There is no such thing as enough water.

Back in 1992 the Riverside County Sheriff was asked how many bodies he thought lay undiscovered in the desert. His response was, "If they all stood up together there would be a forest".

It seems that the forest is growing larger with the discovery of a more than a few bodies in the desert between San Bernadino, Riverside and Imperial counties. Near Palm Springs 2 hikers lost their lives hiking in extreme temperatures. Another was lost then found caught in a crevasse up in the Painted Hills in Mecca, Ca. probably at the end of Box Canyon. Going further north to Death Valley a woman, her son and dog went out for an overnight camping trip in Death Valley and found tradgedy when their jeep got stuck. He first mistake was continuing into Death Valley after changing a flat tire. Her second mistake was thinking a a case of half liters bottles of water was enough. When found by the park rangers she was barely able to wave them down. Her 11 year old son was found dead in the car, the dog survived. That could have been avoided. If fact all of that could have been avoided if people would just excercise a little thought before going out for the day. We are well into August, the monsoon season. This is actually one of the worst times of year to go out for some playtime. The higher humidity levels work against you a lot harder than when the humidity is 12% or less. Easier to dehydrate and to become heat stressed since the body has to work harder to remain cool.

Never forget that there is no such thing as enough water in the desert.

Ja~ne

In memory of Bear. 1994-2009

Bear passed away last week. A 15 year old German Shepherd of exceptional note he was the best friend of my best friend who we call Bulldog. Going back more than 25 years our dogs have been friends and companions not only to ourselves but to each other. Simon and I have been caught in the desert in a broken down truck with our dogs awaiting rescue on a day with temps in the mid-one teens the dogs got the priority for cooling while we sweated out the arrival of a spare tire.

Two weeks ago we took Bear and my dogs Jin and Abby to the local river for some playtime then to the pub for a pint. That was the last time I saw Bear. He had a good time good time that day. Pass easy over the Rainbow Bridge Bear.







This was also taken the same day.

Who let the dogs out?

We all do perhaps a couple of times a day. If our dogs are really lucky they may go for an adventure, somewhere other than the park or greensward. Yet there are things we may not be aware of. For example heat stress can affect dogs more severely than people, hot pavement can burn sensitive feet and the pads on the bottom of their feet can be torn or lacerated as happened to one of my dogs recently when she stepped on a piece of glass. We dont usually think these things can happen however if you take your dogs on a hike or away from the park these things can happen. In the case of Abby who stepped on a piece of glass. A lot of blood and without a first aid kit and treatment it could have been really bad. "Wait a minute", Sez you, "First aid for a dog?" Why not you bandage your kids when they get hurt. If necessary you take them to the doctor to get patched up. Animals are no different. The methods and techniques are the same and you should learn where a dogs pressure points are. However the most common injuries are to the feet and thanks to the good people at Bordercollie.org here is what to do to dress a foot injury.


What you need: Scissors, fabric sports tape, Krazy glue, (other types of Super glue do not work as well) & corn starch.

Clean and dry the area thoroughly, cut a round patch, slightly bigger than the wound, make sure that you don't leave any square corners.

Apply a very thin layer of Krazy glue to the wound, the size of your patch. Apply the patch. Let it dry. Now apply another thin layer of glue on top of your entire patch, making sure to go outside of the edges. Immediately apply the corn starch (the corn starch is the key). Let it dry. If you would like you can apply another layer of glue and cornstarch but it must be very thin and overlap the previous layer. If any of the layers are too thick the patch will not hold. This will give you a patch that, depending on outside conditions, will stay on up to 5 days. It will fall off on its own as the pad heals. It will also give you a corn starched, glued finger that will annoy you for two days or until you figure out that acetone removes Krazy glue.


Good Luck!

A woman posted the following on an online forum:

We all know how deadly a parked car can be even on a mildly warm day. However, I have been known to leave the car running AND LOCKED with the AC on for The Dog. Makes me laugh when I come back to the car and he’s sitting there so proud and easy with his fur flying back from the fan blowing full blast.

As long as I have lived in the desert I've had dogs with me whether it's running errands, going to work or out to play. A dog's there. I have also learned that living in the desert presents special problems for dogs on the ground and in cars. So about a year ago I ran this experiment to find out what the interior temps of a car could get up to.

