Black Rock Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation (NCA) Pahute Peak Wilderness Area, Sunset Canyon

Greetings Fellow Wilderness Warriors,

This year NPLD will be held in the Pahute Peak Wilderness Area. The size and scope of the project is very ambitious and there is plenty of work to be done. The main focus of the project is the collection and removal of debris associated with an old mining home site. Your help is needed, and so I ask that you join the Bureau of Land Management, Friends of Black Rock-High Rock, Friends of NV Wilderness, and the
Nevada Outdoor School in this year’s National Public Lands Day.

Please keep the following points in mind. Driving directions can be found below.
Nevada Outdoor School will provide a kid’s camp on Saturday Sept 20th for parents.
RVs and motor homes will not be able to easily access the area. Tent camping is most appropriate.
Black Rock Desert? Days will be warm and evenings will be cool.
Bring plenty of water and your water bottle.
Bring enough food and other supplies to survive for the weekend and an
additional day’s worth isn’t a bad idea.
Please follow all Leave No Trace Principles. Pay particular attention to the ‘proper disposal of waste’ principal.
BLM will provide a toilet for deposits.

This year’s event promises to be a good time, and I look forward to seeing everyone come to the Black Rock. Please contact me with any questions that you may have.

Cheers,

Justin R Robbins, NCA Park Ranger
jrobbins@nv.blm.gov
775-623-1704

Driving Directions

From Reno, NV and all points south.
1) Take NV-447 north to Gerlach. (last place to refuel)
2) Proceed through town and after passing thru a cattle guard turn (right) onto
County Rd 34. Go past 3-mile, 8-mile, and 12-mile playa access points.
3) Turn north (right) on to Soldier Meadows Rd (county Rd 200) and continue on
this route for approximately forty (40) miles.
4) At Mud Meadows Reservoir the Rd bends east (right) and utilized the dam to get
to the other side of the creek. At this junction turn south (right) onto a dirt 2-track
and follow it south for six (6) miles to the NPLD campsite along the same route.
This route marks the wilderness boundary (Pahute Peak). The east (left) side of
the Rd is wilderness, and the west (right) side in NCA-non-wilderness lands. As
you come to the campsite you may camp on either side of the RD, but please park
on the west (left) non-wilderness side.

Volunteer Work Plan: Sept 19-21, 2008
NPLD Pahute Peak Wilderness - Flourite Mine Site

Work Site

Location:

The worksite for NPLD 2008 is located within Pahute Peak Wilderness Area. The site is at the mouth of an unnamed canyon on the west side of the Black Rock Range. Access is
from Mud Meadows Reservoir heading south along the western boundary of Pahute Peak Wilderness. The site is located beyond the end of the third cherry stem starting from
Cooper Canyon cherry stem heading south on the west side of Pahute Peak Wilderness. The site is approximately 3/8 mile from the terminus of the cherry stem. A closed two-
track provides access to the worksite.

Description:

The worksite is an old mining camp, circa 1970. There is a constructed building and additional wooden and metal materials at the site. The site has been cleared for cultural artifacts. In addition to building and surrounding debris the immediate area also contains mine claim/T-posts and three hundred (300) feet of plastic tubing in the canyon behind
the worksite.

The building approximately measures 20x8 feet. The building was constructed in a wash. The wash’s high side has been vertically cut and the structure was built into it. The
building is primarily supported by a wooden frame covered in corrugated steel sheets. Part of the structure is also supported by a stone wall built into the wash.

There are approximately one hundred (100) pieces of 4x6 corrugated steel sheets, five (5) mattresses, one hundred fifty (150) pieces of 2x6 wooden boards, and several hundred
pounds of additional debris on site.

Work Plan

I. Disassembly of Mine Site Building:

Description – Under the direction of a BLMer the mine site building will have the walls and roof removed (corrugated steel). These materials along with other debris outside of
the immediate building will be removed. Debris inside of the building and the frame of the building will not be removed. Contact with these items is to be avoided.

Three (3) volunteers needed for this project

II. Collect Metal & Plastic Materials from Mine Site

Description – Under the direction of a BLMer and/or Crew Leader volunteers will collect metal & plastic materials from the area around and below the mine site. Volunteers will
stage materials at a selected location for transport out of the wilderness. Volunteers collecting materials must stay clear of the disassembly if the mine site building
project.

