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.

Trail Chic 2010 raises funds and fun

On July 24th the Mono Lake Committee and Barefoot Wine & Bubbly held a fashion show fundraiser for the Outdoor Experiences Program. There was a great turnout for a fun show featuring locals strutting down an astroturf runway in the Lee Vining Community Center.

Trail Chic 2010 models
Trail Chic 2010 models.

Trail Chic is a fundraiser for the Outdoor Experiences program, specifically to raise money for the Bus Money Fund, which helps Los Angeles youth with transportation costs of getting to Mono Lake. Quite often we find school groups, youth groups, and community groups that have the desire to come to Mono Lake to learn about the source of their water, but money to organize transportation can be prohibitive.

A tufa tower on the runway, courtesy of Mono Lake Intern Hannah Doherty. Photo by Elin Ljung.
A tufa tower on the runway, courtesy of Mono Lake Intern Hannah Doherty.

For the event volunteer runway models created their own outdoors-inspired outfits and modeled them for the crowd. Climbers, researchers, birders, Mono Lake bumper sticker tops, and even brine shrimp and a tufa tower walked the runway.  It was fun, funny, and a fundraising success.

Randy Arnold of Barefoot as the Wine Ranger!
Randy Arnold of Barefoot as the Wine Ranger!
Captain Morgan of the Mono Lake Canoe Fleet walked the runway in Bodie-era dress. Photo by Elin Ljung.
Captain Morgan of the Mono Lake Canoe Fleet walked the runway in Bodie-era dress.

Thanks to the generous support of Barefoot, the amazingly creative runway volunteers, and everyone who pitched in for the cause, more young people will have the opportunity to experience the magic of Mono Lake. See you in the spotlight next year!

Chris McCreedy and Claire Skinner in research garb complete with little red flats. Photo by Elin Ljung.
Chris McCreedy and Claire Skinner in research garb complete with little red flats.
Bonnie Harvey and Michael Houlihan of Barefoot sporting their inspiring trail chic. Photo by Elin Ljung.
Bonnie Harvey and Michael Houlihan, Founders of Barefoot sporting their inspiring trail chic. Photos by Elin Ljung.

Click here for more photos from the event. Contact Arya Degenhardt if you’re interested in supporting Trail Chic or the Bus Money Fund.