On April 19, 2009 at 10:32 AM I placed a Fluke K type thermocouple and digital thermometer in my car with the sensor element suspended in the air in the center of the passenger compartment. Opened all of the windows and the sunroof and let it sit until the temps equalized inside and out.

Time 10:15: Starting temp 85F inside and out.
Closed the car, all windows and the sunroof. Put up the window shades in the front window and closed the shade for the sunroof. Car now dark inside. Wait fifteen minutes. Time: 10:32am Check temp with shades in place. Outside air temp still 85F. It was 105F inside the car.
Step 2: Removed windows shades. Let the temps equalize and run a second test for 15 mins. Close car at 10:35. Next check time 10:51. The outside temp was no 86F. INside the car it was 111 without the shades. Those temps can kill not only a dog but a child as well. Add to that there are laws about l leaving dogs and people in cars. If you thinks it's difficult to breath on a still day when it's 110F outside think about what it's like in a car with no ventilation.

Desert rules for dogs in cars.
Rule 1: Do not leave your dog in the car. If you're not in the car your dog should be either; open windows or not.

Since that probably won't be heeded here are some more good rules.

Rule 2: Run the A/C set at max A/C vents pointed to the roof.
Rule 3: There is no rule 3.
Rule 4: To keep your car from overheating open the hood all the way. This allows heat to escape.
Rule 5: Always park in the shade with the back of the car pointing to the sun or where it will be.
Rule 6: Use a sunshade in the front window, cover sunroof with towel and leave it open 2".
Rule 7: Leave windows open a few inches.
Rule 8: Leave a large bowl of water.
Rule 9: Use terry towels or seat covers on leather seats.
Rule 10: Leave your dogs home on hot days because it's still against the law to leave them in the car A/C or not.

"But I want to have my dog in the car."

To be totally redundant; during the spring and summer anyone person or dog left in a closed car can die within half an hour. The only way I would ever leave a dog in a car is with a police K-9 A/C setup. Even then you run a risk if something goes wrong with the system. It is against the law to leave a person or pet in a car when the temps are elevated, about 80F maybe a bit more.

To prepare your car for dogs in summer (that would be a good name for a band) have your A/C and cooling system completely and thoroughly overhauled and serviced. Inspect all hoses replacing those that are marginal and the radiator flushed and rodded if necessary. Note that some K-9 cars I've seen have a thermostatically controlled door relay installed. If the temps in the car go over a preset level the doors automatically open allowing the dogs out and fresh air in. Considering the technology today that's something that should be fairly easy to find or make.

The thing is despite warnings on radio and TV people still leave there pets and children in the car when it's hot out. If I see it whether your A/C is running or not I call the cops or animal control. Last word. If the temps are over 80-85 and you can't take the dogs out of the car when you park...

LEAVE THEM HOME!!

Why can't we share?

Today in Yucca Valley, Ca we celebrated Earthday. On several occasions, one in particular, I was taken to task by friendly and non-friendly Desert Do-gooders. "I thought you were for protecting the environment", says one. "Why do you espouse giving 4x4s a place to play? They only destroy the planet", says another. There are several reasons. For one they live here just like you do, like it or not they are our neighbors. Next, they already exist and there is no way you're going to get rid of them. So the next best thing is to keep them under control in places where the damage can be minimized. Still the Do-gooders say, "NO! there is no place for off road vehicles in the desert." Then let me ask, where do they go? What do we do about an entire section of the economy; a major one at that? Just kiss it off and tell the people who have spent millions of dollars on off road toys to just chuck it? Does that mean I have to do the same thing with my jeep and boat and stop fishing? How about rock climbing, that damages the environment and hiking? All those feet contribute to erosion on our trails. The Do-gooders continue about how RVs, SUVs, ATVs and powered rollerskates aren't earth friendly not listening to the argument that if all had been left as it was then the areas the Do-gooders are now screaming about would not have been damaged. I do have to be fair however, the Baja Sand Bunnies do have a response to the D0-gooders. It's horsepower used go further into the raw desert or to sneak into places that are protected but not monitored. I do want the desert protected but it's not going to be done by closing areas A,B,C and D. It can be done however by closing areas A, B, C and letting the Sand Bunnies have area D. Unfortunately the Desert Do-gooders won't hear of anything like that screaming about how earth unfriendly I am because I drive a jeep while they drive earth unfriendly cars and wipe their bottoms with earth unfriendly toilet paper. To the Do-gooders it is all or nothing. Sorry guys, you can't have it all. You have to share it and you have to share it with the Sand Bunnies.

