3-day, 32-mile backpack through some of the parks most memorable scenery––including Johnny Lang Canyon, Smith Water Canyon and The Maze––presenting a variety of terrain, elevation, plant communities, geology, geography and wildlife including the occasional desert tortoise. Time permitting, we may add The Wonderland of Rocks from Indian Cove to Willow Hole. We’ll gather Friday morning at the campground, then drive to the trailhead for an early start. Please be prepared for the challenge: we’ll carry 6 liters of water (and cache water), pace will be moderate (2+ miles per hour over varied terrain), we’ll cover 12 ~ 13 miles per day on the first two days with a total elevation gain of 3,500’ over 3 days, expect rough, off-trail conditions, dry falls and class 2-3 scrambling. This is a (partly) exploratory trip so be prepared for adjustments to our itinerary, bring appropriate gear and an adventurous attitude! Campsites reserved in Indian Cove campground for Thursday the 9th. Limit 10. Contact trip leaders: Paul Harris goodnightocean@yahoo.com 510-926-2600 or Carol Clark gogetoutandrun@gmail.com 415-205-0150.

MORE DESERT SURVIVORS TRIPS MAY BE IN THE OFFING

We will announce new trips and events by email, and at our website: desert-survivors.org

Current Covid-19 Safety Policies for Desert Survivors Trips

The welfare of Desert Survivors members is a paramount concern in all of our activities. For this reason, we encourage trip participants to be vaccinated for Covid-19, including booster shots.

If you develop Covid-19 symptoms shortly before a trip please stay home. If Covid-19 symptoms arise during the trip, please tell the trip leader as soon as possible. Desert Survivors Covid-19 polices, follow the best information available at the time of this writing. The Covid-19 pandemic is an ever-changing crisis. Our safety protocols are subject to modification at any time.

Annual membership ($30) required for each adult trip participant. Beginning January 2019 each spouse of a married couple, who participates in a Desert Survivors trip, will need to pay the $30 annual membership fee. The membership fee is not required if the participant has Honorary Membership status, or if the participant is the minor child of Desert Survivors member. A $35 donation (new price) may also be requested by the leader at the trailhead. This donation is voluntary. Each participant must sign a general liability waiver and to list emergency contacts before departing on the trip. Trips are cooperative in nature. Some trips may be exploratory (not previewed by trip leader). Conditions may be difficult and the unexpected may occur. Consult with leader for details before deciding to go on trip. Trip sign-up procedure: You must call or write leader in advance to reserve space and receive a map and detailed trip description. Leader will confirm your sign-up. Due to past instances where participants signed up for a trip and did not show, a trip leader may require a $20 reservation fee. Trip participants will learn if the fee is required during the confirmation with the leader. This fee will be refunded at the trailhead.

• As noted in trip write-ups above, some leaders have set limits to the number of participants.
• Sign-ups are first come, first served. A waiting list will be maintained to fill any spaces that arise due to drop-outs. Please notify the leader ahead of time if you are dropping out.
• Desert Survivors encourages trip participants to carpool as a means to increase driver safety while reducing costs, energy consumption and environmental impacts. Trip participants are responsible for making their own carpool arrangements. Desert Survivors recommends that trip participants make equitable arrangements to share costs, and all arrangements and financial compensation should be clearly negotiated in advance.
• Desert Survivors' trips begin at the designated trailhead. While trip participants are expected to cooperate with the trip leader, each participant is responsible for his or her own safety. In particular, trip participants are responsible for safely transporting themselves to and from trip locals.
• Firearms are not allowed on any Desert Survivors activities (trips, events, meetings.)

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Trips & Events

Current Trip Information