Newcomers are welcomed at all of our events, so bring a friend

Social/Pizza Dinner and General Meeting starts at 7pm (we order Pizza at 6:45pm and it costs $5 per person for those who want to eat), We meet at Rusty's Pizza Lighthouse at 15 East Cabrillo Boulevard, in Santa Barbara accross from Stearns' wharf at the beach.

See Quick Calendar for upcoming meeting dates. Sometimes at our meetings, we feature slide shows, guest speakers, displays of the 10 Essentials of Camping, GOSB/VC hats and t-shirts for sale, and a 50/50 Raffle Drawing for Cash and Prizes.  You can also come to update your membership information such as your mailing address, renew memberships or pickup our latest Newsletter.

Map of 15 E Cabrillo Blvd
Santa Barbara, CA 93101-2310, US

For more information contact our Chapter President, Sean Dooner

Day Hike Rescheduled
Romero Canyon
9:45AM-3PM
September 7th, 2008

Trip Leader: Tom Ogier

Parking is very limited, so please RSVP and we will try to carpool.
Call Tom Ogier at (805) 689-3266 with any questions and to RSVP.

The Romero Canyon Trail is one of the more popular hikes in the Santa Barbara area because of its easy access, sweeping views and diversity of scenery. The trail up follows the old Romero Canyon Road with views out over the entire coast. The return is down through a beautiful, wooded canyon with a cascading stream and pools.

THE HIKE: We will stop a couple of times along the way for snack breaks and will have a longer break near the top for lunch. The total hiking time, at a leisurely pace, is a bit over 4 hours - about 2 ½ hours to the top and 1 ¾ hours down - with some time added for breaks and to enjoy the stream.

This can seem a somewhat difficult hike because of the long ways up at the start, for the first 1½ hours or so, but nowhere is it very steep or treacherous. And, we are not hiking all the way up to the top of the ridge! We will, instead, connect with a trail back down through the canyon. This trail is mostly dirt and gets narrow in places, but it is well maintained. There are a number of easy stream crossings on the way down. Note also that poison oak grows close alongside the trail.

PRECAUTIONS: This should be a nice, moderately strenuous hike. If the weather is overcast, the sun should break through about noon as we reach the top of our hike. Come prepared, though, for sun and appropriate changes in temperature. Bring a lunch and snacks. Bring more water than you think you will need - you will probably need it. Flat soled or tennis shoes are not recommended for this hike as they will slip too easily on the shale-gravel and steeper dirt trails. Lightweight and loose, long pants are recommended if you are sensitive to poison oak.

Please meet at 9:45 am at the gate at the foot of the Romero Canyon Road on Bela Vista Drive.

We should be back from the hike by 3:00 pm.

DIRECTIONS: Exit Hwy 101 in Montecito at Sheffield Dr. Turn right on the frontage road (E. Jameson Rd.). Around the bend it becomes Sheffield Drive. Follow this until it meets Hwy 192 / East Valley Rd. Turn left and then, almost immediately, right onto Romero Canyon Road. A mile-and-a-half up the hill, staying right at the fork in the road, turn right onto Bela Vista Drive. Very soon, you will come to a stream crossing, locked gate and trail head. Park off the road in the dirt areas.

It should be a beautiful hike. We'll see you there!

Join Great Outdoors Inc. as we take an adventure to the Grand Canyon!
We will be camping at the South Rim in Mather Campground.

A spectacular place, Grand Canyon is described by all the superlatives, great, magnificent, awe inspiring and unforgettable! Our campground is located in Grand Canyon Village. We have reserved two group sites 004 and 005 in Sage Loop. Coin operated showers, laundry and a grocery store is located near by in the village. There are plenty of places to eat as well!

For those of you with RV’s please make your own reservation at Grand Canyon Trailer Village which is about 500 feet from our group sites. They can be reached by calling (888) 297-2757.

Corporate Camping
Grand Canyon
September 17th-21st, 2008

Trip Leader: Brian Miller
(805) 407-9001

Click on Trip Notes to see full details and Registration Form.

2009 Trip Planning Dinner
Wednesday @ 7PM
September 24th, 2008
Rudy's Mexican Restaurant
5680 Calle Real
Goleta, CA

RSVP to me if you're coming, and call for carpool from Ventura area.
Chris Fava, VP of Outings
805-509-8240
trancefusion@mac.com

Hey, all you guys/gals with great ideas for trips - now's YOUR chance to shape the Santa Barbara/Ventura County Chapter's camping trip calendar for next year's camping season!