All about city-zens,

Jack a member of an online forum I belong to asked me: Just curious, "DeRanger" Steve, what is your beef with folks who live in the city? You know, quite a few of us have advanced degrees in science, live in cities, and are actually fairly intelligent. Please do enlighten me as to the animal-related health scams that I might be ignorant enough to fall for.

I don't have a beef with people who live in the city. I have a beef with city-zens, a particular type of people who live in the city. Degrees, intelligence, whether you belong to Mensa or the bowling team have nothing to do with being a City-zen. Neither does being artsy-fartsy or biscuits and beer. Simply put a city-zen is someone who moves to the desert and brings with them all of those things we ask them not to. The list is long and starts with 'A' for attitude and goes to 'Z' for zoology. City-zens bring uncontrolled growth and major changes to the environment and ecology in an area with limited resources (water) and a very delicate ecology. They build unwanted gated developments then complain that the desert is disappearing. It is disappearing because you are building gated developments. Buying a new home here they see xerescape (desert landscaping) not grass and missing suburbia's vast green lawns they plant grass not realizing that they are wasting our most precious resource, water, and creating allergies in a place where that was once known as a health resort because of it's clean air. City-zens bring driving habits compatible and acceptable where they live but not here and they refuse to change. e.g. We have surface street speed limits of 60mph. That is no place to be doing 40mph. Left turns are made from the left lane, not the right, there is a thing called a turn signal and pedestrians have the right of way. City-zens have taken what was once a laid back and relaxed environment with a very close knit community and turned it into Los Angeles. That is not something natives of the desert and long time residents want. We ask people who move to the desert to adapt, to teach their children a more relaxed lifestyle. All they do is bring that lifestyle with them and create more stress and rage. It's seen on our streets everyday.

Right now a developer wants to build 2500 homes at the entrance of a national park. He says he is doing it for "Our community" including himself in "Our community". He lives in Philadelphia what the hell does he know about "Our community" or the desert? We aren't resisting change and growth here. We are resisting the way the city-zens are doing it.

Worst city-zen we ever had here was Sonny Bono - Mayor of Palm Springs. He killed spring break, drove the tourists away and made a nice place for city-zens to live while killing the economy. "I got you babe".

We encourage people to move here. Just leave your city behind. This is the feeling of many desert communities including mine. I live in a an area that was surrounded by open desert and I could walk into the mountains. Now I have lots of neighbors and there's a fence to keep me out of the mountains. Locals didn't do that.

So you see Jack, it's not the people who live in the city. It's what they do when they move here.

The Desert is closed - Redux.

I figured I'm just gonna take the dogs out for a walk in Willis Palms, part of the Coachella Preserve. When I get there I find a sign that says No Dogs. I go look for another place, Pushawalla Oasis, No Dogs. Fine" sez I more than a little miffed. So I drive over behind the high school to an open piece of desert where I've taken the dogs before but now there's a sign that says "No Access, Federally Owned Land." followed by a list of what's not allowed including of course dogs. I could take them downtown for coffee and a brioche, the city is dog gone friendly and welcomes dogs. I could take them to the dog park. No thanks, dog parks are a haven for diseases like Parvo, Heart worm and Canine Distemper. I've had my experience there so no more dog parks. Finally I remember a canyon I haven't been to in years where there's water, cottonwood trees and nice place to play. Best of all there are no signs prohibiting dogs. They say welcome, come visit, beware of lions, and tigers and bears, Oh My! (there are no tigers in the desert but there are snakes).

