Three days of desert hiking and geology in the Santa Rosa Mountains, CA

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE SIGNING ON.
This will be a small group, eight participants, including the leader Thom Davis, visiting, and staying at the UC Reserve System's Boyd Deep Canyon facility above Palm Desert, CA. We will be hiking at Coyote Canyon (photo), the lower portion of Deep Canyon, some new trails along the east side of the Santa Rosa Mtns, and discussing the geology and flora. Trip is for non-geologists and rocks, minerals, faults, and other geologic features and concepts will be explained on-site in an easy to understand manner; geologists are welcome on the trip too. There are some interesting and beautiful flora and fauna in these areas too! Hikes will be from 4-6 miles long with up to 1,000 ft of elevation gain. You need to be in good hiking shape and stay-up with the group (approx. a 2.0 mph pace). Some of the routes are desert cross-country, we have no sweep, and we need to stay together as a group; getting lost in this place could be bad!

If you are placed on the trip, You will need to email me, ASAP, your full name, email address, and vehicle color, make, year, and license plate number, if you plan on driving (send to geologicmapsfoundation@gmail.com) and state the trip you are on. If I do not receive this info you will be removed from the trip.

We will not be camping out but staying at the UC Boyd Deep Canyon facility. Facility has a well equipped kitchen facility (you bring and prepare all your meals including preparing lunch for the field). Kitchen has a stove, microwave, toaster, coffee maker, two refrigerators, plates, cups, eating utensils, pots and pans, etc. Facility has private rooms with two beds (we will have to double up and there needs to be an equal number of men and women to maximize the attendance), and the facility has showers. You will need to bring a sleeping bag (or blankets), sheet to cover the mattress, pillow, your personal hygiene stuff, don't forget a towel; plus your hiking gear: boots, hiking clothes (trail runners and short pants are a painful option given the amount of spiny plants in this place), water bottles, and a flashlight or headlamp. Facility has a swimming pool we can use (but it is not heated). There is good wifi, but the cell coverage is spotty. I recommend checking the weather before the trip and being prepared for cool nights, warm days, and lots of sun.

IMPORTANT: We are meeting at noon, Saturday, December 6, 2025 at the intersection of Buckboard Trail and Portola Ave. in Palm Desert, CA. We need to check-in, as a group, at the security kiosk at the Reserve. If you are placed on the trip, You will need to email me, ASAP, your full name, email address, and your vehicle color, make, year, license plate number if you plan on driving (send to geologicmapsfoundation@gmail.com) and state the trip you are on. If I do not receive, you will be removed from the trip.

This is a fund raiser for the nonprofit GMF (Geologic Maps Foundation), www.geologicmapsfoundation.org. GMF is a 501 (c) (3) organization and donations are tax deductible. Cost is $220.00/person for 3 days and 2 nights payable by check to the Geologic Maps Foundation at the start of the event (please do not forget your check). GMF is a 100% volunteer effort with no employees. Donations pay for event expenses (in this case the facility) and GMF operating costs. Please read the cancellation policy.

THE COST OF THE TRIP IS $220.00. MEMBERS THAT HIKE WITH GEO-HIKES FREQUENTLY WILL HAVE PRIORITY TO ATTEND THIS EVENT.

DISCLAIMER / RELEASE OF LIABILITY (IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ BELOW IN ITS ENTIRETY)

The hike host is a volunteer and not responsible for the group. Safety should be a priority for everyone in the group. Please treat this meet-up as hiking with a group of friends. If you become fatigued and unable to continue the hike, it is expected you will advise the hike host of this and return to our starting point on your own. If you can proceed, it is expected that you will always maintain line of sight with other members of the group and help to promote the group’s safety and fitness goals.
Outdoor sports and other events we plan can be inherently dangerous and accidents may happen. By participating in any posted event, you are taking responsibility for your own safety and well-being. The Geo-hikes Meetup Group and its organizers are not trained leaders, and we do not confirm the qualifications of any of its members to lead or participate in trips. All participants take full responsibility for their own actions.

If you choose to sign up for this or any Geo-hikes Meetup event, you are releasing the Geo-hikes Meetup Group and its organizers from all liability in case of injuries. Your personal safety depends on your own judgment and experience.

No one under 18 years of age will be allowed to go to this event and no dogs.