2005 Spring/Summer
THE JEFFREY PINE JOURNAL Newsletter of Friends of the Inyo
SPRING-SUMMER 2005 VOLUME III, ISSUE I
Giving Back to the Land The Eastern Sierra Wilderness Stewardship Corps
High & Dry Walking the crest of the White Mountains
Desert Oases A field guide to streamside trees of the Eastern Sierra
Summer on the Eastside – McGee Canyon, John Muir Wilderness Working to preserve the public lands and wildlife of the Eastern Sierra Jeffrey Pine Journal Volume 3, Issue 1
THE President’s Message Jeffrey Pine Journal by Frank Stewart ost of you are reading this newsletter for the first time. For this issue VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 SPRING-SUMMER 2005 Monly, we are tripling the number of newsletters that we are printing and mailing, thanks to the generosity of a donor. You have received the Newsletter of “Jeffrey Pine Journal” because we think that you need to know about us. Friends of the Inyo We are a growing and dedicated group of citizens who believe that the pub- lic lands and wildlife of the Eastern Sierra need to be protected. Although Friends of the Inyo has been around for a number of years, in the last few years we have really stepped it up a notch. We have an Executive Director, Post Office Box 64 one conservation associate, and with help of the National Forest Founda- Lee Vining, California 93514 tion, we have added one more person to our staff. Our Bishop office is a pretty busy place. But then, the Eastern Sierra is also a pretty busy place. 275 S. Main St. The “east side” receives annual tourist visitation numbers that rival Yel- Bishop, California 93514 (760) 873-6400 lowstone and the Grand Canyon combined. Why? Not just because of its www.friendsoftheinyo.org wild character and striking scenery, but because that wildness and beauty is Board of Directors only about a half day’s drive from where most Californians live. In the long Lisa Jaeger – Round Valley, CA run, that close proximity is a good thing. People will always need to escape Frank Stewart – Round Valley, CA the hectic pace of the cities, yet there never seems to be quite enough time Linda Emerson – Bishop, CA to get away. Here in the Eastern Sierra, visitors can find the tranquility Todd Vogel – Bishop, CA they seek up a mountain trail on the same day that they left the office (as Paul Spitler – Palo Alto, CA long as they can slip out by noon!). For those who can spare more time, Will Friday – Santa Monica, CA the Sierra Nevada, White Mountains and Inyo Mountains that surround Bishop offer some of the best opportunities for backcountry travel in the Staff lower 48 states. That opportunity is one that we would like to pass on to Paul McFarland, Executive Director Keith Glidewell, Conservation Associate future generations, to your kids. We want to keep the “eastside” wild, but Jamie Anderson, Stewardship Coordinator we are not willing to leave that to chance. We are working towards achiev- ing new wilderness designations for the last of the best places that remain Friends of the Inyo is a local non- unprotected around here. Check out our proposals by visiting our website: profit conservation organization www.friendsoftheinyo.org dedicated to preserving the wildlife, This year in the high country, spring has been slow to take hold. Winter cultural and recreational values of has persisted well into April. We started off with the wettest October on the Eastern Sierra’s public lands. record. Then we got pasted with deep snows and drenching low elevation Printed on Recycled Paper rains in late December/January. Now, with this cool spring, we are enjoy- ing an epic desert wildflower bloom, as well as a lasting and dense Sierra snow pack. Of course, soon the heat will turn on in California, bringing the The Cover Photo runoff in torrents. But even summer’s heat will not defeat the deep snow- drifts of the upper slopes. The north faces of the mountain passes will be Mule’s Ears and White Lupine in McGee Canyon. Photo by holding snow all year. Be sure to plan on getting up to the Eastern Sierra. Andy Selters, www.andysel- It is shaping up to be a great summer. ters.com. – Frank Stewart is a General Building Contractor. He wishes he had more The Jeffrey Pine Journal, a biannual publication time for backpacking and fishing. of Friends of the Inyo, is named after the Eastern Sierra’s most aromatic conifer, Pinus jeffreyi. The Jeffrey Pine Journal is distributed free to members of Friends of the Inyo and is available at vari- ous locations in the Eastern Sierra and beyond. Written material and images herein are the sole property of Friends of the Inyo or are used with exclusive permission. We welcome submissions of artwork, writing and field observations. Please send all submissions and comments to Paul McFarland at [email protected]. Thanks.
