09/26/2025
Outback Weekly Newsletter #35 – September 21, 2025
1. General Announcements
2. Last Week’s Hike Reports
3. Upcoming Hikes
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. September 24, 2025 (Wednesday)
Club Meeting – in person and online
Hike Safety & Search and Rescue
Hosted by Larry Davis
6:00 PM through 7:30 PM
Meet at: St George Public Library - 88 West 100 South · Saint George, UT
Come and join us in person or online for the first Club meeting of the fall and re-connect with other Outbackers! See you there.
Guest Speaker Jeremy Gorzalski from The Desert Rat
Speaking of Hike Safety and Search and Rescue
Link for on-line participation http://meet.google.com/xys-ghaz-yvx
Sign up for the meeting and please add your guests when you sign up.
Guests are welcome! 5 per Club member
2. October 15, 2025 (Wednesday)
Service Project – Salvage Plants
Hosted by Larry Davis
We have a wonderful opportunity for another service project through Stephanie Taylor with the BLM. We will be salvaging plants, creosote, bursage, cactus from a site of a soon to be reservoir and putting them in pots for future transplanting.
9:00 AM through 1:00 PM
Meet at: Land Hill Heritage Site on Graveyard Wash, Santa Clara, UT-- there is a sign marking the spot. It’s just a little farther down the road than what the map shows.
It would be great if you could bring a shovel, a trowel, and gloves but Stephanie will have some for us to use as well. The plan is to be done no later than 1 pm. See you there!!!
Guests welcome -- 5 per Club member, please add your guests’ name to the RSVP and bring a completed Club waiver for each of your guests.
3. Save the date - Annual Meeting November 19, 2025, at 6: 00 PM
According to Article XIII of the Club’s bylaws, amendments to the bylaws require that 30-day notice be given to members and that amendments be approved by a two-third vote of the assembled members at a regular or special meeting. The annual meeting this year will be on November 19, when members will be asked to vote on the amendments. At the annual meeting, members will also vote for new directors.
The bylaw amendments proposed by the Board will be sent to our members shortly.
4. Club’s archives/history file access
To access information about the club, (accessible only to members) including “Star Hikers’” designation, Club waiver form etc. click on Meetup about page, click on a document and log into our file server with username and password found in the Outback Board members profile in Meetup. In Meetup these are called Outback Club “member-only” files. The link is also available in the private Facebook group (available only to members).
LAST WEEK’S HIKE REPORTS
1. September 13, 2025 (Saturday)
Mustang Pass to Broken Mesa Overlook
Led by Jeff Volp
My apologies, I missed this hike report last week
Four joined me to hike Mustang Pass to the Broken Mesa Overlook. I had not done this since late spring and offered it as a club hike for anyone who might want a good workout. The recent rains had deteriorated portions of both Mustang and Ice House trails, so there were places where we had to be careful. We reached the overlook in almost exactly two hours, where we took a snack break to enjoy the view. Unfortunately, it was somewhat hazy. We retraced our route on the way back. Along the way we were passed by several bicycles. We had the option to shave off a mile by following Ice House or crossing back over to Mustang. The group opted for the extra mileage, but we finished in under 4 hours.
Thanks to Jeff Volp for planning and leading this hike!
2. September 15, 2025 (Monday)
Navajo Lake Loop
Led by Cher Warnke
What a near perfect day for a hike! We started counter clockwise on the north side of the lake and enjoyed a cool morning that required a thin jacket for warmth. After about a half hour of hiking, the dappled sunlight prompted us to shed a layer. We decided to hike toward Te-Ah campground, but bush whacked a short distance off to a dirt road to eliminate a couple of miles since we earlier decided to hike the entire loop. We had lunch at a nice picnic table before heading down to cross the mostly dry, boggy lakebed to continue to the other side. We had such wonderful conversation the entire time and enjoyed the cheerful Quaking Aspen. We stopped often to admire the baby Horned Lizards and the view.
Stats: 10.5 miles with 680 feet of elevation gain/loss. As we drove back we noticed that the leaves here and there had changed and speculated that the best time to see the leaves would be in a week or so. Thank you Jim and Dixie for joining me AND thank you Jim for driving!
Thanks to Cher Warnke for planning and leading this hike!
UPCOMING HIKES
The following are outlines from posted hikes for the next week and later. Please go to Meetup for all descriptions and further details for each hike.
Outback Club hikes and trips are not led by professional guides. Each member participates at his/her own risk. All hikers are required to be familiar with and adhere to the Member Guidelines athttps://ohcosu.com/public_files/member_guidelines.pdf .
1. September 19, 2025 (Friday)
Valentine Peak (Cancelled due to rain)
Led by Cher Warnke
8:30 AM through 2:30 PM
Meet at: N. Anderson Junction Road Lot , Hurricane, UT - Exit 27 off of Highway 15 (Toquerville Exit).
Moderately Strenuous, Class 1, 7 miles, Elevation change: 2,010 feet gain/loss.
Trail Condition: Established trails.
Guests welcome 2 per Club member, please add your guests’ name to the RSVP and bring a completed Club waiver for each of your guests.
Group limit: 12 Outback hikers and guests.
2. September 20, 2025 (Saturday)
Red Bluff: Gap - Poppy - Grizzly Loop
Led by Jeff Volp
8:30 AM through 12:00 PM
Meet at: 2200 W Canyon View Dr · St. George
Moderate difficulty and pace, Class 1 and 2, some scrambling, 7 miles, 1,000 feet elevation gain. We have the option to add some class 3 scrambling on the way back.
Guests welcome, one per member, please add your guest’s name to the RSVP and bring a completed Club waiver for each of your guests.
3. September 28, 2025 (Sunday)
Strawberry Point to Cascade Falls on Virgin Rim Trail
Led by Jim Parker
8:00 AM through 6:00 PM
Meet at”: Grapevine Trailhead --Washington Parkway, Washington
Moderate, Class 1, 11 miles, 500 feet of cumulative elevation gain.
Guests welcome, two per member, please add your guest’s name to the RSVP and bring a completed Club waiver for each of your guests.
4. September 28, 2025 (Sunday)
High Mountain Trail - Plus. (Maybe)
Led by Robert Painter
7:30 AM through 3:30 PM
Meet at: Anderson Junction Road Parking lot - N Anderson Junction Road · Hurricane, UT
Bob Painter is carefully monitoring the fall colors for this hike. if the color isn't there he will reschedule this hike for a later date.
The plan for now is to hike between 2 and 3 miles into the High Mountain Trail, stopping for photos and to enjoy the fantastic scenery along the way, then return to the trailhead (total 4 to 6 miles.). Those wishing for more hiking will then be able to hike the Twisted Forest Trail - only 1 mile from the High Mountain Trailhead.
For inquiries and feedback, please message "Outback Newsletter” Member in Meetup
