Background:
Located on a fault block mountain top, a sister to Steens mountain to the east, Hart Mountain refuge was created in 1936 to protect habitat for pronghorn antelope.  60 years ago, there were only several hundred antelope on the refuge.  With the removal of sheep, cattle and feral horses, habitat improved immensely and rapidly, allowing the pronghorn population to expand to over 2,000 individuals.  Extensive studies showed that this increase was due to habitat improvement and happened despite intense predation on the young antelope. The Sage Grouse population also has benefited from these management actions, helping protect a regional strong-hold for Sage Grouse leks.  For years, ONDA and other groups, have removed the old fencing within the refuge.  Now no longer needed for managing grazing, these old fences are a liability: tangling and killing wildlife, and restricting their movements across the landscape.  Now, in 2009, ONDA is poised to remove the final 4.6 miles, of over 200 miles of fence, from Hart Mountain, resulting in what may be the largest fence-free, ungrazed piece of public land in the state.

Below: ONDA volunteers remove obsolete fence from Hart Mountain in 2008.

Project Details:
 Participants should arrive Friday night.  Saturday and Sunday will be spent pulling fence.  Monday will be an "off day" where we can visit sites with petroglyphs and go on hikes.  Monday night we will be having a pot-luck in celebration of the completion of fence pulling in Hart Mountain.  Tuesday morning we will be heading home.

We will have a reserved area for car-camping near the hotsprings (likely in the aspen grove across the road, about a 5 minute walk away).  The refuge provides us with a water trailer for drinking and washing. Work days will involve a drive and short hike to where the fence is.  All participants are responsible for providing their own camping gear and food: we can provide all the work tools.  If you are unable to stay/arrive on the appointed dates but would still like to come for the party, that is fine, I would just need to know when to expect you.

COST: Free to members, $45 for non-members. (why-not just become a member: it is only $35 for a full year!)

GROUP SIZE:
Space is limited to 30 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 this trip previously .