FRIENDS OF2 THE INYO Jeffrey Pine Journal Volume 3, Issue 1 Outings
21-23 May - Cottonwood Creek Restoration 9 July - Protect our Headwaters Upper Owens Campout. Help restore stream banks, plant wil- River Stewardship Day. The Owens River is with- lows and cottonwoods and fix up informal camp- out a doubt the single most important river in the sites along the lower section of the largest stream in Eastern Sierra. Join us for a productive and reward- the White Mountains, Cottonwood Creek. In addi- ing day of fixing fences and campsites, installing tion to on the ground work, BLM biologists and new informational kiosks and restoring illegal off- local naturalists will lead bird and wildflower walks road vehicle tracks up and down the Upper Owens along this remote desert oasis. Primitive carcamp, River. Together we can help ensure a long life for potluck, campfire & camaraderie. 2-WD vehicles this beautiful river. Meet at 9am at the Big Springs OK. Campground (Head a bit over 9 miles north of the Highway 203 & Highway 395 junction. Turn east 4 June - Inyo Mountains Wilderness Restora- off Highway 395 on to Owens River Road. Drive tion and Hike. Come out and help restore and 2 miles east and turn north (left) into Big Springs block illegal off-road vehicle damage in the Inyo Campground). Event cosponsored by Friends of Mountains Wilderness. Back in March, FOI volun- the Inyo, the Sierra Nevada Alliance and California teers and FS staff raked out illegal tracks, installed Trout. Wilderness Boundary signs and built vehicle bar- riers only to have the work undone and the signs 30 July - Schulman Grove of Bristlecones. torn down in less than two weeks. On this trip, vol- Walk among the world's oldest living trees on one unteers will redo and reinforce the restoration work of the Eastern Sierra's most spectacular trails. This done in March in the morning and then head out 4.5 mile walk along the Methuselah Trail among into the Inyos for a hike among the pinyon pines. the world's oldest trees winds along the roof of the Lunch and refreshments provided. Bring gloves. Great Basin in the White Mountains. Meet at 10am Meet at 8am in front of the FOI office (275 South at the parking lot of the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Main Street) in Bishop. Visitor's Center, 9 miles north of Highway 168 on the White Mountain Road. 12 June - Glass Creek Meadow Hike. A moder- ately strenuous 4 mile roundtrip will take us up to 20 August - Green & Brown Lakes. A moderate- Glass Creek Meadow past tumbling Glass Creek ly strenuous 6.5 mile roundtrip stroll through aspen falls. Glass Creek Meadow, the largest subalpine groves leads up into a perfectly carved hanging val- meadow in the Eastern Sierra, is home to over 40 ley of granite, flowery mountain meadows and cool species of butterflies, Yosemite toads and dazzling alpine lakes. Meet at 9am at the South Lake Trail- wildflower carpets. A hidden gem, there are few head parking lot. places as magical as Glass Creek Meadow. Meet at 10 September - Second Annual Eastern Sierra 9am at the Obsidian Dome Road turn-off, 11 miles Coastal Clean Up. Last year, over 50 participants north of the Hwy 395 and 203 junction. cleaned up over 250 pounds of trash from the Bish- 15-19 June - White Mountain Crest Hike with op Creek Drainage in this first annual fall clean up. Sierra Mountain Center. See sidebar on page 9. Location and times to be announced, but you can bet on a day of beautiful weather, colorful creekside 2 July - Glass Creek Meadow. Come out and forests and plentiful prizes for participants. celebrate the freedom of America's public lands on a moderate, 4 mile hike to Glass Creek Meadow in the Proposed Owens River Headwater Wilderness Additions. The eastside's largest subalpine meadow, Outings Details Glass Creek Meadow is home to over 40 species of butterflies, Yosemite Toads and dazzling wildflower All hikes are free (except White Mtn. Crest hike), and open to ALL! Please also visit our website – www.friend- carpets. Meet at 9:30 am at the Obsidian Dome softheinyo.org – for more hikes and projects throughout Road turnoff, 11 miles north of the Hwy 203 junc- the summer. For more information, please contact Paul at tion and 3.5 miles south of the June Lake Junction 760-873-6400 or [email protected]. on Hwy 395. Photo: Norman Herterich
FRIENDS OF3 THE INYO Jeffrey Pine Journal Volume 3, Issue 1 Giving Back to the Land FOI establishes the Eastern Sierra Wilderness Stewardship Corps
