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Eastern Sierra Trail Ambassadors

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Eastern Sierra Trail Ambassadors

Eastern Sierra Trail Ambassadors

Eastern Sierra Trail Ambassadors

Eastern Sierra Trail Ambassadors

Eastern Sierra Trail Ambassadors

Ben Wickham
Ben Wickham
Ben Wickham
Ben Wickham
1 Campaign |
Bishop, United States
$970 USD 11 backers
19% of $5,000 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal

"This is the most beautiful place in the world," Edward Abbey.

 

 

For many of us, this quote means the Eastern Sierra. Think back to that time you stood in the green grass of Little Lakes Valley, smelling the wildflowers all around you as Bear Creek Spire stood in the distance. Think of that time you lay out on the granite slabs of Piute or Bishop Pass and listened to the chirp of marmots while the mountain breeze brushed your body, cooling your hiking weary muscles. Or the first time you came over Duck Pass, and looked down at broad, blue Duck Lake below and the miles of mountains in the distance beyond, and you felt the urge to keep walking into the expanse of it all.

 

Friends of the Inyo is partnering with the Inyo National Forest to place trail ambassadors on popular trails in the Eastern Sierra. Friends of the Inyo's Eastern Sierra Trail Ambassadors will be present on popular trails in the Mammoth Lakes Basin and other places like Rock Creek, Bishop Creek, Big Pine Creek, and beyond. You can help make this exciting and important work happen by donating to support the Eastern Sierra Trail Ambassadors.

 

 

During the summer of 2017, the Eastern Sierra Trail Ambassadors will walk trails with a smile on their face and a shovel in their hand like a banner that says I'm here to help. The smile makes them appear approachable. The shovel makes them look different, makes them look like they're working, and makes them appear important or knowledgeable. Often someone will ask, "What's the shovel for?" The shovel starts a conversation.

 

Here’s what the Eastern Sierra Trail Ambassadors will be doing this summer:

  • Trial opening: after a lot of snow this winter, they’ll work hard on removing felled trees, fixing steps, cleaning water bars, and addressing other issues that arise during spring runoff.
  • Positive, public service and outreach: they’ll be there to answer questions about etiquette, to point out places on a map, to discuss what’s going on with our public lands, and to be someone to share a story or a smile that brightens a hiker’s day.
  • Interpretive hikes: from geology to snow science to tree identification, there’s a ton to learn about the Eastern Sierra, and the Eastern Sierra Trail Ambassadors will be there to share their intimate knowledge of the place with anyone who joins an interpretive hike.
  • Trail work Thursdays: join the trail ambassadors, and come on out and get your hands dirty while giving back to trails you love.
  • Continuing maintenance and restoration: whether after heavy summer rains from a thunderstorm, or a busy Saturday of people enjoying trails, ongoing maintenance and clean up necessities arise, and the Eastern Sierra Trail Ambassadors will be out there all summer long providing upkeep, restoration, and maintenance on our favorite trails.

 

 

Now is the time for this crucial work. Many people are discovering iconic places in the Eastern Sierra by using popular trails, and the Inyo National Forest is experiencing wilderness visitation in numbers that it has never seen before. The Inyo National Forest estimated that 8,000 people traveled the John Muir Trail in 2015, and in 2016, 5,657 permits were issued for the Pacific Crest Trail. These thousands of annual thru-hikers frequently access civilization for re-supply through Eastern Sierra Trails. Also, thousands of hikers, climbers, and backpackers access the high country from the Eastside. This opens the door to invite many more people into discovering and exploring our vast and wild public lands. This is also an opportunity to communicate with them about etiquette, and ultimately, by ensuring that they discover that these are the most beautiful places in the world, to forge a long term connection that commits them to being lifelong constituents.

 

As our public lands get busier and funding dwindles, it’s crucial to think creatively and form partnerships to ensure that we discover and explore our public lands in a sustainable way. Here’s who Friends of the Inyo is working with to make the Eastern Sierra Trail Ambassador Program happen this summer:

  • Inyo National Forest: They’re the agency that manages these trails, and they’re the people who not only have an intimate knowledge of the place, but they have protocol, data, and experience that provides insight on how to balance resources on federal land. They will be providing training to the Trail Ambassadors, and general support through the summer.
  • Outdoor Industry: The outdoor industry has been flexing its political muscles, and it’s logical for them to give back to a place where their customers are using their product. Last Thanksgiving, Patagonia promised to donate all of its Black Friday profits to the environment. Patagonia is dispersing this money in grants through small business dealers like Eastside Sports. For a business that sells backcountry gear and whose owners and staff are passionate mountain explorers, it makes sense for Eastside Sports to give back to trails that their customers use. Beyond the Patagonia grant, Eastside Sports is putting its money where its mouth is by providing volunteer muscle for trail work this summer.
  • Businesses that practice sustainable recreation: While Eastside Sports is practicing sustainable recreation in its business model by providing support, there are other ways to integrate sustainable recreation into a business model. The Westin Monache Resort in Mammoth has proved to be a committed partner to nonprofits in the area. This summer, we’re taking the connection to Westin guests by facilitating volunteer opportunities for them to join in caring for Eastern Sierra trails.
  • Public: This is the opportunity for all us to get involved, including people parked at the trailhead, hikers schlepping packs up switchbacks,  and families fishing at a lake, or enjoying the view on top of a pass. It’s crucial now that we all get involved in caring for places we love. You can do that by donating to support the program, or even better, join us on a volunteer or interpretive outing.

 

 

Help make this crucial work happen. Your donation will ensure that people enjoy Eastern Sierra trails and that the most beautiful place on earth is well cared for. Donate to support the Eastern Sierra Trail Ambassadors.

 

*All John Dittli photos shared with permission to support Eastern Sierra trails. Other photos by Ben Wickham

 

 

 

 

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Choose your Perk

Trail Ambassador Sponsor

$20 USD
Receive a Friends of the Inyo sticker in the mail.
1 claimed

Friends of the Inyo Membership

$50 USD
Receive a Friends of the Inyo Membership, including the twice a year Jeffrey Pine Journal, Friends of the Inyo sticker, and special member opportunities and updates regarding the Eastern Sierra's public lands.
1 claimed

Sponsor Recognition Kit

$100 USD
Receive a Friends of the Inyo membership, sticker, T-shirt, and Klean Kanteen pint cup.
0 claimed

Join the Trail Ambassadors

$250 USD
Want to see inspiring on the ground work? Join one of the Eastern Sierra Trail Ambassadors as a volunteer for a day in the field. Get you hands dirty cleaning fire rings. Wander the woods on an interpretive hike. Take part in this inspiring work.
0 claimed

Trail Ambassador Partner

$500 USD
Receive all of the above benefits and more as a Eastern Sierra Trail Ambassador Partner. Do you have a favorite trail or place in our area of work? Let us know and we'll check on it for you. Receive updates from the field. We'll keep you posted periodically on how things are going in the Eastern Sierra.
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