yosemitenews.info - Yosemite National Park News, Information, Advice and Discussion Forum

Yosemite water safety video (no replies)

KenS — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:20:43 -0700

Half Dome from Glacier Point - 3D (2 replies)

Calaveras — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:38:41 -0700

I took 3 sets of images from Taft Point to make stereo pairs but the result was I couldn't get far enough part to get the best stereo effect. My best result is this 3D image of Half Dome from Glacier Point. I took a series of image from the amphitheater to the point itself. This time I had another problem: the extreme difference in distance between the area west of Half Dome and the farthest mountains. Too little separation and there's not enough 3D and too much separation and you can't view the background because of position shifts relative to Half Dome. This image is a compromise. It is possible to view all parts of the image in 3D but it takes a lot of shifting focus to do it. There's also a problem with the Diving Board caused by the sharp cutoff and abrupt change in distance behind it. It looks best on my display if I view from about 24" away. The strange blacked out areas are there to eliminate unviewable parts of the image in the foreground. The spacing between images is greater in the foreground than in the background which results in one of the pair missing at the edges. I have a better idea now of what scenes will work the best and how to do it.

John Muir Festival (no replies)

eeek — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:55:10 -0700

Exploring, learning, sharing, preserving “All things Muir” is the focus of this one day festival hosted at Coulterville Park and Big Creek Meadow Ranch on Saturday, June 9, 2012 from 10 am – 4 pm. Both venues are along the 14-mile J132/Historic John Muir Route that Muir himself wrote about in “My First Summer in the Sierra” while traveling through the area in 1869. The days experiences include hands-on nature play and activities for adults and kids, nature tours, presentations from Muir enthusiasts and live music. Crafters and artists will also exhibit and share their talents and food and beverages are available for purchase.

The John Muir Festival is hosted in Coulterville by the John Muir Geotourism Center and at Big Creek Meadow Ranch by It’s for the People. Sponsors include Coulterville Fire Brigade, Yosemite Bank, Yosemite Chamber of Commerce, Yosemite/Mariposa County Tourism Bureau, Historic Hotel Jeffery, Motorcycle Road Tours, Merlin and Miriam Jones and Coulterville Community Club. Additional festival information can be found at http://www.johnmuir.us.

Glacier Point Snack Stand (no replies)

eeek — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:53:38 -0700

The Glacier Point Snack Stand has opened for the season! Daily hours of operation are 9 AM - 5 PM.

National Park Service Offers Free Entrance Passes to All Active Duty United States Military Members and Dependents (no replies)

eeek — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:32:29 -0700

National Park Service Offers Free Entrance Passes to All Active Duty United States Military Members and Dependents - news release
Yosemite National Park Participating in Agency Wide Program
Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529

To show appreciation for those who serve in the United States (U.S) Military, the National Park Service (NPS) will begin issuing an annual pass offering free entrance to all 397 national parks for active duty military members and their dependents. The annual pass will be offered for the first time beginning Saturday, May 19, 2012, which is Armed Forces Day.

“We all owe a debt to those who sacrifice so much to protect our country,” said Yosemite National Park Superintendent, Don Neubacher. “We are proud to recognize these brave men and women and hope that a visit to this or any national park will offer an opportunity to unwind, relax, rejuvenate, and just have fun with their families.”

Active duty members of the U.S. Military and their dependents can pick up their pass at any of the five entrance stations to Yosemite National Park. Military members and dependents must show a current, valid military identification card to obtain their pass. More information is available at http://www.nps.gov/findapark/passes.htm .

This military version of the America the Beautiful National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass also permits free entrance to sites managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Forest Service. The pass is also available at these locations.

“Through the years, military members, especially those far from home in times of conflict, have found inspiration in America’s patriotic icons and majestic landscapes, places like the Statue of Liberty and the Grand Canyon that are cared for by the National Park Service and symbolize the nation that their sacrifices protect,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “This new pass is a way to thank military members and their families for their service and their sacrifices.”

National parks and the military have strong ties going back to the establishment of Yellowstone as the world’s first national park in 1872. The U.S. Cavalry watched over America’s national parks and did double duty, serving as the first park rangers until the National Park Service was created 44 years later. During World War II, many parks were set aside for the training and care of military personnel. Today, dozens of national parks commemorate military battles and achievements.

Q: Current Snow levels ?- Wawona/ Buena vista crest (1 reply)

sunshine_geek — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:36:56 -0700

Hi all,
I am wondering what current snow levels are around the valley, in particular I am going this weekend to Wawona/Buena vista crest area, and wondering how much snow oriented gear I can leave behind.

any info appreciated, and I will post back with what i observe as to snow and stream crossing

thx!
//s

Power Outage Today (no replies)

eeek — Thu, 17 May 2012 10:23:22 -0700

There will be a PG&E power outage May 17, 7:00am-5:00pm, 10 hours, effecting Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, Arch Rock, Turtle back Dome and both tunnels. The same outage will affect El Portal, Yosemite West, Badger Pass and Foresta in the following; 7:00am-7:30am and 4:00pm-5:00pm, two short outages, 30 minutes and 1 hour.