he Inyo National Forest, located along the solutions. With the perennially shrinking land man- eastern edge of California, is one of the most agement budgets, groups like Friends of the Inyo are Theavily visited National Forests in the Nation. needed more than ever to step up with creative solu- Within a five hour drive from four of the west’s tions to help solve the problems facing our public major (and growing) metropolitan areas – Los Ange- lands. les, San Francisco Bay, Reno and Las Vegas – the grand mountain and desert vistas, pristine mountain streams teaming with wily trout and thousands of Get Involved miles of backcountry Wilderness trails draw more vis- The success of the Wilderness Stewardship Corps itors each year than Glacier, Yellowstone and Grand will depend in large part on YOU! As co-owners of Canyon National Parks combined. our Wilderness, we need you to help restore the trails Unfortunately, you love, reroute just as more and tracks out of down- more people head cutting meadows, for the hills to rec- pull spring-sucking reate, the capacity tamarisk and help of the Inyo Nation- inform visitors how al Forest is rap- to enjoy the Wilder- idly declining. For ness sustainably. fiscal year 2005, Your reward will not the Inyo National only be the satisfying Forest may lose ache in your muscles up to 20 field and after a day of roll- specialist positions ing boulders and due to budgetary the sense of accom- shortfalls. Given plishment that only the current trend of comes from working decreasing budgets with others toward and increasing use, a realizable goal, but ongoing Wilder- also the smile on ness management someone’s face as issues, such as trail Photo: Norman Herterich they meander a well- condition, off-road Mt. Whitney and the high peaks of the John Muir Wilderness rise above a designed trail drink- vehicle incursion, blooming desert. ing in the beauty of resource damage Sierran Wilderness and exotic weed invasion may seem insurmountable. and listening to the raucous call of a Clark’s Nut- cracker. To find out how you can take active care of Eastern Sierra Wilderness, please call Jamie Ander- Shovels in hand! son, Stewardship Coordinator, at 760-873-6400, or To combat the perfect storm brewing in the East- visit www.friendsoftheinyo.org. ern Sierra with increasing visitor demand coupled with decreasing Forest Service management capacity, Friends of the Inyo, through a generous matching National Forest Foundation grant from the National Forest Foundation, is estab- lishing the Eastern Sierra Wilderness Stewardship The National Forest Foundation, chartered by Corps as an ongoing program to develop projects and Congress, engages America in community-based and recruit volunteers for work in Wilderness Areas on national programs that promote the health and public the Inyo National Forest. enjoyment of the 192 million acre National Forest By engaging and empowering visiting and local System and accepts and administers private gifts of Wilderness users in the active management of their funds and land for the benefit of the National Forests. public wilderness resource, we hope to address real, To learn more visit www.natlforests.org. on the ground concerns with real, on the ground
FRIENDS OF4 THE INYO Jeffrey Pine Journal Volume 3, Issue 1 Defining the Roads Less Graveled A bold step toward a manageable and sustainable road network
oads through public lands are a hot topic in with steps 3, 4 and 5 – pairing down the unwieldy the Eastern Sierra. Some folks think there spaghetti bowl of roads to a manageable system of Rare too many (over 3,500 miles on the Inyo routes that provides National Forest alone) and some think there are too responsible motor- few (e.g. those proliferating new routes along the west ized access for all slope of the Whites or in the Buttermilks). Regardless Forest users. In of individual opinions, the fact is that no matter what some places where you drive or what your recreational persuasion, we all four roads go to rely on this extensive network of roads and trails to the same destina- get around on the Inyo National Forest. tion, this may mean To help sort out what can be the rather confus- choosing the best ing, redundant, sometimes damaging and just plain one while restoring unmanageable system of roads out there, all National the others; or it may Forests in California have begun a five-step process to entail the creation of finally create a legal system of DESIGNATED roads. a signed singletrack