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ACTIVITY CALENDAR
Anza-Borrego Desert Natural History Associaton
P O BOX 310, Borrego Springs, CA 92004 760-767-3098
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Important Program
Information Unless
specified otherwise in the activity descriptions below, all hikes and
field trips have a 15 person limit and they begin in the
ABDNHA parking lot.
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HAWK WATCH LECTURE AND FIELD TRIP
Mar. 23, Sat., 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Special Program
and Field Trip: Borrego Valley Hawk Watch The Story of
the Swainson’s Hawk Speaker: Hal Cohen, Borrego Hawk
Watch Founder and Coordinator, ABDNHA Member
We begin with a presentation by Hawkman Hal
about the incredible Swainson’s Hawk, a bird that spends
the fall and winter as far south as Argentina and then
migrates to the north during the springtime, headed to
their summer grounds as far north as Canada. After the
presentation this afternoon in the ABDNHA Library, we
head to the evening viewing location to look for hawks
coming into town to roost. Each spring, thousands of
hawks migrate through the Borrego Valley. The birds
typically roost here for the night, and then kettle up
in the morning, sometimes feeding first before
continuing their flight north. If you have time on
Sunday morning, you’re invited to come by the morning
viewing site to see the hawks take off for their journey
north. ABDNHA Library. NM $12, M $10, V $8. Register
www. abdnha.org, or ABDNHA Nature Center, 760-767-3098.
LECTURE ARCHITECTURE
DESERT LIVING
Mar. 23, Sat., 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Desert Dwellings, Then and Now Sustainable Designs
Inspired by Nature Speaker: Lizbeth Barcena,
Designer & ABDNHA Member
In
this presentation Lizbeth will talk about the history of
sustainable Southwest desert designs beginning with the
dwellings of Native Americans, constructed entirely of
the available raw natural resources, and up to current
construction, using new construction and energy
technologies and evolving building materials. Los
Angeles Designer Lizbeth Barcena has 20 years of
experience working in the architecture profession. She
is also a certified California naturalist and certified
in regenerative buildings. She is particularly
interested in Biomimicry, design strategies that mimic
nature. ABDNHA Library. NM $12, M $10, V $8. Register
www. abdnha.org, or ABDNHA Nature Center, 760-767-3098
FULL MOON DESERT WALK Mar. 24, Sun.,
7:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
This activity is full but
taking wait list Full Moon Walk Easy to
Moderate
Leader: Mike McElhatton, ABDNHA Education Director
The
moonlight walk by Mike McElhatton is an ABDNHA tradition
now in its 13th year as an ABDNHA activity. Experience
the unique and serene beauty of moonlight on the canyon
walls as we take a 1.6 mile walk through South Palm
Wash. Most of the walk is on flat sandy ground, rocky in
some places, with a few short "stepup" spots that
require agility n tight parts of the canyon. Meet
at ABDNHA to carpool. A flashlight, water, and good
hiking shoes are required. Max. 23. Activity cancels
with cloud cover or high wind. No charge; call the
Nature Center at 760-767-3098 to reserve.
Read
before your hike: Important
information for hikers
Mar. 25, Mon, 6:30 pm –
7:30 pm Lecture: The year of the Lily Presented
by Don Rideout
Desert lilies are one of the most charismatic flowering
plants of the desert. This year they are appearing in
huge numbers, with so many lillies that it is being
referred to as the "Year of the Lily", with .
Several aspects of their life history are unknown and
are in need of further study. This talk will cover what
we know about desert lilies and what remains to be
discovered. ABDNHA
Library. NM $12, M $10, V $8. Register www.
abdnha.org, or ABDNHA Nature Center, 760-767-3098
WALKING
Mar. 28, Thu, 8:30 am –
11:30 am Pam’s Ambles (Easy to Moderate) Leader:
Pam Blake, ABDNHA Volunteer
This activity repeats on the second
and fourth Thursdays of the month. Pam’s ambles are
easygoing social walks where we can explore along the
way – plants, flowers, geology, scenery and time for
photographs. Locations are selected where participants
can easily return to their cars or continue on their own
if they wish. No charge, call the Nature Center to
reserve. Meet at ABDNHA.