I guess it started in the 1970s when the Indians closed Tahquitz Canyon. Too many people getting hurt. That was followed by the closing of the Whitewater River by Windy Point then the Ponds where we went windsurfing. "Too many people getting hurt", said one group. "Protect the desert", said another over a hundred square feet of plant that grew over several acres in a protected area only a few miles away. Most recently is was too much noise from off road vehicles. With a typical lack of thought and foresight the Riverside County board of Supervisors closed all of Riverside County to off road driving with a few exceptions at the east end of the county. Now the desert is being closed to dogs our faithful companions for thousands of years. That one actually started in the (at that time proposed) San Jacinto Santa/Rosa National Monument with the voluntary closure of prime hiking areas and trails to dogs during the best time of the year to hike. This was done to prevent dogs from disturbing the endangered Big Horn Sheep. I've lived at the base of the monument for over 25 years and remember Big Horns in my front yard (before the sheep fence) eating my wife flowers. I remember dogs barking at the Big Horns and I remember Big Horns ignoring the dogs while they continued to eat the landscaping such as it was. The only dogs that chase sheep are sheepdogs.

My point is that as we continue to close places that are now open to the public including our dogs what is going to be left and for whom? I travel with my dogs, gone to forests, national and state parks, the beach, hiking, camping both along trails and in the wilderness. They've stayed in tents, RV's, hotels and the homes of unwilling relatives never bothering anyone. There is no reason in the world why areas like preserves, monuments and parks should be closed to our closest companions. There is no reason to prevent our four footed friends from enjoying the outdoors either. The reasons for closing these areas to the canine set is filled with faulty logic. The fact is people who travel with dogs have well behaved ones that have been trained and they clean up after them. I've never had another dog lunge at mine on a trail or in a campground. It's always a friendly greeting, sniff the butt and let's play. Yet I go downtown and there are dogs towing their owners down the street growling and barking at every dog that walks by. Or worse jumping out from a cafe table. If your dog pulls on the leash while walking and barks on the street leave it home. Better yet take an obedience class because well trained dogs are a joy to everyone and always welcome. At 16wks old Jin my Border Collie is well trained to go out in public, a friendly tail wagging dog. He sits quietly at cafes and poses for pictures. I don't need the guy being hauled by a Pit Bull, German Shepard or whatever whose barely in control to come out of the crowed and start being aggressive toward a defenseless puppy. Unfortunately they are always there.

Did I ever say take water?

It's not even summer yet and I'm already running into people in distress because they forgot one simple item. Water!! I think this summer I'm going to sell my water instead of giving it away. After all; you're in the desert without any water. Lesee, events and venues get as much as $2.50 for 1/2l bottle I think I could get $5.00 for 3/4 of a liter. Whaddya thunk?
As long as I'm on the subject what else have you forgotten? A knife, whistle or cell phone, lighter? These are the four most important items you can have yet is seems the only thing you carry is a cell phone and when it doesn't work I get blamed for it. Cell phones still don't work everywhere.
I digress. Last year more than a few people bit the dust in the desert including a couple of famous ones. Evan Tanner UFC Champion died because he ran out of water and tried to walk out. Turn back when your water is half gone. No one is really sure what happened to Steve Fosset the intrepid aviator other than he crashed into the mountains. However in the search for him eight other planes missing for years turned up. Even Fosset himself took a year to be found and then it was by accident. Let someone know where you are going and when you expect to get back. Let's see if we can beat the desert this summer with no deaths in the local deserts.

The Blue Djinn is home again now a healthy puppy ready to resume his life and training. As part of a discussion I was having the subject of what do we do for our pets during an emergency, disaster or survival situation. Over the next several weeks I'm going to include what you can do for our furry friends. Startng with an essentials list we'll look at the problems and how animals react to disaster and what you can do to keep them comfortable and calm. Your input is welcomed.

Critter warning. Don't forget California is in a drought. Critters of all shapes and sizes are going to be coming out of the mountains and washes to backyards and swimming pools this summer to look for water, shelter and Fluffy who makes a nice meal. Last year a number of small cats and dogs were taken by larger birds of prey. Keep y0u yard secure and don't leave any food out.

