Scenic 395 - The Official Guide 2021/2022

“While a lot of these places are super popular like Disneyland, they don’t have places to put trash,” Thomson said. “We want to keep them as pristine as possible. What we’re finding is that outdoor recreation is becoming more popular with people who are new to climbing or to camping, but they don’t understand how to behave properly.” She also advocating being culturally aware. “A lot of these places that are popular with climbers are also cultur- ally sensitive to the Native Americans in our area, so we want people to be mindful and aware of responsible camping or leaving no trash,” she said. Thomson said the Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center sup- ports a variety of events that attract people year round. One of the most popular is the Blake Jones Trout Fishing Derby. Held every March since 1968, The Blake Jones Trout Derby is al- ways held the weekend after the Fred Hall Sports Show in Long Beach. The site of the derby is along the Owens River, just below the Pleasant Valley Reservoir, six miles north of Bishop. The 2021 fishing derby, held March 13, would align with concerns over the recent pandemic, including awarding prizes via raffle and temporarily suspending its mass awards ceremony to limit the spread of the coronavirus. “The fish have been stocked, the prizes are all ready to go,” explains Chamber Event Coordinator April Leeson. The Bishop Chamber un- derstands the annual derby is a beloved tradition that draws anglers from near and far to enjoy the family-friendly fishing event. They also understand the derby is very important to our local economy. “Al- though less than ideal, we believe this plan represents a good balance between preserving the fishing tradition and accommodating current health care concerns,” added Leeson. Another famous event: the Mule Days Celebration, held every Me- morial Day weekend. The 2020 one was postponed, but the event has plans to return May 25-30, 2021. According to the Mule Days organization, the event started in 1959, 52 years ago. In 1992, the mule parade started as a string of a few mules honoring Memorial Day, but the McGee Creek Pack Station’s 20 mule flag salute has become a tradition that captures, in one dis- play, everything that the Bishop Mule Days Celebration and the pack- ers of the Eastern Sierra stand for.” The 20 mule flag salute started in 1992, when local packers Lee and Jen Roeser decorated ten dark-colored mules with flags and led them in the Mule Days parade. Lee said that, at the time, the packers who were involved in the celebration wanted to bring Memorial Day to the forefront of Mule Days. By 2015, the Roesers’ team had grown to 20 mules and had become a favorite among spectators. It has also grown to encompass a parade, rodeos and countless ven- dors. Bishop 33 2021-2022 Scenic 395 Full Service Facility Driving Range 18 Hole Championship Course 19th Hole Bar & Grill Serving breakfast and lunch OPEN TO THE PUBLIC 1325 US Hwy 395, Bishop, CA 93514 (760) 873-5828 bishopcountryclub.com Continued from Page 32