The need for a designated system of roads and motorcycle or moun- trails on public lands was first ordered by President tain bike loop oppor- Nixon in 1972. Even then, land managers realized tunity, or perhaps, an the need to “establish policies and procedures that old reclaiming road will ensure that the use of off-road vehicles on public can become a much- Some unsustainable routes, such as this lands will be controlled and directed so as to protect needed, signed, one through Black Canyon Creek, will the resources of those lands, to promote the safety of need to be repaired, moved or closed in frontcountry foot or favor of alternate routes. all users, and to minimize conflicts among the various horse trail. uses of those lands” (Executive Order 11644). Over two decades later, the current Chief of the Common Ground Forest Service, Dale Bosworth, said recently that this Everyone who enjoys public lands has a stake in “isn’t just a matter of a few user conflicts or a few this process. While some are already dredging up the user-created trails here and there. In 2003, we figure old tactic of trying to divide the community into “off- we had more than 14,000 miles of user-created trails roaders v. conservationists,” the truth is we’re all “off- on the National Forest System. That’s a lot of unman- roaders” as far as the route designation process goes. aged use, and it costs a lot to repair. It can lead to We all drive or ride to get to where we want to go on lasting damage.” the Forest. This process is not just about motorcycles or four-wheel drives vehicles. It is about ensuring we The Process can continue to enjoy our forest while protecting what The five-step process that will lead us to our desti- makes us want to get out in the first place – the wild nation begins with an Inventory of the roads & trails and freedom of our public Forest lands. now on the ground. The Inyo N.F. is currently taking public comment on the Inventory maps it released this past winter (see sidebar for how to get a copy). How to Get Involved Once the Inventory has been studied by the public For a detailed introduction to Route and agency specialists, the Inyo N.F. expects to craft Designation, download the Route Designation a Forest Order limiting travel to these inventoried Guidebook at http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/rwhr/ roads and trails. Some call this the “stop the mad- ohv/route-designation/index.html ness order” because, believe it or not, it is still legal to drive off-road in some National Forests! With this To obtain a CD of the current Route Inventory, order, the Inyo N.F. will have the tool they need to pick up a copy at any Inyo National Forest successfully cite those who irresponsibly drive or ride Office or call Nancy Erhardt with the Inyo wherever they please. at 760-924-5532. Once the Inventory is in place, the real work begins
FRIENDS OF5 THE INYO Jeffrey Pine Journal Volume 3, Issue 1 Riparian Trees of the Eastern Sierra
Poplar Family – Salicacae
HINT: roll the petioles between your thumb and pointer finger to see if they are round (roll smoothly) or flattened (roll lopsided).
flattened round
Fremont Cottonwood Black Cottonwood – – Populus fremontii Populus balsamifera ssp. The quintessential marker of desert trichocarpa oases, the Fremont cottonwood, As you travel up from the valley or Alamo as it’s called in Spanish, floor, the desert-loving Fremont is restricted to the valley floor, cottonwood yields to the mountain alluvial fans and lower reaches of stream-hugging Black Cottonwood. mountain streams in the Eastern Found as high as 9500’ in the Eastern Sierra (<6500’). Distinguished from Sierra and White Mountains, Black the Black Cottonwood by its broad, Cottonwood leaves are more shiny green, strongly triangular rounded than the Fremont’s with leaves with strongly toothed much smoother edges, rounded margins and flattened petioles (see petioles and much darker green on drawing). Cottonwoods get their name top with a lighter color underneath. from the fluffy white down which In some places, such as McAfee coat their small seeds and fill the Canyon on the eastern slope of the air as desert streams reach their peak White Mountains, Black and Fremont spring runoff. Take a moment to sit cottonwoods hybridize where they under a cottonwood on a breezy day, overlap at middle elevations forming and listen to the leaves sing a song of trees that mix the leaf characteristics of desert rain. these two cottonwoods.