Jin on the mend

Fans of the Blue Djinn know he has had a very rough week battling Canine Parvovirus. Untreated Parvo has a 91% fatality rate among puppies. Fortunately we caught it in time. Jin is still at the vets and getting better. We hope to have him home by the end of the week and up and around for the Earthday Conservation Fair at the Hi-Desert Nature Museum in Yucca Valley, Ca. on Saturday April 18, 2009. Come out and meet Jin, myself and the staff of The Sunrunner Magazine.

Of course the vets bill is going to be horrendously expensive. We even have a guessing game going on the Border Collie forum as to how much it shall be. The closest guess gets a Desert Bandanna. Nonetheless whatever the bill is it shall be well worth it considering that Jin is mt friend will eventually become a service dog. In order to pay for his medical we ask that everyone dropping buy the O'blogitory buy a Desert Bandanna with all the proceeds currently going to pay for Jin's medical bill. Of course you can always make a non-deductable charitable donation to Jin through PayPal. Receive a a Desert Bandanna with any donation over $20.00. Be sure to leave your email address.

Click to help Jin.

Jin is in the hospital with Parvo

I know how emotionally involved I am with Jin a Border Collie.. Totally. I have spent the last several hours crying because Jin has Parvo. I took him out for his run at the dog park and everything was all right. Then he sort of collapsed. I thought it was just him being tired but when I got him home he wouldn't get out of the car nor would he eat an ice cube. He was not Jin and he fell asleep on the floor. I went shopping for my sons birthday dinner, tonight Kyle is 24, and when I got back Jin barely greeted me then he came in and crashed, asleep again. I thought something might be wrong so I tried the acid test. He tuned up his nose at his fav treat and would not drink any water. I called the vet and took him over there where he tested positive for Parvo. Doctor Teri wasn't happy with the result of the first test due to an anomoly and did a second. Again positive. At this point I totally broke down. When I introduced Jin to my therapist it took an hour to show and explain to her what he means to me and how close the bond is. Dominique told me at the end of the session that if I had not bought him in she would never have understood.

My Border collie owning friends Sue, Sue, John, Eileen and everyone else understand. I am totally devastated right now. I'm praying for Jin's life to be spared. I want to bring him home, I must bring him home because I am too emotionally tied to a puppy I was given on Valentines Day.

Please dear God let him live.

Together we, Ranger and Jin.

I love my puppy.

Snake season approacheth

It's Spring. With evening temps going above 70 it's time to concern ourselves with wildlife in our yards. This year's heavy, Mr. Longfellow... the Snake.

Generally speaking you shall find that snakes are not aggressive with a few exceptions like the Coachwhip a non-poisonous species. I have, hiking about, stepped on and kicked more snakes than I care to count with the result of the snake just being scared and wanting to get out of the way. Snakes are not going to stalk and hunt you down nor will they chase, bite and fill you with the worlds most toxic venom and have dinner. Plain simple fact is if given a chance most snakes, even a startled one, will leave the area. The best way to get bit by a snake is to antagonize one. That's the reason for most snake bites. Statistically these bites usually occur on the hand and are received by young stupid men between the ages of 15 and 30 who have been drinking. What does that say? Don't pick them up. If you encounter a snake in the wild the best thing to do is take a picture then walk around or away from the snake giving him plenty of distance. If you find one in the back yard call animal control but don't expect them to show up. If your worried about how close a snake is just remember that the distance a rattlesnake can strike is about half a body length. The average snake is less than 5ft. So distance is your best defense. If you do get too close a walking stick is useful for fending off snakes since they primarily sense prey through heat and they won't sense your walking stick. As for you and your dog, the two of you are large heat signatures and they want nothing to do with that. Even if you are struck by a startled snake it may not inject venom there's about a 50/50 chance of that happening; it's called a dry strike. Additionally snakebites are very survivable even for a 50lb dog if treatment is received as soon as possible. Never try to kill a snake. It's tough trick and all you do is piss 'em when you try. don't run over snakes; it seems that some people get a perverse pleasure out of running over snakes in their cars sometimes stopping and backing over them again. That seems to be a rather cruel thing to do do when the snake hasn't run you over. Treatment for snake bite is simple. Transport to a hospital ASAP. don't cut, suck or anything else. Just transport.

