Dallas Sierra Club News - March 2015
In This Issue. . .
Our New Location:
As many of you have heard, the REI store where we
held our General Meetings has moved to Northwest Highway just
east of Central Expressway. The new store does not have a
meeting room large enough for our General Meetings, so we
had to find a new location.
Our new meeting
location is at Brookhaven Community College, just about 1
mile west of our old location.
We meet in an auditorium in the Brookhaven College
Geotechnology Institute. This building is very easy to find
and is right next to lighted parking. We'll have signs
directing you to the new location and there is a
map on our website.
NOTE: The March General Meeting will be one week
later than our usual second Tuesday of the month schedule.
Our meeting location, Brookhaven College, is shut down for
Spring Break so we have moved our meeting to the 17th.
The Environment at the State Capitol
 Zac
Trahan, Program Director for Texas Campaign for the
Environment, will lead an interactive discussion about
potential environmental bills during the 2015 Texas
Legislative Session. It has always been difficult to pass
good environmental legislation at the State Capitol, but this
year is shaping up to be the toughest challenge yet. Sierra
Club is working with groups like Texas Campaign for the
Environment and many others to pass the best bills possible
and to defeat negative environmental bills that would result
in more pollution, not less. Industry lobbyists are currently
targeting the numerous local ordinances that DFW cities have
passed on contentious issues such as fracking and single-use
shopping bags, pushing legislation that would over-ride and
pre-empt our right to local control. Come learn more about
this and other potential environmental legislation - and get
plugged in to ways you can help influence state lawmakers on
behalf of a cleaner, greener world.
Zac has been working with Texas Campaign for the
Environment since 2002 and currently serves as D/FW Program
Director. The group helped pass state legislation for
computer and television recycling in Texas, and played a
leading role in passing Dallas' strict gas drilling and
single-use bag ordinances.
Everyone is
welcome. You don't have to be a Sierra Club member. Just
show up. We'd love to meet you.
Our General
Meeting starts at 7:00 pm but come at 6:30 for snacks,
information and fellowship. Our meeting takes place at
Brookhaven College, Building H, 3939 Valley View Ln in Farmers
Branch. Click over to our
General Meeting
page of our website for more information and a map.
This year, we will have some of our best General Meeting
programs ever, so mark your calendar for these special dates:
April 14 - All About Bats
Kate Rugroden, Director of Special Projects for Bat World
Sanctuary, brings The Essential Bat to the Dallas Sierra Club.
This family friendly program features live
native-species bats, and is an opportunity for people to see
these tiny creatures up close. The program, based on
her book, The Essential Bat, introduces the audience
to these extraordinary creatures and the many ways in which
they affect human life through lecture/discussion, artifacts,
and live native-species bats.
May 12 - Movie Night
See Yosemite Through the Eyes of a Buffalo Soldier, a
film featuring National Park Service Ranger Shelton Johnson as
a 1903 Buffalo Soldier and his observations as one of the
first "park rangers" to serve in Yosemite's vast wilderness.
We see Yosemite through his eyes and feel his growing
affection for this new world. The film blazes a trail to an
important history that was nearly lost, and provides an
opportunity to ride with the Buffalo Soldiers through the
Range of Light.
 Outdoor
enthusiasts of all ages and abilities are welcome for this
weekend adventure at one of our most scenic state parks. Your
choice of car camping or car camp/backpack combination.
Leave your worries behind and come relax, enjoy fellowship and
fun in the beautiful landscape bordered by the Colorado River.
Pack your camp chair, hiking shoes, bike, kayak, guitar,
telescope and croquet set – whatever you do, join us! This
park is four hours from Dallas and the campsite is accessible
by car. We'll organize day hikes to Spicewood Springs and
Gorman Falls. There will be overnight backpacking options. For
full details and information about how to sign up, click on
this link.
Here is our calendar for the next two months. For complete listings, visit us at
www.dallassierraclub.org.
 Mar
14 (Sat) White Rock Lake Clean-up
Walk and talk while picking up trash and recyclables at the
Sierra Club's adopted section of White Rock Lake Park. Meet at
8:15 AM this second Saturday of the month at the Love of the
Lake office, northeast corner of Garland Road and Buckner
Boulevard. Look for the crowd drinking free juice and coffee.
Gloves, trash bags, etc. will be provided. Our area includes
one of the wonderful prairie restoration areas, so there are
always birds and wildflowers to enjoy. Brunch afterwards.
