By Wendy Schneider, Executive Director, Friends of the Inyo
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I feel like I’m overstepping my credentials when I call myself a “climber” in California’s Eastern Sierra (because, from my humble view, it feels like all the “real” climbers” can onsight 5.11d in the Gorge; I cannot.) but that doesn’t stop me from getting out there.
And when I do head out with friends to climb in these playgrounds, I always feel a mix of joy and gratitude, both for my partners who keep me safe, and for these wild, beautiful places, like the expansive views of Tuolumne, the clean granite of Pine Creek, the otherworldly pillars in Granite Basin, the high cirques of Rock Creek Canyon, and the playful crags of Clark Canyon that seem to have arisen from the ocean floor, to name just a few of my favorites.
The author climbing Laurel Mountain with Convict Lake in the distance. Photo courtesy of Wendy Schneider
This past summer, enjoying these landscapes, I thought frequently of how vulnerable they are — and how easily access can be taken away. Their ecological health today is the result of strong protections from bedrock environmental laws like the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and from regulations like the Roadless Rule. Since the Trump administration took office, efforts to sell off our public lands and roll back protections have gained momentum, threatening these iconic climbing destinations.
In addition to calling myself a climber, I am proud to call myself a conservation professional. A decade ago, I moved with my family from LA to Mammoth Lakes and immediately fell in love with the area. Every exploration with my dog, Ace, seemed to reveal a more spectacular place. I soon found myself turning 50, feeling uninspired by my work as a big firm lawyer, and deciding that when I turned 60, I wanted to be really proud of what I did the last 10 years. I guess the universe was listening, because that winter a Friends of the Inyo (FOI) staffer took me out on my first-ever backcountry ski tour, and encouraged me to apply to be the organization’s Executive Director. I somehow convinced the board that my experience as a lawyer qualified me for the job. It has been a little over 8 years, and I love working to protect these lands as much as I did on my first day.
The author's son, Manny, and her dog Ace on North Peak near Yosemite NP. Photo courtesy of Wendy Schneider
Nowadays, single and with an empty nest, I work a lot, and climb a lot. It’s a good thing I have a lot of time, because Friends of the Inyo has its hands full. Our public lands are being targeted for outright selloff, as well as de facto selloff to extractive and corporate development projects. The protections of NEPA have been gutted, and other important sources of protection including the Roadless Rule and the Public Lands Rule have been targeted for repeal. To make matters even worse, land management agency budgets are stretched thinner than ever.
Our advocacy team is fighting to keep our area’s public lands off the auction block, to keep critical protections in place, and for adequate budgets and staffing, while our Trail Ambassador crew is out on the land working to mitigate human impacts and educate visitors. Without efforts from FOI and other organizations, I shudder to think what the Eastern Sierra would look like: vast areas denuded of vegetation producing dust clouds in the wind, and industrial mining drills pounding under bright lights 24/7.
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A few weeks ago, I found myself swimming in my climbing shoes. Shivering in an alpine lake, my friends and I might have pioneered the Eastern Sierra’s first deep water solo adventure day. And I did a first ascent! It was thrilling, (and chilling). Days like these — and the opportunity for adventure — may disappear if environmental protections keep getting rolled back.
I’m not the best, boldest, or strongest climber, but each day out I become more emboldened to make that move I’m not sure is going to work out, and about protecting this place that I love. Luckily, the Eastern Sierra climbing community feels the same way and works regularly with FOI to protect and care for this place we all love. Like climbing, protecting the land requires that we keep showing up and trying hard. In this way we will be successful.
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About Friends of Inyo
Founded almost 40 years ago, Friends of the Inyo’s mission is to protect and care for the lands of the area we now refer to as California’s Eastern Sierra. We fight the development of extractive and other inappropriate projects that introduce toxicity and disturb healthy ecosystems and species. We work to keep a healthy balance between ranching, recreation, energy production and conservation. We fight to reduce water extraction by the City of Los Angeles. And since the beginning of the Trump administration, we have been engaging strongly in national campaigns to protect our public lands from selloff and to keep bedrock environmental protections in place.
About Wendy Schneider
Wendy has undertaken a number of different professional endeavors over the course of her career, including working for campaigns and electeds on Capitol Hill, fundraising for a large national nonprofit, and practicing law at large international firms in Los Angeles. Thrilled to now be able to call herself a conservation professional, she has been leading Friends of the Inyo since 2017. When not working to protect the lands and waters of Payahuunadu, she enjoys spending time with her family and adventuring in the big mountains.