BACKGROUND:
Pat's Cabin WSA is a 16,000 acre Wilderness Study Area, adjacent to the main stem of the John Day River and Bridge Creek (an important native Steelhead spawning stream).   Rugged hillsides provide a stunning overlook to the Painted Hills National Monument, and important connectivity for elk and deer migration. 

ONDA is currently working closely with the adjacent landowners and the BLM to improve the management of this area by inventorying and removing old fences that are impediments for wildlife.

PROJECT DETAILS:
From a car-accessible base-camp we will venture forth each day to gather data on the wilderness characteristics of this WSA.  This data is crucial to ONDA's efforts to get these areas officially designated as Wilderness.  We will also be mapping fence lines so that the BLM can better manage their current grazing program in this area, obsolete fences can be removed to enhance wildlife habitat, and nonfunctional fences can be repaired to better protect important resources. This is a great chance to learn to use GPS, and the other techniques that have allowed ONDA volunteers to inventory over 2 million acres of potential wilderness in eastern Oregon.  It is also a fantastic way to get to explore some virtually unknown WSAs which we will be working on getting designated in the next couple of years!

All participants are responsible for providing their own personal camping gear and food: we can provide all the work tools (GPS units, maps etc).

TIMELINE:
Folks should arrive at the car-camping spot the evening of Friday the 15th.  This allows us to get an earlier start all together the next morning, as well as answer any questions the evening before.  All day Saturday will be spent hiking the area in small groups.  If folks are available and interested more survey work could be conducted before driving home on Sunday.

GROUP SIZE:
Space is limited to 11 participants.

REGISTRATION:
A FULL ITINERARY, INCLUDING WHAT TO BRING, AND DRIVING DIRECTIONS WILL BE PROVIDED UPON REGISTRATION.  To aid in our planning, on your registration form "comments" please indicate: Your general hiking ability (high, medium, low) and if you have participated on trips previously .