Alabama Hills National Scenic Area

Newsletter, October 2023

An engaged guest photographs the pinhole projector at the partial solar eclipse event on October 14th. Ashley Anderson, ESIA

Field Work

Movie Road is now open. The Whitney Portal Detour remains in effect. Trailers and large RVs continue to detour to Lubken Canyon Road.
BLM Rangers restored access to Gunga Din and Cattle Pocket by resurfacing the road and compacting the deep ruts from past floodwater.
Fire restrictions have been lifted on BLM land and campfires are now permitted as of October 10th.
BLM and ESIA are tabling at the Shark's Fin kiosk parking lot on Friday evenings to educate and direct campers.
As a reminder, camping agreements are live. Agreements are free and do not guarantee a campsite- all camping is first come, first serve. This is an acknowledgment that campers understand the rules and guidance for designated camping. To get an agreement, please visit the webpage or talk with a ranger in the Alabama Hills.
Staff have been working hard to repair side roads, clean out fire rings, collect trash, monitor camping behavior, update signs, and educate visitors about the importance of Leave No Trace.
ESIA’s interpretive specialist has been compiling photos of wildlife in the Alabama Hills. Do you have an interesting sighting? Email Ashley at ashley@esiaonline.org

Alabama Hills Camping Agreement

A female chuckwalla (sauromalus ater of the iguanadae family). Ashley Anderson, ESIA.

Get Involved

Are you or your organization interested in volunteering in the Alabama Hills? Give back to your community while spending time outside in this National Scenic Area. Email ashley@esiaonline.org to connect with opportunities in clean-ups and interpretation.
Spread the word about the Alabama Hills Newsletter! Sign up here .
Share the ESIA's event calendar for up-to-date ranger programs or ESIA's social media.

October Visitation

Vehicle and foot traffic was captured using an automatic, stationary sensor. Please note that some years have more complete data than others. Where there is incomplete data, the program may estimate based on past data.

Movie Road: N/A
Kiosk at Whitney Portal Entrance Station: N/A with closures
North Entrance: 3371
Mobius Arch Trail Foot Traffic: 85
Chicken Ranch: 65

This month's data was collected October 1- October 29, 2023

Events

Upcoming BLM-Sponsored

Upcoming Special Recreation Permit

November 12 - Adventure and Vow Photography

Past BLM-Sponsored

October 7 – 9AM Observation and Art Walk with Artist in Residence Alyssa Marquez
October 14 – 9AM Eclipse Observation
October 14 – 11AM Acrylic Painting Workshop with Artist in Residence Kristen Freeborn

Past Special Recreation Permit

October 1 – Wedding
October 5-8 – Lone Pine Film Festival
October 13-15 - Wedding
October 17 - Film Permit
October 20-22 - John Wayne Grit Foot Race

The 2023 Alabama Hills Artists

in Residence share their experiences:

"I’m grateful for the opportunity to spend ten days intimately exploring the Alabama Hills National Scenic Area. Spending extended periods of time in localized areas, or returning to the same places often, provides people with the ability to understand an area more deeply and therefore appreciate and care for that place. It is necessary to intentionally carve out time to spend with nature. It moves us out of a world saturated with quick cell phone pictures of the natural world, maybe taken without even getting out of the car, to a world of true experience and belonging." -Alyssa Marquez

"Being an artist in residence in the Alabama Hills has been one of the best experiences in my art career. Spending a week fully immersed in the landscape afforded me the opportunity to give my undivided attention to the mountains, the hills, and the air all around, which opened up my heart and mind to creative inspiration. I would also like to mention that working with the BLM staff on this project was such a great experience. Each member showed a professional and welcoming attitude towards me, and it was evident how much they love and respect the Alabama Hills." -Kristen Freeborn

Staffing

The BLM Recreation Department has 5 permanent and 4 seasonal team members that patrol the Alabama Hills and other BLM-managed lands. 1 law enforcement officer is specifically assigned to the Alabama Hills to assist with overnight use compliance.
Starting October 8th, 3 seasonal BLM staff will return.
November brings 1 Death Valley Ranger to the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center who will participate in interpretive events and Ranger Programs.
ESIA has Ashley as an Interpretive Specialist working with the BLM patrolling the Alabama Hills 3 days per week. ESIA also has a Lead Naturalist, Ellie, who will host interpretive events in the Hills in December.

Social Media

Follow Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association (ESIA) on Instagram and our Facebook page. ESIA staff attempts to schedule an Alabama Hills related post at least once a week during the peak Hills season, but slows during the summer months.
Follow the Bureau of Land Management- California Facebook page for information about California Public Lands, including the Alabama Hills!
Follow the Alabama Hills Stewardship Group on Facebook.