Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

Winter in the Mono Basin

Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

This post was written by Rosanne Catron, 2011 Information Center & Bookstore Manager.

When winter descends on the Mono Basin, the rest of the world seems to disappear. The fog closes in, the roads are more difficult to navigate, and the only sounds outside are the chirping of birds and the hum of the snowplow. Many visitors and members can’t visit Mono Lake in the winter because of the weather and the long drive. Here is a sample of life during winter in the Mono Basin:

Part of the Mono Lake Committee staff’s winter job description is snow removal! Here, drifting snowflakes obscure our open sign during a big storm last winter. Photo by Rosanne Catron.

Last week, the poconip lasted for five days in a row. The ice crystals coating every leaf, twig, and branch are beautiful, but I am usually ready for some sunshine after a few days of fog. Photo by Elin Ljung.
Throughout the year, Mono Lake Committee staff go out into the field to measure water table levels in Mono’s tributary streams. In the winter, this work has to happen on skis or snowshoes. Photo by Morgan Lindsay.
Sometimes there is so much snow that the office buildings are almost unrecognizable. Taking out the recycling requires boots, jacket, hat, gloves, and snow removal equipment to clear the way! Photo by Rosanne Catron.
Winter in the Mono Basin is a time of poconip, snowstorms, brilliant clear blue skies, and the many moods of Mono Lake. If you have a chance to visit Mono Lake during this quiet season, take it! Just make sure to check the roads, pack chains and warm clothes, and be prepared for a bit of weather. Photo by Elin Ljung.

One comment