Winter's Embrace and New Beginnings

Join us and our partners this January for special events, job fairs, and more!

Winter has arrived!

The winter solstice and holidays have passed. The new year brings with it a celebration of time- looking back and reflecting on what is no more, and gazing forward towards what is to come.

The long nights of January give us ample opportunities to spot celestial events. Jan. 3rd-4th marks the peak of the Quadrantid meteor shower, after being active for around three weeks. On Jan. 13th, the moon will be at perigee, meaning it is at its closest to Earth. It will appear bigger and brighter in the night sky. Photo: BLM

Programs & Events

Certified Interpretive Guide Training

January 22-25, 2023: White Mountain Research Station, Bishop , CA

ESIA will be hosting a National Association for Interpretation (NAI) Certified Interpretive Guide Training.

The NAI Certification program is intended to help people new in the field and experienced interpreters demonstrate they have gained the experience, collected knowledge, skills, and abilities to be accomplished professionals in their field!

The class will be held at the White Mountain Research Station, 3000 E Line St, Bishop. The sessions will be held each day from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Contact Jeff Gabriel with any questions, at admin@esiaonline.org.

The deadline to sign-up is January 15th.

Job Fairs in Lone Pine, Bishop, and Mammoth Lakes

ESIA will be participating in these special events with Inyo National Forest.

January 10, 10 am-4 pm: Inyo National Forest Supervisor's Office | Bishop

January 16, 1 pm-4 pm: Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center | Lone Pine

January 18, 9 am-4 pm: Mammoth Lakes Welcome Center | Mammoth

These job fairs will help applicants in entry-level jobs navigate the application process. ESIA will be hiring for Visitor Service Specialists in Lone Pine, Manzanar, and Mammoth Lakes. The Forest will be hiring in program areas including fire, recreation, OHV, wilderness, archeology, engineering maintenance, and visitor services.

Highlights, News, & Updates

The Pupfish Hero

We are honored to announce the publication of The Pupfish Hero, written by Elaine Miller Bond and illustrated by Susan Greenleaf. A special thank you to Joe Reidhead with Reidhead & Company for his support and guidance. This publication was made possible through generous donations from the Eastern Sierra Land Trust and Altrusa of the Eastern Sierra.

The Pupfish Hero is the true story of Edwin “Phil” Pister, the courageous, resourceful, yet humble Fish Biologist who saved the Owens pupfish from extinction in two buckets during the middle of the night. Although this book is specifically written for children, the story will resonate with everyone.

You can purchase the book at any Inyo National Forest Visitor Center or our online store.

Purchase Your Copy

Faces of Bishop

“Faces of Bishop” is a new project created by Bishop Climbing Ranger, Kara Flowers. This project goes beyond the conventional perspective of Bishop as an international climbing destination and shares stories from different people in the local community. By sharing these narratives, Kara Flowers seeks to foster a deeper sense of connection and appreciation for the uniqueness of Bishop. This project shares their stories.

Peter Schultz, owner of Black Sheep Coffee Roasters, moved to Bishop in 2000.

“I came to Bishop in 2000 with my girlfriend, now wife,... We came out to guide, climb, get a job, live a life. It was different because this was pre-internet(!!), pre-guide book, and the Buttermilks weren’t crowded- nothing was crowded, it was all empty. It had a very different feel to it. Lots of adventure and unknown...

I started Black Sheep Coffee in 2004 behind Spellbinder Books. Before that, I was teaching... I didn’t necessarily want to be a teacher, and I thought I would eventually have to become a teacher again, but Black Sheep was successful enough that I never had to go back, which is crazy. I wasn’t specifically searching out a climbing community when I was young, but it certainly evolved around us that way, and that’s cool.

The vision to start Black Sheep was strictly coffee. I had a strong interest in roasting coffee, direct trade with coffee farmers, espresso culture, and to a certain extent the European lifestyle that goes along with it. Back then good coffee was super uncommon…And now, I feel like Black Sheep is functioning as a liaison and a hub between climbers coming to Bishop and the arts, the outdoors, and music. So that’s our goal: to bring people in with coffee, sustainably do coffee, and show them what this community and area have to offer.

[the people of Bishop] They want to see the land taken care of and remain pristine. That’s the biggest thing, right I mean, everyone’s here because of the beautiful and open space, no matter who they are... “ 🏔️

This is an excerpt from the interview. Visit our website for the whole interview.

Responsible Recreation Guide

How to recreate responsibly in Payahuunadü by the Bishop Paiute Tribe

The Environmental Management Office of the Bishop Paiute Tribe put together a guide in the hopes that it can be a starting point for those who wish to recreate in this area with respect towards the land and its original inhabitants.

Please take the time to read this guide which includes a brief history of tribe, how to recognize cultural sites and where you can get more information. We are proud to have supported this effort.

View the Guide

Job and Internship Opportunities

Bishop, Big Pine, and Bridgeport

Happy New Year!

Want to Support our Programs in 2024

Become a member! Our programs are made possible through the support of our members. New members are presented with a member gift; new and renewing members receive discounts on in-store ESIA retail items and 10% off in-store purchases at over 400 public land stores.

Become a Member

Photo: Mount Morrison, by Alexa Flower

Explore our website, follow us on social media, and visit us at one of our many bookstore locations!

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