Welcome to September Everyone,
Well officially the summer is over with the Labor Day Weekend, but here in California the best is yet to come. September and October can be our nicest months with occasional Santa Anas and this pattern can extend into November and beyond, but who knows as we experience a mixed up weather pattern and the impending “Super El Nino” predicted for this year. I would say keep visiting Big Bear and other cooler mountain and stream side locations while the heat and humidity holds in the Socal region and dangerous heat hits the upper and lower deserts. It was 116 in Death Valley on August 25th and one French tourist died trying to walk out after he got his car stuck. As an association we put down BB1 as our monthly outing in June and received a less than stellar response and changed the July and August BB1 outings to “go up on your own” as nobody was signing up. TVP and SPMA have likewise been going up to Big Bear as well. One of the options is a seeded hunt by the beach and I will ask if there is any interest at the meeting. October brings the PLP Fallfest at Duisenburg, TSSD will be donating a nice boxed silver round to their raffle, and again will be opening our claims around Freedom for people to use with the exception of Phoenix Gulch. September brings the ICMJ Gold weekend in Downieville.
As I mentioned last month, there is plenty to do in the Big Bear area besides drywashing for gold, visit the USF Discovery Center for maps and the auto tour guide to the historical locations around Holcolmb Valley. Currently, the fire status has been raised to “High” as of Aug 27th. Restrictions are now in place with no open flame higher than 2 feet and 25 feet must be clear around the fire rings. Further restrictions could be coming from; no campfires and open flames, to no propane stoves, to full closure of the forest to all activities. Check ahead to be sure what’s open in the area you are headed for.
Again, there are no real updates that I can find concerning either the West Mojave Roads closure or the US Forest service proposals, the most recent postings are from March when the closures went into effect. Originally it was supposed to be for 4 months. I’ll keep everyone informed as I hear more.
Our next “regular” outing will be to Freedom claim in November after it traditionally cools off to a tolerable level.
Also, a reminder, WE DO NOT REQUEST ANY ASSISTANCE FROM THE MEMBERS IN PAYING ANY OF THE ASSOCIATION BILLS OR VENDORS. It is and has always been a scam!!
My travel plans have changed again, and I will be at the September meeting.
That’s about it for now.
See you at the meeting or outings.
Jerryk