Quaking Aspen – Populus Willow – Salix spp. tremuloides From the tree-sized Arroyo Willow (S. Found across the continent, the Aspen is a characteristic lasiolepis) of the valley floor to the ground tree of high Sierra and White Mountain meadows. With hugging Arctic Willow (S. arctica) of alpine its characteristic smooth, whitish bark, small, rounded, meadows, willows are a diverse and bright green leaves and generally straight, important component of Eastern slender trunk, the Aspen is Sierra riparian communities. unmistakable. Rather than Willow thickets provide food, shelter and reproduce by seed, most Aspens nesting sites for a variety of songbirds, actually reproduce by cloning forage and cover for mule deer and – a mother tree will send out nearly everything for a plethora of underground roots that shoot insects. Identifiable by green leaves up new trees when conditions which are usually much are right, such as after a fire. As longer than wide, most such, Aspens are often found Eastside Willows will be shrubby growing in genetically identical bundles of smooth barked, groves. While an individual tree vertical twigs or small trees may live for only 50 years, the with dark, furrowed bark teeming clone group may be thousands with life. Willows contain salicin, which of years old. Like the scientific is closely related to acetylsalicylic acid, aka name, tremuloides, suggests, even aspirin. In addition to being chewed for the slightest breeze sets the, flat- toothache, the pliable twigs are also a main petioled leaves trembling. component of native basketwork.
FRIENDS OF6 THE INYO Jeffrey Pine Journal Volume 3, Issue 1 Riparian Trees of the Eastern Sierra
Riparian Areas are the wet Birch Family – Betulaceae areas along desert streams and around springs, seeps and meadows Water Birch – Betula occidentalis – are the single most important The deep coppery red bark, warty twigs and egg-shaped, sharply toothed deep green habitat in the Eastern Sierra. Not only leaves set Water Birch apart from its other riparian do these areas provide much needed neighbors. Often growing as a shrubby tree with water for thirsty critters, but the lush many trunks, the water birch lines the banks of plant life found in these scattered fast moving desert and mountain streams up to oases provides homes, shelter, around 8000’. Much more widespread during the food, nesting material and shade for last Ice Age, the Water Birch, like many western everything from buckeye butterflies riparian trees, became restricted to wet canyons to black toads to mountain lions. and desert streams as the climate warmed and dried. With over 90% of the riparian areas in the West damaged or destroyed, we need to zealously guard what we have left. There’s no better way to learn Dogwood Family - Cornaceae the importance of these life-giving sanctuaries than to visit them, listen Creek Dogwood – Cornus sericea to the birds and learn who lives there. Often part of the understory community below aspens or black cottonwoods along Eastern Sierra streams and meadows, the Creek Dogwood is recognized by its long, whip-like purplish, red twigs, largish opposite leaves with prominent veins, and, in early summer, a dome of small, white, 4-petaled flowers which mature into small white berry-like fruits.
Oleaster Family – Eleagnaceae Silver Buffaloberry – Shepherdia argentea A sometimes overlooked member of the riparian community, the green, silver-speckled leaves of Buffaloberry almost glitter in the sun (argentea means silver in Latin). The small scales coating the leaves help reflect the sun, thereby reducing water loss from the desert sun. The shaggy-barked, slender stems of Buffaloberry often grow straight up forming a tall, dense shrub. If the small bright red, edible berries that mature from miniscule yellowish flowers don’t get your attention, the thin stems reduced to sharp thorns might. Buffaloberry can be found along desert streams such as Furnace Creek on the east slope of the Whites or Lee Vining Creek in the Mono Basin.
