This month I have been able to spend more time exploring and monitoring the Coso Wilderness.  It is quite a surprising land.  The Coso Mountains are known for their abundance of prehistoric rock art and the wild horse and burros that roam the area.  During my explorations, I did manage to see one small herd of wild horses and one pictograph site.  Though,  I have discovered the variety and depth of treasures that exist in these desert mountains.   I have spent a couple of month visiting the area, recording the boundary conditions, and making recommendations for restoration.

This wilderness has shown me signs of the past, signs of life and of death, the power of natural forces, and the beauty of its natural landscape.  There has been snow, sand dunes, active mines, abandoned mining site, lithic scatters, pictographs, dry lake beds, snakes, horses, pack rats, birds, bone and skulls, historic cabins, gorgeous views of the high sierra, the famous location of the U2 Joshua Tree,  large stands of Joshua tree, cars now acting as permanent fixtures of washes, roads completely washed out and/or missing, rocks displaying brilliant red/orange/yellow colors, and many more small wonders. My time hiking and exploring the Coso Wilderness has really strengthened my appreciation for the unique value found here in the Mojave Desert and has gotten me to reflect in its beauty.

I have learned that there are many who may consider this desert a dead and barren land; a place that has no life and no use; one that can be ridden over and used without care or consideration.  I will admit, I was ignorant to the desert before moving out here.  I came from a land that is green year around and has rain a majority of the year.  The initial visual impression of the desert was shocking to my eyes.  I saw brown, various shades of brown, what looked like dead vegetation, lack of trees and limited water.  I saw what wasn’t here.  Now, after living here for almost 2 years, I have begun to see what is here.  The unmatched sunrises and sunsets, the open expanses, summer thunderstorms and flash floods, the smell of creosote when it rains, the variety of colors (not just brown), the variety of vegetation and their amazing adaptations, the seasonal blooms, the unique wildlife (Mojave green rattlesnake, tarantulas, scorpions, desert tortoise, ground squirrels, burrowing owls, and others), the fascinating mining history, and that is just to name a few.  It is a place that hides nothing and exposes all.   I have really discovered the life, value, and beauty that exist here in the Mojave Desert over the past 2 years being immersed in its reality.  Yes it is a harsh environment of extremes and a land where survival can be a struggle, but it is also so much more!

Owen’s Dry Lake bed

Coso Wilderness monitoring in the snow!

Coso Wilderness monitoring- old mining site

Coso Wilderness- this car is now the bank of a wash!

Coso Wilderness- monitoring discoveries

Coso Wilderness monitoring- Joshua Tree stand

Coso Wilderness- yes cattle once grazed here and still do in some places!

Joshua Flats hike- Coso Wilderness

Coso Wilderness monitoring- view of High Seirras

Coso Wilderness monitoring- sweet cabin

Coso Wilderness monitoring- inside of sweet cabin

Coso Wilderness- Marty and I

Coso Wilderness monitoring- It does snow in the desert!

Coso Wilderness monitoring- I have to cross that?!

Coso Wilderness monitoring- I crossed that?!

The winter has been a mild one here compared to the frigid January temps we had last year. Though we have still received some snow around the area! The field office has slowed down quite a bit over the holidays. It was pleasant to see things slow down a bit and enjoy the area over this holiday. It was amazing seeing the valley and surrounding mountains covered in snow as I was leaving for the Thanksgiving break. It doesn’t snow in the valley often so it was a thrill to drive through the snow and rain for a solid 6 hours In The DESERT! Bring on the precipitation!

The Holiday was filled with many parties before slowing down over the break. The office had a really nice Christmas party and a farewell to one of the Law Enforcement officers. It was followed by an evening of bowling. It was a treat to be able to enjoy and chat with everyone in a more casual setting. I also helped with the Christmas Party for the Student Conservation crews. We had dinner and desert prepared for about 25 crew members/leaders and all enjoyed an evening of homemade gift exchanges and conversation. The gift exchange was by far the highlight of the night. The crew members all drew names for gifts. All the gifts had to be made from scraps that had been discovered in the desert over the past few months. They were all so unique and hilarious! Definitely a highlight of the evening.

It has been such a pleasure to continue my close connection with the SCA Desert Restoration Corps in my current position. I led one of the work crews last year and worked closely with the BLM. It’s been great to be able to assist the crews and leaders with information, projects, and general orientation to the area. Last year I experienced land management from the field and daily restoration work. Now, I have been given the opportunity to see things from the larger management perspective. I have enjoyed learning about all the pieces that are balanced and juggled in a land management agency. I have enjoyed the work that I have completed in the wilderness areas.  I have been able to be out in the field gathering data and seeing the actual condition of the land. It has really allowed me to connect with each area that I am surveying and to see it’s unique beauty. The freedom I have been given to oversee field work and projects has been amazing. I have enjoyed the freedom of discovering these lands and learning to view them through the world of use and protection. I have learned a lot through the combination of field monitoring and GIS mapping. I look forward to continuing to work in both areas. I am also looking forward to learning a bit about grant writing and wilderness inventory reports in the next few months.

