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.

It’s really raining

It’s raining hard at this very moment in Lee Vining. We can hear it on the roof here in the office, and it’s all puddles outside in the garden. Looking out across the lake there’s mist hanging in the air, and I can just see the east shore hills in outline on the horizon.

It’s pretty unusual for it to rain like this. And on top of an already unusual January, with virtually no snow, it’s hard to figure out if it’s good, because at least it’s some water, or if it’s bad, because it seems like it should be coming in the form of snow. Maybe someone’s snow dance signals got crossed?

Whatever the case, I’m writing to you from my desk, which is dry. Many Mono Lake Committee members will remember the fundraiser for the roof we installed in 2006, and some of you might even remember a photograph of a bucket hanging above a desk. Well, that was, and is, my desk, and every time it rains, or snows and then melts, I look up to where that bucket used to hang (directly over my keyboard), and I thank our members. And I’m not the only one! Erika just called down here to say, “aren’t you glad we’re not putting out buckets right now?” It’s a beautiful thing.

In the course of writing this post the downpour has turned to occasional droplets, and there’s even a rainbow just over the Shell station across the street. Check out both the MonoCams and the weather station too, and hope for snow!

One comment

  1. Love the new site- you all have gone above and beyond. And I could not be happier about the blog! It means a lot to hear how everything is going in Lee Vining; almost feel like I’m back. And it’s a nice reminder not to forget Mono Lake in my yearly planning:)

    I’m thinking of you all often- and hoping that rain turns to snow so everyone can get out on their skiis again. Thanks for the great posts. Can’t wait to hear more.