I have a dog and a car on the brink of explosion. The combination of the two means more time spent rambling through sagebrush and walking interwoven dirt roads on the east side of Highway 395 … on foot.

Max-dog had never seen Rush Creek, which is a travesty for a Mono Lake Committee dog. We found ourselves yet again rambling via dirt road; exploring side roads and slowly making our way to the line of green willows that mark Rush Creek’s path. It took several hours to find the best swimming hole. We came upon several, but decided to keep going in search for the best. Along the way we saw (more…)

I am constantly amazed by the variety of enthusiastic Mono Lake supporters that frequent our store. Some bound up the steps, excited to see that the phalaropes have arrived and are swimming around at South Tufa. Others stop abruptly in the doorway, inhale deeply, and exclaim, “I’ve missed the smell of this store!” Of course, there is always the visitor who silently peruses the bookshelves for the latest Dave Carle novel. In my three summers in the store, I would say in general, our visitors make me smile.

Last Thursday was no exception.

A rather soft-spoken young boy walked up, and as I leaned over the counter to talk to him, I noticed he was carrying a violin case. (more…)

As you travel to the Eastern Sierra for the Fourth of July holiday this year, this handy traffic tool can show you the best times to avoid the masses while driving through Yosemite National Park.

As always, drive safely during your visit—watch for other visitors and wildlife along the road. When you get through Yosemite to the town of Lee Vining, stop in at the Mono Lake Committee Information Center & Bookstore so we can help you make the most of your visit. We look forward to seeing you this week!

“A lone peak of high point is a natural focal point in the landscape, something by which both travelers and locals orient themselves. In the continuum of landscape, mountains are discontinuity—culminating in high points, natural barriers, unearthly earth.”
—Rebecca Solnit, Wanderlust: A History of Walking

Dave Dore laying out the 13-foot Sierra silhouette.

The improvements to the Mono Lake Committee Information Center & Bookstore storefront continue to take shape … and actually, one piece is taking a very beautiful, and familiar, shape right at this very moment. Just north of the front steps and the concrete map of Mono Lake is a (more…)

On Friday, May 25 the fence in front of the Committee’s remodel was opened, allowing visitors in town for Memorial Day weekend to walk up the new steps and across the new deck into our Information Center & Bookstore. Plumbers, electricians, carpenters, and concrete specialists all worked hard to make this happen, and we were happy they did so.

We were even happier when we realized that we were celebrating an anniversary—on the very same day in 1979, the Mono Lake Committee Information Center & Bookstore first opened its doors! What great serendipity.

Rose and Morgan enjoy the new front steps last Friday. Photo by Geoff McQuilkin.

This morning we changed the angle of the Remodel Cam to show the metal frame of our roughly ten-foot-square Mono Lake map out in front of the store. The map will be filled with blue concrete sometime in the next week, with a pale stain for Paoha Island and a dark stain for Negit Island. Keep your eye on the cam to see the concrete map take shape….

Staff and contractors admire the lake frame before getting it oriented just right. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.

A cool detail about the map—the concrete slab around the lake needs seams in order to (more…)

Construction continues at the Mono Lake Committee Information Center & Bookstore, but don’t worry, we are open for business as usual. Due to our office spring cleaning and Memorial Day weekend, our schedule will vary quite a bit over the coming week.

Deck and boulders at the Mono Lake Committee Information Center & Bookstore. Photo by Arya Degenhardt.

We are currently open from 9:00am to 5:00pm, seven days a week. However, this Wednesday, May 23, we will be closed until 1:30pm for spring cleaning, and open from 1:30 to 5:00pm. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

We are open longer hours for Memorial Day weekend. From Friday, May 25 through Monday, May 28, we are open from 8:00am to 6:00pm. We will resume our regular hours, 9:00am to 5:00pm, on Tuesday, May 29.

I must start here with an apology for the tongue-in-cheek pun that is the title of this Mono-logue post, which is actually an update on the Mono Lake Committee’s Information Center & Bookstore storefront improvement project. I’m afraid that from my vantage point sitting in the corner of the building closest to the storefront construction project, it simply cannot be avoided. The warm spring combined with the daily activity happening within arms-reach and earshot of my desk chair means that our door opens out onto all the action.

One of the neatest things so far has been the installation of six large boulders around which the front steps are being built. The rocks were carefully drawn into the architects’ plans, so we’ve been excited about them the whole time, but actually making them happen has been unexpectedly cool. (more…)

The Mono Lake Committee Information Center & Bookstore remains open through the construction out front, and we appreciate everyone following signs to the back entrance. Stop by and check out the progress—it is coming along….

The Information Center & Bookstore is open from 9:00am to 5:00pm, seven days a week. However, this Wednesday, May 9, it will open at 10:00am so the entire Mono Lake Committee staff can tour the Lee Vining rockfall area. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

The Mono Lake Committee Information Center & Bookstore is open during construction.

Check The Mono-logue for construction updates and the remodel cam to see what’s happening!

Today the Remodel Cam captured the feet of Roy from Escoto Construction & Design ... much more to come!

Check out the Mono Lake Committee’s newest, temporary webcam: the Remodel Cam! Greg installed it just inside the front doors today, and it’s pointing out toward the street to bring you glimpses of our exciting remodel project.

This camera will be on most of the time from 6:00am to 6:00pm, Monday through Friday, for the duration of the project. We may move the camera around to show different views, and we may need to unplug it if someone needs to use the internet in the bookstore. Also, inclement weather delays the remodel, so if you see snow or rain in the camera, you probably won’t see anyone working.

Keep checking to see the ADA-accessible lift installed, the granite boulders stabilized, and the new deck materialize … plus much more. Let us know what you think in the comments section!