The 205,060 acres of the southern Inyo Mountains is a proposed BLM wilderness area. This vast, isolated desert range rises precipitously from 1,000' in Saline Valley to over 11,000' on the crest and contains a spectacular array of natural and cultural features. Since 1989, Steve Smith of the Bureau of Land Management's Ridgecrest Resource Area and longtime DPS'er has been systematically working for BLM to document the area's many features. Working with volunteers, Steve has accumulated information on this area while monitoring conditions to assure protection of the area's high wilderness values pending wilderness designation by Congress. So far, 22 BLM sponsored volunteer projects have been completed with volunteers from the Desert Peak Section, Desert Survivors and Friends of the lnyo WSA. Volunteers have assisted in mapping the area's many miles of trail, completed some surface restoration work and done some initial trail signing and maintenance. Information gathered provides a detailed inventory of the many natural and cultural values of this rugged, isolated, surprisingly spectacular and little known desert area which includes four DPS peaks. Steve's slide program for the 1994 DPS banquet, Wednesday, May 4th, will highlight the findings about the southern Inyo Mountains and features: Historic Mining Trails - including the 40-mile "Lonesome Miner" trail from Pat Keyes trailhead to Hunter Canyon. Scenic panaromic views of Saline Valley, Owens Valley, Last Chance Mountains and the Sierra Nevada. Historic mill sites and miners cabins. Impressive canyons with cascading waterfalls. Historic Daisy Canyon and the 13-mile salt tram. Come, enjoy the program and learn about a spectacular desert area that has been popular with DPS'ers since our first scheduled section trip to New York Butte in 1946.

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