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🌸 Blooming into June 🌸
Join us and our partners for upcoming events in the Eastern Sierra!
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Embrace the arrival of summer as flowers bloom, snow surrenders to the warmth, and rivers surge with energy. We have upcoming events, important updates, we are hiring for the summer season, and more. Happy June! | |
Join Us for a Program in the Hills | |
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We're Hiring!
June 10th from 11 am to 6 pm: Come join us at the Federal Lands Job Fair at the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center in Lone Pine. There are open positions up and down the Eastern Sierra for the summer season. This job fair is a great way to learn more about local and federal jobs in the area and learn tricks and tips for applying.
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Topaz Stories at Manzanar
June 10th at 2 pm: Special guests Ruth Sasaki and friends narrate recollections from survivors and descendants of Japanese Americans incarcerated in Topaz Relocation Center near Delta, Utah. Attend this free program in the West Theater of the Manzanar Visitor Center.
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Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua & Phalarope Festival
June 16th-18th: The Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua brings birders together to enhance appreciation and understanding of the Mono Basin's diverse and abundant bird life and to educate the public about this area's value to birds and people. The Chautauqua offers over 90 field trips, workshops, and presentations with renowned bird guides, naturalists, and artists. Add live music and delicious food, and you've got yourself a fantastic long weekend in nature with friends!
There is still space to sign up for this year's Chautauqua!
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The Phalarope Festival on June 18th will conclude this year's Chautauqua and is a free event open to all! | | |
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Eastern Sierra Youth Outdoor Program
June 20th to June 25th: This program is a free five-day, four-night outdoor education camp led and facilitated by Eastside Sports co-owner, Todd Vogel, and other experienced outdoor education professionals. Up to 26 participants ages 13-18 get to learn how to backpack, camp, rock climb, and more. For more information and to apply, visit the link below.
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Wildflower Walks
with Inyo National Forest Botanists
June 24th from 8:30 am to 10:30 am: the Wildflower Walk will take place in Rock Creek. Check the Events section of their Facebook page for more details. Depending on snowmelt and phenology, the exact location for each event will be added when it gets closer to the date. Come join us and celebrate this unusually colorful year for wildflowers in the forest.
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Join Us for a Tracking Workshop
June 24th from 9am-3:30pm: Join professional wildlife tracker and mountain lion researcher Phil Johnston for a day in the woods learning to read the stories of wild animals through tracking. Phil has over a decade of experience teaching tracking and is certified as Senior Tracker through Tracker Certification North America. Learn to identify the tracks and signs of the many charismatic creatures who make their living in the Eastern Sierra. These spots fill up quickly!
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Eastern Sierra History Conference
October 27th to 29th: SAVE THE DATE - The 8th annual Eastern Sierra History Conference will be held in Bishop at Cerro Coso Community College.
Registration opens July 14!
CALL FOR PAPERS - Due June 16: We are seeking presentations on the history and culture of the Eastern Sierra, the contiguous geographic areas of the Sierra Nevada and the Great Basin, along with research that may have taken place outside the region but is related to the history of the area. Selected presenters will have their papers published in the Eastern Sierra History Journal.
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The Bishop High Sierra Ultras
Thank you to all of the volunteers and staff who helped put on the race. This year had its challenges (sand and snow!) and we want to give a big congratulations to everyone who ran in this annual event directed by Todd Vogel! Proceeds from this race will go towards the Eastern Sierra Outdoor Youth Program.
RESULTS: First place 6k male: Stephen Ingram, female: Hannah Paxton, 20-mile male: Duncan Reid, female: Mireya Vargas, 53k male: Rene Dorantes, female: Katherin Lynch, 50-mile overall winner: Courtney Lewis (f), first male: David Melkonian.
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Mono Basin National Scenic Area and White Mountain Visitor Centers are Open! | |
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Mono Basin Scenic Area Visitor Center is open daily from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm. We have some reminders from our partner, Inyo National Forest.
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Know-before-you-go. Camping opportunities are limited as there's still a lot of snow. Check out: Camp Like A Pro
- Be extra cautious when crossing creeks and streams. Avoid standing too close to creek banks, as erosion can happen and cause injuries.
- Do not drive on wet dirt roads.
- Give wildlife their space.
- Use bear-safe storage.
- Practice leave-no-trace ethics. Take only pictures, leave only footprints.
White Mountain Visitor Center in Bishop is Open Tuesday through Saturday, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, and closed for lunch 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm.
- Local artists John and Gina Webber have an ART SALE featuring wood sculpting and pyrography, fine note cards, jewelry, and more. Come check it out along with our bookstore!
The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center at Schulman Grove is expected to open later this month (subject to change). In the meantime, check out our Ancient Bristlecone webpage to help plan your trip and learn more about these ancient wonders!
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Owens River Gorge Closure | |
The Owens River Gorge will be closed from June 6th - June 25th. The required three-week riparian flow will help improve fishery and wildlife habitat along the 10-mile stretch between the Upper Gorge Power Plant and Pleasant Valley Reservoir. No public access will be allowed during this time. Check out LADWP's page on current closures below. | |
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Meet Ellie Neifeld!
Ellie is ESIA's new lead naturalist and she will be leading interpretive programs, campfire talks, school trips, and more. Welcome to the team Ellie!
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You are most likely to find Ellie walking veryyy slowly while obsessing over the big sounds coming from little birds. She has fun geologizing, rock climbing, painting birds, baking cookies, dancing the Argentine tango, and orienting herself to constellations while sleeping under the stars. The Eastern Sierra has always been a heart home for Ellie and she is glad to be back. Most recently, Ellie was in Arizona studying climate change through tree rings but decided that she would rather learn outside in nature rather than through computer coding. The kids she works with make her laugh, and Ellie endeavors to never lose her childhood wonder.
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Meet Ashley Anderson!
We extend our best wishes to Savanna Deger in her future endeavors, and we are delighted to welcome Ashley Anderson to our team! Ashley will assume the role of Alabama Hills interpretive specialist, following in Savanna's footsteps.
Welcome to the team Ashley!
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Ashley spends most of her free time roaming the Eastern Sierra to find scenes to paint. She's interested in rock texture brought to life by the sharp edge of a pen. She enjoys rock climbing, running, backpacking, hand making pasta (it's like sculpture but you can eat it), true crime podcasts, and catching amazing sunsets here every evening. She's back in the Sierra after 4 years in the Pacific Northwest where she spent most of her free time volunteering for King County SAR and Snoqualmie Pass Fire and Rescue. Ashley is thrilled to dive back into the rich environments in the Bishop area and connect more with the awe-inspiring landscapes. If you find her sitting on the roof of her car or perched on a trailside rock with her sketchbook, say hello! | |
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If you made it this far, thanks for reading! | | |
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Explore our website to learn more about what we do. 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 with out your generous support! Another way to give back: Shop ESIA online to support public lands. | | | | |
