Mohave Preserve for Winter Run?

[cruiserlarry]

This is a 3 day trail run with two nights camping in locations along the route. Let's pick a date and work on the route and particular stops within the thread. Are you interested?

Can't wait...but what about group size limitations ? I think setting up smaller groups, maybe with meeting points, would be better than one huge caravan. I thought there is a 7 vehicle limit (per group) and a permit needed to run the Mojave Road Trail ?

[gon2srf]

Larry-

I have spoken to the powers to be and have the names and phone numbers for the Mojave NPS, the Mojave Preserve Ranger and the BLM. There is a Mojave Preserve permit required by any group exceeding 7 vehicles or 15 people. I will handle the permit process myself. Based on the terminology used on the Mojave NPS website under the Commercial Use Authorization section I don't believe we fall under this category. However I suspect it will simplify the permit process, avoid the waivers and remove most concerns by the OAUSA board for future litigation if we enjoy this run as a group of friends and not under the OAUSA name. Since many of us belong to numerous forums this should not be a problem.

I would prefer to visit the preserve and run the Mojave Trail in smaller groups to avoid the pitfalls we all know come with traveling in large groups. Having the permit allows us to avoid any conflict with the park service should we choose to gather together during the day or camp together as one large group. The BLM has no group permit requirement but likes to be notified when large groups enter and exit their land so I will take care of that detail once a date is chosen.

Below is the Mojave NPS website link and the verbiage from the permit page.

http://www.nps.gov/moja/index.htm

Permits

Special Park Recreation Use Permit
A Special Park Recreation Use Permit is required for some activities within Mojave National Preserve. A non-refundable application fee is required from all applicants, regardless of whether or not the permit is issued. There are two fee categories, depending on the nature of the proposed activity:

Groups of at least 7 vehicles or 15 participants for common recreational activities (rock climbing, hunting, fishing or trapping, equestrian use, bicycling, street-legal motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle use, backcountry use and roadside vehicle camping).
Application Fee: $5o

Special park use requests including but not limited to: weddings, sporting events, ceremonies/gatherings, entertainment, and public spectator attractions.
Application Fee: $70

Proof of insurance and posting of a bond may also be required. For more information, call (760) 252-6107 or e-mail us.

Filming and Photography Permit
A Filming/Commercial Photography Permit is required for any filming or photography involving the use of sets, props or models, requiring entry into a closed area, or requiring access to the park after normal working hours. There is a permit for short productions with minimal equipment and few people and one for longer, more involved ones.
Application Fee: $100

Proof of insurance and posting of a bond may also be required. For more information, call (760) 252-6107 or e-mail us.

Commercial Use Authorization
A Commercial Use Authorization is required for business activities(e.g. marketing, advertisement, negotiation of compensation with the customer or the solicitation or receipt of money or other compensation) that take place outside the Park and provide visitor services in the Park. Businesses included in this program are operations that provide any or all goods, activities, services, agreements or other things offered to the general public which take place at least in part in the park, uses park resources, and is undertaken for or results in compensation, monetary gain, benefit or profit to an individual, organization, or corporation, whether or not such entity is organized for purposes recognized as non-profit under local, state or Federal law.
Application Fee: $100

For more information, call (760) 252-6107 or e-mail us.

Other Fees
In addition to the application fee, all special park uses are also associated with administrative processing fees and monitoring costs. The monitoring costs may vary accordingly with the activity in question.

Administrative Processing Fee: $155

Monitoring Costs: $50/hour, 2 hour minimum per even

Please let me know your thoughts.

[big dave]

We can have several groups of 6 vehicles and 14 people. Thats all they have to know

[gon2srf]

We can have several groups of 6 vehicles and 14 people. Thats all they have to know

It's only $50.00 and allows us not to worry. I don't mind paying for it, I won't be paying for camping so it is the least I can do. Where are the mines located you plan to visit and how far from a viable campsite are they?

[gon2srf]

This is a 3 day trail run with two nights camping in locations along the route. Let's pick a date and work on the route and particular stops within the thread. Are you interested?

Can't wait...but what about group size limitations ? I think setting up smaller groups, maybe with meeting points, would be better than one huge caravan. I thought there is a 7 vehicle limit (per group) and a permit needed to run the Mojave Road Trail ?

BTW, does this mean you are in and if so did you vote on a date yet?

[big dave]

We can have several groups of 6 vehicles and 14 people. Thats all they have to know

Where are the mines located you plan to visit and how far from a viable campsite are they?

The mines i have in mind are listed below in bold. There are some other cool things to see, as well as mid hills campground on the list. Hole in the Rock campground is a little south of Mid Hills.

Mid-Hill Campground
35° 7'49.53"N 115°26'2.06"W

Here are the locations we have available to us. Keep in mind that theres a lot more in the area, i just picked some kick ass places right off the bat.

Aiken Mine and Lava tube (actual ladder going down into lava tube)
35°13'53.52"N 115°43'35.77"W

Evening Star mine
35°21'36.95"N 115°32'31.20"W

Morning Star Mine
35°20'48.26"N 115°29'53.94"W

Goldome Mine
35°19'4.42"N 115°16'0.15"W

Hart Mine
35°16'58.15"N 115° 6'18.21"W

Barnwell Well
35°17'26.81"N 115°13'45.36"W

Patton WW2 airstrip
35°17'12.32"N 115°11'41.09"W

Fort Piute
35° 6'54.13"N 114°59'7.98"W

Bonanza King
34°58'55.89"N 115°30'22.00"W

Mitchell Caverns
34°56'28.80"N 115°30'51.76"W

Vulcan Mine
34°55'24.13"N 115°33'59.59"W

Rex Mine
34°58'23.07"N 115°36'54.12"W

Kelso Depot
35° 0'38.64"N 115°39'36.53"W

[big dave]

Going up to Bonanza King mine.

[OLLIE]

The BOD have a meeting next week on the 18th and how to handle this event or if this is something to consider as a fest event is going to be someting that will be tabled at that time. We will post up after the meeting how to approach this Mojave Preserve Run. I am not saying the run isn't going to happen just that it may not be held under the premise of a fest event. Please stay tuned...

[BorregoWrangler]

This is a 3 day trail run with two nights camping in locations along the route. Let's pick a date and work on the route and particular stops within the thread. Are you interested?

Oh yeah! I've been wanting to run this trail for a while now. I'll just have to plan ahead to make sure we can make it. We're gonna be moving here in a month or so.

Looking at the area in one of my trail books it looks like there's quite a few side-trails, such as New York Mountains trail, Macedonia Canyon trail, Nipton Desert trail and Cima Dome trail, just to name a few. Maybe big dave has more insight into this, though.

[NotAMog]

If the logistics/legalities of doing a Mojave Road trip for Winterfest becomes too much of a problem there is always Death Valley.