Four (4) teams of five to eight (5 to 8) persons will each take a section of the mine site. Each team will have a crew leader and will remove all debris from their section. Volunteers will carry large and heavy loads to the pre-determined loading site and stage material there. 5-gallon plastic buckets will be utilized in the transportation of small debris.

III. Collection of expired Mine Claim Posts

Description – The immediate area surrounding the mine site and the canyon behind the site have plastic mine claim posts. There is a cast-iron post on the south ridgeline of the canyon behind the mine site.

One (1) team of four (4) volunteers will gather and stage the mine claim posts.

IV. Cutting and Collection of Plastic Pipe in Sunset Canyon

Description – In the canyon behind the mine site there is a section (300 feet long) of plastic pipe. This pipe is to be cut up into manageable sections and removed to the staging area. Multiple trip may be required.

One (1) team of four (4) volunteers will gather and stage the plastic pipe.

V. Staging and Removal of Debris from Wilderness Area.

Description – All materials that are to be removed will be staged at the end of the access route that leads to the wilderness boundary. Here the debris will be carried out by hand or removed via a game cart or wheel barrels. Debris will be loaded onto a truck for transport to the landfill.

One (1) team of four (4) volunteers will work the staging area. Volunteers who participated in the collection part of the project will be moved to this capacity as progress dictates.

VI. Route Reclamation

Description – Rehabilitate/restore illegal vehicular encroachments by use of decompaction and pitting, planting vertical mulch (shrubs and rocks), vegetative restoration, and barricading where needed. There is a least two (2) miles of route restoration.

Volunteers will be put on this project as time and manpower permits

VII. Wilderness Boundary Markers Installation

Description – Install two (2) wilderness metal posts at the following locations:
4564057 N 0324765 E (currently a carsonite resides there)
4557912 N 0330768 E

Four (4) volunteers will be needed to install the posts.

Safety Plan

In an effort to minimize safety hazards each volunteer and BLMer will be given a safety session prior to the start of any work project. The worksite will have a watering station and shade structure setup.

All volunteers will be required to wear appropriate PPE and will be provided will such gear if they don’t have any.

NOS kid’s camp will be located a safe distance away from the project site.

BLM to bring: NPLD T-shirts, NPLD vouchers, GPS unit, GPS camera, Hand tools, heavy duty trash bags, work gloves, game cart, wheel barrels, hack-saw (with extra blades), water, igloo, tables, shade structure, and 5-gallon plastic buckets.

Volunteers to bring: sun-block, sun protective clothing, lunches, leather gloves, and something to pack lunches and water in.

** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **

Action Plan: Sept 19-21, 2008
NPLD Pahute Peak Wilderness - Flourite Mine Site

Pre-event tasks:

1. Creation of signs(2) announcing NPLD (Holly)
2. Toilet pickup from Sani-Hut in Sparks (Dave C.)

Thursday September 18:

Stage I – Load Up – (Justin, Holly, Aaron)
1. Load gear into Justin’s truck, leave for Gerlach (pick up remaining supplies/Gatorade), gather B-man sign closure posts, and head to project site.
2. Place remaining gear in corner of shipping container for Aaron (leaving for project site) and/or Dave L.
3. Fill water containers.

Gear List:
NPLD T-shirts (2) boxes, NPLD vouchers, GPS unit(s), GPS camera, Wilderness monitoring sheets, Gatorade (in Gerlach), NCA visitor guides, Inventory photos with GPS points of mine claim posts, Hand tools: Pulaski, shovel, post-hole digger, rock bar, crow bar, claw hammer, heavy duty trash bags, work gloves, game cart, wheel barrel (blue), hack-saw (with extra blades), water, igloo, tables, shade structure, campfire barrel, wilderness stickers, round metal posts (2), bags of redi-mix concrete (6), and 5-gallon plastic buckets (Gerlach).

Friday September 19:

Stage I – Load Up – (Dave L.)
1. Take all reaming gear and (3) volunteers to project site.

Stage II – Set Up – (Justin, Aaron, Holly, and Dave L.)
1. Justin meets with Waste Management for placement of dumpster (Mud Meadows Res).
2. Install signs at Mud Meadows Res and cherry stem that leads to the work project.
3. Set up campsite. Place shade structure, toilet, cooking station, campfire barrel, and water station.
4. Set up worksite. Place shade structures and watering station.
5. Move water, tools, and project materials to work site.
6. Prep trucks and trailer for hauling material.
7. Begin break down of building.