The trail to Gardisky: bad as I've heard? (2 replies)

tanngrisnir3 — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:22:17 -0700

Sort of had a notion to check it out for a while now, since I've seen some shots up there that could be worked beautifully in the right light, but I've also heard the trail is one of the few that go full-on, straight up from the first step until final destination.

Not that I have a problem with that, but there's the issue hauling up camera gear, possibly camping, and someone I'm going with not necessarily digging that sort of climb.

Thanks!

Ancient Tree-Ring Records from Southwest U.S. Suggest Today's Megafires Are Truly Unusual (no replies)

eeek — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:30:28 -0700

ScienceDaily (May 16, 2012) — Today's mega forest fires of the southwestern U.S. are truly unusual and exceptional in the long-term record, suggests a new study that examined hundreds of years of ancient tree ring and fire data from two distinct climate periods. Researchers constructed and analyzed a statistical model that encompassed 1,500 years of climate and fire patterns to test, in part, whether today's dry, hot climate alone is causing the megafires that routinely destroy millions of acres of forest, according to study co-author and fire anthropologist Christopher I. Roos, Southern Methodist University, Dallas.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120516120304.htm

How to improve 4 day trip: Cathedral to Sunrise to Clouds Rest to ??? (16 replies)

SpeedyE — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:54:30 -0700

Hi there. This is my 1st post and I've never been to Tuolumne Meadows, but have solid backpacking experience and have been doing lots of research for an early June trip to the high country. Right now I have wilderness permits reserved for the Cathedral Lake trailhead, and we're looking at a 4 day/3 night trip. I will post my initial thoughts, and hopefully some of you can offer recommendations on how this trip can be improved!

After seeing some incredible photos (and reading rave reviews on here), our main destination is Clouds Rest. I'm thinking:

DAY 1: Park @Cathedral Lakes trailhead and hike in. Setup camp at Lower Cathedral (is lower preferable?). There are no rock climbers in my group, but I've read that it's possible to summit Medlicott Dome with basic scrambling. If so, we would like to hike up there before sunset. The directions I have written down are: "from lower lake's northwest shore, walk northward across gently sloping granite slabs ~1 mile to summit." Anything else I need to know about reaching Medlicott Dome?

DAY 2: Pack up and hike to Sunrise Lakes. Setup camp near one of the lakes (I've read that the northern-most lake is most secluded, so perhaps we should go for that one?). Also, fire rings are okay here, right?

DAY 3: Leave camp setup at Sunrise. Look for fork that goes to Clouds Rest. Summit CR and return to camp at Sunrise. I'm thinking if we camp another night at Sunrise it might be too boring, so maybe we'll hike down to Tenaya Lake and camp somewhere around there.

DAY 4: What about leaving our stuff at Tenaya and heading up to May Lake / Mount Hoffmann? How many miles would it be to hike from Tenaya to the top of Hoffmann and back? Would this be a good way to end our trip, or can someone recommend something else for our 3rd night/4th day?

Other questions:

-I know that we can't predict the weather, but how much snow should we be expecting on the trails for the 1st week of June? Since there isn't much snow to begin with and it seems to be warming up quickly, I should plan on leaving my crampons/gaiters at home, right? Or should i take them just in case? Will there be enough snow on the ground to have a snowball fight? I hope so...

-Of the lakes mentioned above, which one would be best for swimming? I know the water will be cold, but just how cold? Any temp ranges someone can give me? My buddy and I are experienced swimmers and it would be fun to swim across one of the lakes, so I might bring a wetsuit and go for it!

-Boulder jumping into May Lake?? On the SummitPost page for Mount Hoffmann, it says there's a large boulder which can be used for jumping into the lake. Any idea how high up this is? I love jumping into water and have leaped from the bridge at the pools of Hana and from a high rock in Tahoe that most wouldn't dare consider, but I want to convince my buddies that this one is safe.

-Are there lots of snakes in Tuolumne Meadows? One of my friends keeps saying that we need a snake bite kit, which is an interesting point but seems unnecessary. Thoughts?

-Has anyone bought the GoPro2 camera and regretted it? It looks like the annual REI sale starts in a couple days and if the 20% off coupon can be used on this cam I might get it and wear it for the Clouds Rest summit!

Thanks for reading all, let me know if you have any suggestions. Cheers! :)-D

NPS suspends all lawn mowing after Blue Ridge Parkway fatality (no replies)

y_p_w — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:53:00 -0700

National parks halt mowing after fatal Asheville accident
Worker's death near Asheville prompts federal probe
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/B0/20120515/NEWS/305150011/National-parks-halt-mowing-after-death-near-Asheville?odyssey=nav%7Chead

A seasonal worker died after running his riding mower off a near vertical embankment. The NPS is halting all lawn moving across all units until each unit can provide a review of safety practices regarding lawn moving.

