Helpful Herping Hints ;-) for the star party

Here are some final facts and tidbits. Print it out and tuck into your car. Be sure you print out a map too, if you need one. Forward to new attendees. Location and directions: Latitude and Longitude (altitude 4400 feet) 35.043333, -115.395833? +35° 2' 36.00", -115° 23' 45.00" Get Google directions from here http://is.gd/tKhT Here are several maps: http://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/maps.htm We are staying Black Canyon Group Campsite adjacent to Hole-in the Wall campground. You can see this on all the maps. Group campsite: Vault toilets, trash receptacles, potable water, fire ring, grill, picnic shelter with tables. Fees $25 per group per night. (Fri night paid by Jane, Sat night paid by Hanna) More directions: http://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/directions.htm Mojave National Preserve is located east of Barstow, Calif., between I-15 and I-40. From I-15: Exit Kelbaker Road at Baker, Calif., or Zyzyx Road, Cima Road, or Nipton Road. From I-40: Exit Kelbaker Road, Essex Road, or Goffs Road. Directions to Hole-in-the-Wall and Mitchell Caverns From I-40: Exit Essex Road and drive north 10 miles to the junction with Black Canyon Road. Mitchell Caverns is 6 miles northwest of this junction on Essex Road. Hole-in-the-Wall is 10 miles north on Black Canyon Road. Attendees: Jane and Mojo will arrive Friday afternoon. Hanna Strauss, Bill Read +1, Mike Cipra (NPCA), Dave Lanfrom (Mojave National Preserve superintendent), Carolina +3 from JPL, Gary + 1 from JPL arrive Friday. Gay + 3 from JPL maybe Friday. Saturday: Some of the above - I think Mike and Dave are Fri night only. Add Todd, probably not Caroline (hope your dad is better, C). Becky, Angela +3. Possibly a few more late invitees. Lots of room in the campground. So it's ok to invite a few others. It's a fun event, don't worry if at the last minute you can't make it. Those things happen. It's not work! ;-) Weather: http://is.gd/tKfB (check back in the next few days for updates) Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. Saturday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Astronomy Weather (forecast partly cloudy for weekend at the moment, check back Thursday) http://www.cleardarksky.com/c/HlWllCpCAkey.html?1 Herping outings: (notes from Hanna) "The desert still won't be too hot; in fact it would be ideal to do some day herping to see various lizards (including chuckwallas), desert tortoises, and diurnal snakes. It should be warm enough in the early evening for the nocturnal species to come out to hunt and thermoregulate on asphalt warmed by the sun during the day. You can also do lantern walking at night around the campground and road to look for stuff. At night you are more likely to find interesting stuff: shovelnose snakes, leafnose snakes, glossy snakes, longnose snakes, rosy boas, banded geckos, sidewinders, scorpions, tarantulas,kangaroo rats. pocket mice, solpugids, bats,desert cottontails, nighthawks, kit foxes, coyotes and jack rabbits. Roadcruising for Herps (with a driver and a few passengers will be arranged with Hanna) A good pocket guide is Western Reptiles And Amphibians by Robert C. Stebbins. It is published by Houghton Mifflin What to bring: Layers - it will be in the 80's in the daytime, 40's-50's at night, so prepare for all these temperatures with layers Shoes - hiking boots, ankle support to walk among the rocks. Remember there are cacti and desert dwellers afoot. Those going on herping walks will want proper foot covering, for sure. Sun - Sunscreen and hats and plenty of drinking water Food - (closest store is probably Barstow - not a quick drive to/from the campsite): Let's help Hanna (she may be the only herpetologist) with a fun Saturday potluck and Sunday breakfast - bring some side-dish - fruit-etc things to share if you want for Sat night and main meal (aka meat/whatever) for yourself. There will be a couple camp stoves. Easy on desserts - if everyone brings some to share there will be way too many desserts - keep it simple for desserts warns Hanna. Bring some drinks (OJ, milk, etc, for breakfast). Hanna is bringing coffee, and offered pancakes, but if she is the only herpetologist this may be too much for her - I'll send an email about food tomorrow - everyone send me some food ideas if they have them, so everyone doesn't being the same thing......If you are not bringing a stove, share what you can prepare without a stove (except for you meat or whatever) We are bringing simple stuff like mac 'n cheese +tuna. I'll bring tea bags, hot chocolate, coffee to share, too. :-) Cutting or collecting any wood, including downed wood, is prohibited. All firewood must be brought into the preserve. Astronomy Etiquette (aka keep white lights away from telescopes) Safety is first, but white flashlights damage everyone's dark adaption. Bring flashlights to get from here to there. Always point flashlights at ground not at peoples eyes. Cup your palm around the light to diffuse it. If you want to use smaller flashlights near the telescopes I have red tape to put over the light. And extra red flashlights to share. I'll have the red tape at the telescopes and at my tent. Big lanterns are ok in your tent and out walking at night away from the telescopes, but not at the telescopes. You'll want to walk around looking for critters, do that away from the telescopes. :-) Car lights There will be cars coming and going to take people "roadcruising" down the road at night. It's a way to see more herps by covering more territory. It would be a good idea to leave the cars away from the telescopes/dining pavilion at night. It is impossible to get all interior car lights off, so at night if you are going to get in and out of your cars, it would be good to park away from the telecopes. Shouldn't be a problem. :-) Camping Rules and Leave No Trace Guidlines from NPS http://www.nps.gov/moja/planyourvisit/camping-regs.htm -- Jane Houston Jones Senior Outreach Specialist, Cassini Program JPL - 4800 Oak Grove Drive, MS 230-205 Pasadena, CA 91109 818-393-6435 jane.h.jones(a)jpl.nasa.gov Cassini SOC http://soc.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm What's Up? http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/amateurastronomy/index.html