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Trip contrasts Valley desert, mountain parks
Trip contrasts Valley desert, mountain parks
The Sand Dunes of Death Valley, unlike other famous sand dunes throughout the world, do not shift because the wind blows from all directions. Death Valley, location of the lowest spot in the United States, is a short distance from Sequoia National Park M t Whitney, the highest in the continental us,
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A mere 85 miles in the state of California separate the highest and lowest points of elevation within the continental United States. Death Valley with the lowest at 282 feet below sea level contrasts with Sequoia National Park, which has the highest elevation-Mt Whitney at 14,495 feet. Each area can be reached during a weekend trip from Anaheim, the site of the 24th annual AORN Congress. Which you select depends on whether you prefer dry, barren desert or green, cool mountains.
AORN Journal, February 1977, V o l 2 5 , N o 3
Climate determines the best time of traveling in each region. In March, Death Valley can be enjoyable, for the well-known intense temperatures are reached only in the summer months. Traveling in March in the higher regions of Sequoia, however, is limited because even though the park is open yearround, snow makes some of its roads impassable. Accommodations are available in both areas. As you enter Death Valley, you may see a herd of wild mules or mustangs roaming the
desolate sands. Unique among deserts, the valley is an area of extremes, extending 120 miles with widths from 4 to 16 miles. Approximately 550 square miles of its total 3,000 lie below sea level. The highest point of the mountain ranges encasing the valley is 11,049-foot Telescope Peak. During the winter months, daytime temperatures range from 60 F to 80 F (16 C to 27 C), whereas in the summer, temperatures may remain at 120 F (49 C) for days. The highest recorded temperature in the United States, 134 F
AORN Journal, February 1977, Vol25, No 3
&
568 565
General Grant Tree, one of the giant sequoias, measures 267 feet high and has a circumference of 107.6 feet.
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(57 C), occurred at Death Valley on July 10, 1913. Although only an average two inches of rain falls yearly, there are several springs throughout the desert area. Desert Valley was so named in 1849 by a group of pioneers attempting to traverse it in winter as a shortcut to the goldfields. Without food and water, they panicked and split into bands hoping to escape. Although no known deaths are attributed to the episode, the valley's overpowering hardships became legendary. The real wealth of Death Valley was borax. The mines are now idle and the towns deserted, but the 20-mule teams pulling 36Y2ton wagonloads of the mineral can still be pictured as reminiscent of western tales. Today, it has a well-established roadway system leading to all points of interest such as Badwater, the lowest point; the crystal salt formations; Scotty's Castle; the Sand Dunes; and Skidoo, a deserted town of the Gold Rush days. The extremes of its temperature and terrain have not prohibited plant and animal life. More than 600 species of plants grow at the various elevations. Twenty-one are unique to the valley, among them the Panamint daisy, the Death Valley sage, and the Death Valley sandpaper plant. Visitors will see few animals because most forage for food during the cool nights. Unbelievable as it may seem, fish are found in Salt Creek, Saratoga Springs, and Devil's Hole. They are the rare pupfish, or "desert sardine," descended from Ice Age ancestors. Land formations in the valley contain evidence of every geological division in time. At one time a fertile plain, the area became barren as the climate grew drier. Lakes evaporated into salt flats and mud playas. Strong winds ground granite into sand that gathered into dunes. Because the winds blow from all directions, the dunes do not shift. Scotty's Castle at the northern boundary of Death Valley National Monument is an exotic Moorish mansion, a curiosity in the desert. Built by Walter Scott and his millionaire friend, Albert M Johnson, it took 10 years to construct and cost 2 million dollars. It is now open for visitors to view its ornate gold fixtures, beautiful music room, and priceless furnishing and art objects.