I don't think there are a whole lot of lawns in Yosemite that are an NPS responsibility. I'm pretty sure the order doesn't bar DNC from mowing the lawn at the Ahwahnee or maintaining the Wawona Golf Course (is it open yet?).

This could get interesting. NPS maintains several lawns in the Bay Area, including the ones at the Presidio (including the rather huge lawn at Chrissy Field that used to be the airstrip), picnic areas at Point Reyes, and Fort Mason. Quite a few visitor centers have small lawns that only require a small push mower. I know there's criticism over the state of maintenance at the National Mall, but it could get really nasty if it doesn't get cut.

Cancelling Camping Reservation (4 replies)

max1 — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:18:22 -0700

Not trying to scalp this site. I may have to cancel a 7 night upper pines reservation for June. Should I post the date and let readers of this site know when I cancel it to give them a shot at this campsite? Or should I just cancel without any notice?

Yosemite Nature Notes - Episode 18 - Water (1 reply)

eeek — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:35:46 -0700

Blue Ridge Parkway Motorcyclist Killed In Collision With Tree (no replies)

eeek — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:31:13 -0700

A 63-year-old Florida man was travelling northbound on the parkway on Monday when he crossed over the double yellow line on a curve, continued off the opposite side of the road, collided with a fallen tree, and was ejected from his motorcycle. Rangers and EMS personnel responded but could not revive him. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The man was travelling with several other riders at the time, one of whom witnessed the event.

Snow Plant Report (3 replies)

Frank Furter — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:58:35 -0700

I was struck by the prevalence of Snow Plants in the park this year-- especially in the Wawona Big Trees area. In addition, I do not remember ever seeing any in the Valley, but saw several there last weekend. Maybe the high snow last year, low snow this year has had something to do with it. Maybe there is just more decay everywhere (a sign of the times?) for these saprophytes. The Wawona tour driver said she had never seen so many as this year.

Handicapped Access (3 replies)

Frank Furter — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:55:30 -0700

After spending several days with a mobility impaired individual in Yosemite I have come away with a few comments for those who are planning a trip with a handicapped person:

The NPS has a good summary at yose_accessibility@nps.gov (EDIT: error, that is the email address. the guide is available at http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/upload/access.pdf ). THIS SHOULD BE READ VERY CAREFULLY!
I admit that I downloaded this document, but I did not really read it as thoroughly as I should have. In retrospect, if I had been more familiar with the document, our trip would have been somewhat better. The best option for a good experience was the access to Happy Isles and, had I known that there were additional parking spots up the road near the Happy Isles Shuttle stop (these are mentioned in the accessibility document), I would have been able to get my care to the Nature Center and on the warren of trails at Happy Isles. I am not sure that the privilege of going to Mirror Lake is fully justified by the limited paved paths or the views, but it makes the park seem more open to the disabled.

There is detailed information about the best path for a wheel chairs to the base of Lower Yosemite Falls and an available handicapped route to Glacier Point from the parking lot.

I was initially hesitant to use the shuttle. However, the drivers were absolutely fantastic and extremely helpful. I cannot complement them enough.

I found Yosemite Lodge parking to be a problem and there seem only to be a very few handicapped accessible rooms there. However, requesting ground floor lodging near the shops and restaurants proved to be very helpful (need to speak to an actual person at Delaware North to get this attached to the reservation).

The DNC tours at Wawona and the Valley, strangely, did not have very convenient handicapped access, although they have handicapped section on the vehicles. The steps up to the vehicles are quite high and there is no portable step or ramp available. After one awkward event, I realized that I could use my box of tire chains as a step and that worked very well. (The NPS requires carrying chains, so even though I got tired carrying them around with my daypack, it did turn out to be finally helpful.)

I considered not bringing a wheelchair, and merely renting one. However, it proved very convenient to have one at hand in the vehicle.

Wawona Prescribed Fire Postponed (2 replies)

eeek — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:36:13 -0700

The planned prescribed fire scheduled for today in the Wawona area has been postponed. Due to an unsettled weather pattern and concern for the safety of the community, the 846 prescribed fire will not occur. A later date for the prescribed fire is forthcoming.

Hodgdon Meadow Wastewater Improvements (no replies)

eeek — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:00:07 -0700

All construction activity at Hodgdon Meadow is now complete.

Just snagged tent cabins for 3 nights in Tuolumne, so some questions..... (18 replies)

tanngrisnir3 — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:44:49 -0700

A. How are the skeeters so far, esp in Lyell Canyon?
B. Anyone ever done the 'fisherman's route' up to Cathedral Lakes and found it any better than the normal route? My g/f has vertigo, so I don't want to risk that too much.
C. We've got Gaylor Lakes in sight for sunrise. Is it worth it to hoof the extra bit up to Granite Lakes?
D. There is no D
E. How scenic is Elizabeth Lake compared to Budd Lake? I'm not finding anything particularly great online of Elizabeth, but Budd looks promising, even though it looks like bushwhacking will be required.
F. Lastly, if the hike in/out of one of these places is photo-worthy, that's great too, as the point is the pics, and not really the destination, per se.

