Desert Moon Provides Backdrop for Ride

It’s one of the most spectacular bicycle rides in Southern California--cruising across Death Valley by the light of the moon--and there’s still time to join 200 cyclists on Saturday’s fully supported desert ride.

Death Valley by Moonlight, a tradition since the mid-1960s, is an out-and-back ride of up to 100 miles. It starts at 3 p.m. from Furnace Creek, passes through Badwater, which at 280 feet below sea level is the lowest point in the hemisphere, on the way to the turnaround at 1,293-foot Jubilee Pass.

It’s not an especially strenuous ride, and it’s eased further because cyclists can turn around at any point. That means riders have plenty of opportunity to absorb the otherworldly view.

“You can see 100 or more miles in the full moon,” said Hugh Murphy, the ride organizer. “It’s like another dimension of the Twilight Zone.”

Most amazing, Murphy said, is the mid-evening sight when the nearly full moon clears the 6,000-foot mountains that ring the valley and the light glistens off minerals and salts on the desert floor.

“It kind of rolls in at you and sucks you into it,” Murphy said. “It’s the neatest visual effect you have ever seen, better than anything Spielberg can do.”

The ride, which costs $65 including the $5 national park permit fee, will provide six rest stops stocked with hot and cold food.

All riders must have street-legal lights. Murphy says riders should be prepared for cold temperatures and advises bringing full-finger gloves and booties.

For more information: https://www.badwaterevents.com

FOOTBALL

Defensive end Justin Tomerlin from San Clemente High has been selected to compete for the West squad in the first National High School Football All-Star game in Dallas, Dec. 30.

The Florida State-bound Tomerlin, who is the only county player named to the West team, had 59 tackles and four sacks.

The all-star game will feature the top 75 high school seniors from around the country and will be broadcast live on Fox Sports Net at noon.

SOFTBALL

Cliff White has left the Garden Grove High softball program to coach at Inglewood St. Mary’s Academy, Garden Grove Athletic Director Ron Zajec said Wednesday.

White was 102-69-2 in six years at Garden Grove, including 37-11 in the Garden Grove League from 1996-99. The Argonauts went 6-6 in league play last season and finished fourth.

VOLLEYBALL

Sara Kroneberger of Los Alamitos High has committed to play women’s volleyball at Long Beach State, according to Griffin Coach Steve Taylor.

Kroneberger, a senior outside hitter, plays for the Cal Juniors Volleyball Club of Huntington Beach, which is owned by Long Beach State Coach Brian Gimmillaro. Last summer, Kroneberger’s team won a silver medal at the Junior Nationals in Louisville, Ky.

ADMINISTRATION

Tony Lipold was named Director of Athletics and Assistant Dean of Physical Education at Saddleback College.

Lipold fills the spot vacated by Keith Calkins, who retired earlier this year after 20 years at Saddleback.