AORN Journal, February 1977, Vol25, No 3
An oddity at Death Valley are the moving rocks. Leaving well-defined tracks, the rocks are believed to be pushed by the wind when the surface is wet and slick. (National Park Service photographs.) A short distance from the barren Death Valley are the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. They are lavish with giant trees, awesome canyons gutted with swiftmoving streams, sparkling lakes, and famous for the sequoia trees, the largest of living things. The General Sherman tree in Giant Forest, believed to be the largest sequoia, is 3,500 years old, stands approximately 272 feet, and is 101.6 feet in circumference. It has withstood several forest fires and still produces cones bearing fertile seed. The largest sequoia in the General Grant Grove is the General Grant tree. It is 267 feet high and has a circumference of 107.6 feet. Generals Highway, connecting the two
570
parks, twists among the sequoias and offers access to some of the most interesting parks' sights, eg, Tunnel Rock that spans the road, Hospital Rock where Indians took their sick for healing, and Crescent Meadow close to Tharp's Log, in which Hale Tharp, the first white man to see the sequoias, built his cabin and spent his summers. The parks are a paradise for hikers and backpackers. Self-guided nature trails and walks conducted by naturalists provide a view of the scenery, vegetation, and animals. The parks contain about 2,000 varieties of trees, shrubs, plants, and flowers. Each climatic zone has its particular vegetation. In addition to the famous sequoia forests are
AORN Journal, February 1977, Vol25, No 3
the sugar and ponderosa pines, white and red fir trees, and cedar trees. Mule deer, chipmunks, and squirrels are abundant. Occasionally one will see black bear, marmot, raccoon, gray fox, and bobcat. Living in the parks but rarely seen are Sierra Bighorn, mountain lion, pine marten, wolverine, and fisher. About 167 species of birds, including the golden eagle, have been identified.
These are only two of the areas of California that point out the contrasts in the state’s geography-a mountain with glaciers is neighbor to a mountain with recent lava coatings: gentle, rolling hills of the inland culminate in precipitous, jagged cliffs at the ocean shore. Despite its population expansion, California continues to beckon visitors because of its natural beauty.
Counts, OR nurse role film topics Premieres of two AORN films, “Update: OR nursing” and “Sponge, needle, and instrument counts,” at Congress will be within the context of educational sessions on Tuesday, March 22. The role of the nurse in the operating room is the theme of “Update: OR nursing,” authored by Mary Kellogg, RN, nurse clinician, at the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medicine, Baltimore. The session from 8:45to 10:45 am will include a panel discussion by Kellogg, William B Long, MD, and Barbara Gruendemann, RN, MS. Kellogg, a member of the AORN Audiovisual Committee, is a major contributor to books on trauma and the role of the OR nurse to be published this spring. Dr Long is chief resident in general surgery at the University of Maryland Hospital and a research fellow at the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medicine where he was instrumental in establishing a trauma unit. Gruendemann, AORN vice-president, has been involved in developing statements regarding the role of the nurse in the OR. Margaret Rozman Fay, RN, chairman of the Audiovisual Committee, will be moderator. Produced to answer the many questions regarding when and how to accomplish counts, the film “Sponge, needle, and instrument counts” will also show how soiled sponges are handled to avoid airborne microbial contamination. It will premier during a 3 : l O to 5 pm educational session entitled “Safety in numbers.” The film content is
572
based on the AORN Standards for Sponge, Needle, and Instrument Procedures. Kay Lange, RN, director of surgery, St Joseph Hospital, Denver, author of the film, explains the film stresses the importance of written policies and procedures regarding counts, the necessity of counts to provide safe practice and high quality care to patients having surgical intervention, and procedures facilitating counting. The session will include a presentation by Ruth Gouge, RN, MD, JD, on the basic legal implication of counts. A clinical instructor in family medicine at the University of Colorado, she will cite representative cases on who is liable in such suits. Panel members responding to questions will be Lange, Dr Gouge, and Nancy Mehaffy, RN, AORN Board member and chairman of the AORN Technical Standards Committee. Phyllis Wells, RN, member of the Audiovisual Committee, will be moderator. Film awards will be presented to the two authors by a representative of Davis + Geck, collaborator with the AORN Audiovisual Committee in producing the films.