The reason I'm asking is that I've used TM as a launch point to points way farther out over the years, but have never really stuck around TM itself to see it's more localized things.

Thanks,

T3

Sunrise Lakes to Clouds Rest and then the Valley (3 replies)

Pollyprissypants — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:44:08 -0700

Hi.. hoping to do an overnight hike starting at Tenaya Lake heading to Clouds Rest and then down to the valley sometime between 5/20 and 5/22. When I spoke to the ranger last week they said there is about 40% snow coverage on the way up to Clouds Rest. I also noticed the weather in Tuolomne Meadows is reaching 80 degrees. Any insight on the current conditions? Will we need snow shoes? Thanks!

TM and reservations/primary occupant must be person that made reservation (4 replies)

tmcamper — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:22:26 -0700

Well things have changed again. I was referenced as the primary occupant back in March for our reservation in July at TM. My son was the person that ordered it using his credit card etc. Well now they are saying they don't reference the primary occupant under a different name at all. The person that made the reservation
must be present to check into the campground. Either person is not allowed by the system. So my son must arrive earlier than he had planned to get us into the campground. I expect the kiosk and office to be one big mess of people arriving at different times.

I will never use this system again. Do as I have always done. Arrive very early and get a first come site. That has worked for 25 years and without the headache.

They kept saying expect the policy to be enforced.

Just some info for you all.

Fleeing Man Apprehended Near Love Gap (2 replies)

eeek — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:02:13 -0700

On the morning of May 1st, a suspect fleeing from the Virginia State Police for a speeding violation entered the park in the Love Gap area. Shortly after coming onto the parkway, he lost control of his vehicle, resulting in the vehicle flipping onto its roof and catching fire. He then got out and fled into the woods. Rangers responded and assisted county and state law enforcement agencies in tracking him down. A canine tracking team quickly discovered his discarded pants. Ground-based teams and Virginia State Police helicopters continued to search for him until he was apprehended. At the time of his arrest, the 24-year-old man was naked and suffering from multiple lacerations as a result of fleeing through the wooded terrain. This is the second incident in a recent epidemic of naked men attempting to elude law enforcement in the area.

Pictures of the Solar Eclipse over Yosemite Valley..Please!!!! (13 replies)

Jayabrams — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:31:45 -0700

I tried everything I could to be in the Sierra on Sunday afternoon for the Solar Eclipse, but it's not going to happen. I would like to extend a passionate plea for those with photographic skills....what kinds of pictures are you planning? Are there special requirements for taking pictures of an eclipse?

It sure seems like an exciting opportunity. I would love to see some results.

Thank You!

Vernal Falls - Photographers rock turnout.... (7 replies)

Ataim — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:13:08 -0700

Is the trail well marked, if not does anyone have a GPS coords for the turn our or milage from trailhead?

Here.
http://virtualguidebooks.com/CentralCalif/Yosemite/VernalFallsMistTrail/VernalFallsRock_F.php

Homage to the White Mountains of New Hampshire (4 replies)

laudizen — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:53:20 -0700

My Homage to the White Mountains of New Hampshire can be found below.

Homage to the White Mountains

Found: Water filter at Indian Rock Arch (6 replies)

KatyAnderson — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:37:44 -0700

Did you leave your water filter behind at Indian Rock Arch?
If so we found it. New and expensive looking water filter system found sitting on a rock close to the natural arch. We lunched there on Saturday May 12 and asked everybody coming and going if they left it behind, but nobody had. Discussed for a long time whether to leave it or turn it in to lost and found. Decided on the latter and turned it in to the Wilderness Center in the Valley on Sunday. So if it is yours give them a call to claim it.

PS. Given last weeks discussion regarding water treatment methods it is interesting that I was the one to find this.

Yosemite Forum Tuesday (no replies)

eeek — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:31:48 -0700

Join in at the Yosemite Valley Auditorium from Noon to 1 p.m., on May 15, 2012 for this month's Yosemite Forum. The topic will be From Catastrophic Birth: The Civil War Origins of Yosemite Park. The lecturer will be David Hickman, PhD, Adjunct Professor, UC Davis.

