• For several days in January there may be an occasional helicopter transporting material in the north Alabama Hills near Chicken Ranch. This activity will be in support of an Alabama Hills Management Plan project to close abandoned mines for public safety and the protection of wildlife. Chicken Ranch Road may be temporarily closed for several hours during the days of helicopter operations. 
• Restoration projects persist, with focus remaining on redundant road closure/restoration as well as the Mobius Arch Trail maintenance. 
• Manual calibration of traffic counters is underway to ensure accurate data for the visitation graphs below. Staff count traffic simultaneously with the counter to double check numbers.
• The Whitney Portal Road detour remains in effect. Trailers and large RVs continue to detour to Lubken Canyon Road. 
• 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 below or talk with a ranger in the Alabama Hills. 
• Staff have been working hard to 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 

Past BLM-Sponsored 

• December 2 – Geology of the Alabama Hills 
• December 9 – Ranger pop-up table 
• December 16 – Ranger pop-up table 
• December 21 – Holiday craft decoration  
• December 30 – Ranger pop-up table 
• December 31 – NYE nature hike

• The BLM Recreation Department has 5 permanent and 4 seasonal recreation team members that patrol the Alabama Hills and other BLM-managed lands. 1 law enforcement officer provides patrol of the Alabama Hills and the rest of the field office. Other field office staff support as needed.  
• ESIA has Ashley as an Interpretive Specialist working with the BLM patrolling the Alabama Hills 2-3 days per week. ESIA also has a Lead Naturalist, Ellie, who will host interpretive programs in the Hills in February. 
• Death Valley is staffing the Eastern Sierra Visitor Center with a returning seasonal employee starting late November and a second seasonal employee starting mid December. One of these staff is funded by the BLM. These staff will also assist with interpretive events.