Rosaceae – Rose Family Wood Rose – Rosa woodsii Walking along many desert streams is a reminder that every rose has its thorn, and in the case of the beautiful Wood Rose, it has thousands of them! The thorn-coated, reddish-stemmed Wood Rose is often the first plant to recolonize a disturbed riparian area. The distinctive 5-petaled, fragrant pink flower, so loved by bumblebees and flowersniffers, matures into a deep red, urn-shaped fruit called a rose hip. These hips form an important part of many critter’s fall diet, and also make a wonderful tea or jam rich in vitamin C. Dense thickets of thorny Rose provide a relatively safe nesting site for migratory songbirds. Art by Ode Bernstein Text by Paul McFarland
FRIENDS OF7 THE INYO Jeffrey Pine Journal Volume 3, Issue 1 White Mountains Hike The best backpacking trip (not) in the Sierra by Todd Vogel
s a mountain guide, outdoor educator and night’s camp was at 10,000’, the second at 11,000, (nearly) twenty-year resident of the Owens and so forth. We began near White Mountain AValley, I’ve had the privilege to explore Research Station’s Crooked Creek facility, plac- many of the area’s finest mountain places. Of the ing our first camp comfortably near 10,000’ in the many exceptional hikes and ski tours I’ve done in northern part of Cottonwood Basin. the Sierra and environs, a hike that stands out as Cottonwood Basin is one of those surprising truly exceptional – in a land defined by spectacular places. Granite rock formations dot the landscape, hikes - is a walk that is not in the Sierra at all. and dense groves of aspen trees line the edges of Across the Owens Valley from the Sierra Nevada, vast sagebrush covered meadows. Cottonwood the White Mountains receive much less attention Creek is too big to easily jump across in many than their big brothers to the west. From the valley places, and in the North Fork, fearless endangered floor “the Whites” appear to be dusty, brown, dry Paiute Cutthroat trout wait their turn for insects and desolate. A veritable wasteland. There’s little to float by. The fish were stocked here decades fishing (though there are fish) and you need ago, but that’s to work hard to get wet there, much less go another story for a swim. Travel is mostly rugged, high, and (sorry, no fish- off-trail, and access is via poorly maintained ing!). Here the dirt roads. There are no outhouses at the trail- trail follows the heads. Why go at all? creek through Perhaps best known for the Bristlecone Pine, dense riparian one of Earth’s oldest living things, the Whites thickets alive are full of mystery and surprise, not to men- with birds and tion the best views of the Sierra obtainable other critters. with your feet still on the ground. A surprise: This is the there are nearly 40 named streams in the arid wasteland Whites, a range barely sixty miles in length. I mentioned And a mystery: many Native American arti- before? facts remain there, including remnant trails A day later, and ancient hunting blinds at over 13,000’. the crest of the What was it like to earn part of your living in mountains are such an inhospitable place? gained near After years of looking at the Whites from McAfee Mead- “across the street” and countless day hikes up ow. A brief the streams and canyons on the west side, I but welcome gave in to temptation and decided to take a Photo: Todd Vogel stint on the old hike along the length of the range. Sunset Bristlecone at the head of Cottonwood Basin White Moun- tain road leads The route finding is easy enough: with the to the top of the Range’s namesake peak, which at exception of some options at the start and end, 14,246’, is higher than all but two of California’s there really aren’t many ways to go. It’s one long “fourteeners”. Most travelers turn back here, but ridge top after all. But, as they say, the devil is in this trek is just getting into high gear! the detail. One big challenge of the hike is how best to deal with the extreme elevation. Hikers and Just past White Mountain Peak is a bit of inter- mountaineers have long known that too fast a trip esting terrain. In guide speak that means chal- to high altitude can lead to illness. After studying lenging stuff ahead… Travel here is not technical, the map, a sequence of camps that fit with a cau- but at 14,000’, it’s hard enough. It takes a couple tious approach to the elevation became apparent. of hours to weave through the snow patches and Ideally, we’d position ourselves so that our first loose rock that guard the entrance to the north Continued on next page FRIENDS OF8 THE INYO Jeffrey Pine Journal Volume 3, Issue 1
