An Italian American Feast

and

The Enchanted Forest of Light

One of our members, Martin Sottile, is launching a home based meal delivery service in the coming months. He has invite Great Outdoors and California Gay Adventures to an Italian dinner party at his home to help prepare him for his big launch. 

The meal will include Antipasto, Lasagna Bolognese, Garlic Bread, Garlic Broccoli and Biscotti. Plus Vegetarian Lasagna and meatless antipasto. All local fresh ingredients and imported Italian specialty ingredients. And generous portions. Non-alcoholic beverages being supplied by GOLA and CGA. It’s BYOBooze.

The cost for this offsets a fraction of his costs. Members get a great dinner and Martin gets to practice working out the kinks before his official launch.

As an additional option, many of us will be going to Descanso Gardens, 5 mins from Martin's house, to see the incredible  Enchanted Forest of Light  *

Dates:  Saturday, January 4,  2025

• 5:30 PM Arrival
• 6:00 PM Dinner
• 7:45 PM Depart for Descanso Gardens

Cost: $14 for dinner to offset a fraction of Martin's cost. Descanso Gardens tix are purchased by members separately at Enchanted tickets - Descanso Gardens.* 

Group Size: 15 GO members + 15 CGA members

Trip leaders: John Butta, Pamela Wegner

Details and Registration Opens: Soon. Address to be provided closer to the event. 

For more information:  jbutta@pacbell.net after Dec 7. 

* - The Descanso visit is optional. Members interested in going to Descanso are encouraged to buy their tickets ASAP since it sells out every night. It is a 2 mile/5 min drive from Martin's home to Descanso. Saturdays and Sundays always sell out. Tickets are $45 with no group discounts. Purchases are by “entrance time” to avoid over crowding. If one purchases a 5:30pm ticket, then they can enter anytime after 5:30. (Same goes if they only have 9:30pm tickets remaining; you can’t enter before 9:30)

GREAT OUTDOORS, INC. Is an all-volunteer not-for-profit organization dedicated to the enjoyment of the outdoors.  All rights reserved.

OCLB Chapter presents

Cottonwood Campout

Joshua Tree National Park 

Jan 31st to Feb. 2nd, 2025

Trip Leader Contact: Michael M

Email: BoardRep-OCLB@GreatOutdoors.org

Stargazing and camping after the New Year?  

Let’s go!

Cottonwood Campground at Joshua Tree National Park is one of the best places for stargazing and camping after the holidays, or for that matter year-round.  Located in the southern section of the park away from light polluting towns or cities, Cottonwood Campground offers dark, uninterrupted views of the night sky that draw astronomers and constellation admirers alike. 

Set in Colorado Desert landscape, Cottonwood campground overlooks flat, open desert shrub land, which offers a contrast to the Mojave Desert landscape featuring the Joshua trees of the park’s namesake, predominant in the northern area of the park.  Nearby is Cottonwood Springs Oasis, created from geologic activity, offering a verdant island of palm and cottonwood trees encircled by an ocean of desert landscape.  Cottonwood Springs’ Oasis is also the trailhead for nearby hiking trails.

Registration: Limited to Great Outdoors members

Start: Fri Jan. 31st, 2025, 3pm

Ends: Sun Feb. 2nd, 2025 12pm

Space available: 10 vehicles

Location: Cottonwood is the first campground from the South Entrance of Joshua Tree National Park, approximately 33 miles east of Indio.

Directions: From Long Beach and Orange County, take Int. 10 East to Indio.  Take Exit 168 Cottonwood Springs Road, turn left, and drive to the South Entrance.  There is a $30 per vehicle fee to enter.  An America the Beautiful National Park Pass will waive the vehicle entry fee.  Drive 7 miles to Cottonwood Springs Visitor Center, turn right.  Follow signs to Cottonwood campground.  Proceed to Group Site 2.  

Carpooling is highly encouraged to allow more folks to attend and because of the vehicle limit at the group campsite.  There is no overflow parking. 

Important information:

Campfires are only allowed in designated fire rings.

