I recently took some time off work to investigate the Providence Mountain area of California's Mojave Desert. This is the locale where in January we plan to operate the ARRL sponsored VHF/UHF Sweepstakes Contest. For those unfamiliar with such radio contests, read my first announcement on the Calendar page!

In any case it was nice to take the time from work, and the Providence Mountains were beautiful! The lighting provided by a threatening desert storm added real drama to the strata and colors contained in these majestic desert mountains and plateaus. I additionally enjoyed my visit to Mitchell Caverns and my first nights camp at this site. Also, Karen if you see this article, I mis-spoke when referring to the weekend date of the radio event! That radio event will be on the weekend of the 19th through the 21st of January 2001, and its also very good news that I discovered was that the campground where we will be has been vastly improved! This campground was in sort of sorry shape when I saw it several years ago but, now it has been wonderfully refurbished.

This campsite is called "Mid Hills Campground", is located on Wild Horse Canyon Road at almost 6000 foot elevation in the Mojave National Preserve, and is maintained by the National Park Service. This campground supports 26 camping sites, and by the appearance of the recently graded dirt road, could support motorhomes or trailers. In fact much of the interior roads of the preserve are well paved. There is water available at the campground with about a half dozen or so spigots located around the campgrounds loop road. The restrooms are of the "pit toilet" type but, they are very clean and well maintained in concrete buildings. Each campsite has a nice picnic table, and an iron fire ring with an adjustable grating for cooking. There is no wood available at the campground, and there are no stores or nearby provisions. You must bring what you need! More on this later!

To get to the campground from the Los Angeles area take Interstate Highway 15 toward Barstow. For those coming from other locations look up the Mojave National Preserve via the Automobile Club or other map resources. Take highway 15 to Interstate highway 40, and follow this to Essex Road. Take Essex Rd. Northwest for about 9 miles. Follow the well marked road signs, and take the turn North toward "Hole in the Wall Campground". Just about one half mile South of "Hole in the Wall" a road turns off to the left. This is Wild Horse Canyon Rd, and is the preferred and well marked route to Mid Hills Campground about 7 miles from this junction.

If it seems like I'm trying to be very detailed with road markings and mileage's its because I am! This area is BIG, and while it is pretty and scenic, there are NO FACILITIES! Be mindful of your gasoline consumption. There is gas, and food, etc. in Ludlow, Baker, and Fenner. CHECK THESE LOCATIONS ON A MAP! I'm probably being overly cautious but, it would be a bummer to run out of gas, or be otherwise stuck by the lack of provisions that a little fore thought would have satisfied!

We will use the Communications Channel of 146.520 MHz. FM simplex for in-transit mobile stations. Yes, I know its the National Calling Frequency but, believe me I listened all weekend, and there is no activity out in this part of the desert. I think it in fact may be a wise thing to perhaps stir up a little activity on this frequency out there! Also, you should know that the Onyx Peak link of the 146.820 MHz. repeater can be "worked" from many areas along this route. This is of course the same repeater system sponsored by the Eastwood Amateur Radio Service supporting the Johnstone Peak 146.22/.82 no (CTCSS) "PL". Nice to know if you run into trouble! A 146.760 MHz. repeater is also quite loud from Arizona!

See my follow-up article to this one, "January Trip Update". Its important!