The second weekend in October will be glorious for several reasons … bright leaves decorating the trees, beautiful fall weather, and the chance to learn about one of the eastside’s most elusive features: arborglyphs.

What is an arborglyph, one might ask? Arborglyphs are tree carvings, and in the Eastern Sierra they occur most often on aspens, include writing in Spanish, and date from the early part of the 1900s. Basque sheepherders tended flocks all throughout the region in those days, and left their mark on the trees they passed. Basque arborglyphs are becoming harder to find, see, and document, since trees that were large enough “canvases” in the 1920s are now quite old or standing dead.

Now is the time to see arborglyphs; on October 9-10 the Committee has organized a field seminar so that you can get a guided tour through the Mono Basin’s groves of glyphs. Instructors Richard Potashin and Nancy Hadlock have spent many years documenting, translating, and preserving arborglyphs, and their expertise and enthusiasm makes for an amazing weekend. Reserve your space in the field seminar today!

Richard Potashin and Nancy Hadlock interpret a Basque arborglyph. Photos by Claire Skinner and Elin Ljung.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 23rd, 2010 at 10:47 am and is filed under Education, Member News, News, Seasonal Update. You can view No Responses on this post or leave your own response if you log in.