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Dallas Regional Group of the Lone Star Chapter Page 1 of 10

Dallas Regional Group of
the Lone Star Chapter


2008 Labor Day Bus Trip to the
Weminuche Wilderness, Colorado

Thursday, August 28, 2008 Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Trip Coordinator:
Kathryn Hurn


214.321.4030




9046 Redondo Drive

khurn@lggroup.com




Dallas TX 75218

Area Description: The Weminuche Wilderness was designated in 1975 and expanded to its current
size of 487,912 acres by the Colorado Wilderness Acts of 1980 and 1993. It is the largest
designated Wilderness in Colorado. Three peaks in the Wilderness are over 14,000 feet tall. Many
others are over 13,000 feet.
The area is named for the Weminuche Indians who lived here many years ago. They were followed
by Europeans, who first took notice of the land in 1765 when Juan Maria Antonio Rivera arrived in
search of silver. In 1776, Dominguez and Escalante made their historic journey into the region
naming many rivers and landmarks. These early explorers were soon followed by trappers and
eventually by gold prospectors.
The Weminuche Wilderness is administered by the Rio Grande and the San Juan National Forests.
These Forests are charged with protecting and perpetuating this pristine area under the direction of
the 1964 Wilderness Act. The act states that wilderness:
in contrast with those areas where man and his own work dominate the landscape, is hereby
recognized as area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man
is a visitor who does not remain
Departure and the Trip Out: Our bus leaves on Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 4:00 PM from
the Wal-Mart parking lot, located on the northwest corner of LBJ Freeway (I-635) and Midway Road.
Please arrive by 3:30 PM to load the bus. The bus leaves promptly at 4:00 PM. You can leave your
car at Wal-Mart, but Wal-Mart and the Sierra Club are not responsible for damage to cars left in the
parking lot.

