Friday, October 18th, 2019 by Jessica, Office DirectorcloseAuthor: Jessica, Office DirectorName: Jessica Schneider Title: Office Director About: Jess began working at the Mono Lake Committee in 2010, oversaw the bookstore for several years, and returned to the Mono Lake Committee in late 2014 as Office Director after working at a local resort and starting her own business. Jess creates the complicated office and bookstore schedule, oversees the intern and volunteer programs, and keeps the office functioning smoothly. She lives on a small ranch north of Mono Lake, with horses, cows, goats, dogs, chickens, turkeys, and a cat.See All Posts by Jessica (46) Contact Jessica
The 2019 Mono Lake Committee staff. Photo by Andrew Youssef.
In a blink, summer 2019 came to a close and another excellent group of seasonal staff headed out into the world, in one way or another changed by their time spent in the Mono Basin.
When not answering questions on the front counter, Information Center & Bookstore Assistant Kevin Brown also presented his talk, “Save the Pupfish! History, Water, and the Surprising Persistence of the Devils Hole Pupfish,” at our Refreshments with Refreshing ‘Ologists lecture series.
Merryn Venugopal is sticking around the Eastern Sierra for the winter after a great summer as Information Center & Bookstore Assistant. We were fortunate to have her professionalism and experience with retail systems at the front counter all season. (more…)
Friday, October 11th, 2019 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 grew up in on California's Central Coast dreaming of the two weeks each summer that her family would spend in the Eastern Sierra, and as soon as she graduated from St. Olaf College in 2005 she moved to Mono Lake full-time. She prefers to travel at high speed on either telemark skis or a mountain bike, or be completely still, immersed in a good book.See All Posts by Elin (342) Contact Elin
Travel to the Mono Basin in winter to experience the “forgotten” season on the east side of the Sierra Nevada. Winter here is quiet, majestic, and worth discovering with a guide on one of our winter field seminars.
Join us for a winter field seminar to experience the “forgotten” season in the Mono Basin. Photo by Arya Harp.
Thursday, September 26th, 2019 by Krista, Birding InterncloseAuthor: Krista, Birding InternName: Krista Fanucchi Title: Birding Intern About: A Bay Area native, Krista began exploring the Sierra Nevada at an early age and eventually landed her first seasonal position in Yosemite in 2009. After obtaining her BS in Geography and a minor in GIS from Portland State University, she was fortunate enough to receive a handful of positions researching and banding songbirds and Raptors in Yosemite, Point Reyes National Seashore, and on a windy butte near Mt. Hood in Oregon. In her free time, she enjoys exploring, reading, and painting pictures of both every day and peculiar things.See All Posts by Krista (5) Contact Krista
Autumn in the Eastern Sierra is a captivating time of year. After a busy summer of growth and renewal, vibrant pockets of yellow, gold, and red spills down steep canyon walls and across hilltops. Most of the birds have flown south for the winter, and the autumn leaves quiver and shine throughout a silent landscape. Though the fall colors have just started to pop up in isolated pockets throughout the Eastern Sierra, the crisp clean air announces more fall splendor to come soon!
Lundy Canyon fall color on 9/26/19. Photo by Krista Fanucchi.
Some small groups of aspen are just starting to change color along the June Lake Loop (7,654′), in Lee Vining Canyon (6,781′), and (more…)
Wednesday, September 25th, 2019 by Joslyn, Project SpecialistcloseAuthor: Joslyn, Project SpecialistName: Joslyn Rogers Title: Mono Lake Intern About: Originally from San Diego, Joslyn first discovered Mono Lake while working in Yosemite Valley. Her love for the Mono Basin was further solidified after studying Mono Lake on a UC Santa Cruz field program. Joslyn finished her degree in Environmental Studies at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. Today she works on a variety of education, outreach and fundraising projects for the Committee, and helps with coordinating events like the Wild & Scenic Film Festival and Free Drawing. In her free time she can be found rock climbing, birding, or running around the High Sierra.See All Posts by Joslyn (19) Contact Joslyn
We hope you are planning to submit your Mono Lake and Mono Basin photos for the 2021 Mono Lake Calendar jury selection this year. The deadline is Wednesday, October 31, 2019, and you can find submission information here.
