Chris Wicht Camp Cleanup - 10/27/07 - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

OTR · 10-29-2007, 03:06 PM

One of my favorite roadsigns

Had a great time out in Surprise Canyon on Saturday.
I had been planning to be in the valley for a long weekend for close to a year when a few months back I had received word that a cleanup date for Chris Wicht's Camp was being set for the last weekend in October. It was great that I already had plans to be in the area, made it real easy to show up.

For those that dont know, Chris Wicht's camp is in Surprise Canyon about a half mile below the narrows and is where the most recent residents, the Novac's had their house and milling operation. This camp burned down in September of '06 leaving quite the mess.

I had arrived at Chris Wichts about 8:40am and found that the cleanup activities had not yet started, but most had arrived. The BLM had sent Craig Beck and Marty Dickes from the Ridgecrest office to supervise the days activities, as well as organising a half dozen or so volunteers from The Student Conservation Association to help with the cleanup.

When I notced that a few people on the board here were thinking about going I started putting the word out that we could use a showing. Although it was a short notice I feel that we still made the point that we value this area, are willing to help, and are not going away anytime soon.
In attendance from the pro-access/off-highway vehicle community were 6 members from the Tin

Benders, two from the GearGrinders, two from the TrailBlazers, and myself and two of my boys. In all, not counting the BLM, I'd say a little over 20 volunteers made the trip up for the morning.

Not a bad turnut for a cleanup that was only advertised to a few environmental organisations.

The cleanup consisted of removing metal and trash from the remains of the camp, and bringing said debris down the hill to two awating roll-off's. The idea was to have one of the recepticles be for steel and iron and the other for trash. Within one hour of the loader getting started we had one dumpster full of metal, and were notified by one of the SCA volunteers that they would remove the trash from the other dumster and start filling that one with metal as well.
Work went on until just before noon when a lunch break was called.

I ended up needing to get the kids back to camp around lunchtime so I didnt get to see how much was accomplished after lunch. But I do know that with how much junk and trash was left there, I dont see how too much more of a dent was made in it with the available help for the rest of the day. With all we removed before lunch, it still didnt look like we really scratched the surface...

Well, enough rambling. Heres the pics...

MustardDog and Bender gettin it !

One of my boys and a "student" volunteer with Krusty in the background.

Both of my boys working, and another "student" in the background.

OTR · 10-29-2007, 03:07 PM

-More-

Jim Kenney and Warner Fellows from the GearGrinders. Yellow tape is "HazMat".

Another "student" volunteer with Mike Kunz from the Trailblazers/FOPV.

One of mine with his new friend.

OTR · 10-29-2007, 03:08 PM

-More-

Another of Mike with Marty DIckes from the BLM. Marty is the Outdoor Recreation Planner for Wilderness in the Ridgecrest Office.

MD and the greens working side by side. What is the world coming to...

Alot of the work after removing the big chunks was picking through the rubble to get to the small stuff.

Bender and Freqofnature working the pile.

I know that DesertJeepin took a bunch of fotos. Hopefully he can get them posted here as well.

kris.

Mustard Dog · 10-29-2007, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTR

Not a bad turnut for a cleanup that was only advertised to a few environmental organisations.

This is what pisses me off, had the BLM not been such assholes about who they wanted at thier cleanup we could have easily had a solid 80-100 people there. As it was we pretty much outnumbered the dirty hippies 2:1.

Honestly though there wasn't enough work to keep 50 people busy for the weekend since the BLM was so underprepared for this project.

Jes · 10-29-2007, 05:34 PM

Thank you guys for being present!

OTR · 10-29-2007, 06:50 PM

Seems the site hosting my pics is down.

Ill see what I can do...

k.

Panamint Charlie · 10-29-2007, 07:07 PM

Nice job Kris! I'll try to not sleep in during the next clean-up.

Holler at me if you need a hand getting those pics back on-line.

Krusty · 10-29-2007, 10:06 PM

It was a start--- and it showed BLM that the 'drivers' are more willing to work than the 'walkers' !

Next time we'll know a bit more what to expect-

Backncardr · 10-30-2007, 08:54 PM

Is this an area BLM reclaimed by intially setting everything on fire-or did a wildfire sweep through the property? Looks like everything went up.