I was asked about snake avoidance training for dogs on the Border Collie forum I belong to. If you are interested here are a couple of links I found in a Google search, SoCal and Arizona. This is not an endorsement of either of these companies. I know nothing about them. I suggest you call and study what they say before making a choice. Because of our drought I do expect to see more snakes than usual this year so use care when out and about.

Climber falls to death from the Desert Sun

A man fell to his death and another was injured while rock climbing at Joshua Tree National National Park in Twentynine Palms on Sunday Mar.15 2009.

Curtis Woodrow Stark II, 67, of Riverside was climbing the Great Burrito rock about a 150 to 200 feet tall rock formation near the Hidden Valley Nature Trail about 4:40 p.m. when he fell about 100 feet, according to Joseph Zarki, a National Park Service spokesman.

Stark, an experienced climber, was not wearing a helmet and died of head injuries, Zarki said. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 5 p.m., according to the Riverside County Coroner’s Office. His climbing companion, Alfred Kuok, 44, of Claremont, was taken Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs with back pain, broken ribs and possibly internal injuries, Zarki said.

According to the National Park Service, Stark was the lead climber. He became dehydrated, started losing strength and began to descend. “During the descent he lost his grip and fell,” Zarki said. In the fall, Stark knocked Kuok off the rock. Some of the hardware protection they put into the rock — bolts and clips fastened into rock crevices — did not hold causing Stark to fall to the ground", Zarki said. Kuok didn’t fall because other hardware protection held.

Two firemen from the Joshua Tree area who had been climbing nearby helped rescue Kuok. Four park rangers and nine Joshua Tree Search and Rescue volunteers also responded. A San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department helicopter airlifted Kuok to the hospital. Because it’s an inherently dangerous activity, safe climbing techniques and proper safety gear, including helmets, should be used when climbing the rocks, Zarki said.

I have a dog.

Not the usual fare for this blog but I was given a Border Collie puppy by my daughter on Valentines Day. His name is Jin and as of 5 Mar he is 3 months old. The thing is Border Collies (BC's) are veryintellegent with the IQ of a 5 yr old and much smarter than a fifth grader. The question is what to do with him. He can't become a SAR dog for at least a year and a half. On the other hand there are dog sports like frisbee, flyball , agility and freestyle.








Tremendous fun we welcome Jin to our home.

The Desert is Closed.

From my article in theApr/May issue of the Sunrunner Magazine. (article online in full after the Apr/May issue comes out).


“You can’t play here anymore”. That is basically the decision of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors who in their wisdom have determined that the noise made by OHVs and their ilk are such that there shall be no off roading on any publicly, federal or county, owned land in Riverside County anymore unless it is on a designated trail.~

---

The subject today is not the actual closing of the desert despite the fact it's been on going on for years but where do we go? Here is the very short list of where we can now legally play off road in the lo-desert. None of them in Riverside County.

Ocotillo Wells OHV Imperial County. area is located between Anza Borrego State Park on the west and the Salton Sea on the east. From Palm Springs, south on 86 to Highway 78 then west to Ocotillo Wells.

Johnson Valley. Hi-desert actually. Enter off of Highway 247 at Old Woman Springs Road or Camp Rock Road between Barstow (55mi) and Yucca Valley.(15mi).'

Glamis and Imperial Dunes. Imperial County. From Palm Springs, South on Highway 86 sto Highway 78 then east to the Glamis exit.

All other travel off road is limited to these designated trails (BLM map) Of course you can go further out say to El Mirage dry lake or into Arizona butth lo- desert in riverside County is closed off.

Locally that means OHVs and 4x4's are going to start exploring our backyards. Places like Pipes Canyon or up in Black Rock. "But wait" sez you, "Those are protected areas" "Yes, yes, "Sez I, "but the Baja Bunnies (OHVs/4X4) dont' care" The lower parts of Berdoo and Pinkham Canyons have already fallen and the destruction is very apparent. Who knows what will happen if they start driving through the Dale Mining District and into Pinto Basin or they reach upper Pinkham Canyon. The draconian measures put into place by Riverside County are going to have a far reaching negative effect on hi-desert and it's play areas until Riverside County get's it together enough to create a place to play off road in Riverside County and knowing politicians that could take years.

