Box 3357, Bakersfield, CA 93385-3357
(661) 323-5569
E-mail: kern-kaweah.chapter@sierraclub.org
Every Thursday Evening Conditioning Hike. 4-5 miles in northeast Bakersfield area. Meet at 7 pm at the Casa Ramos (formerly Cadillac Ranch) parking lot just east of Mesa Marin on Hwy 178. Call Leaders Eva & Gordon Nipp (661) 872-2432 or Larry Wailes, (661) 861-1186 for details.
Apr. 8 (Sat) Lower Kern Canyon Flower Hike with the Kern River Valley Hiking Club. Easy to moderate. Leave from the parking area just below the 1st bridge heading up canyon. (Don't park upstream from bridge opposite trailhead. You may get a citation.). Call Ruby or Bill Jenkins, 760-376-4628, or Roberta Abbe, 661-871-5594, for meeting time.
Apr. 11 (Tue) Kaweah & Mineral King Group meeting, 6 p.m. Kaweah & Mineral King Group meeting has been canceled. For additional information phone Theresa Stump 559-781-0594 or Beverly Garcia 559-592-9865.
Apr. 15 (Sat) South Fork of Sand Canyon. We should have some wildflowers. 6-8 mi. round trip,1500 ft. gain. Meet at Ridgecrest Cinemas at 7:30 am. For info. call Dennis 760-375-7967 or Don 760-375-8799.
Apr. 15 (Sat) Mill Creek Hike. (Trailhead on old Kern Canyon Road which forks off Hwy 178 just before start of 4 lane freeway after bridge over Kern R.) Meet at 8:00 a.m. at Café Ramos (formerly Cadillac Ranch) parking lot, next to Mesa Marin or meet at trailhead at 9:30 AM. This is a relatively easy hike, targeted at families with children, but all are welcome. Hopefully we will see some fire salamanders in some of the pools in the creek, and lots of wildflowers. Bring lunch, water, hats, and sunscreen. Leader Larry Wailes 661-861-1186.
April 22 (Sat) Condor Group Wildflower Hike. The destination is really unpredictable at this time. With the recent rains AND snow however, we have more assurance that there will be some real showings of flowers again this spring. For information call 661-242-0423 or 661-242-0432.
Apr 22 (Sat) Annual Kern-Kaweah Chapter Banquet. Happy Hour, 5:00 - 6:15. Celebrate Earth Day and John Muir's birthday. The speaker is Ted Ayers, who will present, "A Photographic Tribute to John Muir and Ansel Adams". The Banquet at the Mt. Vernon Veterans Hall in Bakersfield, 2101 Ridge Road (at Mt. Vernon Ave.) will be catered by La Costa Mexican Restaurant. Cost is $17 each. Reservations may be sent to Michele Hoffman at 120 Portales Real, Bakersfield 93309, 661-835-8599.
April 28-30 (Fri-Sun) CNRCC Desert Com. Mojave National Preserve Car Camp: Camp among pinyon pines and junipers at beautiful Mid Hills CG (5600’ elev) with views of Kelso Dunes and Cima Dome. Mod. hikes include trail from Mid Hills to Hole in the Wall and climb of Teutonia Peak overloking Cima Dome. Sierra Club built the Teutonia Peak trail. Campground fee. Limited water supply. Bring water, wood for campfire, camping gear, day pack. 2WD OK. Send SASE and phone # to Ldr: Bill Engs, Box 3248, Crestline CA 92325 <engs@juno.com> 909-338-1910.
May 5-7 (Fri-Sun) CNRCC Desert Com Northern Death Valley. Exploratory and Peak Bagging Car Camp. Check out Ubehebe Crater, the Racetrack, and other Death Valley wonders. For those with unbounded energy there will be the opportunity to bag two class 1 peaks in the area. These are on the Desert Peaks Section list. Sandy point (7062')-11 miles rt xc with 2700' elev gain; and Last Chance Mountain (8456')-5 miles rt xc hike with 3000' elev gain. Car camp Fri and Sat nights. High clearance not required except for 3.5 miles to Last Chance trailhead. Park entrance fee and campground fee. E-mail or send SASE with H&W phones and rideshare info (and conditioning info if planning to bag the peaks) to Ldr: George Wysup, 9774 Peach Tree Ln, Alta Loma, CA 91737 <gwysup@keyway.net>.