AORN Journul, February 1977, V o l 2 5 , N o 3
The Sand Dunes of Death Valley, unlike other famous sand dunes throughout the world, do not shift because the wind blows from all directions. Death Valley, location of the lowest spot in the United States, is a short distance from Sequoia National Park M t Whitney, the highest in the continental us,
564
A mere 85 miles in the state of California separate the highest and lowest points of elevation within the continental United States. Death Valley with the lowest at 282 feet below sea level contrasts with Sequoia National Park, which has the highest elevation-Mt Whitney at 14,495 feet. Each area can be reached during a weekend trip from Anaheim, the site of the 24th annual AORN Congress. Which you select depends on whether you prefer dry, barren desert or green, cool mountains.
AORN Journal, February 1977, V o l 2 5 , N o 3
Climate determines the best time of traveling in each region. In March, Death Valley can be enjoyable, for the well-known intense temperatures are reached only in the summer months. Traveling in March in the higher regions of Sequoia, however, is limited because even though the park is open yearround, snow makes some of its roads impassable. Accommodations are available in both areas. As you enter Death Valley, you may see a herd of wild mules or mustangs roaming the
desolate sands. Unique among deserts, the valley is an area of extremes, extending 120 miles with widths from 4 to 16 miles. Approximately 550 square miles of its total 3,000 lie below sea level. The highest point of the mountain ranges encasing the valley is 11,049-foot Telescope Peak. During the winter months, daytime temperatures range from 60 F to 80 F (16 C to 27 C), whereas in the summer, temperatures may remain at 120 F (49 C) for days. The highest recorded temperature in the United States, 134 F
AORN Journal, February 1977, Vol25, No 3
&
568 565
General Grant Tree, one of the giant sequoias, measures 267 feet high and has a circumference of 107.6 feet.
568
(57 C), occurred at Death Valley on July 10, 1913. Although only an average two inches of rain falls yearly, there are several springs throughout the desert area. Desert Valley was so named in 1849 by a group of pioneers attempting to traverse it in winter as a shortcut to the goldfields. Without food and water, they panicked and split into bands hoping to escape. Although no known deaths are attributed to the episode, the valley's overpowering hardships became legendary. The real wealth of Death Valley was borax. The mines are now idle and the towns deserted, but the 20-mule teams pulling 36Y2ton wagonloads of the mineral can still be pictured as reminiscent of western tales. Today, it has a well-established roadway system leading to all points of interest such as Badwater, the lowest point; the crystal salt formations; Scotty's Castle; the Sand Dunes; and Skidoo, a deserted town of the Gold Rush days. The extremes of its temperature and terrain have not prohibited plant and animal life. More than 600 species of plants grow at the various elevations. Twenty-one are unique to the valley, among them the Panamint daisy, the Death Valley sage, and the Death Valley sandpaper plant. Visitors will see few animals because most forage for food during the cool nights. Unbelievable as it may seem, fish are found in Salt Creek, Saratoga Springs, and Devil's Hole. They are the rare pupfish, or "desert sardine," descended from Ice Age ancestors. Land formations in the valley contain evidence of every geological division in time. At one time a fertile plain, the area became barren as the climate grew drier. Lakes evaporated into salt flats and mud playas. Strong winds ground granite into sand that gathered into dunes. Because the winds blow from all directions, the dunes do not shift. Scotty's Castle at the northern boundary of Death Valley National Monument is an exotic Moorish mansion, a curiosity in the desert. Built by Walter Scott and his millionaire friend, Albert M Johnson, it took 10 years to construct and cost 2 million dollars. It is now open for visitors to view its ornate gold fixtures, beautiful music room, and priceless furnishing and art objects.
