My first real job AND a new blog post!

I apologize again to the three people who actually read my blog for being so bad at posting. But there is good news! I will be staying on in Tahoe for another two years working on water and climate change issues. I am very excited to continue my work here and be able to actually advocate (which we are not allowed to do as AmeriCorps members...only "educate").

There have been some low moments as well. I went to my first meeting with some very talented and experienced policy makers, scientists and academics to talk about climate change and adaptation. While it was an educational experience, it frustrating because I couldn't really make comments as an AmeriCorps member and because it seemed the group was just talking in circles and not identifying the actions that could be taken immediately. Nor did they seem to have much experience with resource managers and the kinds of issues and challenges they face on the ground. It was very overwhelming and I came a way with a whopper of a headache. But after attending our annual conference and talking to my supervisor, I felt reinvigorated and re-inspired by all the activists working in the Sierra and all the amazing things they have achieved.

Its also nice to live in a place with actual seasons. Even though its only September, you can actually smell autumn coming. The air is cool and crisp, the aspens are changing color and the angle of the sun changes the way light hits the trees in the late afternoon. The cold reminds me of Scotland and how much I miss it there! I think I am due for a visit pretty soon. The cold also makes it harder to get out of bed and motivate myself to continue riding my bike to work until the first snow falls. On the left is a photo of me near Granite Lake in the Mokelumne Wilderness.

Now that I have internet at my house, I hope to update this a little more often that I have in the past. I will leave you with a few photos from this past summer and hopefully they will entice some of you to finally come and visit!

Monitor Pass in the spring.

Bodie, an old mining town, with a dusting of spring snow.

Fishing the Owens Rive with my brother, Andrew.
Me and my bro fishing. My dad is so proud! It started snowing right after Katie, AmeriCorps member in Bishop, took this photo.

Sunset over Lake Tahoe.

On the trail up Mt. Tallac.

Moonrise over Loon Lake. Spring in the Eastern Sierra at the site of the former Manzanar Internment Camp.
Sequoias near Giant Sequoia National Monument. We did our spring training in the southern Sierra at River Ridge Ranch in Springville. This is Morgan's puppy, Lassen. Isn't he the cutest?

My buddy Morgan at Granite Lake.