October 24, 2010 - Solar Gold: Mojave Desert Facing Ecosystem Collapse, Massive Extinctions
A film by Robert Lundahl
October 16, 2010 - THANK YOU everyone for making the Run a success!
^Sunrise at the start of the Run.
^Phase 2 and 3 of the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System project.
^Elders Alfredo Figueroa (La Cuna de Aztlan Sacred Sites Protection Circle) and Phil Smith (Chemehuevi).
^Clark Mountain and Phase 1 and 2 area.
^A Leopard lizard (Gambelia wislizenii) joins in near the hill at the end of the Run.
^Leopard lizard, a bit cool this day huddled next to a warm rock.
Below is the information for the upcoming Ivanpah Spirit Run which will take place this Saturday, October 16th, 2010. The official flier can be viewed here.
The Spirit Run will start Saturday at daybreak or no later than 8 AM at the intersection of Ivanpah Road and Saddlehorn Road (a transmission line access road) in Mojave National Preserve. Runners will line up on the dirt road, then run down Ivanpah Rod heading north. The old village is near this area.
Traditionally runners were men, but Ron Van Fleet says this Run is open: men, women, children can run, and run as much or as little as they want. Some will run in relays. There will be pace cars behind and in front. It is not a race, but a prayer to protect the valley.
The run continues across Nipton Rd onto a BLM dirt road heading north-northwest to Yates Well Exit on Hwy 15. This dirt road goes through beautiful creosote-galleta grass habitat, and we found a tortoise burrow along it. It may be 4-wheel drive/high clearance because it has some deep ruts of a foot or so from recent flood damage of small washes cutting across it. 2-wheel drive can go on Highway 15 and exit on Yates Well Rd to meet the runners on the east side. Midway on this dirt road, veer left towards Yates Well, away from the playa, onto BLM route NN 253.
The entire Run route is marked with yellow caution tape tied to bushes and fence posts.
Guides are needed to direct the runners at the Yates Well area, as they will then head east towards the Ivanpah Dry Lake bed. Here a gathering will happen with tribes and guests. A contingent of special tribal runners will go from here up Yates Well Rd to the sacred site geoglyph on the hill next to ISEGS. BLM has told everyone to stay off the project site.
At the playa gathering Ron requests speakers to talk about the solar projects here and the significance of Ivanpah Valley. He would like a native speaker to alternate with a non-native speaker, then native speaker, then non-native speaker. So if anyone would like to speak about this, you are welcome.
The Run should take about two hours, roughly 14 miles, and the whole event be over by noon.
Portable toilets will be next to the playa close to Yates Well turnoff.
Some rules to be aware of:
Practice Leave No Trace
-No alcohol
-If you can avoid sunglasses, please do-tradition
It is tortoise season so remember to:
Watch for them on the road
Do not throw food or trash around that may attract ravens
Check under your tires before driving off to make sure tortoises are not seeking shade
Organized by the Chemehuevi and Fort Mohave Tribes. Everyone is invited.
