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Wildflowers, Walks, and Wonders of the Eastern Sierra!
Join us and our partners this August for upcoming events in the Eastern Sierra!
| We made it through the heat of July and are in serious awe of the wildflowers this year! We are excited for another month of interpretive talks, walks, and more! Visit our calendar and follow us on social media for the most up to date info. Happy August! | |
Sierra Primrose, Primula suffrutescens, is endemic to California and can only be found in the high mountains of the Sierra Nevada and Klamath Ranges. These were photographed on Lone Pine Peak, 12,949 ft. | |
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Evening Programs
ESIA naturalists will be giving evening program talks at campgrounds in the Eastern Sierra for July and August every Saturday from 7-8 pm. All are welcome to join- even if you are not staying at the campground!
August's Schedule
Aug. 5 - Lower Lee Vining
Aug. 12 - Robinson Creek
Aug. 19 - New Shady Rest
Aug. 26 - Four Jeffrey
Aug. 26 - Robinson Creek
Sept. 2 - Oh! Ridge
These programs are done in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and Vista Recreation.
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Evening Bird Outing
in Lee Vining
Thursdays at 5 pm
Every Thursday until September 14, join an ESIA naturalist for a sunset bird outing at Mono Lake's County Park and Boardwalk! While walking down to the lake through a gradient of habitats, you will get to see and hear a diversity of birds. This free walk is less than one mile and on level ground. Bring binoculars if you have them!
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Bird walks are are also offered by the Mono Lake Committee and California State Parks at 8am Friday, Saturday, Sunday. | | |
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Panum Crater Tours
at Mono Lake
Fridays 10 am to 11 am Every Friday until September 15, an ESIA naturalist will be leading an interpretive walk up a small, young volcano! This tour will explore the geology of the Mono Basin. The walk is one mile and includes some elevation gain. Meet at the trailhead.
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Panum Crater tours are also offered Saturday and Sundays at 10am by Mono Lake Volunteers. | | |
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Ancient Bristlecones
walk with a naturalist
Sundays 11 am to 1230 pm
Join an ESIA naturalist to learn more about the ancient bristlecone pines at Schulman Grove! Meet in front of the visitor center. The walk is roughly one mile long at 10,000 feet. This free program is held weekly in August.
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South Tufa Tours
Daily at 10 am, 1 pm, and 6 pm. These free tours are offered by the Mono Lake Committee, Mono Lake Volunteers, U.S. Forest Service, and California State Parks.
Additionally, the Mono Lake Committee offers weekend canoe tours.
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Wildflower Walks
with Inyo National Forest Botanists
August 19th from 8:30 am to 10:30 pm: the Wildflower Walk will take place at Lundy Canyon! Check the Events section of the U.S. Forest Service-INYO National Forest Facebook page for more details. Depending on snowmelt and phenology, the exact location for each event will be updated as the date gets closer.
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Rock Fringe, Epilobium obcordatum | | |
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Parsons Memorial Lodge Summer Series
In Yosemite National Park
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Eastern Sierra History Conference
Registration is now live! Join us October 27, 28, and 29th at Cerro Coso Community College in Bishop, California.
The Eastern Sierra History Conference seeks to enhance awareness, enrich knowledge, and generate recognition of the diverse and complex heritage of the Eastern Sierra region.
Schedule released later this month!
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Important News and Updates | |
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ο»ΏWe're Hiring
Bishop Area Climbing Rangers
We are accepting applications for the 23/24 Bishop Climbing Ranger Season! This position will run from early October to late April. Accepting applications now until August 13, 2023!
This is a great position for climbers familiar with Bishop who want to work with land management agencies to better protect the climbing areas. You will collaborate with local organizations, educate climbers, perform stewardship projects, collect data, and more! Visit our website for more information.
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Visitor Services Specialist
ο»ΏManzanar National Historic Site
We are hiring a Visitor Service Specialist to work in the visitor center bookstore at Manzanar National Historic Site. If you are passionate about history and the Eastern Sierra, enjoy talking with people and have an interest in learning more about Manzanar National Historic Site, we encourage you to apply. Visit our website for more information.
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We want to introduce you to a long time and valued ESIA employee: Skip Vasquez. Skip is the Bookstore Manager at the Ancient Bristlecone Visitor Center and is passionated about the ancient trees. Skip has been with ESIA for nine seasons working in the Bristlecones. She is a naturalist, artist, climber, and considers herself a student of the world.
Be sure to say hello to Skip during your next visit to the Schulman Grove Visitor Center!
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Featured Artist Showings
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Annie Barrett Cashner is showing her beautiful paintings of the Eastern Sierra at the Schulman Grove Visitor Center for the summer season. Primarily a plein air painter, Annie paints with oil paint on large canvases using brushes and pallet knives to create colorful and textured paintings.
Come check it her work for yourself!ο»Ώ
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Alabama Hills: Artist In Residency
The BLM has made selections for the Artist in Residence program. Alyssa Marquez, from Chalfant, will be in the Hills October 1-8. Alyssa recently contributed to the mural outside the Black Sheep.
Kristen Freeborn, an oil painter from Bakersfield, will be in the Hills October 7-14. If you are interested in supporting the program, email ashley@esiaonline.org
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Kristen Freeborn, kristenfreebornfineart.com | | |
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Mono Lake Water Clearing
Mono Lake- the ancient saline lake just outside of Yosemite National Park- turns a greenish color in the winter and spring due to the algae blooms that grow in its murky depths. The algae use decayed, organic matter and sunlight to grow. A food source for trillions of brine shrimp and alkali flies, Mono Lake clears up in the hum of summertime when these populations are at their peak and feeding on the algae.
In recent years, Mono Lake has stayed green throughout the summer. This year's water clearing has been a relief- you can see 15ft down! Mono Lake is clearer than it has been in over a decade! It is still unknown what exactly drives these changes, but we are guessing this year's voluminous runoff has something to do with it. Come see for yourself!
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Mono Lake as seen as from above, looking out from atop the Dana Plateau. Photographed on July 28, 2023. | |
Sky Pilot, Polemonium eximium, a high alpine wildflower species found among many of the Sierra Nevada's highest peaks. It is endemic to the Sierra Nevada. | |
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Explore our website, follow us on social media, join us for a program, and visit us at one of our many bookstore locations!
To support the work we are doing, please consider becoming a member or making a charitable donation to ESIA; we couldn't do this work without your generous support! Another way to give back: Shop ESIA online to support public lands.
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