May 27 (Sat.) Condor Group Dick Smith Wilderness Hike. This is a repeat visit for a hike taken last year which really delighted those who were able to take part. For information call 661-242-0423 or 661-242-0432.
June 3-4 (Sat-Sun) Kern River Preserve- near Kernville. (Rescheduled from March). Car camping and hiking in the scenic beauty of Kern Valley. Bob Barnes will lead hikes exploring the South Fork area, the largest riparian forest in Cal. Bring food to share for Sat. night pot-luck dinner. Information call Bob Barnes at 760-378-3044 or E-mail <bbarnes@lightspeed.net> or call Theresa, 559-781-0594.
Condor Gp Activities. For the year 2000, The Condor Group's potlucks will be on the 1st Saturdays, every other month, the hikes on the 4th Saturdays every month.
Kern-Kaweah Chapter Website
The Kern-Kaweah Chapter Website is
The Chapter's March appeal for financial support was mailed recently. Within that appeal is a request that you contact President Clinton to tell him you want him to implement his Great Sequoia National Monument proposal. The protection of the natural wonder and beauty of the Sierra Nevada forests is at the root of what the Sierra Club is all about. It was John Muir who fought for the creation of Yosemite National Park and founded the Sierra Club in the process. This historic opportunity to build upon the work that John Muir began and the work that the Sierra Club has done in the intervening years should not be allowed to slip from our grasp. Please act quickly to let the president know how you feel, as his decision is expected early this month. The address is President Bill Clinton, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington, DC 20500 or call 202- 456-1414.
It's getting closer. The California Wilderness Conference on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 5-7. Make your plans and send in your registration. This is an opportunity to get an in- depth understanding of why California wilderness protection is so important and what needs yet to be done to accomplish such protection. For information call 530-758-0380, FAX 530-753-0382,
or go to the CWC website at www.calwild.org or Email: info@calwild.org.
Even closer is our Annual Banquet this April 22. This is an event open to all members, friends and acquaintances. This is an event that allows you to meet fellow Sierra Club members and honor some of our activists. Also, there will be an interesting presentation, a drawing, and good relaxing fun. This year's dinner coincides with Earth Day and within days of John Muir's Birthday. In addition, it would be great if we were also able to celebrate the creation of the Sequoia National Monument. (We'll see.) If you have not been an active member, don't let that keep you away. This is your chapter which you support through your membership. Come join us. You'll be glad you did.
Glenn Shellcross <shellcrossg@earthlink.net>
Glenn Shellcross, Chair; Monte Harper, Vice Chair; Bonnie East, Secretary; Gordon Nipp, Treasurer; Larry Wailes, Assistant Treasurer; Ara Marderosian, Conservation; Lorraine Unger, Membership; Andy Honig, Newsletter; Theresa Stump, Outings; Harry & Kathy Love, Political & Compliance; Paul Gipe, Publicity; Neil Fernbaugh, State & Local Government; Georgette Theotig, Legal: Richard Garcia, Fundraising; Michelle Hoffman & Ann Williams, History; Joe Fontaine, Environmental Ed.; Mary Ann Lockhart, Phone Tree; Art Unger, Air Quality; Harold Wood, Biodiversity; Art Unger, Endangered Species; Paul Gipe, Energy; Art Powell, Environmental Justice; Ara Marderosian, Forest Organizer; Glenn Shellcross, Population Growth; Lorraine Unger, Urban; Joe Fontaine & Gordon Nipp, Wilderness/Parks/Refuges; Lorraine & Art Unger, Waste.
National monuments are created for preserving lands as natural areas and for providing public access. Death Valley and the Grand Canyon would both be trashed without the protection from National Monument designation.
The Wild and Scenic designation for the Kern River brought the Kern River Valley national recognition with Kernville named this year as "the number one paddling community in the U.S.". Our valley will also have increased opportunities when recognized as the gateway to the Giant Sequoia National Monument, even though less than 4% of monument lands would be in Kern County.
Sequoia National Forest Supervisor Art Gaffrey failed to provide any data to the public clarifying his plan for managing the Giant Sequoia National Monument to dispel the fears about access by the public. Mr. Gaffrey exacerbated the access fears when he put renewals of special use permits on hold without justifiable reason. Conservationists are committed, in writing, to a presidential proclamation stating unequivocally that monument status may not be used by any federal agency as grounds for non-renewal of a lease or special use permit (or for condemnation proceedings in the case of private ownership).