Photos courtesy of John Dittli, Jessica Tallman, Dennis Flaherty.
We encourage you to submit high-quality photographs that you feel best capture the spirit of the Mono Basin’s geological and ecological wonders. To be selected for inclusion (more…)
Tuesday, September 24th, 2019 by Caroline BottegacloseAuthor: Caroline BottegaName: Caroline Bottega Title: Mono Lake Intern About: Coming all the way from New Jersey, Caroline is fulfilling her dream of living where her love for the outdoors and Sierra Nevada began. She received her BS in Environmental Science/Restoration Ecology and Geology minor from Lafayette College. Upon graduating in May 2019, she left the next day to drive across the country to begin her position at Mono Lake. Caroline enjoys research and teaching others about the wonders of the natural world. She can often be found hiking or writing, and is looking forward to taking in everything the Sierra has to offer!See All Posts by Caroline (4) Contact Caroline
In the age of cell phone cameras and instant photography, numerous photos can be taken in rapid succession without a second thought. However, upon later review, it may feel as though your photos still fall short of capturing the true magic of the image before your eyes.
“Tufa Wide Angle.” Photo courtesy of Dan Zimmermann.
On Wednesday, October 2 at 4:00pm, join photographer Dan Zimmermann for a short talk in the Mono Lake Committee gallery, followed by a walk along the shores of Mono Lake, for his presentation, A new way of seeing: Ideas to make your pictures the envy of everyone back home.(more…)
Thursday, September 5th, 2019 by Chloe, Mono Lake InterncloseAuthor: Chloe, Mono Lake InternName: Chloe Isaacs Title: Mono Lake Intern About: Born and raised among the quiet forests and rocky shores of Connecticut, Chloe has always felt a deep connection to the natural world around her. This love of nature encouraged her to pursue an undergraduate Geology degree from Oberlin College, during which she spent a semester abroad in New Zealand learning about earth science and environmental policy. In her free time, Chloe can be found reading in a sunny spot by the window, geeking out about cool rocks, or sitting on a beach looking at the ocean with her camera by her side.See All Posts by Chloe (4) Contact Chloe
Nature and art go hand-in-hand here at the Mono Lake Committee and one of the best ways to make use of this is through a field seminar, which the Committee hosts throughout the year.
Field seminar participants capture the evening light and the rise of the moon at South Tufa. A reflection of the scene shimmers in the foreground of the photo. Photo courtesy of Jeff Sullivan.
In early August the Mono Basin Landscapes & Milky Way Photography field seminar took place, led by accomplished nature photographer Jeff Sullivan. It was timed to take advantage of the waxing crescent moon and allow for extraordinary astrophotography that highlighted both the shining moon and abundant stars that are visible throughout the Mono Basin.(more…)
Sunday, August 18th, 2019 by Rose, Education DirectorcloseAuthor: Rose, Education DirectorName: Rose Nelson Title: Education Director About: After graduating with a degree in Environmental Studies from UC Santa Cruz in 2012, Rose worked as a botany research assistant at UC Berkeley, a Research Assistant for the California Department of Fish & Wildlife monitoring riparian plant species on rivers throughout California, and as a California State Parks interpreter. In 2017 she was here at Mono Lake as an Outdoor Education Instructor, and has now returned to oversee the Committee's education programs.See All Posts by Rose (5) Contact Rose
(Click to enlarge.)
Too often phenomenal women can be lost in the history books, but not in the Mono Basin.
