Calendar of Events

DESERT RIDE and Campout- March 3-11, 2010

This is a two part ride and campout.  If you are coming please read and print out the information.  There have been a couple of changes since this was first put out.  There is plentry of room at Anza Borrego even if you do not hold a reservation.  Our members have booked the entire camp and our group is the only one there from March 3-7.

Part one is at Anza Borrego Horse Camp and Part two is at Palm Springs.  You may do either one or both

 Part 1- AnzaBorrego Desert State Park - Arrive Wednesday March 3, 2010 and depart Sunday, March 7. All of the campsites have been booked by WCRMHC members so that we would get all of them. If you were not one of the people who booked a campsite(s), contact Gloria Northcote (805-481-1905) and let her know you want to come to the campout and will either buy one of the extra campsites or will need to park in the "overflow" parking area. There is plenty of room, however, you must let Gloria know if you need to be in the overflow and she will work with Ranger Sue (Ranger Nancy retired)to ensure there is corral space. 

(Several of us booked more than one campsite in order to make sure the entire horse camp was ours for this period of time.) If the extra campsites that were booked have been assigned/sold already to members who have always attended this campout in the past, then going into the overflow area (which is very large) will be fine.  There are 45 corrals, so that is absolutely NOT a problem.  Dogs are OK at this camp as long as they are on a leash and don't make a racket at your rig while you are riding and they are left alone. They cannot go on the trail.  There are very nice showers in the bathroom/bathhouse and plenty of horse water.  We will have an "official" potluck Thursday night, and Friday and Saturday nights you're on your own unless you plan with other attendees to potluck with them. Be sure to bring a camera as , hopefully, the desert will be in bloom.  The trails are sandy. Bring blanket(s) for your horses as the nights can get very cold and windy. Even with their winter coats, standing in corrals can be cold on them.

 Vern Whitaker Horse Camp – Anza Borrego Desert State Park

 Directions from the North:

Take I-10 East to Indio. Take Highway 86South about 30 miles to S22at Salton Sea. Turn Right onto S22 and go West about 22 miles to Henderson Canyon Lake Road.  It is a right turn on a large sweeping curve. (There are usually RV’s parked in the area on your right) Go 2-3 miles to a stop sign (there is also a fruit stand on your right)  Turn right, go about 100 yards and turn left (this is still Henderson Canyon Rd.) Go another 2-3 miles watching for the horse camp sign on your right.  There may also be a small sign on your left.  Turn right onto a dirt road and follow it for 2-3 miles to the camp. It is single lane with a few turnouts and you will go between lemon groves at one point.

 Once you arrive at the horse camp there will be someone to direct you to your campsite. However, with our bigger rigs we will probably be in the area called "overflow".  It is to the right upon entering the horse camp and is a very large open area.

Part 2.- Palm Springs Arrive Sunday March 7 and depart whenever you wish up until Wednesday March 10. (Horses will be boarded at Smoketree Stables and Rigs parked at Cathedral Palms RV Resort) -  For our group No Dogs are allowed at Cathedral Palms RV Resort.  This is a change, but someone of our group left a dog alone there in the past and it cried and howled all day, each day, when its owner was away.  We can only stay there now as long as no dogs are with our group.

Smoketree Stables, 2500 Toledo Ave. Palm Springs, Ca.92264 - (760) 327-1372 is requiring $25 per night per horse, payable in advance. Make your reservation with Gloria and mail your check to Gloria Northcote 1500 Big Baldy Arroyo Grande, Ca. 93420 Your prepaid fee is Non-Refundable once she has advised Howard at the stable how many are coming. This fee includes hay of your choice morning and night, and cleaning of the corral.  The corrals are oversized and our horses will be together in a row. (at least, they have been in the past).  We cannot park and stay on the stable grounds, However, those with a pull trailer have been allowed to leave their trailers there rather than take them to the RV park.

Cathedral Palms RV Park -35901 Cathedral Canyon Drive, Cathedral City, Cal. 92234 (760)-324-8244. To reserve a spot call and ask for Linda (No, not me). Tell her you are with the WCRMHC/Northcote group. Let her know then how many nights you plan to stay. All spaces have electric and water, however, If you want a space with a sewer hookup you must let her know.  They do have an easily accessable dump station that you can use prior to departing or upon arrival. There are several bathhouses throughout the park with nice showers/bathrooms.  There is also a pool so bring your swimsuit. The nightly fee is $33.60 and you must send a check for that (one night) amount to hold your reservation. Send your check made out to "FNRM" to the above address marked "Attention:Linda".

Once you have made your reservations, call Gloria and let her know your schedule/plans for attending either Anza Borrego and/ or Palm Springs and for how long.

We will plan to potluck at the RV park on Monday evening.  Departure will now be on Wednesday.

Our member Jeannie Keeffe leads moonlight rides at Lopez Lake, San Luis Obispo County Parks.  All riders meet at Black Bear Horsecamp by 7:30PM.