Hot Springs, Falling Water and Service in Saline Valley, California

The Trip

Saline Valley is well off the beaten track, nestled in the Mojave Desert on the northwest corner of Death Valley National Park. The campground features natural and semi-improved mineral springs ranging in temperature from the high 90s to 107°F. Camping at the springs makes it convenient to bathe daily in the waters, shaded by palms planted long ago. In our worksite areas -- located just west of the national park boundary in the foothills of the Inyo Mountains and administered by the Bureau of Land Management -- riparian streams wind through secluded canyons that feature waterfalls and fern grottoes year-round. At night, after campfire, watch the Milky Way and the constellations in their march across the very black night sky.

The Project

Early settlers planted tamarisk bushes for shade and marsh reclamation. Regrettably, tamarisk (also known as salt cedar) has become one of the worst plant pests in the West, spreading aggressively, grabbing precious water, and polluting the soil with salt. We will spend our four work days removing this attractive yet invasive plant from the canyon streams and alluvial fans. We will hand-pull tamarisk seedlings, and cut down mature plants. EPA- and California-approved herbicides will be directly applied to the stumps to deter regrowth. There is tremendous satisfaction in seeing the natural setting revealed after the tamarisk is removed. We may also work to restore local trails or areas disrupted by unauthorized vehicles.

Getting There

Saline Valley is referred to as “one of the most remote locations in California.” Big Pine, our meeting place, is about a 4.5- to 5-hour drive from the major metropolitan areas of Los Angeles, Las Vegas, or Reno. On every route, there are scenic byways and campsites for those who can take an extra day or two. Our plan to caravan with our local guides will assist us in negotiating the sometimes challenging, unpaved roads descending along the eastern edge of the Inyo Mountains and into the springs area. The road requires sturdy, high-clearance vehicles. The trip leader will help facilitate ride-sharing for participants, so we’ll all be safe and comfortable on our initial transit into the camping site and on daily drives to our worksites. Please do not make travel arrangements until the leader has confirmed you as a trip member. 

Accommodations and Food

We’ll be tenting in the Saline Valley Warm Springs campground of Death Valley National Park. An outdoor shower is available and is required before bathing in the springs.

Come with the attitude that food is part of the adventure. Our participant-prepared meals, under the guidance of our cook, will offer delicious and imaginative meals and snacks suited to the work projects and campers’ needs and preferences. Meals will be vegetarian with some opportunities for meat during the week. 

We will have a group commissary with everyone taking turns in meal preparation and clean-up afterward. All breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks are included in the trip price, beginning with dinner on day one and ending with breakfast on day seven. Within our budget, we strive to choose food options that are organic and produce the minimum amount of waste. Potable water will be brought to the campsite; we may also use purification tablets to supplement from the mountain streams as we work.

Trip Difficulty

This area is stunning in its beauty. You will need to be prepared for the fact that this is the desert and it can be hot and windy, as well as cool and calm. 

The work, under supervision of BLM staff, will be moderate to strenuous, as a function of the terrain and plant conditions. Most days will offer a range of work locations. No one will be asked to work beyond his or her comfort level. We encourage all participants to take regular water and rest breaks to catch their breath and be awestruck by the surrounding scenery! 

Equipment and Clothing

Sturdy boots for work and hiking and heavy leather gloves are a must; long-sleeved shirts and long, sturdy pants will protect you from thorns and sharp twigs. Bring a great hat to shade you from the sun, a couple of bandanas, and a warm cap and jacket for the crisp mornings and evenings. You’ll need a tent with fly to help keep out the dust, a camp mattress or pad and sleeping bag comfortable down to the high 30s, personal towels, toiletries, insect repellant, and high SPF sunscreen. The daily temperature usually tops out in the high 80s in the afternoons, dropping into the low 40s at night; sometimes lower because of a wind-chill factor. A full equipment list will be sent to registrants. Work tools and instruction in their safe use will be provided by BLM staff.

Cameras, binoculars, and a small telescope for star-gazing (if someone has one) will be welcome additions!

References

Books:

• Foster, Lynne, Adventuring in the California Desert. Sierra Club Books.
• Digonnet, Michel, Hiking Western Death Valley National Park: Panamint, Saline, and Eureka Valleys.
• Bossard, Carla C., John M. Randall, Marc C. Hoshovsky, Invasive Plants of California's Wildlands. Available free online at http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/management/ipcw/online.php

Conservation

Since its founding in 1892, The Sierra Club has worked to preserve and restore the natural environment we all share on this planet. Thousands of grassroots-level volunteers spearhead our efforts to conserve and sustain resources, both in our own backyards and on a global scale. Through direct experience in the outdoors, Sierra Club outings enable participants to better understand, advocate, and participate in the environmental conservation goals of the Club.

Service outings, in particular, stand out as one of the Sierra Club’s most important “boots on the ground” conservation efforts. The work done by service trip participants in our nation’s public lands is a way of practicing conservation in the most direct way possible, whether it’s improving access while preserving wilderness values, restoring wildlife habitat, or repairing human-caused damage to a natural area. Service trips are a great way to pitch in and do something tangible to make the world a better place; they’re a way to go beyond just talking about conservation; a way to get out there and experience conservation with your whole being.

In addition to learning more about tamarisk and other invasive species, we will be working in an area of delicate and fragile natural beauty — secluded canyons in the Inyo Mountains with year-round flowing water, fern grottoes, and the creatures who live in this fragile environment. Our expert supervisors share with us some of the secrets of this desert wilderness and the people who have lived there in the past: Native Americans who left their history in petroglyphs and settlers who created a salt industry, transporting their product across the mountains to Los Angeles. We’ll have opportunities to discuss aspects of resource conservation and learn more about the challenges in protecting desert environments.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.