Thanks, DCR, for sharing this unfortunate news. I will indeed be writing a letter, and encourage everyone else to do the same. DCV should be especially interested in this, and I for one am in favor of both individual letters and a group letter from DCV. Ron, I know you have been very busy and have put a lot of effort into some recent DCV letters. Maybe we can draft a DCV letter as a group actiby sycamorelaughing - California Hot Springs
Thanks DCR for letting us know about this. I have shared this information with our local area Naturist Action Comitte and The Naturist Society, but they may already have the information. I will zalso share it with DCV members and encourage them to write letters as well. I agree with Laughing Bear that an official letter from DCV would also probably be in order. We could even plan a visit up tby sycamorelaughing - California Hot Springs
Hi Wizard! Hardly ever check the forum lately, but rained out at the ranch and spending a couple nights with my computer. Sure would love to see that rock your wife found. Take a ceramic plate (white) and rub the rock on it to produce a streak. If the streak is red, what you have is naturally occurring but uncommon hematite. It often looks melted, and is very black. I found a little piece oby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I am glad to see this legislation despite the fact that it does not include our area. It seems that the new law restricting ORV use in the city of Hesperia has already led to increased use in Juniper Flats. I do believe the people who have claimed to see desert tortoises in Juniper Flats, and hope that suitable documentation can soon be provided, so that our area can also gain some protectionby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
What a nice message you give. So glad to hear that DCHS is your favorite. The area is kept as clean as possible by many volunteers, some with the Deep Creek Volunteers group (like myself) and others acting independently. We need all the volunteers we can get to keep up with the nitwits who sometimes leave large messes! I hope you will check out the DCV website. We would love to hear your feby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Katrina, I witnessed no threats. AZ Mike overheard a comment at Rock Springs and went to tell Mike Castro about it. He came back ranting about Castro's response, which did seem threatening but was only heard and reported by AZ Mike, so I had to classify it as hearsay. There is no way for me to know if either party's words, context, etc. were conveyed with accuracy. If Castro did indeed fly inby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
"That'll happen right after you give up 3/4 of your wages to reduce the problem of your being robbed. Why should Dean give in to the off-road terrorists?" I must offer a small correction here, Rick. In the year in which AZ Mike spent every weekend enjoying the hospitality of Rock Springs Ranch and its caretakers, he was unemployed the entire time and therefore had no wages. Seems heby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
You can't just go and change a BLM lock. This matter needs attention, regardless of who the perpetrators are. The matter concerns DCHS and also the Juniper Flats area. I hope FOJF gets lots of recognizable photos and that we press this issue until the perpetrators are caught and stopped from their destruction of our public and private lands.by sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Bacteria can enter the body through the ears, hence my suggestion.by sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hello windsong and thank you for the report. My hat is off to you for hiking in to the springs in all that snow. I think that your presence at the springs is probably beneficial despite the illegal camping and campfire, and have greatly enjoyed talking with you. I do believe you that you would not have had the fire had there not been a survival matter at hand, and have complete faith in youby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hello Mojave Green and Willa Zoe, Here I am, at long last muddling through the forum to see what I have missed. I have read a number of your posts, Willa Zoe, and for one I do not care whether or not you have posted as more than one person or not. You show a clarity of thought and a great deal of knowledge of the law. You may enjoy debating legal matters here, where some other posters are qby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Hello Miguel Although I do not think dogs are the cause of the skin rash problem experienced by some (just an unfounded opinion), I do share your concerns about dogs (and babies) in the pools having the potential to pose a health risk to soakers. Another potential problem is human waste that is often left too near the stream. Deep Creek Volunteers provides "hot springs etiquette" tiby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