The 16th annual Ghosts of the Sagebrush event, hosted by the Mono Basin Historical Society, is celebrating amazing women who had a hand in shaping the Mono Basin between 1900 and 1950. Over the two-day event, attendees will hear stories about Paiute women who “became known for their exceedingly fine, visually stunning, and complex polychrome baskets,” as well as fearless first female guides and ranchers. (more…)
Monday, July 29th, 2019 by Ellie, Mono Lake InterncloseAuthor: Ellie, Mono Lake InternName: Ellie Neifeld Title: Mono Lake Intern About: Ellie grew up in Oakland, but spent most of her summers exploring the Sierra Nevada and falling in love with the Mono Basin at a young age. Her first rock climbing trip to Yosemite in 2011 kindled her passion for climbing, which has kept her returning to the Sierra year after year. She recently completed a degree in Earth and Oceanographic Science at Bowdoin College and is excited to immerse herself in the natural history of Mono Lake. When not geologizing or climbing, Ellie can be found lying on granite slabs, painting, and dancing.See All Posts by Ellie (13) Contact Ellie
Mono Lake Committee staff and other Lee Vining residents hit the astroturf runway on July 20 for the Eastern Sierra’s most anticipated event of the year—the Trail Chic Fashion Show Fundraiser.
This year’s group of runway walkers at the Trail Chic Fashion Show Fundraiser. Photo by Elin Ljung.
A fundraiser for the Mono Lake Committee’s Outdoor Education Center (OEC) Access Fund, the Trail Chic Fashion Show raised enough money this year to bring nine future OEC groups to the Mono Basin for five days of life-changing outdoor activities while learning about the source of their water. (more…)
Monday, June 24th, 2019 by Lily, Information Center & Bookstore ManagercloseAuthor: Lily, Information Center & Bookstore ManagerName: Lily Pastel Title: Information Center & Bookstore Manager About: Lily was drawn to the Mono Basin by the beauty of the area as well as the Mono Lake Committee’s worthy cause, and now she can’t leave! She began as a Mono Lake Intern in 2014, fresh out of college. Since then she has held a handful of positions and has settled into her role as Information Center & Bookstore Manager. Lily loves reading, hiking, unicorns, and lipstick. Her summers are full of exploring the Eastern Sierra, ordering new and exciting books, and making sure that visitors leave the Information Center & Bookstore with a deeper understanding of and appreciation for Mono Lake.See All Posts by Lily (78) Contact Lily
What does it take to create photographs that reveal the essential spirit of birds? For wildlife photographer Marie Read it means capturing their behavior—in this presentation she’ll show you how it’s done.
Join us for a presentation and book signing with Marie:
Friday, June 28 3:00–4:30pm Mono Lake Committee gallery
in Lee Vining Reserve your seat here
Marie will share the back stories to her compelling images, many of which appear in her latest book, Mastering Bird Photography: the Art, Craft, and Technique of Photographing Birds and Their Behavior. Whether you’re a bird watcher or an experienced photographer, Marie’s tips will help you improve your own images.
Signed copies of Mastering Bird Photography and Marie’s previous book, Sierra Wings: Birds of the Mono Lake Basin, will be available for purchase after the talk. For questions and more information contact me by email or at 760-647-6595.
Monday, May 20th, 2019 by Nora, Lead Naturalist GuidecloseAuthor: Nora, Lead Naturalist GuideName: Nora Livingston Title: Lead Naturalist Guide About: Nora is a passionate naturalist who got her interpretive start as a Mono Lake Intern in 2008 and went on to seven years of seasonal ornithologist work in the most beautiful corners of California and beyond. She has since led many popular birding field trips for the Mono Basin Bird Chautauqua. It is her utmost joy to share her love of birds and nature with anyone and everyone to help foster a deeper respect for this unique planet.See All Posts by Nora (38) Contact Nora
Dana Meadows, at the top of Tioga Pass, looking northeast towards Tioga Peak. Photo by Nora Livingston.
On Saturday, May 18, I tagged along with a researcher studying sparrows up Tioga Pass. We drove all the way to the Yosemite National Park entrance station to check out the current conditions and set up a weather station for her study plot. It is still a winter wonderland up there! (more…)
