Mono County News and Updates: May 3
Fear, frustration and mental wellness; Alterra CEO Rusty Gregory on re-opening; the 20/21 Ikon Pass; Wildfire, outdoors, travel and…
Fear, frustration and mental wellness; Alterra CEO Rusty Gregory on re-opening; the 20/21 Ikon Pass; Wildfire, outdoors, travel and festivals
By Monica Prelle
It’s been more than six weeks since Governor Newsom ordered Californians to shelter in place, and fear and anger seems to be building. 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.
Director of Mono County Behavioral Health Robin Roberts says frustration is understandable and a feeling she can relate to.
“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.”
People are living in a fearful state, in an environment they can’t control, and people may die. Now we are seeing a lot of expression, Roberts explained. Domestic violence is up, substance abuse and opioid use is up. Some people are breaking rules, and other people are angry at the rule-breakers.
These are all fear-based responses, Roberts said. But how do we cope and manage?
Roberts called on the community to keep up with the rule following. It is the best way to protect each other in the community and the most efficient way forward. And we should be making connections.
“We have to take care of each other,” she said. “Start checking in with each other. Set markers and buoys. Check in with your neighbors, you friends. Ask people — how are you?”
“Let’s rally, let’s make connections.”
Mammoth Mountain, IKON Passes, and a few words from Rusty Gregory
Many residents want to know why Mt. Baldy in Southern California opened for skiing last week and why Mammoth Mountain cannot or will not open. The answer is simple: it is against the governor’s orders and for now, being closed is still in the best interest of public health.
“If Mammoth opened, we would draw a large amount of visitors from outside of Mono County, which is in direct violation of the Governor’s stay-at-home order,” MMSA spokesperson Lauren Burke said. “The goal has been to keep people healthy and safe by staying home.”
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. Pass purchasers will have the option to delay their pass to the following year if requested between September 10 to December 10, 2020.
Anyone who purchased passes before the new discount was announced will receive a refund for the price adjustment. Alterra also announced two additional resorts to the group: Mt. Bachelor in Oregon, and Windham Mountain in New York.
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. In an interview last month, Alterra CEO Rusty Gregory said that he is in in constant contact with public health officers and he is optimistic about next winter.
“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.”
Gregory understands re-opening is not within his control and he is clear that he does not know when that is going to be.
“When we open back up, when it’s safe to do so, I think people will want to get out of their homes and in to the mountains,” Gregory said. “In the best of times people find the best versions of ourselves in the mountains and in the worst of times that is even more important.”
Wildfires, Marriage Licenses, Tourism, Fishing, Festivals, and the Forest
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.”
Governor Newsom issued an executive order allowing marriage licenses to be issued via video conference rather than in person at the discretion of the local clerk, so long as both adults are in the state of California and can provide identification during the video conference. Events and large gathering are not yet allowed, but marriages, yes.
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 including the parade, Footloose Freedom Mile, POPS in the Park, Mono Arts Council celebration, and fireworks at Crowley Lake. Bridgeport has not made an announcement regarding northern Mono County Independence Day celebrations.
The Mammoth Festival of Beers: Bluesapalloza has been cancelled. The Mammoth Yoga Festival, which was originally scheduled for June and moved to August, continues to move forward with planning (and a lot of emailing).
Mammoth Mountain has not yet made announcements for all of its summer events, but has cancelled Mammoth Motocross in June. State orders regarding large gatherings supersede county orders and the governor previously said he does not expect events to happen anytime soon.
After two lengthy public meetings in Inyo and Mono Counties about proposed Inyo National Forest road closures, “The forest is not pursuing the proposed forest closures at this time,” Debra Schweizer, the Inyo National Forest Public Affairs Specialist, told me in an email on Friday.
Access to Red’s Meadow the Lakes Basin and Mt. Whitney will be controlled with winter gates, which are currently closed even if the land is open. It is unclear when those gates will be opened as staffing and tourism is still a concern from management perspective.
Staff is arriving late may and will be quarantined for 14 days, which means most USFS sites most likely won’t open unitl mid-June. The land is, however, open.
Closed USFS recreation sites including campgrounds, picnic areas, and restrooms, with an April 30 expiration will remain closed. The order was extended to May 15 and the Inyo will re-evaluate closures every two weeks.
Last week the Department of Fish and Wildlife officially delayed fishing season opener in the Eastern Sierra and a few other counties that requested it. The delay will expire on May 31, which means as of right now, fishing season will open on waters that are currently closed June 1, presumably without the celebrations.
This could change — earlier or later, but it could change, according to Jeff Simpson, the economic development manager for Mono County. Waters with year-round regulations, including the East and West Walker, Hot Creek, and some sections of the Owens, are still open with minor regulation changes.
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Monica Prelle is a Mammoth Lakes-based independent journalist. Read: About Monica.
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