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The Trip

Saline Valley is well off the beaten track, nestled in the Mojave Desert on the northwest corner of Death Valley National Park. The campground features a number of natural and semi-improved mineral springs ranging in temperature from the high 90s to 107 F. Camping at the springs makes it convenient to bathe daily in the waters, shaded by palms planted long ago. In the worksite area just west of the Park boundaries in the foothills of the Inyo Mountains, administered by the Bureau of Land Management, riparian streams make their way through secluded canyons, with waterfalls and fern grottoes year-round. At night, after a friendly campfire, watch the Milky Way and the constellations in their march across the stygian night sky.

The Project

Early settlers planted tamarisk bushes for shade and marsh reclamation: unfortunately tamarisk (also known as salt cedar) has become one of the worst plant pests in the West, spreading voraciously, using up precious water, and polluting the soil with salt. We will spend four of our six days cutting and removing this attractive nuisance plant from the canyon streams and alluvial fans, and, as a change, working to restore areas disrupted by unauthorized vehicles.

Itinerary

At 10 a.m. on the first day of our trip, we'll meet at a campground near Big Pine, CA, on U.S. 395 to the northwest of Saline Valley. We'll caravan in together over the North Pass with expert guides, stopping along the way for brief guided insights into the area, as well as a group picnic lunch. Arriving at our base camp near the hot springs, we'll set up camp and have our welcome dinner. Interspersed with our work days we'll have two days free for exploring the surrounding area, hiking, relaxing, and viewing petroglyphs and the remains of the 19th-century salt industry in the area.

Getting There

The Death Valley National Park Back Roads map describes Saline Valley as "One of the most remote locations in California." Big Pine, our meeting place, is about a 4.5-hour drive from Los Angeles or Reno, and about 5 hours from Las Vegas. On every route, however, are myriad scenic byways and campsites for those who can take an extra day or two. Our plan for caravanning in with our expert local guides will enrich the trip experience as well as take into account the county-maintained dirt road that runs along the eastern edge of the Inyo Mountains, over which we'll make our way. The road requires high-clearance, 4-wheel-drive vehicles, so the leader will expect to coordinate rental and ride-sharing for participants so we'll all be safe and comfortable.

Accommodations and Food

We'll be tenting in the Warm Springs campground of Death Valley NP. Showers are provided, and required before bathing in the springs. Vegetarian-friendly meals -- with meat "versions" as appropriate to the group -- will be prepared by a trained cook and daily camper-helpers: high protein, nutritious, and imaginative meals and snacks will be suited to the work project and campers' needs and preferences. (Those with food allergies and/or strong preferences should contact the cook to be sure we can accommodate your needs prior to applying.)

All breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are included in the trip price, beginning with our picnic lunch on the first day, October 21st, and ending with breakfast on the final day, October 28th. Please bring a few hard-sided, reusable containers (mess kit, Tupperware, water bottles, etc.) for packing lunch to take with you to the work site each day. Within our budget, we strive to choose food options that are organic, and produce the minimum amount of waste. There is clean drinking water available at the campsite; we will use purification tablets to also allow drinking from the mountain streams as we work.

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Trip Difficulty

The work, under supervision of BLM staff, can be moderate to strenuous, depending on the terrain and plant conditions; no one will be required to work beyond his or her comfort level. Tamarisk doesn't want to be removed, and bending, pulling, and cutting with loppers and other tools is required. (Herbicides will be used on stumps by trained, protected workers.) There is a good deal of satisfaction in seeing the natural setting revealed as the tamarisk is defeated. For variety, there will also be some light trail work and/or restoring disturbed areas.

Equipment and Clothing

Sturdy boots for work and hiking, and heavy leather gloves are a must; long-sleeve shirts and long, sturdy pants will protect from thorns and sharp twigs. Bring a hat to shade from the sun, a bandana or two, and a warm cap and jacket for the crisp mornings and evenings. You'll need a three-season tent with fly; a camp mattress or pad and sleeping bag comfortable into the low 40s, personal towels, toiletries, and a good sunscreen. The daily temperature range will likely be into the high 80s in the afternoons, and the low 40s at night; perhaps with even brief periods of frost. A full equipment list will be sent to registrants.

Cameras, binoculars, and a small telescope for star-gazing, if someone has one, will be welcome additions!

Work tools and instruction in their use is provided by the BLM staff.

References

Books:

• Foster, Lynne, Adventuring in the California Desert. Sierra Club Books.
• Digonnet, Michel, Hiking Western Death Valley National Park: Panamint, Saline, and Eureka Valleys.
• Bossard, Carla C., John M. Randall, Marc C. Hoshovsky, Invasive Plants of California's Wildlands. Available free online at http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/management/ipcw/online.php

Conservation

The Sierra Club is an environmentally focused entity. We are concerned about conservation and sustainability of resources, both locally and globally. Our work is accomplished by volunteers and aided by a salaried staff, and encourages grassroots involvement. Our outings seek to empower participants toward greater understanding, advocacy, and participation in the goals of the Club.

On the Saline Valley trip, in addition to learning more about tamarisk and other invasive species, we will be working in an area of delicate and fragile natural beauty -- secluded canyons in the Inyo Mountains with year-round flowing water, fern grottoes, and the creatures who make their lives in this fragile environment. Our expert supervisors will initiate us into the secrets of this desert wilderness and the people who have lived there in the past: native Americans who left their history in petroglyphs, settlers who created a salt industry, transporting salt across the mountains to Los Angeles. We will have some evening programs on conservation and conservationists; and "conservation moment" of reflection during the work day.

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Trip Price

See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.

The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.

Staff

Leader:

Suzanne Ferguson has been staffing Sierra Club Service trips in Florida and the far West since 2005, most often as a cook but also as a leader. While she loves where she lives, she really looks forward to Service Trips in the austere beauty of the western deserts.

E-mail: scf@cwru.edu

Cook:

Michal Phillips loves the outdoors and loves to cook for hungry service trip participants. She is a Cooking Channel aficionado, who first learned to cook in a vegetarian restaurant in Berkeley in the 1970s. She has a wide range of international, healthful, and delicious specialties. She is an avid SCUBA Diver, cyclist and runner.

E-mail: ten.forward.is@gmail.com

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General Notes About Sierra Club Trips

• Carbon Offsets
• Carpooling
• Electronic Devices
• Equipment
• How to Apply for a Trip
• Leader Gratuities
• Liability Release and Assumption of Risk
• Medical Issues
• Non-discrimination Statement
• Participant Approval
• Reservation and Cancellation Policy
• Seller of Travel Disclosure
• Travel Insurance
• Trip Feedback
• Wilderness Manners