Read before your hike:
Important information for hikers
BIKING
Mar. 29, Fri., 10:00 a.m.
start time Friendly Friday Bike Ride Volunteer
Leader: Paul Petersen
Relaxed social ride of 20-30 mostly
flat miles at a 10-12 mph pace. Routes will vary weekly,
fun rides to highlight the roads less travelled. Return
time will vary with route chosen. No charge. Meet at the
ABDNHA parking lot.
Read before you ride:
Important information for bikers
ASTRONOMY - STARGAZING
Mar. 30,
Sat., 8:30 p.m.- 10:30 p.m. Astronomy and Viewing:
Multiple Star Systems SSpeaker: Dr. Randolph Baron,
Astonomer & ABDNHA Member
Ursa Major, the Great Bear, this constellation and its
associated Big Dipper ride high in the evening sky.
Rich in legend, galaxies and other astronomical gems
this is a great area of the sky for us to explore! NM
$12, M $10, V $8. Register www.abdnha.org or at the
Nature Center, 760-767-3098.
LECTURE ARCHEOLOGY - ANTHROPOLOGY
Mar. 29, Sat., 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Program: A
Desert Chiefdom and the Metal Revolution (4500 – 3600
BC), Speaker: Thomas Levy, Ph.D., Archaeologist &
ABDNHA
Member
Dr. Levy's work in these
early communities in the Negev Desert give us
indications of how human society transitioned away from
the hunting and gathering ways of life that had been so
successful for the previous 1.2 million years and
towards more structured settled communities. Around 4500
to 3600 BCE, the first metal producing societies evolved
in the southern Levant, an area that includes Israel,
the Palestinian territories, Lebanon, southern Syria,
and the Sinai Peninsula. This lecture is based on Tom
Levy’s excavations at the Shiqmim site in the Negev
Desert of Israel, with Tom’s new book on this research
helping to explain an enigma that has puzzled
researchers for more than 100 years. In the ABDNHA
Library. NM $12, M $10, V $8. Register www. abdnha.org,
Nature Center, 760-767-3098.
Thomas E. Levy is Distinguished Professor, and inaugural
holder of the Norma Kershaw Chair in the Archaeology of
Ancient Israel and Neighboring Lands at the University
of California, San Diego. Tom has published 17 books and
hundreds of scholarly articles. Elected to the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences, Tom received an honorary
doctorate from Charles University, Czech Republic.
HIKING
Mar. 30, Sat., 8:00 a.m. – 2:00
p.m. Hike: Redman Mine Leaders:
Alan Parks, ABDNHA Volunteer and Sanjiv Nanda
Moderately strenuous 4-mile out-and-back
hike with a 1000 foot elevation gain, to a gold mine on
the south face of Granite Mountain. We will follow an
old mining “road” to the miners “campsite.” From there,
getting to the mine requires some strenuous
cross-country scrambling up the hillside. We will have
lunch at G. Redman’s dining table at an elevation of
3500 feet with fabulous views to the east and south.
Meet at ABDNHA from where we will carpool. 4WD is needed
for the last 2 miles of travel to the trailhead off S-2.
No charge, call or stop by to reserve, 760-767-3098.
Read before your hike:
Important information for hikers
HIKING
Apr. 1, Mon., 8:30 a.m. – 3:00
p.m. Hike: Eagle Rock Leaders: Sanjiv Nanda and Alan
Parks, ABDNHA Volunteers
Eight-mile moderately strenuous car shuttle hike on
the rolling, meandering Pacific Crest Trail. This is a
local favorite portion of the PCT with a variety of
higher elevation wildflowers, wide open vistas, a stream
crossing and riparian habitat. We will have lunch at the
spectacular Eagle Rock. Expect to meet through-hikers on
their way to Canada from Mexico. The meeting point is a
40-minute drive from ABDNHA. Meet at 8:30 a.m. at the
dirt parking area in front of Warner Springs Fire
Station on SR-79, 2.5 miles north of the intersection of
SR-79 and S-2. From there we will car shuttle to the PCT
Barrel Spring Trailhead on S-22 and do our one-way hike
northbound on the PCT. No charge, call or stop by to
reserve, 760-767-3098.
