Friday, June 17th, 2011 by Russ, Canoe CoordinatorcloseAuthor: Russ, Canoe CoordinatorName: Russ Taylor Title: Canoe Coordinator About: Throughout the winters of the 1990s you could find Russ paddling the rivers of Florida and Georgia on 28-day canoeing expeditions with adjudicated youth. The summers he worked in the High Sierra as a wilderness guide, where he initially fell in love with the Eastern Sierra. He's spent a large portion of his outdoor career in canoes, this summer on Mono Lake and winters on expeditions in the Everglades. Also a freelance photographer and writer, Russ has lived in Ladakh, India, and Papua New Guinea and has traveled to over 30 countries. To see photos from Russ' travels, visit nomadruss.com.See All Posts by Russ (3) Contact Russ
Starting today you can make your summer canoe tour reservations on Mono Lake online. Simply click on the blue “Canoe Mono Lake” button on the home page and it will take you to the main canoeing page, where you click on the orange “Canoe tours” button. Once you’re there click on the date and time you want and you’re on your way to a great Mono Lake adventure.
Canoe tours begin on June 25th and run each Saturday and Sunday throughout the season until September 4th. (more…)
Wednesday, June 15th, 2011 by Elin, Communications CoordinatorcloseAuthor: Elin, Communications CoordinatorName: Elin Ljung Title: Communications Coordinator About: Elin's job consists of some of her favorite things: finding typos, experimenting with layouts, and figuring out how best to communicate the Committee's work to the world. She also oversees the Field Seminar program. Elin is an EMT on the Lee Vining Fire Department, loves sitting at Latte Da Coffee Cafe immersed in a good book, and watches English Premier League football (soccer) at any opportunity.See All Posts by Elin (133) Contact Elin
Red-breasted Sapsucker painting by Lisa Walraven.
The tenth annual Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua culminates on Sunday, June 19 with a free celebration at Mono Lake County Park, just five miles north of Lee Vining. Join us to relax in the shade, stroll down the boardwalk, and hear great music by Keith Greeninger and Dayan Kai. Plan to buy your lunch at the park too—all proceeds from the delicious homemade barbeque benefit Lee Vining High School.
To get to County Park from Lee Vining, head north on Highway 395 approximately five miles and turn right on Cemetery Road. Go down the hill and look for parking directions. Parking gets crowded, so please carpool if you can. We look forward to seeing you there!
Wednesday, June 15th, 2011 by Julia, Mono Lake InterncloseAuthor: Julia, Mono Lake InternName: Julia Runcie Title: Mono Lake Intern About: As a native of the diminutive Green Mountains, Julia is completely in awe of the Sierra but has to admit she sometimes misses real maple syrup. After her 2010 summer internship she stayed through the winter as a Project Specialist, and is now a Mono Lake Intern for her second summer. In her free time, Julia loves to hike, cook, write, and uproot invasive weeds.See All Posts by Julia (42) Contact Julia
According to National Park Service representatives, Tioga Pass into Yosemite National Park will open this Saturday, June 18th, at 8:00am.
Due to an immense snowpack and a late, chilly spring, the road has remained closed far longer than normal, and thousands of visitors will be relieved to find their drive over the Sierra made shorter and the beautiful Tuolumne Meadows area open at last.
Please continue to check the latest road report from CalTrans, as conditions may change at any moment and we have no guarantee that the pass will actually open as planned.
For a look at the Tioga Pass opening and closing dates since 1933, check out this spreadsheet on the Mono Basin Clearinghouse.
Friday, June 10th, 2011 by Geoff, Executive DirectorcloseAuthor: Geoff, Executive DirectorName: Geoffrey McQuilkin Title: Executive Director About: Geoff's goals for the Committee are: assuring Mono Lake's continuing protection, restoring Mono Lake's tributary streams, developing a permanent education program, and assuring that the strong tradition of scientific research at Mono Lake continues. A graduate of Harvard in the history of science, Geoff has worked for the Committee since 1992 and was an intern and volunteer before that. He's happy to live close to the lake with his wife Sarah and their daughters Caelen and Ellery.See All Posts by Geoffrey (105) Contact Geoffrey
Reporter Lance Williams at California Watch posted a story today on the planned year-end closure of the Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve. Check it out:
Wednesday, June 8th, 2011 by Geoff, Executive DirectorcloseAuthor: Geoff, Executive DirectorName: Geoffrey McQuilkin Title: Executive Director About: Geoff's goals for the Committee are: assuring Mono Lake's continuing protection, restoring Mono Lake's tributary streams, developing a permanent education program, and assuring that the strong tradition of scientific research at Mono Lake continues. A graduate of Harvard in the history of science, Geoff has worked for the Committee since 1992 and was an intern and volunteer before that. He's happy to live close to the lake with his wife Sarah and their daughters Caelen and Ellery.See All Posts by Geoffrey (105) Contact Geoffrey
The Los Angeles Times has a fascinating report on this year’s work to clear snow from the Tioga Pass road between Mono Lake and Yosemite, including photos and video. Check it out!
