February continues to be a busy month for Friends of the Inyo. In this month’s Juniper, you will have the chance to read updates on a number of projects. We also have a wide variety of events happening in the next few weeks and months. In Lone Pine, Bishop, Mammoth, and Bridgeport, we have events throughout the Eastern Sierra and we hope to see you around. And remember, early registration for the Owens Lake Bird Festival begins on February 15th and outings fill up fast. Open registration for non-members will begin on March 1st. So if you’re not a member yet, become one today to get access to register early. I hope you enjoy this month’s Juniper!
Kyle Hamada
In this Juniper you will find the opportunity to read the latest updates on the Alabama Hills, to learn about our support of fire restoration in the Eastern Sierra, and to read about your opportunity to participate in the Eastern Sierra Sustainable Recreation Partnership Public Workshops. And finally, the Owens Lake Bird Festival is coming soon. Make sure your membership is current so you can get access to early registration before outings fill up. We look forward to seeing you in April on Owens Lake!
Double Your Donation Through Patagonia ActionWorks During this year’s season of giving, give back to the land by doubling your donation to Friends of the Inyo. UPDATE: Thank you for your donations! With your help, Patagonia has reached its $10,000,000 maximum donation match so they will no longer match donations at this time. Click here to continue making donations directly to Friends of the Inyo on our website. Patagonia will match every dollar donated through Patagonia ActionWorks during this time period. Make a donation to us on Patagonia ActionWorks today through December 31st and Patagonia will match your donation up…
“Oh, wow!” With wide eyes and a big grin, the last student crests the hill and catches his first views of Conglomerate Mesa. Our group, a dozen strong, gathers at the saddle just below the Mesa’s summit. Bryan Hatchell, Desert Lands Organizer at Friends of the Inyo, squats down to point out a spring parsley in bloom. The mid-day sun is warm on our backs, but now the gentle breeze from the West convinces us to put our jackets back on. We are all happy to take a break and quietly soak in the view. On Sunday, March 31st, Bryan…
Alabama Hills National Scenic Area Becomes Law On March 12th, 2019 the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act was signed into law. Several areas were awarded a congressional designation by this bill. Among them are the Alabama Hills which were designated a National Scenic Area. This is the first instance of a California Desert National Conservation Land being awarded this designation. Click the link below to read the official press release by the Alabama Hills Stewardship Group to learn more. Alabama Hills Stewardship Group – Press Release
Click here to read about the background of the Inyo national Forest plan. What’s happening? After a 35 day government shutdown, the Forest Service recently rescheduled their critical Objection Resolution meeting for February 19-21 at Cerro Coso Community College in Bishop. These meetings offer our last chance to get critical changes made to the plan regarding wilderness, rivers, wildlife, and recreation. Although the Forest Service recommended some new wilderness in the plan, they didn’t recommend any within Mono County – failing to recognize the Glass Mountains and other special wild places. The plan also falls short on recognizing eligible Wild…
I’ve been on several trips to Conglomerate Mesa in the spring, but never in the winter. In Fact, this was the first winter trip to Conglomerate Mesa for all of us. Since we had just hired Bryan Hatchell as Friends of the Inyo’s Desert Lands Organizer, we planned a trip to the Mesa with the goal of further familiarizing ourselves with the area and to scope for a potential outing in the near future. Conglomerate Mesa is an approximate 7,000 acre area between the Malpais Mesa Wilderness to the south and the Cerro Gordo Mine to the north. Read on…
The government shutdown from December 22, 2018 to January 25, 2019 was the longest in US history and its effects could be felt throughout the nation. With countless stories of its negative effects on our public lands,Friends of the Inyo couldn’t passively stand by and let that happen here in the Eastern Sierra. We organized trips to Travertine Hot Springs, Buckeye Hot Springs, Mono Lake Scenic Overlook, and Wild Willy’s Hot Springs to pick up trash and encourage others to care for these places as well. Although a simple idea, picking up trash can be a powerful tool. On the morning of…