Environmental groups would preserve special-use permits, hunting, fishing, horse and pack uses, backpacking, hiking and inholder ownership. ORV's would have access to the approximately 2,000 miles of paved and dirt public-access and logging roads in Sequoia National Forest that become part of the monument. Private property inholdings would be preserved within the monument. The Forest Service under the standard National Forest Management Act process would continue to manage grazing in the National Monument.
The Mediated Settlement Agreement of 1990 and President Bush's proclamation of July 14, 1992 do not permanently protect or preserve the Giant Sequoia groves, as opponents suggest, or the Forest Service wouldn't have made the July 26, 1998 proposal to log through the Deer Creek Giant Sequoia Grove.
Preservation is required because 40 years of Forest Service multiple-use management actions of logging and roadbuilding have increased the chances of catastrophic wildfire. If logging could reduce the chance of wildfire, 40 years of logging in Sequoia National Forest, which removed more than 2 Billion board feet of trees, should have made the forest fireproof. Logging has and will cause forests to become drier, hotter and windier and will reduce natural fire prevention characteristics of forests. The Forest Service handbook, "FIRE WEATHER", the research report by J.K. Agee (1996) titled "The Influence of Forest Structure on Fire Behavior" and other research documents confirm these facts. No further studies are necessary to conclude the damaging results of logging.
Correcting catastrophic fire conditions can be achieved without logging by manually limbing (cutting) the lower branches of trees, followed by manually chipping these branches and the brush below the trees, followed by scattering chips onto the forest floor as a mulch and weed suppressant, followed by small prescribed fires.
Logging throughout the Sierra Nevada has caused loss of Giant Sequoia habitat, water quality loss, erosion, stream and river sediment accumulations, and losses of recreation quality and income. Scientists have confirmed annual declines in wildlife populations, like songbirds, woodpeckers and hawks. If we are to preserve viability of the entire Giant Sequoia ecosystem, we must preserve these wildlife components.
The only way to truly preserve, protect and restore viability of the Giant Sequoia ecosystem is for a Giant Sequoia National Monument Proclamation to ban timber sales and roadbuilding, in order for all of us and future generations to enjoy the Giant Sequoia ecosystem. If you have not already done so, please write to the President about your desire to fully preserve the Giant Sequoia ecosystem.
- Ara Marderosian <sfa@lightspeed.net>
Contacts for Sequoia National Monmument Status In addition to President Clinton <president@whitehouse.gov>, it would be helpful to contact the following, asking them to support Moment Status for Sequoia groves outside of the National Park:
Senator Dianne Feinstein 525 Market St. #3670 San Francisco, CA 94105 <senator@feinstein.senate.gov>
Governnor Gray Davis State Capitol Sacramento, CA 95814 <graydavis@governor.ca.gov>
Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman U.S. Dept. of Agriculture 14th & Independence Ave., SW Washington, D.C. 20250
Greg Love, son of longtime Chapter members Harry and Kathy Love, is working on a project called the California Global Warming Coalition. Itss goal is to make California a leader in the fight against global warming through the passage of legislation and maintaining the Zero Emissions Vehicles (ZEV) mandate. The URL of the campaign's website, which is continually updatted, is <http://www.nextgeneration.org/globalwarming>. Greg and his colleagues invite you to take a look at this site and would appreciate any comments.
Among the world's greatest national treasures are the giant redwood forests of California. Some of my earliest memories, from over sixty years ago, are of summer vacations in Sequoia with my family. Our first photographs include pictures of my brother and me as small children standing dwarfed by those enormous and venerable trees, looking upwards in awe. We were rather poor, as so many people were in those days, but one kind of vacation we could afford was a camping trip. I am happy, therefore, for the sake of future generations of children, poor and otherwise, to hear that the President has proposed monument status for additional giant redwood acreage contiguous with Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks.
On Saturday, March l8, in Fresno, a public hearing on this subject was attempted. It did not succeed, however, because no spokesmen in favor of the proposal were allowed to speak. Boos and catcalls drowned out their voices, and I heard threats as well. Such intimidation can, indeed, close a meeting, or drive away proponents of a point of view. But it also drives away the most sacred of the principles upon which our democracy is based, the right to free expression. Mob behavior of this kind is nothing new. (See Shakespeare's treatment of it in "Julius Caesar", for example.) But what is significant in it currently, as well as it was in Caesar's time, is the fuel it gives to the practice of demagoguery, which we witnessed in at least one elected official at the meeting, and which was apparent in a letter in The Bakersfield Californian this morning calling for "anarchy" in opposition to the measure. Several members of the Fresno audience who do not support monument status were ashamed of the mob's behavior, and apologized for it. That was both gracious and courageous of them, and was very much appreciated. What a shame there were so few of them.
