February 25th & 26th, 2006
The 20th. Annual Field Trip/Campout will be centered at the Picacho State Recreation Area, California, about 25 miles north of Yuma, Arizona. All SDSU Geology Alumni and Friends are welcome. Doug Stephenson, presently a Graduate Student at SDSU of all places, is completing his Masters Thesis on the Geology of the Picacho area and was coersed into leading this year’s trip. I also have extended an invitation to Krissy Lovering and Elizabeth Hartung who have worked/are working in the area to come out and share their Thesis work with the rest of us. We will be hiking to several areas from the campground so plan on bringing a pack/water and something for lunch. Maximum hike is about 1 ½ miles to the areas of interest. We will begin the activities about 10:00 AM on Saturday to allow time for those of you driving out for the day to make the trip. As the Picacho Mine is now inactive our options on Sunday are to hike over to the Picacho mill sites, explore some of the 4-Wheel drive trails or perhaps…. just relax if the weather is good.
CAMP GROUND: I will have the Group Camp Area (which is just past the entrance/Fee payment area) reserved for the 24 th, 25 th & 26 th. It will accommodate about 10 vehicles easily and up to 15 maximum. There are about 50 other individual camp sites, many with shades and all seemed to have picnic tables. If you prefer an individual camp site, fees are $10/night/vehicle with a $5/vehicle extra charge up to three vehicles and 8 people total. Solar showers are in the main camp with water faucets and fairly clean pit toilets located throughout the area. Dogs must be kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet and in your tent or vehicle at night. If you prefer to be really primitive, camping is allowed several miles back from the Park on the main road, however you may get stuck due to the large graded berm and soft sand on both sides of the road. The 18 miles of gravel washboard road has a few soft spots but can be driven fairly easily and I did see some RV’s and trailers in the campground when I was there in December. Temperatures are expected to be in the mid 70’s to the low 40’s. Additional information can be found at www.parks.ca.gov and then click on Picacho SRA.
DIRECTIONS: From San Diego State University take Interstate 8 eastbound for 172 miles to the 4 th. Ave./ Winterhaven exit (about 2 ½ hours non stop for timing purposes). Make a left turn at the stop sign and go about ½ mile to stop sign and make a right turn onto S-24, cross the canal and in about 300 feet make a left turn staying on S-24 (there is a small brown sign with a left arrow that says “Picacho SRA”. Follow the signs towards Picacho SRA (at some point you will go straight, following the Picacho signs, while S-24 turns to the right) and in about 6 miles the pavement will end. Stay on the main gravel road for 18 miles and you will reach the campground. GPS coordinates for the group campground are N 33-01-11.5, W 114-36-58.6 The AAA Colorado River Guide Map (best) and the AAA Imperial County Map (good) both have the roads delineated well for finding the Campground.
COMMUNICATIONS: There was no Nextel phone service in the campground but the Ranger has phone service thru someone so depending on what carrier you have you may get lucky! We will be monitoring Family Radio Service (FRS) radios channel 11 with no private tones, remember that the FRS Radios have rather limited ranges in areas of uneven topography! The Black Mt. Amateur Radio Repeater, 147.120 + w/ pl.= 103.5 will also be monitored.
SERVICES/SUPPLIES/FUEL: If, when you get off the freeway at I-8 and the 4 th Ave./Winterhaven exit, you need fuel or other supplies you can make a right turn and go south to Yuma. There are gas stations, fast food places, etc. just a few miles into town at the most. If you are familiar with El Centro the 4 th Ave. exit also has a good selection of stores, fuel and restaurants. If any of our Alumni are interested in becoming involved with the Alumni activities and would like to assist with future trips or has a special place in mind that would be good for a future trip please let me know. Give me a call or email if you have any Questions, Day (858) 492-5034, Eve (858) 484-3582, Or JCorones@sandiego.gov Joe Corones, Alumni Field Trip Chairman