Leader: Carol Nash
Send Email 214-824-0244
 Mar
14-15 (Sat-Sun) Off-Trail Exploration in Caney Creek
Wilderness Area, Arkansas
If you need carefully groomed trails for your backpacking
adventures this hike is not for you. If
you would like to explore a scenic, seldom visited part of
Arkansas and don’t mind stepping off the beaten path this
might be just what you’re looking for! You will be
amazed at how different things look from heavily used trails
just a few miles away. We will hike in to Caney Creek
Wilderness on the ridgetop Buckeye Mountain trail. After
lunch Saturday we will leave the Buckeye Mountain Trail for an
off trail route down into Short Creek where we will camp
Saturday night. Sunday we will hike off trail up Short
Creek (without a paddle) and loop back to our trailhead.
We will only cover about five miles each day but the off trail
sections will make it seem like more. Some of the hike
up Short Creek follows traces of an old road but there is no
trail. Early in the year brush and brambles should be at
a minimum. Expect a steep climb out of Short Creek.
Leader: Bill Greer
Send Email 972-247-0446
 Mar
17 (Tue) Dallas Sierra Club General Meeting
Zac Trahan, Program Director for Texas Campaign for the
Environment, will lead an interactive discussion about
potential environmental bills during the 2015 Texas
Legislative Session. Learn more about this and other
potential environmental legislation -- and get plugged in to
ways you can help influence state lawmakers on behalf of a
cleaner, greener world. FREE!
Everyone is invited to the Dallas Sierra Club's General
Meeting. Full details are on our
home page now.
Mar
18 (Wed) Outings Committee Meeting
Outings leaders, prospective leaders, and people interested in
outings are welcome to this monthly gathering (typically
on third Wednesdays at 6:30) to plan outings. This month,
we're meeting in Community Room B, upstairs at Central Market,
SE corner of Lovers Lane and Greenville Avenue, 6:30 PM. Bring
ideas for where to go and what to do.
Ask Mark to be placed on the
email list for an agenda. Organizer: Mark Stein
Send Email 214-526-3733
Mar
21 (Sat) Trail Appreciation at Cedar Ridge Preserve
Join us out at the Cedar Ridge Preserve to upgrade some of the
beautiful walking trails on the southwest edge of Dallas. The
address is 7171 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75249. It's a
great morning workout and the scenery is exceptional. No tools
are required (maybe gloves), just show up and be ready to lend
a hand or two. We'll work from 9 AM to 12-ish, and then walk
around the preserve and admire it! Bring some water for sure.
Click
here for directions and more information about Cedar Ridge
Preserve. If you wish to carpool, let me know and we'll
arrange a meeting spot. Come on out and bring your friends and
families! Stay green with us. Contact: Ginger Bradley
Send Email 469-223-7902
Mar
28-29 (Sat-Sun) Weekend Backpack at Buckeye Mountain Trail,
Arkansas
Hike one of the most scenic Wilderness trails in Arkansas in
the Caney Creek Wilderness of west central Arkansas. Saturday
we’ll enjoy the views from the ridgetop Buckeye Mountain
Trail. Sunday we’ll hike out along the creek bottoms of the
Caney Creek Trail. With any luck the wildflowers will be
starting to emerge. This trip is rated moderate and would be
suitable for beginners in good shape. Both days cover about 4
1/2 miles. Saturday includes an 800 foot uphill section. We`ll
camp Friday night near our cars, Saturday night near a nice
little waterfall. Leader: Mark Adams
Send Email 940-231-8482
Mar
29-Apr 3 (Sun-Fri) Backpacking and Spelunking in the Guadalupe
Mountains
Join me in the beautiful Guadalupe Mountains National Park as
we climb Guadalupe Peak, hike up to McKittrick Ridge and climb
down through the beautiful McKittrick Canyon. We will
move forward to an evening motel in Carlsbad, New Mexico and a
walk-in tour of the Carlsbad Caverns, including reservations
to explore the Lower Cave the next day. This trip is
rated strenuous because the hike up to McKittrick Ridge is 11
1/2 miles uphill. We will have to carry two days of water as
well. Party is limited to ten hikers. We will car camp
at Pine Springs two nights, camp in McKittrick Ridge one night
and motel two nights. I like to explore and be pampered.
Please call me to discuss the trip and answer your questions.
We welcome beginners who are in good shape.
Leader: Bill Beach
Send Email 214-662-3224
Apr
11 (Sat) White Rock Lake Clean-up
Walk and talk while picking up trash and recyclables at the
Sierra Club's adopted section of White Rock Lake Park. Meet at
8:15 AM this second Saturday of the month at the Love of the
Lake office, northeast corner of Garland Road and Buckner
Boulevard. Look for the crowd drinking free juice and coffee.