THERE IS NO CELL PHONE SERVICE & NO GAS WITHIN THE PARK.

Schedule

Fri Jan. 31st .

3pm Check-in

4pm- Welcome Tea- Refreshments provided. Meet & Greet

5pm- Dinner on your own

5:30pm- Group campfire

Sat Feb. 1st .

8am- Breakfast on your own.

9am- Local hike, pack a snack.

3:30pm- Happy Hour- cocktail provided. BYOB is absolutely welcomed.

4:45pm- Group dinner potluck. Dinner Theme: Italian Inspired.

5:30pm- Group campfire, storytelling, stargazing.

Sun Feb 2nd .

8am- Breakfast on your own.

9am to 11am- Break camp, pack up, see you at the next Great Outdoors event!

12pm- Check out 

Amenities: Cottonwood Campground offers potable water, restrooms with flush toilets, and trash and recycling bins.  Our group site feature shaded picnic tables and a fire ring.  There are no showers.  

Parking: 10 vehicles.  

RVs: Unfortunately, No RVs on this campout.    

What to bring: Ten essentials, Tent, Camp chair, Sleeping bag with sleeping pad or air mattress, Air pump with extra batteries for air mattress, Pillow, Extra blanket, Day pack for hiking, camp stove, matches or lighter, propane fuel, flashlight with batteries, lantern with batteries, headlight with red light feature and batteries, external power bank and phone charger; cooking utensils, cold weather clothing (long underwear, jacket, sweater, long sleeve shirts, long pants, beanie, scarf), hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, toilet paper, toiletries kit, and hand sanitizer.

Please bring your own plates, cups, mugs and eating utensils.  There is very little shade.  You may want to bring a pop shade withanchor.   

Please BRING firewood for the group campfire.

Climate:  January Avg. high 63, Avg. low 39.  Mornings, evenings and overnight can get cold.  Bring warm clothing and dress in layers.  Bring an extra blanket. Although JTNP is usually sunny, rain is unpredictable. Bring a rain coat if rain is forecasted.  Also, there is very little shade.  Wear sun protection: Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and long sleeve shirts. 

Fees:  Camping fee is $50 per individual.   

If you are carpooling as a passenger the camping fee is $40.

The park entrance fee is $30 per vehicle. The park entrance fee per vehicle is in addition to the camping fee.  A National Park Pass will waive the park entrance fee.

Carpooling is encouraged to save money on fuel and the vehicle entrance fee.

Above:  Joe, Lance and Rob welcome you to Joshua Tree National Park!

Cancellation: Attendees may cancel with a refund, less $10 fee before Friday,  Jan, 17th , 2025. No refund for cancellations after 1/17/25.  Contact the Trip Leader, Michael if you need to cancel your registration before January 17 in order to receive the applicable refund.

Food: Bring enough food and snacks for 2 days. I will provide refreshments at the Friday welcome tea and prepare a cocktail for attendees at the happy hour on Saturday. Group dinner potluck on Saturday night. Dinner theme: Italian Inspired.

Registration- Driver: $50. Passenger: $40.

Please Indicate who you are carpooling with.

Pets: Pets are not allowed on hiking trails, in the back country or in park buildings.  LEASHED pets are allowed within 100 feet of roads, picnic areas, and campgrounds.  Please clean up after your pet.

Past Photos from Cottonwood Campground

Above:  Joe and Rob at the Cottonwood Group site for our Perseid Meteor Shower campout this past August.

Above:  Juan is ready to for beddy bye time - again at Cottonwood Campsite during an OCLB Perseid Meteor Shower campout.

Above:  Claudia and her baby get comfy while at Cottonwood Campsite!

Questions?

Contact trip leader: Michael M

Email : BoardRep-OCLB@GreatOutdoors.org

Thank you for participating in the Great Outdoors club!

        Los Angeles and Palm Springs Chapters Present

 Central Coast and Morro Bay Camping

REGISTRATION will open January 1, 2025

Join us as we explore the beautiful Morro Bay area, perhaps California's most scenic coastline, on a 6-day/5-night camping getaway!