Read before your hike:
Important information for hikers
HIKING
Apr. 6, Sat., 8:30 a.m. –
12:00 noon Hike: Hellhole Canyon Overlook (Easy)
Leader: Kathy Bussey, ABDNHA Member & Volunteer
Take in great Borrego Vally views on
this easy 2.0-mile round trip hike. The trail begins at
Culp Valley (elevation 3412’) and descends a gently
sloping sandy wash to the Overlook (elevation 3187’). We
skirt thicket-choked Pena Spring. Annual spring flowers
may appear later up here. We return uphill the same
way. Meet at ABDNHA’s parking lot to carpool the 15
minute drive to Culp Valley. Bring water, snack, good
hiking shoes. No charge. Call to reserve.
ASTRONOMY - STARGAZING
Apr. 6, Sat.,
8:30 p m. - 10:30 p.m. Astronomy and Viewing: Far
Distant Galaxies Speaker: Dr. Randolph Baron,
Astronomer & ABDNHA Member
In the springtime, the Milky Way, our
home galaxy is no longer visible. While we miss its
beauty, the spring time sky is chock full of distant
galaxies millions of light years away! Tonight we will
explore some of these most distant "island universes."
NM $12, M $10, V $8. Register www.abdnha.org or at the
Nature Center, 760-767-3098.
HIKING
Sat. Apr. 6, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Hike: Rainbow Canyon/ Box Canyon Loop : Strenuous
Leader: Rachel Rench, ABDNHA Member & Volunteer
Starting at a large parking area
near Mile Marker 27 on S2 we'll make our way South and
then into the opening of Rainbow Canyon, and negotiate
our way over approximately 14 dry waterfalls. Most of
these waterfalls are a moderate to easy climb, but we'll
take our time to make sure everyone is up before moving
on to the next one. After negotiating this canyon we'll
hike cross country through the Southern end of Blair
Valley, and join the California Riding & Hiking Trail to
walk through the Box Canyon paralleling S2 to get back
to our cars. This hike is approximately 8.25 miles
with 800 feet of elevation gain. Wear long pants and
long sleeves and bring 2 to 3 liters of water, lunch,
snacks and a cholla comb. We'll encounter several
species of cholla including the Mason Valley cholla I've
only seen in this area. Max. 15. Meet at the ABDNHA at 8
a.m. to carpool out to the start of the hike.
Read before your hike:
Important information for hikers
4 Wheel Drive Trip Sun. Apr.
7, 9:00 a.m. (Depart from ABDNHA) 3:00 p.m. (Ride
ends at Ocotillo Wells)
4WD: Fonts Point, Vista Malpais, Ocotillo Wells.
Leader: Ed Polliock, ABDNHA Volunteer
This drive is fairly
easy but there are areas of soft sand and wash outs can
be expected. After Vista Malpais we will find a lunch
spot en route to Ocotillo Wells This will be a BBQ
potluck. If you chose please bring a dish to share,
your own drinks, camp chair and small tables would be
welcome. BBQ meat and utensils are provided. Trip will
end at the Ocotillo Wells off road park station
approximately 3:00 PM. Flush toilets available at the
park HQ and there is a a small museum with related items
and a small store. 4 Wheel Drive with good clearance is
required. No charge for this activity, call the Nature
Center to reserve (760-767-3098) . Meet at ABDNHA for
departure, ride ends at Ocotillo Wells.
BORREGO ROCK AND GEM CLUB
Apr. 10,
Wed., 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Borrego Rock and Gem (BRAG) Club
Field Trip
Repeats 2nd Wed of the month through May. Meet at
ABDNHA.
HIKING
Apr. 11, Thu., 8:30 a.m. –
1:30 pm Hike: Rainbow Canyon (Moderate to Strenuous)
Leader: Bruce Kelley, ABDNHA Member & Volunteer
Pretty, 4-mile hike (round trip) up a wash with
beautiful rock formations and many types of cactus in
canyon. There are a number of step-ups and several dry
waterfalls that are a bit more difficult to negotiate.
Bring water, sunscreen, good hiking shoes and a snack.
