August was a full month at the Alabama Hills National Scenic Area, with highlights ranging from a major campground reopening to an out-of-town research trip that is shaping the future of dark sky programming at the site.
The month’s most tangible milestone was the reopening of Tuttle Creek Campground following slurry sealing of the access road and repainting of the speed bumps by the BLM Bishop Field Office team. The campground, which serves as the primary overnight venue for the National Scenic Area, is back open and better than ever heading into fall, our busiest visitation season.
On the dark sky front, August included an in-person research trip to Pasadena to attend Astronomy on Tap, a monthly public science event run by Caltech’s Director of Astrophysics Outreach, Dr. Cameron Hummels. More than 100 people packed the venue to hear world-class astrophysicists present their research in a way anyone could understand and enjoy. Local businesses in Old Town Pasadena saw a clear bump in foot traffic from the event. It was exactly the kind of community-centered, accessible science programming that we are working to bring to the Alabama Hills and the Owens Valley. There was also a virtual meeting with the head dark sky ranger at Death Valley National Park, deepening a partnership that will be central to our International Dark Sky Park designation application.
The month also included an in-person meeting with the Alabama Hills Stewardship Group member Nancy Hadlock, ongoing dark sky application revisions, and kiosk maintenance including welding repair.
Field operations covered the full footprint of our region: patrols and campsite surveys at the Alabama Hills, Doe Ridge, Long Valley, Tungsten Hills, and Casa Diablo; restoration work including fire ring and no-fire sign replacement, trash pickup at the Geological Walk and Sad Boulders, and porta potty servicing; signage replacement and a new trail designation; restocking of interpretive pamphlets; and trail-building work at Travertine. Surveys were also completed at the Cerro Coso, Casa Diablo, and Volcanic Tablelands Wilderness Study Areas.
It was a productive month. Fall is coming and the hills are calling.
