An Invitation to Participate I: TRAIL WORK and HIKE in the EAST MOJAVE October 30-31, 1993 (Halloween Weekend) Leaders: Jim Schoedler (818) 398-6787. Maris Valkass (310) 379-8592.

Once it is completed, the East Mojave National Recreation Trail will wind a 100 mile loop through the most scenic areas of the East Mojave: the Providence and New York mountains, Kelso depot and Kelso dunes, the Cinder Cones and Cima Dome. Two segments of the trail are now in place. One is the Mid Hills to Hole-in-the-Wall trail adopted two years ago by the Angeles Chapter Desert Committee. The other is a trail over Cima Dome adopted by the San Gorgonio Chapter. Our adopted segment runs from Mid Hills Campground at 5500' elevation to Hole-in-the-Wall Campground at 4200' through Gold valley and part of Wildhorse canyon. This eight mile segment provides several kinds of desert hiking experience dry wash, basin, and canyon. The scenery ranges from long vistas of buttes and mesas to narrow canyons to bizarre rock formations. The trailhead is in a cholla garden. Midway it turns to juniper-pinyon, then ends in cholla again. When hiked north to south, the easiest way, it culminates in a climb up the rings at Hole-in-the-Wall from Banshee Canyon, a real treat (honest). In 1991 we led the first organized hike to use this trail, which is rapidly becoming a favorite destination for hikers. Two ongoing efforts are needed. One is to maintain the existing trail which, because it is a low-impact trail, can be obscured by summer flash floods and winter rains. It follows natural terrain features (gullies and washes) and can therefore be difficult to follow if not maintained. Maintenance Consists of replacing directional signs, such as rock cairns, and doing minor tread repair. This is easy trail work. A slightly more difficult project, to repair a barbed wire gate, is also in the works. The other effort is a little more exciting. It involves scouting potential routes for the trail to take as it continues on to its next destination, Mitchell Caverns. We have located a really scenic route following the northern ridge of the Providence Mountains but need to decide how to connect it to the Caverns. On this trip we will attempt a cross-country hike the entire length of this next segment (approx, 8 miles with 2000' gain/loss). The work party will take place on Saturday. We will drive out Friday night and camp at Mid Hills campground. Meet Saturday morning at 8:30AM at the windmill at the campground entrance. Sunday will be reserved for the cross-country hike. For a map directing you to Mid Hills Campground, send a SASE to Jim Schoedler, 2137 Cooley Place, Pasadena, CA 91104.

Come and help us with this interesting project In one of the desert's coolest spots. * * * * All tools and equipment needed for the work party will be provided by the BLM. Bring a pair of work gloves and your normal hiking and camping paraphernalia.

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