I am very thankful for the last 5 months here in Ridgecrest. It has been fun and educational. I am so glad that I do not have to say goodbye right now and that I get to continue working with everyone here. It has been awesome getting to know everyone in the office and I have made some good friends. A big thanks to everyone who has supported me through this internship, this includes those in the Ridgecrest Field office and those with the Chicago Botanic Garden. Thanks for making this position available! And a special thank you to Dana for finding a way to keep me on!!! I have sincerely enjoyed the last 5 months and look forward to the next 5!

U2 Joshua Tree location

Yes, U2 fallen Joshua tree!

What? Pictographs!

Inyo Mountains and my rig

Arial photography marker! I had no idea!

Beautiful Coso Wilderness hike

Mining cabin

Old jugs from Coso cabin

Owen Lake Dry Lake bed and southern sierras

Homemade wooden gift!

Yes that is hanging from his ear!

The entire SCA clan!

It has been great to get back to work and jump back onto ongoing projects.

The past couple of months I have primarily been working on projects related to the desert restoration crews.  It has been a push to get everything completed as their season started in October!  I have been gathering field data and putting together work plans for the Student Conservation Association’s (SCA) Desert Restoration crews.  I have spent a good bit of time in the field hiking/driving around wilderness areas documenting restoration sites, seeing it rain (yes, it can rain here!), catching a glimpse of wild horses, and generally enjoying working in such beautiful terrain.  I have also spend a fair bit of time compiling all my data into maps and work plan portfolios.  I led 4 days of training for the SCA Project Leaders.  I trained them on fence building and hard barrier construction.  It was refreshing to be back out camping in the desert and enjoying the desert nights as we transitioned into  the desert fall!

In addition to all the restoration planning, I assisted in the opening of the Nadeau Trail.  The first National Recreation Trail in California.  It is an historic transport trail used by Remi Nadeau in the transporting of gold down to the LA area and supplies back up to the mountains.  It is now used as an off highway vehicle trail.  A pretty cool trail with lots of great views, old mines, and cabins.

I also joined the Wilderness Coordinator in attending the Wilderness Leadership meeting at the California Desert District office.  I was able to sit in on  some of the behind the scenes discussions that go on between BLM field offices and public groups concerning the management of wilderness areas.

I am currently emerged in the world of Wilderness First Responder training in Bishop, CA.  I am learning and practicing all the wonderful and valuable medical skills that are required to aid in a medical emergency in wilderness settings.  Bring on the patients, litter carries, splint building, injury make-up, sucking chest wounds, and wound care! We got this!

Farewell til next time!

Catherine

Hello from the Mojave Desert!                                                                                                                    Its official! I finally moved into my position with the Ridgecrest, CA BLM field office.  I just completed my second week in the office and everyone has been fantastic in helping me get my bearings.  These past two weeks have been a seamless transition into the Recreation department.  I have focused mainly on trainings and finishing up restoration work plans and GIS maps for upcoming SCA (Student Conservation Association) crews.  Creating maps, maps, and more maps has been my recent objective.  This is my first big project.  The restoration crews arrive in about a month and I am assisting in getting the plans together for 4 crews and about 8 different work areas.  I am now on the downhill slope to having these projects complete!  Thanks to Jeff for all your help with ArcPad and ArcMap.  He has been a wonderful teacher and so willing to help me out at any time! I was not familiar with ArcPad a week ago and now I think I might be in love!  

There have also been several  training and field opportunities woven into the past 2 weeks.  I was able to join the other 2 intern (Alena and Tyler), Jeff, and Jeff for a morning of Abandon Mines monitoring training. It was great to get out into the field and learn about an unfamiliar resources (mines).  I joined Eddie Duque, another Recreation Specialist here in the Ridgecrest field office, for a basic ATV rider course.  It was a great day of learning safety and manuevering techniques for ATV’s.  We got a full day of training and riding in the  Jawbone Canyon open area.   Dana Jacobs and Marty Dickes both brought me out on 2 separate reconissence trips.  I joined Dana to scope out and take photos of the Nadeau National Recreation trail.  It is a pretty rough off road Jeep trail.  There were definitely a few areas we though we were going to get stuck. Thanks to the proficient driving of Rob, we made it out with only a couple of minor scratches! This will be the first National Recreation trail here in the Ridgecrest area.  On August 22nd, there will be a ceremony and official opening of the trail. Marty’s project was to take a closer look at Sage Canyon and determine proper route designation for and area that is surrounded by wilderness.  We were joined by two resource specialist to assist in locating private property boundaries and grazing considerations.

Though I have only been on the job for 2 weeks, I have been involved in different activities.  I have appreciated getting a larger understanding of the other departments and resources that are managed here in this field office.  Thanks to everyone for letting me tag along!