OTR · 10-30-2007, 09:41 PM

The BLM is not responsible for the fire.

The fire started on the property and everything did go up to the point that there was nothing left to burn, and the fire went out on its own. The area was a longtime valid mining claim until the last year. In 1994 with the passage of the CDPA most of the claim was included in the then new Surprise Canyon Wilderness that borders the road in the canyon.

kris.

hkunz93308 · 10-30-2007, 09:52 PM

By my count, there were four true "volunteer" workers from the green party, the rest of the greens were paid "volunteers". No one (BLM, greens, etc.) seemed to notice the contradiction. I purposely worked with the BLM "Wilderness Manager" (not contradicting Kris, that's what she called herself) to see what I could learn. The strange part, she isn't that far from us in many viewpoints, but does strictly follow the party line. We got a lot done, but I thought it strange that the area was now going to be wilderness, where it used to be a home and mill. Again, the contradictions escaped the BLM green faithful.

Thanks to Kris, and all the Benders and Gear Grinders that made such a great showing.

Mike

thefreqofnature · 10-30-2007, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mustard Dog

... we could have easily had a solid 80-100 people there...

This may have been exactly why notice was not given !?!

Bender and Freqofnature working the pile.

[/CENTER]

kris, thanks for capturing my good side!

luvrox · 10-31-2007, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thefreqofnature

This may have been exactly why notice was not given !?!

Bender and Freqofnature working the pile.

[/CENTER]

kris, thanks for capturing my good side!

So, are you actually saying you would have preferred only to have the appropriate people at the event for photo and press ops. regardless how little would have been accomplished?

OTR · 11-01-2007, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvrox

So, are you actually saying you would have preferred only to have the appropriate people at the event for photo and press ops. regardless how little would have been accomplished?

Huh ?

k.

thefreqofnature · 11-01-2007, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvrox

So, are you actually saying you would have preferred only to have the appropriate people at the event for photo and press ops. regardless how little would have been accomplished?

I'm saying the BLM only gave the green extreamists notice cause 'we' would have out numbered them by an even larger margin than we did.

And that wouldn't have looked good for 'them'

Are we clear

RustyNailJustin · 11-01-2007, 08:49 PM

Nice going guys! Good move for the general good of the area and public relations

Mustard Dog · 11-02-2007, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RustyNailJustin

Nice going guys! Good move for the general good of the area and public relations

The best part was I didn't even punch one of the hippies in the face

benttoy · 11-02-2007, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mustard Dog

The best part was I didn't even punch one of the hippies in the face

I was wondering about that. in all the pictures you look like your biting your tounge.

RustyNailJustin · 11-03-2007, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mustard Dog

The best part was I didn't even punch one of the hippies in the face

Good to show a little self control, every once in a while

but I would not make it a habit.

RockJeep92504 · 11-05-2007, 11:41 AM

I didn't even know about this clean up. I would have been there.
Kory

RedBullJeep · 11-12-2007, 08:02 PM

I've heard rumors of another cleanup in the works...I hope we get enough notice to make a real presence!

luvrox · 11-12-2007, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedBullJeep

I've heard rumors of another cleanup in the works...I hope we get enough notice to make a real presence!

Oh for sure, the good guys will be at the reigns next time.

OTR · 11-12-2007, 10:48 PM

Hey Dustin.

Announcement coming soon...

(Keep the first weekend in February open)

kris.

Panamint Charlie · 11-13-2007, 08:51 PM

Quote:

(Keep the first weekend in February open)

