Mojave National Preserve March 24-26

[Kent R]

Mojave National Preserve Trail Guardian

In conjunction with the National Park Service, Overland Bound Trail Guardian volunteers will tackle two major projects to keep trails open.

www.overlandbound.com

 

[HighVoltOverland]

What a great time helping preserve our parks!

 

[mwilson920]

Had a great time at this event! Quite a few people joined the event and lots of work got done. I was on the track erasing project and by NPS estimates, we erased over 3,000’ of illegal tracks from Soda Lake. Thanks to all who joined us and look forward to seeing you in the Fall.

 

[Kent R]

I must say this was one of the most productive Trail Guardian events we have had to date.
The weather somewhat cooperated and at least the wind died down a bit on Saturday so we could have our group campfire.

73 members in 54 rigs completed three major projects around the preserve.

• 3000’ of illegal tracks erased from Soda Lake. (conservative estimate by NPS)
• Miles of irrigation pipe removed from the Mojave Road, filling three dumpsters.
• Installed Carsonite fiberglass sign posts to keep people out of a sensitive wilderness area around Van Winkle Mtn. near hwy 40.

To say that NPS is excited about the work you completed is an understatement, they understand our passion to keep trails and dispersed camping areas open and I believe the projects we will be collaborating on in the future will reflect that.

The next Trail Guardian event is tentatively scheduled for late October and it will be huge, lots of stars need to line up to make this work.
(Dates TBD)

• We will be working with NPS to survey 600-900 dispersed campsites in the preserve using a database from NPS. We will also be adding all of these sites to the OB1 app. This will be a three day event, traveling throughout the preserve using our navigation skills and we will be at two or three different base camps along the way.
• Another project is to cut down abandoned utility poles along Kelbaker Road and, if there is time, use them to delineate the Green Mill camp site and add steel fire pits there. The Green Mill area has had illegal camping just outside the area and by installing some passive barriers we will help keep people in the general area that is allowed.
• Bob and crew will be helping to delineate the wilderness areas around the Great Soda Lake. For those that might not know, the Mojave Road is a very thin right of way through wilderness across the lake. Every time someone goes off-trail on the soda lake we get that much closer to some sort of closure.

Thanks again for all your hard work and remember to pass the word to “Drive Like a Tortoise” when in the preserve.