Mural Found On Walls a First for a Maya Dwelling; Painted Numbers Reflect Calendar Reaching Well Beyond 2012 (no replies)

eeek — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:41:53 -0700

Excavating for the first time in the sprawling complex of Xultún in Guatemala's Petén region, archaeologists have uncovered a structure that contains what appears to be a work space for the town's scribe, its walls adorned with unique paintings -- one depicting a lineup of men in black uniforms -- and hundreds of scrawled numbers. Many are calculations relating to the Maya calendar

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120510141953.htm

Antarctic Octopus Study Shows West Antarctic Ice Sheet May Have Collapsed 200,000 Years Ago (1 reply)

eeek — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:43:09 -0700

ScienceDaily (May 9, 2012) — Scientists at the University have found that genetic information on the Antarctic octopus supports studies indicating that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet could have collapsed during its history, possibly as recently as 200,000 years ago.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120509111453.htm

Scalper ads to flag (53 replies)

eeek — Thu, 17 May 2012 20:28:17 -0700

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/for/3014991922.html
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/fod/3015385216.html

Camping without reservations? (3 replies)

cr.bolinger — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:02:36 -0700

Does anyone have any experience with camping without reservations? End of June showing up on a Friday morning? Coming from Washington and don't wanna end up sleeping in the parking lot at walmart.

Favorite Food tips (55 replies)

BigR — Thu, 17 May 2012 19:46:35 -0700

Now that we've had the very lively and informative discussion on water filters (thank you), I'm working our meal planning and packing for
our August loop of the high Sierra.

We're a party of three tall fit guys (51, 25, and 23 yo) and will be doing 8-12 miles daily.

Any tip, tricks, suggestions for our meals? We have a bear vault 5000 and will carry
jet boil stoves.

We'll have to camp cook 4 nights,

Was thinking oatmael for b'fast and trail mix for lunch. Dinner has me puzzled a bit.

All suggestions welcomed.

Randy

Hiker Missing in Olympic National Park Found After Three Day Search (no replies)

eeek — Mon, 14 May 2012 08:34:39 -0700

Olympic National Park (WA)
Missing Hiker Found After Three Day Search

The search for a missing hiker came to a successful conclusion early Saturday morning when he was hoisted from a drainage near the Irely Lake loop trail by a county sheriff's office rescue helicopter. David Snider, 55, was dehydrated, slightly hypothermic and tired, but otherwise appeared in good condition. He was transported to a local hospital for further examination.

Snider was reported overdue on Wednesday morning when he failed to return to work after a planned day hike on the trail. He'd begun his day hike on Monday afternoon with the intention of returning that afternoon. When he reached Three Lakes around 9 p.m., he attempted to loop back to the trailhead via a shortcut, but deep snow on the ridges and steep terrain in the drainage trapped him near the creek.

The park began a search for him on Wednesday afternoon. On Thursday, observers in a search helicopter spotted tracks in the snow that led to the drainage near the Irely Lake loop trail. Ground personnel began tracking Snider from that point. A King County heat sensing FLIR helicopter was brought in on Friday night to assist in the search. The helicopter's crew spotted a light source around midnight and Snider was located with the FLIR about a half hour later. A second helicopter with a hoist was brought in at first light and lifted Snider out.

Over 40 people were involved in the search, including personnel from Olympic National Park and Olympic Mountain Rescue. They were aided by a German shepherd search dog team from Pierce County and personnel searching from the helicopters.

Jeffrey Scott Memorial Bristlecone Pine Forest Art Competition (no replies)

eeek — Mon, 14 May 2012 08:32:06 -0700

Jeffrey Scott Memorial Bristlecone Pine Forest Art Competition
Release Date: May 2, 2012 Bishop, CA
Contact(s): Nancy Upham

The Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association in conjunction with the Inyo National Forest will be conducting an art competition as part of the Grand Opening Celebration for new Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center. Both the interpretive association and the Forest Service have long identified the need for a top-of-the-line art image to promote the importance of the preservation of the ancient trees and to celebrate the grand opening of the new visitor center, scheduled for September first of this year. The competition is dedicated to the memory of Jeffrey Scott, renowned eastern sierra water color artist and supporter of the ancient bristlecone forest.

Artists and photographers are invited to send an email to bristleconeart@gmail.com to receive additional information and an entry form to learn more about the competition and the $750 award for the winning image. The competition will be open to both amateurs and professionals alike from May 1st through June 30th.

Additional information can also be obtained by calling John Louth of the Inyo National Forest at (760)-873-2514 or Susie Fix of the Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association at (760) 873-2411.

Bringing firewood into Yosemite. (14 replies)

mtn man — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:10:27 -0700

I read on Yosemite's website that they discourage bringing firewood from more than 50 miles away from the park. I thought they changed that to they now prohibit all firewood being brought into the Park. Aybody know for sure?

Picasa help (3 replies)

mtn man — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:57:45 -0700

I tried to upload a picture to Picasa to attach to a post on the Yosemite forum and I somehow uploaded all of the pictures on our computer (27,000) to Picasa. My daughter said this was a bad idea and we need to get them off of Picasa, but the instructions are confusinfg and scary as some of the instructions warn that deleting picutures/files will get them erased off our computer hard drive also. How do we get all of our pics. removed from Picasa but keep them from being erased off our computer?? Help!!

