May 4: Mono County Weekly
The path to reopening; Alterra CEO Rusty Gregory on mountain operations; Proposed Inyo National Forest road closures; Wildfires, outdoors, and other travel updates
Thank you for subscribing to Mono County Weekly. This newsletter is a weekly recap of community news reported by me, Monica Prelle, a local journalist—so you can stay informed on the the issues that are important to our mountain community.
If you like what you read, please consider sharing with people who care about the region as much as you do. Your support is essential to growing the newsletter’s readership and keeping independent local journalism going.
Please get in touch with questions, comments or tips. Be kind, stay well. —Monica
The path to reopening Mono County. Which way to Mammoth Lake?
The path to reopening Mono County is a lot like giving directions to Mammoth Lake. No one has been down that road — it’s a mythical destination that does not yet exist — which makes it tough to find the way.
The local economy depends on tourism, movement of people to and from our mountain community. The pandemic also thrives on movement — asymptomatic carriers transmitting the disease in ways that the global medical community does not yet entirely understand.
If anything is certain, residents are getting frustrated. We are living in an environment that we can’t control and the future is unknown.
The most common question in local community meetings lately is: When are we going to re-open? If you’ve been paying attention, there is clearly not an answer to that question. But Gov. Gavin Newsom has started to hint at the slow re-opening the economy.
“We cannot get out in front of the state,” Mono County Chief Frank Frievalt has said over and over again. “The governor has not set a date, so we are not setting a date.”
Last week Gov. Newsom said California was just days away from making changes for people working in the retail sector, hospitality, and restaurants. And today, Gov. Newsom said phase two could begin as soon as this Friday.
Reality is that which, when you don’t believe it, doesn’t go away.
― Bill Kovach, The Elements of Journalism
Mono County News and Updates
More than 75% of Californians support the governor’s orders “as long as needed,” according to a recent California Health Care Foundation survey even if mobs of protestors have made headlines.
In Mono County domestic violence is up, substance abuse and opioid use is up, according to Robin Roberts, the director of Mono County Behavioral Health, .
“We are under a tremendous amount of stress. It’s not just economic,” Roberts said. “It’s because we have been disconnected from the things we love and the things that make us feel good in the world.” She recommends making connections, checking in on each other.
To little fanfare, Alterra Mountain Company announced changes to the 20/21 IKON pass. Early season savings are doubled, which means the base pass is now discounted $100, rather than $50, if you purchase by May 27, 2020. The actual value of the Ikon Pass is unknown considering it includes 27 resorts that are closed indefinitely and under the individual control of local public health officers.
“One of the cultural elements of the ski industry given the weather volatility is that we have a very resilient culture that adapts quickly to the unforeseen,” Gregory said. “Among all business cultures that I am aware of, the ski industry may be best prepared to be resilient and adaptable and flexible facing the pandemic.”
The Mammoth Lakes Fire Department and U.S. Forest Service responded to a small fire off of Sherwin Creek Road on Friday. “Wildland fire season is upon us,” an MLFD statement said. “Please remember that developed recreation sites, including picnic areas, are closed and that fires are not permitted in those locations.”
According to Mammoth Lakes Tourism survey results, Mammoth is high on the list for upcoming vacations. Director John Urdi says this was unsurprising given the survey group was previous visitors. The most overwhelming majority said that consumer confidence, and trust and sanitation is their priority for choosing a future vacation destination.
Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH) will not have summer flights, according to Urdi. When flights resume, the Bishop Airport may be up-and-running. JetSuiteX service from Burbank (BUR) and Orange County (SNA) to MMH is expected continue next year.
The Town of Mammoth Lakes announced that Fourth of July celebrations have been cancelled. Bridgeport has not made an announcement regarding northern Mono County Independence Day celebrations.
The difference between literature and journalism is that journalism is unreadable and literature is not read. —Oscar Wilde
Inyo National Forest is not moving forward with proposed closures
After two lengthy public meetings in Inyo and Mono counties discussing proposed Inyo National Forest road closures, the Inyo has decided not to move forward with closures, according to Debra Schweizer, the Public Affairs Specialist.
Proposed closures included the Minaret Vista and Red’s Meadow, Mammoth Lakes Basin, Pine Creek, Buttermilks, and Mt. Whitney. Hard-closures seemed unlikely given they needed approval from Washington DC, so Forest Supervisor Tammy Randall-Parker and the counties agreed to control access with winter gates.
It is unclear when those gates will be opened as staffing and tourism is still a concern from a land management perspective. Until then, the land is open and accessible on foot.
Closed recreation sites with an April 30 expiration will remain closed. The order was extended to May 15. The forest will re-evaluate closures every two weeks.
This week in Mono County
Ongoing community meetings are scheduled weekly on Thursdays in English at 5:30 p.m., and in Spanish at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom.
Recommended Reading
COVID: “The Rush to Reopen” by Amy Davidson Sorken The New Yorker
Sportswriting: “Run 100 Miles, 100 Times, in 100 Weeks. Now in a Brooklyn Apartment.” by Christopher Solomon for the The New York Times
Journalism: “50 years ago, a local newspaper dominated the story of the Kent State tragedy. Could that still happen?” by Margaret Sullivan Washington Post
Barring love, I’ll take my life in large doses alone—rivers, forests, fish, grouse, mountains. And dogs. —Jim Harrison
If you liked today’s e-mail, please spread the word! Your support is essential to growing the newsletter’s readership and keeping independent community journalism going.
If you’re new to the newsletter and want to subscribe, please click the button below— it’s free!
Monica Prelle is a Mammoth Lakes-based journalist currently reporting on COVID-19.