Alabama Hills National Scenic Area

Newsletter, October 2024

Docent Nancy Hadlock delivers her first program for the season, Natural History: From the Ground Up. See below for November's full schedule.

Field Work

Camping permits are now required. Permits are free and do not guarantee a campsite- all camping is first come, first serve. This is an acknowledgment that campers understand the rules and guidance for designated camping. To get a permit, please visit the webpage below, stop by the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center, or visit the camping information kiosks on Movie Road.
Over 1,000 permits have been filled out online since 10/1 and many physical permits have been utilized from the permit boxes on Movie Rd. Staff are increasing contacts with the public to reinforce understanding of the permit and guidelines for camping.
Fire restrictions are still in effect until further notice. Campfires are only permitted within metal fire rings in established campgrounds like Tuttle Creek Campground. There are no campfires permitted in the Alabama Hills.
Tuttle Creek Campground water has been shut off for the season. Portuguese Joe campground or the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center provide public potable water.
Over 100 native plant specimens are sprouted in the White Mountain nursery and are awaiting planting in the Alabama Hills this fall. Revegetation efforts aid in encouraging visitors to remain on established trails and roads.
In November the BLM will start work on making the mining adits in the Chicken Ranch area safer for bats and humans by installing bat gates and using foam or other methods to block smaller adits. There will be two days of helicopter use with no road closures at Chicken Ranch while the work is being done. Please be mindful of construction crews if recreating in the area during this time.
Staff have been working hard to clean out fire rings, collect trash, monitor camping behavior, update signs, and educate visitors about the importance of Leave No Trace.

Alabama Hills Camping Permit

Stewardship Event!

November 17th will be the first community stewardship day of the season. Staff and volunteers will focus on planting native vegetation, collecting trash, cleaning out fire rings and tidying camp boundaries in Lone Ranger Canyon. ESIA staff Ashley will provide coffee and banana bread! 8 AM to 12 PM. Meet at the Shark's Fin parking area by the kiosk. Email ashley@sierraforever.org to sign up.

After daylight savings, the evenings and cooler temperatures arrive sooner. Remember headlamps and warm layers!

Get Involved

November 17th 8 AM to 12 PM will be the first community stewardship day of the season. Staff and volunteers will focus on planting native vegetation, collecting trash, cleaning out fire rings and tidying camp boundaries in Lone Ranger Canyon. Meet at the Shark's Fin parking area near the kiosk. ESIA staff Ashley will provide coffee and banana bread! Email ashley@sierraforever.org to sign up.
Do you have wildlife or wildflower photos? Donate a digital copy to be included in our specimen binders for display at the visitor center. Must be captured in the Alabama Hills. Credit to be attributed on the page.
Are you or your organization interested in volunteering in the Alabama Hills? Give back to your community while spending time outside in this National Scenic Area. Email ashley@esiaonline.org to connect with opportunities in clean-ups and interpretation.
Spread the word about the Alabama Hills Newsletter! Sign up here.
Share the ESIA's event calendar for up-to-date ranger programs or ESIA's social media.

What does chocolatey banana bread have to do with the Alabama Hills? Staff member Ashley will bake some for volunteers on November 17th for a stewardship day! See details above.

October Visitation

Vehicle and foot traffic was captured using an automatic, stationary sensor. Please note that some years have more complete data than others. Where there is incomplete data, the program may estimate based on past data.

Movie Road: N/A this month, faulty read.
Kiosk at Whitney Portal Entrance Station: N/A with closures
North Entrance: 3,310
Mobius Arch Trail Foot Traffic: 2,012
Chicken Ranch: 47

This month's data was collected October 1- October 31, 2024

Events

Upcoming BLM/ESIA-Sponsored

November 17: Stewardship day with the Alabama Hills Stewardship Group. Email ashley@sierraforever.org to sign up!

Upcoming Special Recreation Permit

None

Past BLM/ESIA-Sponsored

None

Past Special Recreation Permit

October 5: WWW Footrace
October 11-13: Lone Pine Film Festival
October 11-13: Fifthclass Climbing
October 19: John Wayne Gritt Race

Staffing

The BLM Recreation Department has 5 permanent and 1 seasonal recreation team member that patrol the Alabama Hills and other BLM-managed lands. 2 law enforcement officers provides patrol of the Alabama Hills and the rest of the field office. Other field office staff support as needed.
ESIA has Ashley as an Interpretive Specialist working with the BLM patrolling the Alabama Hills 3-4 days per week.
Death Valley is staffing the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center with two seasonal employees. One of these staff is funded by the BLM. These staff will also assist with interpretive events.

Social Media

Follow Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association (ESIA) on Instagram and our Facebook page. ESIA staff attempts to schedule an Alabama Hills related post at least once a week during the peak Hills season, but slows during the summer months.
Follow the Bureau of Land Management- California Facebook page for information about California Public Lands, including the Alabama Hills!
Follow the Alabama Hills Stewardship Group on Facebook and Instagram