Comments Sought on Mammoth Mountain Ski Area Winter Recreation Project Proposals (no replies)

eeek — Sun, 13 May 2012 21:55:32 -0700

Comments Sought on Mammoth Mountain Ski Area Winter Recreation Project Proposals
Release Date: May 11, 2012 Bishop, CA
Contact(s): Nancy Upham

The Mammoth Ranger District of the Inyo National Forest is preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) on proposed projects at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area (MMSA), which would be carried out this fall. The proposed projects would enhance developed winter recreation at MMSA and at Woolly’s Adventure Summit (WAS), the winter snow play area adjacent to the ski area. The proposed actions include the following winter recreation enhancement projects: improvements to the WAS area including expansion of the tubing lanes and parking area; removal and relocation of two old shacks, removal of abandoned footings, and ski run grading, all in an area adjacent to the top of Face Lift Express (Chair 3) and on the Face of Three ski run; grading within the Coyote ski run; and extension of a snowmaking line to enable snowmaking at the South Park half pipe.

Information about the proposed project and maps will be posted on the Inyo National Forest website on May 17, http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php/?project=39228. Additional information may also be obtained from the Project Leader, Allison Jackson, at 760- 924-5510.

How to Comment and Timeframe

This project is subject to the notice and comment provisions of 36CFR 215.3. The public comment period ends 30 days following the date of publication of the legal notice in The Inyo Register, which is expected to be May 17. Those wishing to comment on this proposal should not rely upon dates or time frames provided by any other source. Only those who provide comment or otherwise express interest in the proposed action during the comment period will be eligible to appeal the decision.

Written comments must be submitted to Allison Jackson, Winter Sports Specialist, Inyo National Forest, P.O. Box 148, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546. Electronic comments may be sent to ajackson@fs.fed.us in thefollowing acceptable formats: plain text (.txt), rich text (.rtf), Adobe (.pdf), or Word (.doc). Written comments may also be submitted by fax (760-924-5537) or by hand-delivery to the Mammoth Ranger Station at 2500 Highway 203, during normal business hours, excluding holidays (Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.)

Comments Sought on Mammoth Mountain Bike Park Trail Project Proposal (no replies)

eeek — Sun, 13 May 2012 21:51:50 -0700

Comments Sought on Mammoth Mountain Bike Park Trail Project Proposal
Release Date: May 11, 2012 Bishop, CA
Contact(s): Nancy Upham

The Inyo National Forest, Mammoth Ranger District is soliciting comments on a Mammoth Mountain Bike Park Trail Construction Project proposal. Mammoth Mountain Ski Area (MMSA), a permittee on the InyoNational Forest, has proposed to construct 2.5 miles of mountain bike trails in the vicinity of, and in conjunction with the operation of the Discovery Chair (Chair 11.) All proposed trail construction is within the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area permit boundaries.

The purpose of this proposed project is to provide new terrain, recreation opportunities, better connectivity, and better separation between differently skilled riders within Mammoth Mountain Bike Park. The proposed projects are needed to provide two new progressive, beginner-level mountain bike trail experiences and a connector from the top of the Discovery Chair to a pre-existing, more difficult trail.

The Forest Service has made a preliminary assessment that this proposal falls within a category of actions listed in the Forest Service NEPA Handbook that are excluded from documentation in an Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and that there are no extraordinary circumstances that would preclude use of the category regarding Construction and Reconstruction of Trails.

A draft memorandum detailing the proposal and a map will be posted on the Inyo National Forest website on May 17, http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php/?project=39225. Additional information may also be obtained from the Project Leader, Allison Jackson, at 760- 924-5510.

How to Comment and Timeframe

This project is subject to the notice and comment provisions of 36CFR 215.3. The public comment period will end 30 days following the date of publication of the legal notice in The Inyo Register, which is expected to be May 17. Those wishing to comment on this proposal should not rely upon dates or timeframes provided by any other source. Only those who provide comment or otherwise express interest in the proposed action during the comment period will be eligible to appeal the decision.

Written comments must be submitted to Allison Jackson, Winter Sports Specialist, Inyo National Forest, P.O. Box 148, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546. Electronic comments may be sent to ajackson@fs.fed.us in the following acceptable formats: plain text (.txt), rich text (.rtf), Adobe (.pdf), or Word (.doc). Written comments may also be submitted by fax (760-924-5537) or by hand-delivery to the

Mammoth Ranger Station at 2500 Highway 203, during normal business hours, excluding holidays (Monday -Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.)

Rafferty Creek Hike/Snowshoe (22 replies)

ttilley — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:40:17 -0700

I took advantage of the early opening of the Tioga Road to hike/snowshoe up the Rafferty Creek trail. Conditions: mostly clear up to 9200', lots of up-and-down over snowdrifts between 9200' and 9600', continuous snow above 9600'. I camped near the pass, with reasonable access to snowmelt flowing over rocks so I didn't have to melt snow, and day-hiked to the rocks west of the pass, and above Boothe Lake. The area south of the pass is similarly snow covered. It got below freezing last night since I had frost on my tent, but not very far below freezing (the melting snow was still flowing at sunrise), and this snow is not forming corn, its just weak slush by day, firming up overnight.

