Mesa/Miramar Fall 2011 Geology Extravaganza...
Overnight Field Trip to the Mecca Hills/San Andreas Fault
Fall Semester 2011
***PRINT OUT THIS PAGE AND BRING IT WITH YOU TO THE FIELD TRIP…THIS PAGE CONTAINS IMPORTANT LOGISTICAL DETAILS...
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Here's an excellent geologic overview of the Mecca Hills, where we'll be on Saturday.
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Here's an interesting YouTube clip of a hiking trip through Ladder Canyon. This is the same route we'll be doing on Saturday.
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On Sunday, we'll be visiting some amazing mud volcanoes (way cool!).
Field Trip Dates: Fri-Sun, Dec 2rd-4th (field trip starts Sat Dec 3rd at 9 am; you have option of arriving in camp Fri Dec 2nd, or Sat Dec 3rd)
Fee: $20/student (includes dinner Sat eve and camping fees). Fees to be collected on Saturday. Sat eve meal will consist of a scrumptious dinner prepared by geology prof/chef extraordinaire Ray Rector, with support from other faculty and students.
You may bring your own dinner for Sat if you choose, in which case, you'll be charged a $10 fee for the weekend. Note: those organizing this trip do their best to keep fees as low as possible. We'll break even on fees only if everyone contributes!
Optional Meeting Date/time for Mesa Students: 3 pm SHARP on Fri, Dec 2nd, at Mesa College Campus, at flag pole by A-100 building. Click here for a campus map. From campus, we'll caravan east as a group to the campground (approx. 3-hr drive), stopping for dinner at a reasonably priced restaurant along the way (probably in El Centro).
Note: Meeting professor Barrie on Fri 12/2 is optional...You're welcome to drive out to the campground yourself on Fri eve, or first thing on Sat morning.
Camping Spot: Mecca Beach Campground, on the NE shore of the Salton Sea, along Hwy I-111 approx. 14 miles north of Bombay Beach, CA and approx. 12 miles south of Mecca, CA
Driving Directions from San Diego to Mecca Beach Campground (Southern Route)--Driving time is approx 3 hrs from San Diego. This route is less scenic but also less curvy than the central route below:
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I-8 East to El Centro (Fill your tank in El Centro!)
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In El Centro, take Exit 118B, merge to CA Route 111 North toward Brawley
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From Brawley, keep heading North on CA 111 for about 45 minutes, to the small town of Bombay Beach, CA
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From Bombay Beach, continue North on CA 111 for about 14 more miles, to Mecca Beach Campground
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Turn left into Mecca Beach Campground, and make a quick left into the upper loop, where we'll be camped
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Note: if you miss the turnoff and reach 66th Ave...turn around and head south on CA 111 for 12 miles, to the campground
Driving Directions from San Diego to Mecca Beach Campground (Central Route)--Driving time is approx. 3 hours. This route is more scenic than the southern route (above), but the road is more curvy:
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I-8 East to I-79 North (Julian turnoff)
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I-79 North to Julian
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At intersection of I-79 and I-78, just outside Julian, turn right (east) on I-78
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Proceed east on I-78 for approx. 50 miles, to I-86 North at Salton City
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Turn left on I-86 North, which eventually becomes I-86S North (note: the "S" doesn't mean south, keep going north toward Mecca, CA)
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In approx. 30 miles, turn right on 66th Ave (I-195 East) toward Mecca
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In 1 mile, turn right (south) onto CA 111 South
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Proceed approx. 12 miles south on CA 111 South to Mecca Beach Campground. Turn right into campground and make a quick left into the upper loop, where we'll be camped
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Note: If you miss the turnoff and end up at Bombay Beach, turn around and head 14 miles North to Mecca Beach Campground
For alternate driving directions, mapquest or googlemap directions to Mecca Beach Campground, CA...Note: I don't recommend the route that takes you via Temecula...better to take either the southern route via El Centro or the central route via Borrego Springs (see above routes).
Note: The field trip officially starts on Sat 12/3 at 9 am sharp! From our Mecca Beach camp, we'll caravan approx. 20 miles north, to Painted Canyon and the San Andreas Fault. If you're late, you may miss the group! If arriving on Sat morning 12/3...BE SURE TO LEAVE SAN DIEGO NO LATER THAN 5:30 AM, OR YOU MAY NOT MAKE IT TO CAMP IN TIME!
Note: We'll be doing a 5-mile hike on Sat in a remote area. Turning back midway through the hike is not an option except in case of an emergency, so only plan to do this field trip if you're physically capable of doing a 5-mile hike.
Note: If your instructor is someone other than professor Barrie, please check with your instructor for meeting place/time details.
Note to Prof. Barrie's students: Due to overwhelming popularity, this trip is only open to my students planning to stay for both days (i.e., Sat and Sun). Please only plan to attend this trip if you're staying overnight. Sorry, no credit for Sat attendees only...but you'll earn 25 pts for Sat and 10 pts extra credit for Sun.
Note to Prof. Barrie's students: Due to overwhelming popularity, this trip is only open to students enrolled in my course, not to guests or family members. Sorry!
Special note to all students: We’ll be driving a lot this weekend, so please arrive at camp with a full tank of gas!
Trip Summary:
On Sat 12/3, we'll caravan from Mecca Beach Campground to Painted Canyon and the San Andreas Fault, where we'll do a 5-mile loop hike through a beautiful slot canyon called Ladder Canyon. This incredible journey will take us up (yes up!) a series of dry waterfalls equipped with ladders. Along the way, you'll get to straddle the San Andreas Fault, see some spectacular folds, and touch some of the oldest rock in California, dating back to about 1.7 billion years in age.
After completing the hike, we'll head back to camp, fix dinner, and wile away the evening hours star gazing, telling tall tales, making elephant noises with Australian folk instruments (you'll see!) and listening to music around a campfire.
After a quick breakfast in camp Sunday morning, we'll pack up and head south for a walk along the San Andreas Fault in Salt Creek, then on to see some amazing mud volcanoes.
For planning purposes, you may assume you'll be back in San Diego by 5 pm on Sun 12/4.
What to Bring:
Field Trip Supplies: Day pack, pencil/pen, clipboard or binder to write on, sunglasses, 2 sack lunches, 2 water bottles, walking shoes, sun hat. You'll be able to fill up your water bottles in camp for Sunday.
Special Request: Please bring firewood! We'll need a lot for Sat eve!!!
Required Camping Supplies: WARM clothes & jacket (nights can be cool...), tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, toiletries (wash cloth, towel, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb/brush, etc.), sunscreen, snacks, change of clothes for Sunday, eating utensils (spoon, bowl, plate, fork, cup, etc.)
If you need to rent camping equipment, try calling REI, located at:
Food: Please bring enough food for 2 bag lunches (1 for Saturday & 1 for Sunday) and 1 in-camp breakfast (Sunday morning). Please keep your meals simple! The instructors will be preparing dinner on Saturday night under Ray Rector's direction (thanks Ray!). If you don't want to eat the prepared meal, please plan to make your own food.
Note: We'll be camping in a remote area, so please bring all the supplies you need, including food! There are no restaurants or stores nearby!
Note: Once you arrive in camp, you must stay with the group...no leaving camp Saturday evening.
Optional Camping Supplies: Musical instruments (guitars, etc.), camera, binoculars, folding chair (for sitting around the campfire).
What NOT to bring: The San Diego Community College District prohibits alcohol and recreational drug use on field trips.
Special Request: Please bring a bundle of wood for the Sat. evening campfire.
Please dress in layers! Although it'll probably be warm during the day, you never know!