Nothing's permanent except change.

While President Obama is working on his economic stimulus package I remind everyone we could use a little here as well. So since we need change I've changed the price on the Desert Bandanna to more affordable $12.99US. Unfortunately in expectation of the Post Office raising prices next month we have also had to change the price of 1st class shipping to $3.25US and Priority shipping to $5.75US. For more information visit Desert Bandanna or click on the button below to purchase through PayPal.

Desert Bandanna
1st Class Mail

Secure Paypal Link


I pretty sure I now have everything online for the The Mojave Phone Booth Adventure. If you live in So. Calif this is a chance for an actual adventure that takes you into the middle of nowhere just to see what's going on. Please see previous blog posts or click here for more info.

A few notes and addendums.

A correction regarding the availability of anything more than Gas in Amboy, Ca. There isn't. I heard yesterday that the only thing in operation there is the gas station. That makes the nearest food, lodging and gas for the Mojave Adventure is in Baker, CaThe distance from Kelso to Baker is ~35 miles up the Kelbaker Road. Don't forget to pack a lunch.

The Mojave Phone Booth Adventure

Ever been to the Middle of Nowhere? It's location changes you know. For the next couple of months the (unOfficial) Middle of Nowhere can be found at 35° 17' 9.269"N latitude, 115° 41' 4.042" W longitude in the Mojave National Preserve at the location what was once a mining camp along the now deserted Aiken Mine Road. Now what possible reason can I give you to leave the comfort of your home to visit a piece of dirt in the desert in BFN. Lots of 'em the least of which is a chance to do something totally different this weekend. Start in any of the the desert cities like Palm Springs (2hrs) or Barstow (1hr), Ca or from the resort town of Primm , Nv (1/2 hr) and head for the jump off points of either Baker, Ca on the north or Kelso, Ca on the south. Explore along Old Route 66 and stop at places like Amboy, Ca for a burger and gas at the world famous Roy's motel, if it's open. To start your adventure head for DesertBandanna.com's Desert Adventure page where there are some "Clues for City-zens" a reason why to go out there, the story behind the events that occurred along the Aiken Mine Road and a Google map to show you the way.

Depending on how far you decide to go the Mojave Phone Booth Adventure does take you off road. A 4WD SUV with at least half a tank of gas and proper preparation is recommended. What you need to know can be found on the Desert Bandanna website, in this blog and on the bandanna itself. For more information post a question or send me an email.

Guides available. Email for more information steve@deranger.us DesertBandanna.com and DeRanger.us accept no responsibility for the actions taken upon by others wishing to visit and play the desert. Enjoy the outdoor adventure safely. It's your responsibility.

Have an adventure on me.

The Sunrunner Magazine is your access guide to the desert for which I write a column on everything from places to visit to surviving those places when Mother (Nature) goes "Tag! You're it". The article in the next issue deals with visiting the desert and shall hopefully lead you to try one of several adventures I shall post about both here and at DesertBandanna.com Two adventures are planned with the first being worked on. Starting here in the virtual world it shall hopefully lead you into the desert to put your feet on the ground.

The Sunrunner Magazine shall be available at the
Los Angeles Times Travel and Adventure Show
February 14 - 15, 2009
Los Angeles Convention Center
Travel Trade: Saturday 8 – 10 am
Public: Saturday & Sunday 10 am – 5 pm

and online at TheSunrunner.com

A change of name.

As you can see we have a new name, The O'blogitory so called because because my friends and associates seem the think that blogs are obligatory these days. Hence the name The O'blogitory. That is also the reason I do not write in it often. Yet in light of recent emails (a half a dozen or so) I shall endeavor to update it more often seeing that people now think an virtual presence on the Internet is more important than a physical presence in real life.

On with the show

On the calendar: Sunday March 1st 2009 is the 10th (I believe) annual Hike for Hope Breast Cancer Research Charity hike at Indian Canyons in Palm Springs, Ca. My wife and I have been a part of this for many years and urge you all to attend for a day of hiking in one of the deserts most beautiful settings. Hikes range from easy to strenous.