Driving over Tioga Pass, there isn't continuous snow even up to the pass, these areas probably see less melting due to the surrounding peaks.

Some pictures:

The meadow at the base of the pass, with Fletcher and Vogelsang Peaks:

Rafferty Creek Valley from the rocks west of the pass:

View in the other direction:

Vogelsang Peak and Boothe Lake:

Boothe was iced over except for its swampy inlet, and a few areas w/ snow ledges hanging over the lake. I could only see into the middle of Emeric Lake, the main part of the lake is iced over, no idea what's happening at the edges.

More Pictures

Summer 2013 Trip Planning. (2 replies)

beardbuster — Mon, 14 May 2012 07:41:41 -0700

Hello again. Still putting out great info here and that is why I am asking for your help. My sons (16,17 & 21) are all wanting to return and do a backpacking trip with me and want to roam the area north of Yosemite Falls and Half Dome, which we did last June. Clouds Rest is for sure on the list but we would need to loop for restocking of some foods and fuel. We do not want to go into the valley until we leave the park. Tuolumne Meadows , Vogelsang, and any other spots that would burn a memory for life in these young outdoorsman. I know the regs. say no more than 14 days camping during the summer but have heard of longer trips. We have 25 days to burn if we had too!! Thought about JMT to Mt. Whitney?? I know the trails/water depend alot on the winter weather and we are just wanting a guesstement on what month may be too early (mid-June) or the water supply dries up(early August). Does the water dry up enough to make this kind of trip risky? They all return back to school 2nd week of August. Thanks in advance for your time and help.

May 12, 2012 - views (4 replies)

Klas — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:51:27 -0700

I figure I can't be the only one wondering exactly how much snow is still around...

so here you go: photos

truth is I actually brought my skis, but left them in the car.
someone did ski the east chute recently, tracks looked maybe a couple of days old.
enjoy.

Happy Isles to Merced Lake and environs report (2 replies)

hegel — Sun, 13 May 2012 18:31:04 -0700

Started last Tuesday a week later than planned and boy am I glad for that because the weather this last week was phenomenal! Left
Berkeley and arrived at the valley wilderness center at 12:30 where I was issued a permit for that very day (!). Hiked the mist trail to Little Yosemite valley and since there weren't many people I camped there. The next day I hiked in to Merced Lake, seeing no one. There was no snow or water at all but many downed trees, althought nothing that's much more than a nuisance. The next day I day-hiked up to just past the Babcock Lake junction; the creek that flows from Emeric was just too fast for me to feel comfortable fording it to see Babcock Lake. The Clark Range is snow covered of course and quite stunning from the viewpoints climbing up the trail .Again that day and night I saw no one and had Merced to myself . Then on Friday I took the high route back to LYV campsite, again not seeing anyone until the junction with the Half Dome trail. I did watch two people coming down Half Dome on the laid-down cables; ants on a melon--one humungous melon! From my vantage point the exposure seemed tremendous. Oh, the high route is completely snow free but again there were about a dozen downed trees on the trail. This is a really pretty hike with no real boring parts; in my opinion this is a great time to hike it because of the lack of other people and the snowy views and plentiful cascades.

Camping at Eagle Peak? (4 replies)

Tedbay — Thu, 17 May 2012 22:23:13 -0700

Hi after about a 100 day hikes to the most beautiful spot in the world, I'm doing my first overnighter there with my wife in a few weeks. plan is hike from valley floor on the main falls trail to upper Yosemite for lunch then back around to Eagle Peak where I've never been and which I've heard was Muirs favorite view of the valley. then back down to valley floor after breakfast. Seems that people always mention camping around Yosemite falls area so wanted to ask the pros advice: Can u camp at Eagles Peak or is it better to after visiting Eagles Peak hike back towards the fall/river to camp? Also is there water near the meadow on the topo maps before the peak or should we fill up sooner? thanks all for advice. got my gear and excited to go!

Ted

Bear sighting in Yosemite (6 replies)

hoodie07 — Sun, 13 May 2012 09:28:24 -0700

Hi Everyone.

I'm from the Uk and have been lucky enough to visit Yosemite twice. I have seen and filmed a bear on one occassion and thought that I would share with others. Anyone else had a bear encounter wish to share?

The dogwoods are in bloom (3 replies)

eeek — Tue, 15 May 2012 09:36:10 -0700

http://yosemitephotos.net/main.php/v/yosemite/sh-DSC_3285.JPG.html

World Waterfalls Database (no replies)

Ohnivy-Drak — Sat, 12 May 2012 14:04:37 -0700

Waterfalls

I'm not affiliated in any way. Front page features top-10 in California.

May Driving Trip through Yosemite (no replies)

laudizen — Sat, 12 May 2012 08:43:25 -0700

Images frm a May drive through Yosemite can be found at the link below.