Our annual chapter trip planning dinner (paid for by Great Outdoors/SB) is where we sit down with all potential overnight camping trip leaders, and we flesh out a tentative calendar for next year. Whether you have an idea for a standby favorite National Park, or a little-known secret nook, come to the dinner with a few ideas of where YOU would like to take us!

I say it all the time, but it bears saying again - Great Outdoors is an all-volunteer organization, and we are nothing without the dedication of many individuals doing what they can to make this a fun social club. Camping and outdoors is mainly why our organization exists, so this meeting is a very important one. If you want to lead an overnight trip but cannot make the dinner, please contact me so that we can work something out. We can still work your trip into the calendar!

Prior GO-sponsored Outdoor Experience training is encouraged, but by no means required. We have many experienced trip leaders that are always willing to lend a helping hand (ie co-leading). And as VP of Outings, it's my overall responsibility to ensure that all of our trips are fun and produced well, so I will walk through every step with you.

An AIDS Walk Challenge

Claude and Jon wish to challenge GO (Great Outdoors) and PTCC (Prime Timers Central Coast) for the upcoming AIDS Walk in October for the benefit of PPF (Pacific Pride Foundation).

PPF is our local Aids support. We need to do all we can to ensure their doors remain open. Claude and Jon will match the personal donations from members of GO or PTCC for the group that raises the most funds on a per member basis. For example, GO has approximately 100 members and Go raises $10,000, that $100 per members raised. Meanwhile PTCC with 50 members raises $6,000 or $120 per member, PTCC wins and let’s say that the members themselves donated $3,000, we will match that amount, or vice versa if GO raises more per-capita funds by raising $15,000 ($150 per member) and let's assume that of that amount, GO members donated $5,000, then we will match the $5,000 which would make this a total of $20,000 for GO ( and that might possibly make GO the winner this year.)

There will be a bonus for the winning team.

claude Raffin
cjviews@earthlink.net

2008 Heart & Sole AIDS Walk
The Face of AIDS in Santa Barbara County

Since becoming HIV positive...

"I have started to loose my sight"
"He empezado a perder mi vista"

"I can no longer work"
"No puedo seguir trabajando"

"I cannot receive health insurance"
"No puedo recibir seguro medico"

"I am now wheelchair bound"
"Ahora uso una silla de ruedas"


What does your day-to-day life look like? Chronic fatigue? Dementia? Social ostracism? Perhaps you are no longer able to drive a car, or have become diabetic. The Face of AIDS in Santa Barbara County looks different for each person infected with HIV. A student at UCSB, a married mother of three, a gay man. But one thing remains the same for the 10,000 HIV+ individuals in Santa Barbara County, there is no cure for their aliment.

Pacific Pride Foundation offers relief to the local men, women, and children living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS. This year's AIDS Walk will be October 4th at Leadbetter Beach. Every dollar collected that day will go directly to the programs and services that support HIV/AIDS clients in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, Lompoc, Buellton, Carpinteria, and ALL of Santa Barbara County. The State budget cuts put some of these programs in jeopardy and we need your now help more than ever. Consider forming a team with your friends, family and co-workers, or walk as an individual. This year you go on-line and create your own web page (or your team's) and collect pledges at www.pacificpridefoundation.org. It is quick and easy and a great way to raise some extra funds from friends and family. For more information about forming a team please call 805 963-3636 ext 121 and speak with Aydin.


Pacific Pride Foundation has been providing services to respond to the AIDS pandemic at the local level since 1984. We are the largest service provider of HIV/AIDS programs between Los Angeles and San Francisco, currently providing services to over 550 individuals living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. In addition, we reach over 10,000 more people in the County each year through our HIV Prevention and Outreach Program. All of our programs and services are available free of charge in both English and Spanish, and include two free food pantries, nursing and case management, support groups and more.

"I am afraid to die"
"Me da miedo morir"



Visit us on the web at
www.pacificpridefoundation.org
or at the offices
126 East Haley Street #A-11, SB
819 West Church Street, SM

Hole-in-the-Wall Campout and
Mitchell Caverns Tour
November 6th-9th, 2008

Trip Leader: Chris Fava
(805) 509-8240

Travertine tapestries, flowstone, and other speleothems gradually form where groundwater enters the cavern and evaporates, leaving behind calcium carbonate. These features took many thousands of years to form.

Guided tours of Mitchell Caverns require a 1.5 mile walk and last about 1.5 hours. The temperature inside the cave is a comfortable 65 degree. Water and flush toilets are provided. The Mary Beale Nature Trail, near the Visitor Center, features desert plants and animals along a moderate walk. There are other short trails like the Crystal Springs Trail.