Bring poles if you want them for balance, but they can
get in your way climbing waterfalls. We’ll drive 45
minutes—south on S2 to mile 27.6 where the road makes a
bend, and park in a wide place on the side of the road.
Meet at ABDNHA parking lot by 7:50 a.m. We will carpool,
but bring (any type) vehicle if you can. No charge;
call the Nature Center to reserve, 760-767-3098.
Read before your hike:
Important information for hikers
PHOTOGRAPHY
Apr. 13, Sat., 10:30
a.m. – 12:00 noon Photography: Around Town Photo
Walk Leader: Professional Filmmaker Alicia Wszelaki,
Path 88 Productions
Join filmmaker Alicia for this casual walk around
town as her creative eye finds interesting subject
matter. This is open to all experience levels and all
levels of equipment including smartphone cameras. Meet
at ABDNHA. No charge but registration is required.
Call 760-767-3098 or visit the ABDNHA Nature Center at
652 Palm Canyon Drive.
SPECIAL DESERT LECTURE SERIES WEBINAR
Apr. 17, Wed., 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Lithium and
the Salton Sea Speaker: Jim Turner, Director and
Chief Operating Officer of Controlled Thermal Resources
The webinar is free but registration is required:
REGISTER
ABDNHA's webinar in 2022 with Jim Turner about lithium
extraction at the Salton Sea was our most highly
attended webinar ever. Controlled Thermal Resources
(CTR) is one of three companies that will be extracting
lithium from facilities on lands just south of the sea.
Construction of CTR's plant is now underway. Jim
returns tonight with an update on lithium extraction at
the Salton Sea, an explanation of how the extraction
will take place, and background history of geothermal
power production at the sea. For millions of years the
Salton Sea basin has been stretched and pulled apart by
the action of the San Andreas fault, resulting in what
is called the Salton Trough.
For all of those
millions of years water has poured in from the surface,
water that is rich in minerals. At a depth of 8,000
feet below the surface vast amounts of superhot water,
or brine, holds one of the richest sources of lithium in
all of North America. The geothermal industry has made
use of that that hot water for decades, extracting the
hot water from deep beneath the earth, using the steam
to generate geothermal electricity, and then pumping the
water back down into the earth.
Lithium
extraction adds one step to that process; lithium is
taken out of the water before it is pumped back down.
Lithium is essential for the needs of America’s electric
future, for electric vehicles, computers, solar power
storage, batteries, and communication. The Salton Sea
basin is America’s largest source of the important metal
and one of the world’s largest, with annual production
estimated to be as much as 600,000 tons. There are very
few large sources of lithium in North America. The
extraction process of removing lithium from super-heated
brine 8,000 feet below the surface also has the
potential to make the Salton Sea lithium extraction
process one of the greenest lithium mining projects in
the world.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Moonrise & Sunset at
Fonts Point Apr. 23, Tue., 6:15 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
This is an ABDNHA Members Only Activity
Photography: Moonrise over the Badlands & Sunset over
the Mountains Leader: ABDNHA Program Director Mike
McElhatton
This is a newly listed program that does
not appear in the Spring Sand Paper This is a special
photography program for member photographers. Come
along with us to Fonts Point to photograph the setting
of the sun to the west ( at 7:23 pm.) , quickly followed
by the moonrise over the Borrego Badlands ( at 7:27
p.m.) to the east. We will stay as long as the light
allows. We will leave the ABDNHA parking lot at 6:15
p.m., allowing enough time to reach Fonts Point and get
set up for the moonrise and sunset. Fonts Point always
requires a high clearance a vehicle adequate for sand.
The road will be checked prior to the activity and the
group will be updated with current conditions and that
will determine acceptable vehicles. We will carpool
from the ABDNHA parking lot. All levels of experience
and photography equipment is welcome, Bring snacks and
your favorite beverage! 22 max. No charge, ABDNHA
Members only, Register at Nature Center, 760-767-3098.
BORREGO ROCK AND GEM CLUB
Apr. 24,
Wed., 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 pm
Borrego Rock and Gem (BRAG) Club Meeting
Meet at ABDNHA Activity Room.
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