White Mountains Hike...continued
half of the Whites. Whites is a strenuous (some Day two closes would say brutal) initiation to at a camp at the hiking in the range. It seems saddle between that up and over Boundary Birch and Cabin Peak is the best way, as most Creeks, a fitting of the elevation is lost on steep end to a mara- trails and an old dirt road. thon day. Another Other options exist, but what- interesting place: ever way you choose you’ll have though 500’ from earned your end of trip beer! each other at Floating above the Great their headwaters, Basin desert sea, it’s easy to one creek flows imagine these mountains as to the west, the islands. As the hike unfolds so other to the east. does the mystery: Questions Arrowheads and answered but, reason enough obsidian chips are Photo: Todd Vogel to return since many more abundant here. Walking atop the Great Basin near Mt. Dubios. occur. The northern end of the Whites rise to the spectacular Pellisier Flats, a five mile long rolling plateau at 13,000’. Stunning views are plentiful: it’s possible to see the Walk the Crest peaks of Lake Tahoe to the north and the peaks Sierra Mountain Center, LLC is offering of southern Death Valley to the south, a distance this hike this year as a fundraiser for FOI. All of nearly 300 miles. More unexpected discoveries: just south of Mt. Dubois, the high point of Pel- proceeds less food and shuttle expenses will lisier Flats, a spring emits a steady flow. Others be donated to Friends of the Inyo. Space is have found this spot – an ancient hunting shelter is limited to six people. Dates are June 15-19, nearby. 2005, and cost is $750. What goes up must eventually come down, and Visit www.sierramountaincenter.com or call the end of the White Mountains hike is something 760-873-8526 for more information. to be prepared for. A descent off the top of the
For more information Protect & Preserve America’s largest desert mountain range For a map of the route taken please go to also happens to be the second largest unprotected roadless area in the Lower 48 http://www.sierramountaincenter.com/ States! By preserving the White Mountains graphics/maps/summermaps/whitemtnhike. as designated Wilderness, we can ensure gif that many more will be able to wander its Many more photos can be found at: wild crest or rest under an ancient pine. Go to www.friendsoftheinyo.org to learn about http://www.sierramountaincenter.com/ gal- preserving this unparalled desert range. lery/gallery/White-Mountain-Hike
FRIENDS OF9 THE INYO Jeffrey Pine Journal Volume 3, Issue 1
Pinedrops...notes on issues affecting Eastern Sierra Public Lands by Paul McFarland & Keith Glidewell
A Good Deed Undone… Sierra landscape of towering cliffs, Despite the fact that both agencies alpine lakes and rich trout streams, have found that vehicle use in Fur- On a beautiful early spring Sunday, illegal use has exploded recently, even nace Creek damages rare and vital nearly a dozen volunteers and Inyo spilling over into adjacent Yosemite riparian habitat, 5 of the 6 alterna- National Forest personnel met in National Park and the Emigrant Wil- tives proposed by the agencies would Independence to begin tackling an derness. allow vehicles to drive through this ongoing off-road vehicle problem in Rather than enforce the standing desert wetland. Apparently bowing to the Inyo Mountains. closure order, the Humboldt-Toiyabe political pressure from the off-road Organized by FOI Board member, National Forest is proposing to sim- vehicle lobby, the agencies are seri- Todd Vogel, the target of the day’s ply rewrite the law and open the area ously considering spending dwin- work project was to replace signs, to snowmobile use. dling taxpayer dollars to build a new build barriers and rake out illegal How do our public land manag- motorized route through Furnace off-road vehicle tracks running up ers ever expect to get a handle on Creek. a hillside into the Inyo Mountains the explosion of illegal and damag- Thankfully, concerned citizens Wilderness. Despite the fact that the ing off-road vehicle use if purposeful turned out in force, both in person area has been off-limits to vehicles for illegal behavior is rewarded with rule and through letters, to vociferously over 10 years, motorcycles, jeeps and