Hitch Overview:
The first two days of Hitch were spent volunteering our time with the BLM doing outreach, where we worked with the JawBone Crew also, and split into smaller groups throughout the Rands, handing out permits for the busy Thanksgiving Holiday weekend. It was an interesting and exciting experience for all of us and nice to put a face to the people who ride and recreate in the Rands. On day three, we were back at our previous campsite in the Rands, eager and ready for the next six days of restoration. On day four, restoration in the Rands started and continued in polygon RM67, where we started and finished Incursion 11; a large hill climb with a bending curve near the top. From there we made our way back toward camp and worked near there for the remainder of the Hitch, working on several past restored incursions. The work consited mostly of collecting and planting vertical mulch, especially at the corners of each polygon, and raking. It certainly was a change of pace from what we were all used to. The ground was flat and it was a short hike from camp to the work site each day.
The EE presentation was focused around the theme of art with the stated question: How can we foster a deeper awareness and respect for both ourselves and the natural landscape around us?: Using the desert as a medium for creative expression and exploration. Over the course of Hitch it was encouraged that everyone gather junk and trash that they find in the desert, with the intent of putting it all together for a final art project the last night. The theme of the art project was: What inspires/concerns you about the desert and what do your thoughts center around while working in the Rands. One afternoon also, the medium of chalk was introduced, and everyone drew pictures on flat sheets of shale under the theme of: What inspires/concerns you in the desert?
Steve Gomez visited and helped us gather creosote veg for a couple hours in the afternoon.
On two seperate nights we gathered ourselves around a warm fire and sat in contemplation/boisterous conversation, as induced by the fresh fruit and chocolate fondue we ate the last night of Hitch.
Work Totals:
Incursions Completed: 5
Linear Meters Restored: 694
Area Restored (m2): 2684
Vertical Mulch: 140
Seed Pits: 98
Check Dams: 2
People Hours: 264
ToCo Notes / Narrative:
-Taking the White tent down the last night out in the field is a brilliant idea!
- Despite a very cold start to day one in the Rands, the weather overall was very pleasent-bonus!
