Dark Desert Skies Campout at Conglomerate Mesa

Saturday, November 6th-7th

ATTENTION!

The Conglomerate Mesa Dark Desert Skies event is limited to 30 RSVPs and is now FULL. Attendees can expect to hear from our Desert Policy Associate, Bryan Hatchell (contact details below), in the coming days with specific logistic details such as caravan meeting points, etc. If you signed up and can no longer attend, please let us know ASAP so we may invite the next person on our stand-by waitlist. If you are on our stand-by list and someone cancels, we will reach out over email (and phone if provided) in the order folks signed up. If you are on the stand-by list and receive an invitation, we require you to respond within 24 hours, otherwise we will move to the next person on the stand-by list.

General Event Description

Survey the skies and bask in the new moon with neighbors and friends on the foothills of Conglomerate Mesa on November 6th-7th. We will camp out, view the skies through telescopes provided by gracious volunteers, and have a camp talk about the joys of the desert nightlife that crawls around the Mesa. In the morning, we will set out early for a day hike and view the wonders at Conglomerate Mesa. We’re looking forward to a beautiful night under the stars in the California Desert. Can’t wait to see you there!

Event Kickoff Details

We will meet at the Lone Pine Interagency Visitor Center at 4:30pm and head to our campsite, which is in Santa Rosa Flat off Saline Valley Road.  Exact campsite location and logistical details will be distributed to the sign-up list as the event draws closer.

Equipment Required

You will need to bring your own camping gear, food, plenty of warm clothes and water. You will be able to reach the Saturday night campsite in a common sedan, but not the trailhead for the Sunday Conglomerate Mesa hike. A high-clearance vehicle with strong tires like 4runner, Tacoma, or F150 is highly recommended. This will also help with carpooling for the Sunday hike. Friends of the Inyo will bring additional supplies in the event something is forgotten.

Tentative Schedule

Nov. 6

4:30 pm: Meet at Lone Pine Interagency Visitor Center
6 – 6:30 pm: Arrive at Campsite
6 – 7 pm: Settle In, Set Up Camp, and Make Dinner
7 – 8 pm: Round Table Talk featuring Gregg Vane, Cindy and Dan Duriscoe, Bryan Hatchell, and others

• CM Wildlife at Night
• Update on threats to Conglomerate Mesa
• Astronomy

8 – 9 pm: Free roaming amongst the telescopes

Nov. 7

10am: Hike to Conglomerate Mesa

About Bryan: Born and bred in the Carolinas, Bryan cultivated his love for public lands and the Eastern Sierra serving on a trail crew, working at a variety of locations including Devil’s Postpile National Monument and Golden Trout Wilderness in Inyo National Forest. Inspired to take the next leap in his career, Bryan trekked to the Rocky Mountains where he earned his Masters in Sustainability Planning, with a focus on public lands planning. Bryan has since returned to the land that kickstarted his passion for conservation. Bryan is leading coalition efforts on the Conglomerate Mesa, ensuring the integrity of the DRECP, and much more.