Our theme will be "Explore Nature's Beauty and Experience our Magnificent California Central Coast."

Our excursions on this trip will include the expert leadership and guidance of Joe Holliday who is a former Professor of Geology and Earth Science, and a current international naturalist and guide for National Geographic Expeditions, GeoTours, and other travel organizations.

Walk along empty sea cliffs with waves crashing on the rocks. Observe elephant seals, sea lions, and sea otters up close, and maybe gray whales at a distance. See spring wildflowers bloom on the green landscape of San Luis Obispo County. Hike up to a waterfall and see redwood trees along the Big Sur Coast. Discover the unique biology and geology from our trip leaders, and enjoy cooking, socializing and camp camaraderie. 

Campsite Details:

We have reserved the Premium Group Campsite #GCHO at Morro Bay State Park Campground, which is within walking distance of trails in the Morro Bay wetland, the Natural History Museum, and viewpoints overlooking Morro Bay. The group site allows tents only.

We also have reserved RV spaces near to our group site and within easy walking distance. Maximum length of RV is 35 feet. These are standard sites without hookups. An RV sanitation station and water-fill station are also available. Firewood is for sale from the campground host and proceeds go to help the Central Coast State Parks Association.

Campground amenities include flush toilets, hot showers (token operated), fire rings, picnic tables, and potable water. Morro Bay village is about two miles away, with grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and other amenities.

Day Activities:

Activities will be located north and south of Morro Bay. Some planned hikes and walks are:

• Morro Rock: walk from camp, to include stops at Morro Bay Museum of Natural History, Heron Rookery Natural Preserve, observing sea otters in the bay, and the MB Embarcadero
• Montaña de Oro State Park: tide pools, walk Bluff Trail to sea cliffs to small coves
• San Simeon Beach: Observe the only elephant seal colony on the US mainland
• Overlook and small hikes at Ragged Point and Salmon Falls along the Big Sur Coast
• Visit the southernmost redwood grove in California
• Kayaking on Bay ?

Campground Evening Activities:

• Wednesday: Check-in after 2:00 pm. 5:00 pm: Welcome and Meet-n-Greet. 6:00 pm dinner (bring your own). 7:30 - 10 pm First night campfire.
• Thursday: 6:00 pm: Dinner at camp followed by sunset walk at the bay. Bring-your-own dinner to dine and then walk to and watch the sunset over the bay, a short walk from our campsite to the bay. Sunset 7:38 pm.
• Friday: 6:00 pm Traditional Great Outdoors Potluck. Hello Top Chefs and foodies! Everyone makes or brings a main or side dish to feed 5-6 people. Healthy, organic, plant-based dishes encouraged.
• Saturday: 6:00 pm: To be determined (possibly campfire weenie roast)  
• Sunday: 5:00 pm: Happy Hour. Bring an appetizer and optional beverage (alcohol/non-alcohol) to share.  6 PM Dinner at a local restaurant in town.
• Monday: Check-out by 12 noon.

Every night: Campfire (Bring your camp chair, highlights of the day, jokes, games, musical instruments maybe/camp songs, etc.)

Think eco-friendly. Everyone brings their own reusable plates, utensils, cups, napkins, etc. For the potluck, remember to bring your own serving dishes, bowls or platters with serving utensils. Be sure to pick up your dishes when you leave. Let's aim to minimize trash/ single-use disposables.  Thank you for pitching in to keep our camp clean.

Registration, parking limits, carpooling:

Parking at the group site lot is limited.  After the group campsite spaces are full,  parking is available on the street outside of the campground, and at night extra cars can park in the town of Morro Bay about 3/4 of a mile away.  Therefore, we encourage carpooling.  Besides, it also saves gas, reduces traffic congestion and pollution, and may earn you the respect and admiration of your peers.

The remaining vehicles can unload their gear at the campsite, check for shuttle options, and  park off site as noted. It may be helpful to ask each other to help shuttle folks back/forth. 