camo · 12-03-2007, 02:14 PM

Great job everybody

10-29-2007, 03:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
OTR Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Member # 20587 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 1,760	Chris Wicht Camp Cleanup - 10/27/07 One of my favorite roadsigns Had a great time out in Surprise Canyon on Saturday. I had been planning to be in the valley for a long weekend for close to a year when a few months back I had received word that a cleanup date for Chris Wicht's Camp was being set for the last weekend in October. It was great that I already had plans to be in the area, made it real easy to show up. For those that dont know, Chris Wicht's camp is in Surprise Canyon about a half mile below the narrows and is where the most recent residents, the Novac's had their house and milling operation. This camp burned down in September of '06 leaving quite the mess. I had arrived at Chris Wichts about 8:40am and found that the cleanup activities had not yet started, but most had arrived. The BLM had sent Craig Beck and Marty Dickes from the Ridgecrest office to supervise the days activities, as well as organising a half dozen or so volunteers from The Student Conservation Association to help with the cleanup. When I notced that a few people on the board here were thinking about going I started putting the word out that we could use a showing. Although it was a short notice I feel that we still made the point that we value this area, are willing to help, and are not going away anytime soon. In attendance from the pro-access/off-highway vehicle community were 6 members from the Tin Benders, two from the GearGrinders, two from the TrailBlazers, and myself and two of my boys. In all, not counting the BLM, I'd say a little over 20 volunteers made the trip up for the morning. Not a bad turnut for a cleanup that was only advertised to a few environmental organisations. The cleanup consisted of removing metal and trash from the remains of the camp, and bringing said debris down the hill to two awating roll-off's. The idea was to have one of the recepticles be for steel and iron and the other for trash. Within one hour of the loader getting started we had one dumpster full of metal, and were notified by one of the SCA volunteers that they would remove the trash from the other dumster and start filling that one with metal as well. Work went on until just before noon when a lunch break was called. I ended up needing to get the kids back to camp around lunchtime so I didnt get to see how much was accomplished after lunch. But I do know that with how much junk and trash was left there, I dont see how too much more of a dent was made in it with the available help for the rest of the day. With all we removed before lunch, it still didnt look like we really scratched the surface... Well, enough rambling. Heres the pics... MustardDog and Bender gettin it ! One of my boys and a "student" volunteer with Krusty in the background. Both of my boys working, and another "student" in the background. __________________ . Ultra4 Stock Class #4643 - Team NAXJA/Petty Cash Racing *"There's the troublemaker" - Craig Beck, BLM Ridgecrest Field Office* . Last edited by OTR; 10-29-2007 at 09:36 PM.

10-29-2007, 03:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
OTR Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Member # 20587 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 1,760	-More- Jim Kenney and Warner Fellows from the GearGrinders. Yellow tape is "HazMat". Another "student" volunteer with Mike Kunz from the Trailblazers/FOPV. One of mine with his new friend. __________________ . Ultra4 Stock Class #4643 - Team NAXJA/Petty Cash Racing *"There's the troublemaker" - Craig Beck, BLM Ridgecrest Field Office* . Last edited by OTR; 10-29-2007 at 09:37 PM.

10-29-2007, 03:08 PM	#3 (permalink)
OTR Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Member # 20587 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 1,760	-More- Another of Mike with Marty DIckes from the BLM. Marty is the Outdoor Recreation Planner for Wilderness in the Ridgecrest Office. MD and the greens working side by side. What is the world coming to... Alot of the work after removing the big chunks was picking through the rubble to get to the small stuff. Bender and Freqofnature working the pile. I know that DesertJeepin took a bunch of fotos. Hopefully he can get them posted here as well. kris. __________________ . Ultra4 Stock Class #4643 - Team NAXJA/Petty Cash Racing *"There's the troublemaker" - Craig Beck, BLM Ridgecrest Field Office* . Last edited by OTR; 10-29-2007 at 09:38 PM.

10-29-2007, 05:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jes Rock God Join Date: Oct 2001 Member # 7575 Location: San Bruno, CA. Posts: 1,151	Thank you guys for being present! __________________ TDO Dysfunctional Rockcrawlers. URF Racing. JV rally post #31.

10-29-2007, 06:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
OTR Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Member # 20587 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 1,760	Seems the site hosting my pics is down. Ill see what I can do... k. __________________ . Ultra4 Stock Class #4643 - Team NAXJA/Petty Cash Racing *"There's the troublemaker" - Craig Beck, BLM Ridgecrest Field Office* .

10-29-2007, 07:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
Panamint Charlie Hiding in the rocks Join Date: Jan 2005 Member # 41917 Location: Where the sage in bloom Is like perfume Posts: 71	Nice job Kris! I'll try to not sleep in during the next clean-up. Holler at me if you need a hand getting those pics back on-line.

