Starting Friday, September 23rd the Information Center & Bookstore will be open from 9:00am–5:00pm, seven days a week.

We are open throughout the winter with the exception of major holidays, so come visit us for information on fall colors and Mono Lake, or to do your holiday shopping.

We have an excellent selection of books, maps, cards, T-shirts, jewelry, and locally-made items.

In 2011, with decreased funding and increased visitation, volunteers were more important than ever. Volunteers answered questions for visitors at the lake shore and at the Forest Service Visitor Center, led tours at South Tufa and Panum Crater, and helped out with numerous special events.

In late August we celebrated another great summer season of volunteering with the annual volunteer appreciation party. Thank you, volunteers, for your countless hours talking with visitors and enriching their experience in the Mono Basin!

Our 2011 volunteers celebrate the end of a successful season.

A special thank you to this year’s Volunteer of the Year, Jo Bacon. Jo is trained and ready for anything, from (more…)

Starting Sunday, August 28th, the Information Center & Bookstore will be open from 9:00am–7:00pm, seven days a week. Come in with your questions about birding, hiking, camping, or hotels and restaurants in the area. And while you are here, browse our excellent selection of books, maps, T-shirts, and other gift items!

Starting Sunday, August 28th the Mono Lake Committee Information Center & Bookstore will be open from 9:00am to 7:00pm daily.

What goes into re-stuccoing a storefront?

First, wait for the snow to melt! Next, there was walnut-blasting, (more…)

Are you interested in volunteering at Mono Lake? Volunteers help with a variety of activities, including pulling invasive plants, teaching visitors about the lake, working at special events such as the Tioga Pass Run, and planting and watering trees. Volunteering is also a great opportunity to spend time in the beautiful Mono Basin and meet other volunteers.

With the news about Mono Lake’s state park, volunteers will be even more crucial to providing visitor services and helping with restoration in the Mono Basin.

The 2011 Mono Lake Volunteer training starts on Wednesday, May 25. For more information, please contact the Committee’s Office Manager Rosanne Catron at (760) 647-6595.

The road (Highway 270) to Bodie is now open, and you can drive to one and a half miles of the park. At that point you need to park at the gate—be sure not to block it—and walk, ski, or snowshoe the rest of the way into Bodie. Skis, snowshoes, or good boots are still necessary to walk around the town of Bodie as well.

California’s state parks are a valuable part of the state’s cultural and natural history.

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"American Dipper" by Lisa Walraven.

Artist Lisa Walraven of North Carolina creates joyful, distinctive paintings of birds and other animals. Drawing from her work in wildlife rehabilitation and as a bird bander, Walraven’s love of the natural world is evident in her simple yet evocative work. We are excited to feature (more…)

The Mono Lake Committee Information Center & Bookstore will be closed Tuesday, January 18th for our annual inventory. We will be open all other days next week from 9:00am to 5:00pm. We apologize for any inconvenience.

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.

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As the Information Center & Bookstore Manager, I have the opportunity to spend a lot of time interacting with visitors who walk into our store. Some are members and know the lake well, and some have never even heard of Mono Lake before and just desperately want to use the bathroom. One of the best aspects of working with the public so much is the opportunity to talk to people about the wonders of Mono Lake. I love  seeing how inspired and excited people get as they hear our story—the ups and downs, the difficulties and victories, and the work we do now.

Another one of my favorite parts about working at the counter is hearing people’s positive feedback about our Information Center and the Mono Basin. Visitors rave about our books, gifts, wonderful seasonal staff, and the magic of their time down at the tufa towers. Members reminisce about meeting David Gaines, the time they rode in the Bike-A-Thon, or the moment they first visited the Mono Basin and saw the lake teeming with brine shrimp and flies. Sometimes people email me days after their visit to share a story or thank a specific staff member for their help. Recently I received a chocolate bar all the way from Germany as a thank you for helping some travelers when their car broke down!

Our store is an amazing place to hear about people’s encounters with Mono Lake, whether it’s their first time visiting the lake, or one of many stretching back over the years. To our visitors from both near and far, and our members: thank you for your stories and kind words!