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
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…
Doris the Water Molecule, a free coloring book! In partnership between Friends of the Inyo, Mono County Libraries Makerspace, and the River Network, 2020 Trail Ambassador Julia Tawney created a “do-it-yourself” coloring storybook exploring the Owens River Headwaters. In response to the pandemic, Mono County Libraries Makerspace is offering free maker kits “to-go” at its 6 branches, with take-home art activities for all ages to learn new skills and engage with the natural world. Download the free coloring book by clicking this link.
Update: Winter recreation survey at Rock Creek For the past few months Friends of the Inyo has been collecting winter recreation data at Rock Creek Sno-Park. Data collection will conclude March 28th and we will provide a final report to Winter Wildlands Alliance and the Inyo National Forest. The data collected will help FOI make informed comments on the Inyo National Forest’s Over-Snow Vehicle (OSV) planning process which is set to kick off next year. If you would like to learn more about the OSV planning by the Inyo National Forest, you can find more information here. This season was…