10-29-2007, 10:06 PM	#8 (permalink)
Krusty Zeus of the Sluice Join Date: May 2000 Member # 906 Location: Tin Benderland-- Ridgecrest, Ca. Posts: 4,571	It was a start--- and it showed BLM that the 'drivers' are more willing to work than the 'walkers' ! Next time we'll know a bit more what to expect- __________________ Krusty, aka. Krustoy Official Tin Bender. older than dirt/before rocks were invented! Cancer survivor since 02-06 Grand Marshall -KOH 2012 "Dad' to some of the greatest kids EVER I was around when Pearl Harbor was bombed !

10-30-2007, 08:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
Backncardr Granite Guru Join Date: Nov 2003 Member # 24747 Location: Woodland, CA. & Mokelumne Hill, CA. Posts: 564	Is this an area BLM reclaimed by intially setting everything on fire-or did a wildfire sweep through the property? Looks like everything went up. __________________ See my stuff on Ebay NRA Life http://www.nra.com/ CRPA Life http://www.crpa.org/ http://www.lojack.com/ http://www.trannybuilder.com/

10-30-2007, 09:41 PM	#10 (permalink)
OTR Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Member # 20587 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 1,760	The BLM is not responsible for the fire. The fire started on the property and everything did go up to the point that there was nothing left to burn, and the fire went out on its own. The area was a longtime valid mining claim until the last year. In 1994 with the passage of the CDPA most of the claim was included in the then new Surprise Canyon Wilderness that borders the road in the canyon. kris. __________________ . Ultra4 Stock Class #4643 - Team NAXJA/Petty Cash Racing *"There's the troublemaker" - Craig Beck, BLM Ridgecrest Field Office* .

10-30-2007, 09:52 PM	#11 (permalink)
hkunz93308 Gravity sucks! Join Date: Jun 2006 Member # 74467 Location: BAKErsfield Posts: 655	By my count, there were four true "volunteer" workers from the green party, the rest of the greens were paid "volunteers". No one (BLM, greens, etc.) seemed to notice the contradiction. I purposely worked with the BLM "Wilderness Manager" (not contradicting Kris, that's what she called herself) to see what I could learn. The strange part, she isn't that far from us in many viewpoints, but does strictly follow the party line. We got a lot done, but I thought it strange that the area was now going to be wilderness, where it used to be a home and mill. Again, the contradictions escaped the BLM green faithful. Thanks to Kris, and all the Benders and Gear Grinders that made such a great showing. Mike

11-01-2007, 08:49 PM	#16 (permalink)
RustyNailJustin Moderator Join Date: Dec 2001 Member # 8568 Location: Klamath Falls,OR,Fruita,CO,Montrose,CO, Posts: 7,041	Nice going guys! Good move for the general good of the area and public relations __________________ 2012 KOH Team CrossedUp, ADS, Artec, Mike Klensin and Justin Reece. 9TH Place. 2011 LCQ to KOH Team CrossedUp Mike Klensin and Justin Reece. We finished 40th 2010 KOH Team CrossedUp Mike Klensin and Justin Reece. 2009 KOH Team 435 Finished 35th.First Full Frame/Full Body To Finish KOH. TLCA# 5305

11-05-2007, 11:41 AM	#20 (permalink)
RockJeep92504 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Member # 24793 Location: Big Bear City Posts: 871	I didn't even know about this clean up. I would have been there. Kory __________________ Is exactly 35 miles from the hammers

11-12-2007, 08:02 PM	#21 (permalink)
RedBullJeep Pirate is KING! Join Date: Jun 2002 Member # 12217 Location: San Diego Area Posts: 13,527	I've heard rumors of another cleanup in the works...I hope we get enough notice to make a real presence! __________________ . Dustin Webster Red Bull RockCrawling Team RockHer 1 - SOLD STILL FOR SALE - Toter and trailer, RockHer 2, and KOH TJ. Click for details

11-12-2007, 10:48 PM	#23 (permalink)
OTR Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Member # 20587 Location: Woodland Hills, CA Posts: 1,760	Hey Dustin. Announcement coming soon... (Keep the first weekend in February open) kris. __________________ . Ultra4 Stock Class #4643 - Team NAXJA/Petty Cash Racing *"There's the troublemaker" - Craig Beck, BLM Ridgecrest Field Office* .

12-03-2007, 02:14 PM	#25 (permalink)
camo No comment Join Date: Mar 2000 Member # 4 Location: Rubicon Posts: 27,128 Blog Entries: 1	Great job everybody

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode