8:00 A.M., Monday November 9, 1998, Lee Vining, California. Mono Lake Committee staff arrived at the office, ready to install the Mono Lake WebCam at its new location: the  Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area Visitor Center (V.C.)--well known for its spectacular view of Mono Lake. Geoff McQuilkin, Communications Director (and WebCam mastermind), Greg Reis, Website Information Specialist, and Arya Degenhardt, Communications Assistant, worked with the U.S. Forest Service to bring you an unobstructed view of Mono Lake.

The new location was waiting, but we didn't have the new camera yet. We decided to take the Lee Vining WebCam and install it at the Mono Lake WebCam location. Greg prepared an explanation for why the Lee Vining WebCam wasn't working and published it to the World Wide Web, and then grabbed the ladder and retrieved the Lee Vining WebCam from the attic of the Mono Lake Committee Information Center and Bookstore. Meanwhile, Geoff assembled the necessary equipment and tools for the project.

We arrived at the V.C., and Echo kindly held the door for us as we carried in our equipment. Charlie Simis, Information Desk Supervisor, had the ladder set up, and we climbed up to the alcove above the Information Desk to survey the situation. We hooked up the camera and investigated the view, and decided on a plan. Echo and Patrick, working the information desk, graciously put up with all the commotion, and helped field our phone calls and relay messages.

As Geoff configured the computer and software behind the information desk, Greg took Geoff's car back to the office to saw a notch in the board onto which the camera would be mounted and to bring back zip-ties, a tool box, and ethernet patch cable. When he returned, they all climbed up into the alcove, and pulled the ladder up to use to reach the spot where the camera was going to be placed. This trapped them all (including Echo, who is afraid of heights) while first Greg, then Geoff, attempted to screw in the bracket onto which the camera would be mounted. Once the camera was in place (although it still needed adjustment), we put the ladder back down so everyone could escape.

Arya took pictures of the whole ordeal (including those seen on this page), but also ran back to the office several times for computer parts and battery backups. The battery backup is necessary so we won't have to haul the ladder up there every time the power goes out. The first one that we borrowed from one of the office computers had a low battery, which was a good discovery, but it required an extra trip to get one that worked.

Finally, the camera was adjusted, the cables were stowed out of sight, and the software and hardware downstairs was properly configured. In the early afternoon the camera, the Snappy Video Capture Device, the Webcam32 software, and the donated computer all were working together to bring you photos of Mono Lake every 15 minutes.

On Wednesday, the new camera arrived, and we put it in MLC's attic and got the Lee Vining WebCam operational once again.

12/8/05 Update
Today we installed a new Stardot Technologies Netcam with better image quality, reliability, and ease of use.

Last Updated January 29, 2007 Copyright © 1996-2007, Mono Lake Committee. (how to contact us)