Stage III – Arrival – (Justin, Holly, and Dave L.)
1. Greet volunteers and direct camping and parking (only on non-wilderness side).
2. Campfire. Announce project start time at 9am, crew leader meeting start time at 8:30am, and Kid’s Camp at 9am).

Saturday September 20:

Stage IV – Project Introduction – (Justin and Crew Leaders)
1. Project leaders and volunteers head to worksite and gather around the site.
2. Introduction speech about NCA, wilderness, and the story of the project.
3. Introduction of project details and crew leaders.
4. Safety talk.
5. Division of labor.

Stage V – NPLD –

1. Disassembly of Mine Site Building (Dave L)

Description – Under the direction of a BLMer the mine site building will have the walls and roof removed (corrugated steel). These materials along with other debris outside of the immediate building will be removed. Debris inside of the building and the frame of the building will not be removed. Contact with these items is to be avoided. (Three (3) volunteers needed for this project.)

2. Collection of Metal & Plastic Materials from Mine Site (Justin, Metric, Dave Cooper)

Description – Under the direction of a BLMer and/or Crew Leader volunteers will collect metal & plastic materials from the area around and below the mine site. Volunteers will stage materials at a selected location for transport out of the wilderness. Volunteers collecting materials must stay clear of the disassembly if the mine site building project.

Four (4) teams of five to eight (5 to 8) persons will each take a section of the mine site. Each team will have a crew leader and will remove all debris from their section. Volunteers will carry large and heavy loads to the pre-determined loading site and stage material there. 5-gallon plastic buckets will be utilized in the transportation of small debris.

3. Collection of expired Mine Claim Posts (Justin)

Description – The immediate area surrounding the mine site and the canyon behind the site have plastic mine claim posts. There is a cast-iron post on the south ridgeline of the canyon behind the mine site. One (1) team of four (4) volunteers will gather and stage the mine claim posts.

4. Cutting and Collection of Plastic Pipe in Sunset Canyon (Pat Bruce)

Description – In the canyon behind the mine site there is a section (300 feet long) of plastic pipe. This pipe is to be cut up into manageable sections and removed to the staging area. Multiple trips may be required. One (1) team of four (4) volunteers will gather and stage the plastic pipe.

5. Staging and Removal of Debris from Wilderness Area. (Aaron Collins, Louise Hart, Holly Palmer)

Description – All materials that are to be removed will be staged at the end of the access route that leads to the wilderness boundary. Here the debris will be carried out by hand or removed via a game cart or wheel barrels. Debris will be loaded onto a truck for transport to the landfill. One (1) team of four (4) volunteers will work the staging area. Volunteers who participated in the collection part of the project will be moved to this capacity as progress dictates.

6. Route Reclamation (TBA)

Description – Rehabilitate/restore illegal vehicular encroachments by use of decompaction and pitting, planting vertical mulch (shrubs and rocks), vegetative restoration, and barricading where needed. There is a least two (2) miles of route restoration. Volunteers will be put on this project as time and manpower permits.

7. Wilderness Boundary Markers Installation (Sandi Gracia)

Description – Install two (2) wilderness metal posts at the following locations:
4564057 N 0324765 E (currently a carsonite resides there) &
4557912 N 0330768 E
Four (4) volunteers will be needed to install the posts.

8. Gravel Pit Cleanup (TBA)

Description – Volunteers will drive south on Soldier Meadows Rd from the project site and stop at all gravel pits, removing debris encountered, and depositing debris in the dumpster at Mud Meadows Res. Volunteers will be put on this project as time and manpower permits.

9. Wilderness Monitoring (TBA)

Description – Volunteers wanting to hike into the wilderness area will be equipped with monitoring tools and shown how to record monitoring for BLM records. Volunteers will be put on this project as time and manpower permits.

Stage VI – Cool Down –

1. Travel back to Campsite
2. Dutch Oven Cook off and Potluck Dinner
3. Thank you speech and handout of T-shirts and vouchers

Sunday September 21, 2008
1. Hike at 10am up Sunset Canyon.