If you leave your car, be sure nothing valuable is visible in your car and fill in the
vehicle details on the Information Form. You may want to have someone drop you off and pick you
up at Wal-Mart.
Our bus will stop for a quick fast food dinner in Wichita Falls at about 6:30 PM. There will also be a
quick stop in Amarillo for fuel and a driver change, and to switch the seats into bunks. We will stop
for breakfast in Alamosa, Colorado. The bunks will be converted back to seats at that time. You are
welcome to bring your own meals.
The Return Trip: The bus will pick up participants on Monday, September 1st at 12 noon. There
will be a lunch stop at the Hungry Logger ($4.50 to $14.00.) Vegetarian items are available as well
as their famous pie. We will make a quick evening meal (fast food) in Raton, New Mexico on the
way back. The seats will be converted to bunks at about 10:00 PM. We should get back to Dallas at
around 6:00 AM on Tuesday, September 2nd.
Cost: The trip cost is $230 for Sierra Club members and $245 for non-members. Make your check
payable to Dallas Sierra Club. You are not signed up for the trip until your check and the attached Page 2 of 10
forms have been received. Most of the money collected for the trip goes toward the bus charter and
other expenses. Any excess funds will be used for the Clubs conservation efforts.
Receipt of payment does not constitute acceptance on the trip until both the bus coordinator and
individual trip leader have reviewed the submitted sign-up form and medical information, and
conducted any follow-up interviews to determine suitability. The bus coordinator and individual trip
leaders reserve the right to determine whether a particular trip is suitable for a prospective
participant, based on their experience, health, equipment or other factors. If the trip is not deemed
suitable for the prospective participant, the check will be returned.
In addition to the trip fee, you will also need cash for dinner and breakfast on the way to the
Weminuche and for lunch and dinner on the way back.
Cancellation Policy: There is a $25 fee for all cancellations, regardless of date or if replacements
are found. After August 14, 2008, the trip fee will be refunded (minus the $25 cancellation fee) only
if a replacement is found. There will be no refunds for no-shows. Traffic problems that prevent you
from getting to the bus on time are not an excuse. Plan to arrive early.
Transportation: We ride in a forty-passenger chartered sleeper bus with professional drivers.
Seat assignments are based on the order that checks are received. The sooner your check is
received, the further forward in the bus you sit. Please indicate you seating preference window or
aisle, top or bottom bunk, front or back of bus on the enclosed reply form. Also note if you want
to sit with someone else on the trip.
Unlike the older bus models we have used in the past, the day-seating all faces forward. Seats will
be converted by the trip leaders (not passengers) into bunks during a 30-minute rest stop at about
10:00 PM. Quiet hours will be enforced after 10:30 PM. Please respect your fellow passengers need
for sleep.
The bus is equipped with a chemical toilet, please limit its use to keep odor down and avoid
disturbing sleeping passengers in the back of the bus. The bus is equipped with DVD players and six
small TV screens. Two or three movies are planned.
Space is limited on the bus. Please limit carry-on luggage to small (12 x 12 x 8 high) crushable
bags that will fit under the seats or in the very-small overhead bins (12 deep by 8 high). Aisles
must be kept clear. Only use overhead space immediately above your seat dont take others
limited space. Because the seating arrangement is more like a plane without big overhead bins, you
cannot carry on large bags.
Smoking and glass containers are not permitted on the bus. Please refrain from bringing radios,
IPODs, and CD players on the bus.
Bus Survival: The bus will be quite cool at night, so you must have a blanket or sleeping bag or
you will be very uncomfortable. You will find it easier to sleep if you also bring earplugs and a sleep
mask. For the time when you are not sleeping, you may want to bring a few snacks, a deck of cards
or other game, and/or some reading material. Have a jacket available on the bus no matter how
warm it is when we leave Dallas. It is often near freezing when we arrive at the trailhead. Bottled
water will be provided on the trip out. Beer, soda and water will be provided on the return trip.
Weather: While usually quite good this time of year, almost anything could happen. The odds are
in favor of daytime highs between 60 and 70 degrees and nighttime lows between 35 and 45
degrees. It is quite common to have afternoon thunderstorms with lightning, rain, sleet, and high
winds. Trips 3-5 have experienced snow and sleet in past years. Be sure you have plenty of layers.
High altitude sun can produce severe sunburns; bring good sunscreen, hat and sunglasses.
Water: Streams are plentiful, but all water should be treated, boiled or filtered. All campsites are
within easy walking distance of water.
Altitude: Anytime a group of people goes from 500 foot elevation to 10,000+ feet in less than 24
hours, a number of them will have some symptoms of altitude sickness. Mild symptoms such as
headache, loss of appetite, and fatigue are fairly common. Bring aspirin or other headache relief
medicine with you. Keep yourself well hydrated. Refrain from consuming alcohol immediately prior Page 3 of 10
the trip. The best treatment for persistent symptoms is to move to a lower altitude. Refer to the
May 2007 Compass Outings Corner Article for additional tips in preventing or minimizing altitude
sickness:
http://texas.sierraclub.org/dallas/page.asp?altitudesickness

Fires: All cooking must be done on stoves. As a rule, campfires are not built on Sierra Club trips.
Gear: Each person is responsible for his or her own equipment and food. The following list includes
equipment that is considered mandatory:
Clothing: Long pants (the sun at these elevations is very strong); hat and long sleeve shirt
with collar for sun protection; rain jacket and pants (a poncho is a very poor second choice);
jacket; long underwear and/or sweaters good in combination down to 35 degrees; well
broken in hiking boots; outer and inner socks. Optional: Short pants; short sleeve shirt (T-
shirt). These may require an extra supply of sunscreen.
Equipment: Backpack with hip belt; tent and ground cloth; stove with fuel; pot; matches;
sleeping bag rated down to 35 degrees; ground pad; water containers and water treatment
tablets (or filter); flashlight; compass; sun glasses; sunscreen; first-aid kit (including
Moleskin or Spenco Second Skin for blisters); toilet paper, shovel and Zip Lock bags to carry
out used TP; garbage bag; personal items.
Food: Three breakfasts, four lunches, three dinners, and snacks. Avoid meals that are oily
or have excess odor (such as tuna or sardines). This is bear country!
Trip leaders will check to ensure that all trip participants are properly prepared before leaving the
trailhead. Lea