🌲 Trip Completed — October 22–25, 2026
This event has concluded. Volunteer conservation work supporting Mojave National Preserve at the historic Barnwell Headquarters was successfully completed.
We are heading back into the desert for the Fall 2026 OverlandBound Trail Guardian event in the Mojave National Preserve! Work projects, campsite surveys, and historical conservation efforts will take place across the weekend.
✅ NPS Confirmation Received — Event is a GO!
National Park Service approval has been confirmed for our Fall 2026 Trail Guardian conservation weekend. Project assignments are officially locked in—see project details below and RSVP to secure your spot.
📍 Information
- Trip Status: Completed (October 22–25, 2026)
- Trail Guardian Lead: Bob Brann
- Work Party / Main Project Lead: Mike Keith (Motomikeca)
- East Bay Convoy Lead: Kent R.
- Main Work Day: Saturday, October 24, 2026 — work cannot start until Saturday morning (Preserve agreement)
- Gate Hours: Open Thursday through Sunday (Oct 22–25)
- Check-in: Bob Brann checks everyone in at base camp Friday afternoon
- Base Camp: OX Ranch, Mojave National Preserve (Thu–Sun, Oct 22–25)
- Rally Point: LIVE — Overland Bound Rally Point #3319
- Convoy Staging: TBD — standard East Bay convoy assembly details will be announced closer to the event date
🛠️ Projects & Volunteer Opportunities
National Park Service confirmation has been officially received—the event is a GO!
This Trail Guardian will be a little different: we have one main project that we need 15 people for, plus other projects and exploration opportunities within the preserve.
Main Project — Rock Springs Land & Cattle Co. Headquarters (Barnwell)
Lead: Mike Keith (Motomikeca) • Crew requirement: 15 volunteers needed • Main work day: Saturday, October 24 (due to our agreement with the Preserve, work cannot start until Saturday morning)
Mike Keith (Motomikeca) will lead the main project doing some very selective demolition work at the historic Rock Springs Land and Cattle Company Headquarters Building at Barnwell. This will start the process to bring the building back to its late 1800’s early 1900’s condition.
- NPS Archaeological Monitor: All work will be monitored by Danilo R. Giordano, NPS Archaeologist, to protect the historic integrity of the site.
- Additional Structure: Another structure at the Barnwell site also needs work.
🦺 PPE — required on site
This is a demolition project, so everyone working on site needs the following personal protection equipment:
- Long sleeve shirt
- Long pants (no shorts)
- Work gloves
- Eye protection
- Dust mask
The event organizer has asked the National Park Service to supply eye protection and dust masks — not yet confirmed, so bring your own if you have them.
Tools: Gloved hands are the main tool on this job — bring good work gloves (already listed as required PPE above). Extra hand tools are welcome if you have room; there will be extras on site, so no one is blocked without their own.
Explore the Preserve & Other Volunteer Options
We encourage those that may not want to get involved with the work at Barnwell to explore the preserve:
- Preserve Exploration: Bob Brann will have information and locations of sites to see throughout the preserve.
- Kelso Depot Tour: Hopefully we can also get a tour of the historic Kelso Depot Visitor Center.
- OB1 Campsite Data Collection: Members can also continue to collect dispersed campsite data to put on the OB1 app.
📖 Barnwell Information: Review background on previous preservation work at Barnwell in the Great Basin Institute Historic Structures Report.
The OX Ranch
No, we are not going to Texas.
The OX Ranch on Lanfair Road in the East Mojave Desert is a historic, private ranch known for its significant role in regional ranching, its headquarters complex, and its presence near the old Mojave Trail, offering a glimpse into desert ranching life, distinct from the well-known Texas hunting ranch also called OX Ranch. This California location is part of the Mojave National Preserve's landscape, offering stark desert beauty, while the Texas ranch is a large hunting/event venue, so it's important to distinguish between the two.
A Historic Map (1919)
Dates
October 22 – October 25, 2026
RSVP & Convoy Coordination
🧭 Official Sign-Up → Overland Bound Rally Point
Sign up on the OB rally point to reserve your Trail Guardian spot.
Staging & Base Camp Location
Base Camp: OX Ranch, Mojave National Preserve, CA
Schedule: Thursday – Sunday (Oct 22–25). The main work day is Saturday, October 24; due
to our agreement with the Preserve, work cannot start until Saturday morning. Thursday/Friday arrivals
are for travel, check-in, and the Goffs museum trip.
Gate Hours: Open Thursday through Sunday (Oct 22–25).
Check-in: Bob Brann will check everyone in at base camp Friday afternoon. (Thursday
arrivals: check in Friday afternoon at base camp.)
Location: The OX Ranch is off of Lanfair Road in the Lanfair valley at the intersection
of Lanfair and New York Mtn. Rd.
Landmark Reference: For reference, the famous Penny Can on the Mojave Road is just
south of the OX Ranch.
Driving Directions: You can get to Lanfair Road from Goffs off of I-40 or from I-15 at
the Nipton exit. Standard East Bay convoy assembly details will be announced closer to the event date.
35°12'10.3"N 115°12'08.9"W
35.202859, -115.202468
🏫 Thursday / early Friday arrivals — Goffs + the museum
If you get in Thursday or early Friday morning, a great group trip is up to Goffs to see the Goffs Schoolhouse and the Mojave Desert Heritage & Cultural Association museum. Learn about the Goffs Schoolhouse →
Fire Restrictions & Permits
Current as of October 15, 2026
Fire Restrictions: This event takes place within the Mojave National Preserve (National Park Service) in California. Per the Preserve's standing order of June 10, 2026, all open fires are prohibited Preserve-wide — that includes campfires and charcoal grills, even in established fire rings at developed campgrounds. Controlled flame devices are still allowed: portable stoves, lanterns and gas grills with an on/off shut-off valve using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized fuel. So bring the propane stove / propane fire pit, not wood or charcoal. Fires of any kind are also prohibited during windy conditions.
Permit Required: A free California Campfire Permit is mandatory for operating portable gas or propane stoves or lanterns on public lands. You must obtain and carry a valid permit during the trip.
Obtain California Campfire Permit Online →Weather
Preparing for the trip, check the weather for the Mojave National Preserve:
Current Weather
Expected Trip Weather
Get Ready Before We Go
🛑 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
Rear Amber Chase Light and HAM Radio communications are REQUIRED to travel with the group.
Why Amber Chase Lights?
Dusty trails are common – amber lights penetrate dust far better than white or red, helping prevent rear-end collisions in low visibility. Learn more about Why Chase Lights?
HAM Radio
Program to 146.460 MHz (simplex). Handhelds work great even without a license for listening.
If you don't have a ham radio yet, check out our guide to get started.
Other Essentials
- Offline navigation (download GPX – limited/no cell service)
- Extra fuel and water for remote desert camping
- Off-road tires, full-size spare, recovery gear
Group Trip Agreement & Waiver
Before signing up, please review the Voluntary Acknowledgment of Risk and Group Trip Agreement. By RSVP'ing and participating in this trip, you certify that you have read, understood, and voluntarily agreed to these terms.