For two decades, Friends of the Inyo has put hands on the land every summer season. We work to keep trails safe and clean, and to keep trailheads and other popular recreation spots beautiful and inviting. Normally, we host several volunteer clean-up events throughout the summer. But unfortunately, this summer is different.
As you have likely noticed, our Eastern Sierra public lands are being negatively affected by the recent surge of visitation and intense use. These effects are compounded by both the inability to hold clean-up events and a lack of resources caused by the pandemic. So, trash litters our trails and collects in our water. We can’t stand by and let that happen.
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Make a Donation
Help us raise $10,000 to extend the season of our Trail Ambassador Crew to address the impacts of the 2020 summer season.
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Join us in picking up trash at your favorite spots!
Going on a day hike? Bring a grocery bag to fill. Going into the backcountry? Bring an extra ziplock for the trash you find. Want to be like our Trail Ambassador Lindsay? Bring heavy-duty garbage bags and fill them up!
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Join the Eastern Sierra Trash Eliminators on Facebook!
The Sierra Trash Eliminators is a group dedicated to eliminating trash here in the Eastern Sierra. Friends of the Inyo proudly supports them, having donated a dozen trash grabbers and hundreds of trash bags. Join the group to find safe and socially-distant clean up events as well as discussion on what areas need our attention. Click here to request to join their group on Facebook.
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Win prizes! We’ll be giving away prizes all summer long.
Post your photos on social media using the hashtag and tag in your photo to enter our giveaway. A post will be chosen at random every Friday to win a prize.
1. Post a photo of you picking up trash on Instagram or Facebook
2. Use the hash tag #DontTrashTheTrails
3. Tag @FriendsoftheInyo in your photo
4. Tag two friends who love keeping the Eastern Sierra as clean as you do!
Prizes include:
- Art prints by local artist Ann Piersall Logan
- Hats by AnnP Hats
- A copy of local author Kendra Atleework’s new book, “Miracle Country”
- Patagonia hats
- Friends of the Inyo shirts, hats, and Klean Kanteen pint cups!
Take Action
Updates
Memorial Day is barely in the rearview mirror, and Friends of the Inyo’s merry band of Trail Ambassadors have already made a big impact on the Forest Service public lands of the Eastern Sierra. Partnering with Forest Service staff across two Forests (the Inyo and Humboldt-Toiyabe), and five Ranger Districts (from south to north, the Mt Whitney, White Mountain, Mammoth, Mono Basin, and Bridgeport), the Trail Ambassadors partner with the agency to bolster the on the ground presence through trail maintenance, visitor education and general information, leading volunteer groups and events, and sharing interpretive hikes and content. Working alongside FS…
Earth Day Clean-Up Event with Inyo350 a Success On Saturday, April 24th, over 50 volunteers came together in Bishop to celebrate Earth Day, give back, and pick up trash. Inyo350, the Sierra Trash Eliminators, Eastern Sierra Land Trust, Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association, and Friends of the Inyo joined forces to provide trash-grabbers, trash bags, gloves, safety vests, and plenty of good cheer to make sure the volunteers who joined the fun were fully equipped and ready to go. After a safety talk and last grab of coffee and pastries, folks geared up and headed out to locations across Bishop to…
Trail Ambassador Program Receives National Forest Foundation Grant In March, as spring arrived and the Worm full moon hung large in the sky, Friends of the Inyo received the exciting news that our National Forest Foundation (NFF) grant application to help fund our Trail Ambassador program was successful! This $47,000 grant is a huge boon to our ability to staff the Inyo, Humboldt-Toiyabe, and Sierra National Forest lands in the Eastern Sierra with five Trail Ambassadors this season. In addition to myself and Lindsay Butcher, we are going to be able to hire three additional staff members to provide…