AORN Journal, February 1977, Vol25, No 3
An oddity at Death Valley are the moving rocks. Leaving well-defined tracks, the rocks are believed to be pushed by the wind when the surface is wet and slick. (National Park Service photographs.) A short distance from the barren Death Valley are the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. They are lavish with giant trees, awesome canyons gutted with swiftmoving streams, sparkling lakes, and famous for the sequoia trees, the largest of living things. The General Sherman tree in Giant Forest, believed to be the largest sequoia, is 3,500 years old, stands approximately 272 feet, and is 101.6 feet in circumference. It has withstood several forest fires and still produces cones bearing fertile seed. The largest sequoia in the General Grant Grove is the General Grant tree. It is 267 feet high and has a circumference of 107.6 feet. Generals Highway, connecting the two
570
parks, twists among the sequoias and offers access to some of the most interesting parks' sights, eg, Tunnel Rock that spans the road, Hospital Rock where Indians took their sick for healing, and Crescent Meadow close to Tharp's Log, in which Hale Tharp, the first white man to see the sequoias, built his cabin and spent his summers. The parks are a paradise for hikers and backpackers. Self-guided nature trails and walks conducted by naturalists provide a view of the scenery, vegetation, and animals. The parks contain about 2,000 varieties of trees, shrubs, plants, and flowers. Each climatic zone has its particular vegetation. In addition to the famous sequoia forests are
AORN Journal, February 1977, Vol25, No 3
the sugar and ponderosa pines, white and red fir trees, and cedar trees. Mule deer, chipmunks, and squirrels are abundant. Occasionally one will see black bear, marmot, raccoon, gray fox, and bobcat. Living in the parks but rarely seen are Sierra Bighorn, mountain lion, pine marten, wolverine, and fisher. About 167 species of birds, including the golden eagle, have been identified.
These are only two of the areas of California that point out the contrasts in the state’s geography-a mountain with glaciers is neighbor to a mountain with recent lava coatings: gentle, rolling hills of the inland culminate in precipitous, jagged cliffs at the ocean shore. Despite its population expansion, California continues to beckon visitors because of its natural beauty.
Counts, OR nurse role film topics Premieres of two AORN films, “Update: OR nursing” and “Sponge, needle, and instrument counts,” at Congress will be within the context of educational sessions on Tuesday, March 22. The role of the nurse in the operating room is the theme of “Update: OR nursing,” authored by Mary Kellogg, RN, nurse clinician, at the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medicine, Baltimore. The session from 8:45to 10:45 am will include a panel discussion by Kellogg, William B Long, MD, and Barbara Gruendemann, RN, MS. Kellogg, a member of the AORN Audiovisual Committee, is a major contributor to books on trauma and the role of the OR nurse to be published this spring. Dr Long is chief resident in general surgery at the University of Maryland Hospital and a research fellow at the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medicine where he was instrumental in establishing a trauma unit. Gruendemann, AORN vice-president, has been involved in developing statements regarding the role of the nurse in the OR. Margaret Rozman Fay, RN, chairman of the Audiovisual Committee, will be moderator. Produced to answer the many questions regarding when and how to accomplish counts, the film “Sponge, needle, and instrument counts” will also show how soiled sponges are handled to avoid airborne microbial contamination. It will premier during a 3 : l O to 5 pm educational session entitled “Safety in numbers.” The film content is
572
based on the AORN Standards for Sponge, Needle, and Instrument Procedures. Kay Lange, RN, director of surgery, St Joseph Hospital, Denver, author of the film, explains the film stresses the importance of written policies and procedures regarding counts, the necessity of counts to provide safe practice and high quality care to patients having surgical intervention, and procedures facilitating counting. The session will include a presentation by Ruth Gouge, RN, MD, JD, on the basic legal implication of counts. A clinical instructor in family medicine at the University of Colorado, she will cite representative cases on who is liable in such suits. Panel members responding to questions will be Lange, Dr Gouge, and Nancy Mehaffy, RN, AORN Board member and chairman of the AORN Technical Standards Committee. Phyllis Wells, RN, member of the Audiovisual Committee, will be moderator. Film awards will be presented to the two authors by a representative of Davis + Geck, collaborator with the AORN Audiovisual Committee in producing the films.
AORN Journul, February 1977, V o l 2 5 , N o 3