Gloves, trash bags, etc. will be provided. Our area includes
one of the wonderful prairie restoration areas, so there are
always birds and wildflowers to enjoy. Brunch afterwards.
Leader: Carol Nash
Send Email 214-824-0244
 Apr
11 (Sat) Backpacking 101 Class
 Leave
the crowds in the campgrounds. Backpacking enables you to move
into backcountry serenity, expanding your mobility to trails
where your car won’t take you. Dallas Sierra Club outings
leaders with decades of experience leading multi-day
backpacking trips will demonstrate what you need to know to
begin or enhance your own backpacking experiences. Topics
include gear to take versus leave at home (packs, tents, food
and cookware, clothing) and safety and comfort tips.
This class is for both total novices and intermediate level
backpackers who want to refresh their knowledge, skills or
gear. Class location is the First United Methodist Church,
Richardson, 503 N. Central Expressway in Richardson, Room 2A.
Click
here for directions on reaching the class location from
Central Expressway. The class time is 10 AM to 2:30 PM.
Pre-registration isn't necessary; just show up on April 11.
The class fee is $40 or $35 for Sierra Club members. Please
arrive before 10 to register so we can start promptly. Bring
a sack lunch or a drink and a snack. Contact: Liz
Wheelan
Send Email 214-368-2306
Apr
14 (Tue) Dallas Sierra Club General Meeting
 Kate
Rugroden, Director of Special Projects for Bat World
Sanctuary, brings The Essential Bat to the Dallas Sierra Club.
This family friendly program features live
native-species bats, and is an opportunity for people to see
these tiny creatures up close. FREE!
Everyone is invited to the Dallas Sierra Club's General
Meeting. Full details are on our
home page now.
Apr
15 (Wed) Outings Committee Meeting
Outings leaders, prospective leaders, and people interested in
outings are welcome to this monthly gathering (typically
on third Wednesdays at 6:30) to plan outings. This month,
we're meeting in Community Room B, upstairs at Central Market,
SE corner of Lovers Lane and Greenville Avenue, 6:30 PM. Bring
ideas for where to go and what to do.
Ask Mark to be placed on the
email list for an agenda. Organizer: Mark Stein
Send Email 214-526-3733
 Apr
17-19 (Fri-Sun) Camp, Hike or Backpack at Colorado Bend State
Park, Texas
Outdoor
enthusiasts of all ages and abilities are welcome for this
weekend adventure at one of our most scenic state parks. Take
your choice of car camping or car camping/backpacking
combination. Leave your worries behind and come to relax and
have fun in the beautiful landscape bordered by the Colorado
River. Pack your camp chair, hiking shoes, bike, kayak,
guitar, telescope and croquet set--whatever! This park is four
hours from Dallas and the campsite is accessible by car. We'll
organize day hikes to Spicewood Springs and Gorman Falls, as
well as overnight backpacking options. For details and
information about how to sign up, click this
link. Coordinator: Liz Wheelan
Send Email 214-368-2306
 Apr
18 (Sat) FREE Electronics Recycling and Document Shredding
 April
18, Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Electronics accepted:
computers, portable electronics, TVs, stereo equipment, office
equipment, vehicles, and more Details at
http://www.cor.net/index.aspx?page=1529 First United
Methodist Church Parking Lot - 503 N. Central Expressway,
Richardson. Enter from southbound Central
Expressway access road, just south of Arapaho Road.
Donations benefit the Richardson Citizens Police Academy
Alumni Association (CPAAA), the sponsor of the event.
The event is free, but donations are encouraged and accepted.
You DO NOT have to be a Richardson resident to participate.
Apr
18 (Sat) Trail Appreciation at Cedar Ridge Preserve
Join us out at the Cedar Ridge Preserve to upgrade some of the
beautiful walking trails on the southwest edge of Dallas. The
address is 7171 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75249. It's a
great morning workout and the scenery is exceptional. No tools
are required (maybe gloves), just show up and be ready to lend
a hand or two. We'll work from 9 AM to 12-ish, and then walk
around the preserve and admire it! Bring some water for sure.
Click
here for directions and more information about Cedar Ridge
Preserve. If you wish to carpool, let me know and we'll
arrange a meeting spot. Come on out and bring your friends and
families! Stay green with us. Contact: Ginger Bradley
Send Email 469-223-7902
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