I think at least one is running for president, Rick. Thanks Sam D. for sticking up for DCV and all the great people who help make up for the few nitwits using the springs. Always remember: we have them outnumbered! I'm not worried about too many people thinking that our existance leaves them free to leave their trash for us. Anyone who reads our brochure can see that that is not the case.by sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Meeting date Oct. 30 Meeting began about 2 p.m. in a sunny spot on the grass. DCV banner was displayed. Ralph, Paul, Ron, and Sycamore attended and were joined by one visitor. Item #1) Membership and funding changes: Two new members joined following our September meeting, bringing our total to 33. Funding is currently at $216. Item #2) Boy Scout volunteer help: A Boy Scout troop is williby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Went to the DCV meeting at the springs yesterday and got to see the flooding results firsthand. I agree with the concern about driftwood being used for fires, and DCV will address the issue with the USFS to determine the best course of action. The good news is that we won't have to worry about the pile of Scottish broom being a fire hazard for a while since it had such a good soaking! Sam D.by sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Laughing Bear is right about naturally exposed roots, but in this case the erosion of the bank on which the trees grow is causing some rather severe exposure. One willow tree (a non-native) has roots exposed about halfway around the base of the tree, and it has gotten worse in the last year. Human activity probably speeds up the erosion of the bank, and the trash buried beneath it keeps surfaciby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Yes, Mojave, that vehicle does fit the description of the one observed hill-climbing on private property, although it could just be a coincidence. As for the vehicle that vandalized the Village entrance, that may have been a gray pickup. A gray pickup with a flat tire was seen just north of the Village entrance on the same day as the vandalism, but by the time the vandalism was discovered the pby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thanks for the reminder about our fall clean-up day, Ron. I would like to add that, as discussed in our July meeting, DCV would be glad to sign affidavits for participants. This can help to show volunteer experience and community involvement on a resume or college application. Tell all your friends! Come on out and meet new friends with the DCV fall cleanup. Anyone can participate. Participby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
After reading the posts on vertical mulching presented here and on a previous thread, and observing the effects of the vertical mulching done as opposed to areas where it is needed and not being done, I can only conclude that Tanya did a good job and I wish that the current BLM staff would initiate more vertical mulching to erase the many illegal trails that continue to be used in Juniper Flats.by sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Agreed! Many areas have begun to address the problems of ORV non-compliance. Hopefully we will get our turn soon. In Juniper Flats, noise disturbance and dust are the minor problems, while increased fire danger, riparian area destruction, cultural site disturbance, hillclimb erosion, private property trespass and vandalism, and unsightly scars on the landscape all serve to bring down the valueby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Thanks for that offer, brother Bear. I'll let you know what develops with him.by sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Sounds great. Thanks, Rick. Also, for those stargazers interested in the hike, I found this info on Mars: MARS SPECTACULAR! The Red Planet is about to be spectacular! This month, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter'sby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Another moonlight hike is being planned by Friends of Juniper Flats for Saturday August 28. This will be two days before full moon, but should give us an early moonrise time and be a convenient day of the week for it. In fact, our webmaster can probably tell us just what time the moon will rise that night. How about it, Rick? Participants will meet at 6:30 at the corner of Bowen Ranch Roadby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Yep, just as I thought. Mojave Green was close, though. Very nice photos. Am told the dog in the photo will soon need a new home. Anyone interested can contact me for details. We sure do get some beautiful skies at Juniper Flats.by sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
You must be close with that one, Mojave Green. Not sure if it is shot from Coxey Truck, but if the direction isn't NW then it must be west at least. Say...that wasn't shot from private property, was it?by sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Ha ha I got a thunderstorm here, then went away for the weekend and have been in three hailstorms during my trip. Wow...that was great.by sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Bring on the thunderstorms! I hope it pours. Hail would be o.k., too.by sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
While the USFS has been visiting more frequently on weekends, it seems that midweek camping has increased at the springs. I don't think people worry about rangers coming down midweek, although I tell people that they do that sometimes. I talked to a couple recently who wanted to camp at the springs for a coupe of days midweek. They didn't like hearing that they might be cited, but when I expby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Anyone notice the new cottonwood trees planted at the springs? Two new ones have gone in in the last week. Thanks, tree man!! Richard has been visiting frequently and I have been going down once or twice a week, so all the cottonwoods have been getting fairly regular waterings. But, don't let that stop anyone from giving them water any time you are there. Twice a day is not too much, and twiby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California
Item #7) DCV Summer Newsletter: Ron shows the group a color copy of our summer newsletter. It is longer than our previous newsletter and features some photos as well as text. It has a report from a first-time visitor, an article on summer at the springs, an article with photos of the recent helicopter rescue, an article about a tour of other California hot springs, as well as a couple of shorby sycamorelaughing - Deep Creek Hot Springs, Apple Valley, California