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Protecting Purple Mountain Majesties by Vicky Hoover Activist Outing Chair As winter turns to spring and the days grow longer, thoughts turn to outings into the wilds. This year, consider a Sierra Club national activist outing. Vicky Hoover What's an activist outing? These wildlands advocacy trips take you to special places that need protection or otherwise deserve your attention and help. And while you're enjoying a memorable outdoor experience in a scenic locale, you're learning how you can become a leader in the vital campaign to preserve that area. Activist trips make it easy to immerse yourself in the environmental issues surrounding the magnificent places you visit and empower you to help protect these places when you come home. In 2005, the Sierra Club offers five activist outings. Protecting the Owyhee Canyonlands of Idaho, Oregon, and Nevada - Three States, One Treasure May 20-28: This little-known desert wilderness boasts spectacular scenery and dramatic geology. Leader: Craig Deutsche. Price: $625. [05035A] FULL! Rafting the Wild Rivers of Alaska July 14-25: This rafting trip on the mighty Copper River winds through the Wrangell, St. Elias, and Chugach Mountains in Wrangell,St. Elias National Park. Leader: Cristina Breen. Price: $2,495. [05036A] FULL! Protecting Wild Nevada July 16-24: Mountain streams, lush meadows, and 11,000-foot snow-capped peaks in Nevada? Yes, and a whole lot more. You'll travel to the state's little-visited eastern edge and day-hike in several astounding wild areas that deserve to be wilderness, while camping mostly in Forest Service campgrounds. The Schell Creek Range and Mt. Moriah are just the start -Nevada has more potential wilderness than any other state in the Lower 48. Leaders: Cal and Letty French. Price: $595 [05101A] Vision for the Maine Woods: Restoring Valuable Wilderness July 17-23: Maine activists are working to create wilderness areas in a once-primeval forest that is now largely privately-owned. Learn about the Club's long-range campaign for the Maine Woods as you enjoy four days of idyllic canoeing on the west branch of the Penobscot River and camp one night at Lily Bay State Park. Climb Mt. Kineo, with great views of Moosehead Lake. Canoes provided. Leaders: Joan and Barry Saxe. Price $475. [05102A] Utah's Wild West Desert September 17-24: Little-known compared to southern Utah's redrock country, western Utah offers compelling Great Basin mountain scenery and sweeping wide-open vistas. Car-camping by van, we explore on day hikes and one overnight backpack. Climb scenic peaks in the majestic Deep Creek and House Ranges, and visit other less-known but equally wild mountain areas, all included in Utah's Citizens' Wilderness Proposal. Leader: Vicky Hoover. Price $525. [05103A] For more information, contact Vicky Hoover at (415) 977-5527 or vicky.hoover@sierraclub.org. Partial scholarships are available and some chapters may be able to help if you become an official chapter representative. To apply, call (415) 977-5522, or visit sierraclub.org/outings. Up to Top