changes? oppose the proposed damaging and ATVs routinely violate the wilderness wasteful new route. While the agen- boundary north of the road to the cies are mulling through the public Betty Jumbo Mine. Smoldering at Furnace comment, Furnace Creek continues Unfortunately, it took less than two Creek to quietly restore itself. weeks for someone to tear down the Rather than put out the ongoing rock wall, rip out the signs, winch fire over the protection of Furnace boulders out of the way and scar the Creek, the Inyo National Forest and Run for the Hills! adjacent hillsides with new tire tracks. the Ridgecrest Office of the BLM On a beautiful Saturday morning, That’s a lot of work to drive illegally, reignited the controversy with their April 23, the First Annual Friends especially when you consider there recent gasoline-soaked Environmen- of the Inyo Eastern Sierra Earth Day are 3,500 miles of open road in the tal Assessment (EA). Race was held in the Buttermilks Inyo National Forest! A unique desert stream draining west of Bishop with great success. 93 Join us on the 4th of June as we the east slope of the White Moun- runners converged on the 10K/5K head back into the Inyos to restore tains, Furnace Creek has unfortu- course that wound through desert the hillclimbs, barriers and signs (see nately become a flashpoint in the meadows and giant boulders below schedule on page 3). the magni-ficent Sierra Crest. battle over the appropriate Thankfully, Breaking the Law use of off-road the weather It appears that some public land vehicles on cooperated managers need some basic lessons public lands. and we had a from parents and teachers – namely, After con- sunny, wind- that you don’t reward bad behavior if servationists less day for a you ever wish to keep some order. documented fantastic race. For the last couple of years, con- ongoing dam- Runners were servationists and the Forest Service age to this greeted at the have documented increasing illegal fragile oasis, finish line with snowmobile use in the proposed the Forest Ser- drumming by Hoover Wilderness Addition just vice and BLM the Rhythm south of Highway 108 near Sonora moved to pro- Method, Pass. Not that the illegal use has been tect the stream refreshments from Great any secret; a quick Google search from ongoing The pink flag in the center of this picture marks the path of will reveal dozens of images of snow- vehicle damage the proposed new motorized route through Furnace Creek Basin Bakery mobilers blatantly flouting the law. in March, 2003 as well as First closed to snowmobiles over two (go to www.friendsoftheinyo.org for great prizes decades ago to protect this classic more information and photos). from Montrail, Patagonia, Eastside Continued on next page
FRIENDS 10OF THE INYO Jeffrey Pine Journal Volume 3, Issue 1
Pinedrops (continued)
Sports and InTouch Micro Spa in Russell of Montrail, of Wilson’s Mammoth. Eastside Sports, Skandar’s Thank you to all our volunteers Custom Sculptures, Great SUPPORT THOSE who made this great race happen: Basin Bakery, CalTrans, City of Jan Gnass, Laura Schappert, James Bishop, Northern Inyo Hospital WHO Wilson, Gretel Enck, Alan Murdock, and Rayni Chase with Balance Dr. Stacey Brown and the Rhythm Bar. SUPPORT US! Method Thanks also to the Inyo And a huge thank you to our National Forest and the great sponsors without which we Department of Water and would not have been able to provide Power for their permits. our runners with great prizes and See you next year for refreshments: Patagonia, InTouch the 2nd Annual Friends Micro Spa in Mammoth, Andy of the Inyo Eastern Sierra
Photo: Keith Glidewell Runners get set as the clouds break
FRIENDS 11OF THE INYO FRIENDS OF THE INYO NONPROFIT POST OFFICE BOX 64 ORG. LEE VINING, CALIFORNIA 93541 U.S. POSTAGE PAID LEE VINING, CA 93541 PERMIT NO. 3
Photo: Roberta McIntosh
Marie Louise Lake, John Muir Wilderness Join with us to preserve the Eastern Sierra MEMBERSHIP LEVELS: ___ $25 Clark’s Nutcracker All members will receive our ___ $50 Yosemite Toad biannual newsletter, as well ___ $100+ Sierra Nevada Bighorn as timely alerts on ___ This is what I can afford Eastern Sierra public lands conservation issues. YOU WILL RECEIVE A FREE 100% ORGANIC COTTON FRIENDS OF THE INYO T-SHIRT WITH A DONATION OF $35 OR MORE. Please make all checks payable to FOI. Shirt size (S, M, L, XL) All donations to FOI are tax-deductible.
NAME
ADDRESS
PHONE
EMAIL www.friendsoftheinyo.org