If you are interested in carpooling you might check out the website https://www.groupcarpool.com/.  You can list your car, or that you are looking for a ride while using the chat feature to plan, organize and leave messages. Please note though due to liability and insurance reasons Great Outdoors cannot organize carpools and hike/trip leaders cannot take an active role in making arrangements for participants' transportation.

If the trip is sold out, please add yourself to the wait list.

Getting there:

Directions from Route 1: Exit at South Bay Rd (Baywood Park) off ramp, turn left, go about 1 mile, turn right into park, go about 1 mile (do not go up the uphill road on the right), turn right into campground, check in at entry booth.

Bring your 10 essentials, your camping & cooking gear, food, and a bundle or two of firewood. Dress in layers since the mornings can start cold, and sea breezes can be strong on the central California coast.

Cancellation:

Refund minus $10 service fee will be issued if cancelled by April 2. No refunds will be issued after this date. If you need to cancel, email both trip leaders directly, as soon as possible so we can notify the next person on the waitlist.

Health issues/allergies: It is the responsibility of participants to carry on their person a record of significant allergies, medications and medical history in the event of a medical emergency. Discuss any medical concerns with the hike leader if you wish.

Pet Policy: No dogs allowed on the beach.

Contact:

If you have any questions, please reach out to us at:

John Blasco: email click here, 562-981-4133 or Joe Holliday: email click here, 562-417-4742 

Cliff C.: email click here or Scott C. email click here

Additional information will be emailed to registrants with more details as the trip nears.

© 1981 - 2024 CALIFORNIA GREAT OUTDOORS, INC., 
a 501(c)(7) not-for-profit, all-volunteer LGBTQIA+ and Allies organization dedicated to the enjoyment of the outdoors. All rights reserved. Privacy policy

Registration Is Open!

*PERU*

11 Days Including Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lima, Lake Titicaca, and Amazon rainforest

Dates:  Sept. 21 - Oct. 2, 2025

Join Joe Holliday and ExploorPeru for an exciting 11-day trip around Peru to see the rich culture, history, and nature. The tour will include a day at Machu Picchu, a few days in the Inca heartland in and around Cuzco, a visit to the floating islands of Lake Titicaca, seeing the colonial center of Lima, and a few days in the Amazon rainforest. Although not sponsored by Great Outdoors, this is an exclusive GOLA invitation that will be led by our long-time GO member and hike leader Joe Holliday, in conjunction with the highly rated ExploorPeru tour company.  Current members of any Great Outdoors chapter may participate. 

Detailed trip itinerary can be accessed here.

To register for this trip:   Registration via the Great Outdoors website is required but for tracking purposes only.  Note that registration is not reserved until payment is received as noted below. All arrangements are made through Joe Holliday, not Great Outdoors. 

Registrants must be current members of any Great Outdoors chapter to participate. If not currently a member, please join via your preferred chapter's website before registering for this trip.

Cost: The costs include the land tour, tour guide, hotels, four domestic flights, and several meals (see itinerary for details). Total cost for this trip is as follows:

$3120. per person, double occupancy. First payment is $800.

$3825. per person single occupancy. First payment is $1000.  Single occupancy rooms are limited to four on a first come basis.

Indicate your preference and/or whether you are looking for a roommate when registering on this website.

Price does not include international flights (to and from Peru).

To pay for this trip: After you successfully register on this website, you will need to pay the above noted down payment to the trip leader Joseph Holliday. You can use one of three methods:

1. Zelle: using Joseph Holliday 562-417-4742

2. Venmo: using joewholliday@yahoo.com

3. Check or money order: made out to Joseph Holliday, with hand delivery or mailing address arranged by texting him at 562-417-4742

(Note: Holliday is spelled with two L's.

All four payments for this trip will be paid to Joe Holliday.   After receiving the deposits Joe will communicate how to divide up the remaining amount due, and the due dates.  (Tentatively the 15th of Jan, Feb, and Mar.)  

Group Size: 24 Max

For more information:  Joe at joewholliday@yahoo.com

GREAT OUTDOORS, INC. Is an all-volunteer not-for-profit organization dedicated to the enjoyment of the outdoors.  All rights reserved.