Wednesday, June 8th, 2011 by Elin, Communications CoordinatorcloseAuthor: Elin, Communications CoordinatorName: Elin Ljung Title: Communications Coordinator About: Elin's job consists of some of her favorite things: finding typos, experimenting with layouts, and figuring out how best to communicate the Committee's work to the world. She also oversees the Field Seminar program. Elin is an EMT on the Lee Vining Fire Department, loves sitting at Latte Da Coffee Cafe immersed in a good book, and watches English Premier League football (soccer) at any opportunity.See All Posts by Elin (133) Contact Elin
With a break in the windy and rainy weather, work continues on the Mono Lake Committee’s storefront! Logan Parsons has finished painting the logo and lettering above the canopy, and new lights have been installed in the alcove above the front door. Three more lights will go along the arch at the top of the building to illuminate the sign soon.
Logan Parsons tapes stencils to the front of the Committee bookstore.
Tuesday, June 7th, 2011 by Geoff, Executive DirectorcloseAuthor: Geoff, Executive DirectorName: Geoffrey McQuilkin Title: Executive Director About: Geoff's goals for the Committee are: assuring Mono Lake's continuing protection, restoring Mono Lake's tributary streams, developing a permanent education program, and assuring that the strong tradition of scientific research at Mono Lake continues. A graduate of Harvard in the history of science, Geoff has worked for the Committee since 1992 and was an intern and volunteer before that. He's happy to live close to the lake with his wife Sarah and their daughters Caelen and Ellery.See All Posts by Geoffrey (105) Contact Geoffrey
An article out today reports:
… a basic pact between parks and the public—the idea that parks will be easily accessible and affordable, and safeguarded by the state—is at risk.
Monday, June 6th, 2011 by Arya, Communications DirectorcloseAuthor: Arya, Communications DirectorName: Arya Degenhardt Title: Communications Director About: Arya oversees the Committee's communications program, which includes the Mono Lake Newsletter. She loves her job because she gets to share the inspiring work of the Mono Lake Committee with members and visitors alike. When she's not in the office you might find her running with her dogs Dublin and Poco, volunteering with the Lee Vining Fire Department, listening to any music with a banjo in it, or willing the plants in her garden to grow. Her favorite things to do in the Mono Basin include ice skating on nearby lakes, skiing the Mono Craters, and getting to smell the sagebrush when it rains.See All Posts by Arya (91) Contact Arya
We are proud to announce the recipients of the 2011 Mono Lake Committee Scholarship. Angela Jeanne Annett and Quincy Parker, both seniors at Lee Vining High School, wrote essays that won them each $1,000 to help with their education expenses. Students respond to one of these two essay questions: How has Mono Lake or the Mono Basin influenced your life and your choice to go to college? What do you expect to do to change the world for the better with particular regard to solving natural resource issues?
Elin Ljung presented Angela Jeanne Annett of Lee Vining High School with a 2011 Mono Lake Committee Scholarship.
Angela wrote, “As I work towards achieving my BFA in (more…)
Thursday, June 2nd, 2011 by Julia, Mono Lake InterncloseAuthor: Julia, Mono Lake InternName: Julia Runcie Title: Mono Lake Intern About: As a native of the diminutive Green Mountains, Julia is completely in awe of the Sierra but has to admit she sometimes misses real maple syrup. After her 2010 summer internship she stayed through the winter as a Project Specialist, and is now a Mono Lake Intern for her second summer. In her free time, Julia loves to hike, cook, write, and uproot invasive weeds.See All Posts by Julia (42) Contact Julia
Dangerously high winds on Monday night tore off the “floor” of Lee Vining’s historic Upside-Down House and sent it crashing into the side of the Mono Basin Historical Society’s Old Schoolhouse Museum.
The now floor-less Upside-Down House. Its "roof" can be seen behind the house against the wall of the Old Schoolhouse Museum.
The Upside-Down House was built in 1956 by silent film star and long-time Mono Basin resident Nellie Bly O’Bryan. It’s just what it sounds like: (more…)
Starting today you can make your summer canoe tour reservations on Mono Lake online. Simply click on the blue “Canoe Mono Lake” button on the home page and it will take you to the main canoeing page, where you click on the orange “Canoe tours” button. Once you’re there click on the date and time you want and you’re on your way to a great Mono Lake adventure.