Under monument status, most historic activities enjoyed in the giant redwood groves would continue, such as camping, hunting, fishing, four-wheeling on old roads, horseback riding and hiking. Cattle grazing would go on, with closer management for the protection of the groves, and controlled burns would be allowed for the overall health of the redwood ecosystem. Best of all, the great giants would continue to thrive for enjoyment by generations to come.
If you support protection of the Sequoias, please write, call or e-mail the president and your elected officials, particularly Barbara Boxer and Diane Feinstein, right away. Action is expected soon on this proposal, and your endorsement will count.
© Ann Williams, 2000
Officers and Committee Chairpeople
Executive Committee (All but noted codes are 661)
Chair: Glenn Shellcross, <shellcrossg@earthlink.net> 832-3382; Vice-Chair: Monte Harper; Secretary: Bonnie East, 832-9775; Treasurer: Gordon Nipp; Assistant Treasurer: Larry Wailes; Conservation: Ara Maderosian sfa@lightspeed.net; At Large: Arthur Unger, , Mary Ann Lockhart; Richard Garcia, Gordon Nipp.
RCC Delegates: Bonnie East, Glenn Shellcross;
Alternates: Neil Fernbaugh, Lorraine Unger
Committee Chairpeople: Conservation: Ara Maderosian; Membership: Lorraine Unger, 323-5569; Political and Compliance: Harry and Kathy Love; Council Rep: Arthur Unger; Outings: Theresa Stump, 559-781-0594; Publicity: Paul Gipe; State & Local Government: Neil Fernbaugh; Legal:Georgette Theotig; Fundraising: Richard Garcia; History: Michelle Hoffman & Ann Williams; Environmental Ed.: Joe Fontaine, ; Phone Tree: Mary Ann Lockhart; Air Quality: Art Unger; Biodiversity: Harold Wood; Endangered Species: Art Unger: Energy: Paul Gipe; Environmental Justice: Art Powell; Forest Organizer: Ara Marderosian; Population Growth: Glenn Shellcross; Urban:Lorraine Unger; Wilderness/Parks/Refuges: Joe Fontaine & Gordon Nipp; Waste: Lorraine & Art Unger.
Kaweah Group (Porterville, area code 559)
Chair: Theresa Stump, 781-0594; VC: Diane Jetter; Conservation: Carla Cloer; Outings: Jim Clark
Mineral King Group: (Visalia & Hanford, 559)
Chair: Harold Wood harold.wood@sierraclub.orgOwens Peak Group (Desert Area Code 760)
Chair: Dennis Burge, 375-7967; V.C.: Steve Smith; Conservation: Jeanie Haye; Treasurer: Dolph Amster; At Large: Dororthy Vokolek; Outings: Don Peterson, 375-8599
Condor Group (Frazier Park & Pine Mountain)
Chair: Chester Arthur <ches@frazmtn.com> ; Membership: Barbara Matthews; Outings: Ray Albridge & Harry Nelson; Conservation: Kevin Royle; Hospitality: Elsbeth Feldman; Publicity; Karen Cotter: Treas: Jean & Ed Rustvold; Ast Treas: M Albridge; Newsletter: Mary Ann Lockhart; At Large: Marta Bigler
Editor: Andy Honig (661) 325-0026. Contributions of news, articles, press releases, opinion, art and photographs (black & white), letters to the editor, should be sent to: andym@lightspeed.net.
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Published 12 times per year by the Kern-Kaweah Chapter of the Sierra Club, Bakersfield, CA. All non-copyrighted material printed in the Roadrunner may be reprinted in any Sierra Club publications with acknowledgement.
The Kern-Kaweah Chapter newsletter is available at the Sierra Club website. You can save the Chapter mailing costs and save a tree by notifying us if you want your paper copy discontinued. Please e-mail Lorraine Unger at alunger@juno.com with your name and your membership number (found on the label). Any one who wants an extra hard copy anytime call (661) 323-5569.
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