Yosemite in May

Amy Rhoan; Iconic Yosemite Native American Indian passes (4 replies)

Yosemite_Indian — Sat, 12 May 2012 15:01:40 -0700

Amy Rhoan, Yosemite – Mono Lake Paiute in Yosemite in front of umacha

Last week Yosemite and Mono Lake Indians lost a treasure in the local Native Community when a icon of Yosemite, Amy Rhoan, died.

Amy Rhoan

Amy Harrison was born on Jan. 29, 1910, a fullblooded Paiute, to Ida and Willie Harrison in Mono Lake. She spent her childhood around Mono Lake, particularly around the Farrington ranch area that was owned by her grandfather, Bridgeport Tom. Later in life, she attended government boarding schools at Greenville and Fort Bidwell. After completing school, she worked as a housekeeper at the Tioga Lodge, which is near Lee Vining. In 1929, she attended the Yosemite Indian Field Days where she met her husband, Alvin Rhoan.

Al Rhoan and Amy Rhoan, with their baby, in Yosemite

They married in 1930 and moved into the old Indian Village near Indian Creek in Yosemite. It was there that their first child, Joseph Rhoan, was born. In 1932, they moved to the new Indian Village located near Yosemite Lodge where the remainder of their children, Finn, Patrick, and Beatrice, were born.

Amy in Yosemite

Amy worked for the Curry Company cleaning tents at Yosemite Lodge, and also worked in the laundry room. Amy and Alvin moved to Wawona where she worked as a maid at the Wawona Hotel until her retirement in 1989. When her husband retired in 1965, the couple moved to Ahwahnee where she resided until her death on May 4.

Amy courageously protesting in Yosemite National Park with her family for the preservation of Native American Indian sites in Yosemite.

Amy is preceded in death by her husband Alvin Rhoan; eldest son, Joseph Rhoan Sr.; and grandchildren, Bernadine Mattson and Ronald Rhoan. Amy is survived by son, Finn Rhoan and his wife Betty of Mariposa; her daughter Beatrice Wilsey of Ahwahnee; and son Patrick Rhoan and his wife Natalie of Mariposa; half-sister Flora Murphy of Schurz, Nev.; and, 12 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and three great, great-grandchildren.

Amy at Tenaya Lake. Amy recalls as a child that the Yosemite Indians, the Paiutes, were forced to stay at Tenaya Lake after dark. After the Indians finished working they would camp at Tenaya Lake. They would camp at Tenaya Lake before housing was created for some chosen Indian families by the Park.

Amy Rhoan was an elder of the America Indian Council of Mariposa, who later changed their name to the Southern Sierra Miwuks, upon doing hearing this Amy said “What happened to the Paiutes?” Amy knew that the Paiute people were the most important tribe in Yosemite.

Incident at Evergreen Lodge (2 replies)

laudizen — Fri, 11 May 2012 00:29:27 -0700

The Incident at Evergreen Lodge, or Risk in the Wilderness

find it at the link below

Incident at Evergreen Lodge

Ribbon Falls 2D/3D (12 replies)

Calaveras — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:43:40 -0700

After making those aerial 3D images I started thinking I should take stereo pairs when I'm on a hike if an opportunity presents itself. But how well will they actually work? I looked through my panorama images and found a pair that covered Ribbon Falls from two widely separated locations. One image was from Dewey Point and the second image was from a spot several hundred feet west of Dewey Point. This turned out to be just about perfect. One image was taken at 50mm and one at 35mm so I had to scale them in Photoshop. The main problem was that one image was taken about 2 after the other so there are some noticeable shadow differences.

I've posted both the original image and the 3D image. This time I used the quasi-color method. The 3D image clearly shows how we don't have stereoscopic vision at that distance. The 3D image is like having a detailed model on the table right in front of you.

I had often wondered why there was no trail up the canyon between Ribbon Falls and El Capitan going to El Capitan. Even though I had seen this area in person many times I didn't realize what the terrain was like until I saw the 3D image. The canyon goes much farther back than I thought and ends at a wall.

From now on I'm going to try to take some stereo pairs. I think the 3D images can be quite helpful in planning future hikes.

Yosemite Falls Cam (23 replies)

eeek — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:58:29 -0700

http://www.yosemiteconservancy.org/webcams/yosemite-falls

Tuolumne Meadows Wilderness Center (4 replies)

eeek — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:29:40 -0700

The Wilderness Center is open daily from 9 am to 3:30 pm and will also be the location of the Visitor Center until the facilities are up and running. There are portable toilets and a hand washing station located in the parking lot. Stop by and say hi and bring trail conditions.

Why nobody ever makes a mistake on the Internet (4 replies)

balzaccom — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:43:02 -0700

Have you ever noticed this? The minute a story comes out about someone who needs rescuing in the mountains, the internet message boards are filled with people who never, ever make that mistake, and here’s why. These posters are quick to point out all the things they do right, and how smart they really are about all this.

OK, fine.

We’re not so sure. In our experience, most disasters in the mountains aren’t caused by a single bad decision, but a combination of decisions that slowly lead to a really bad situation. And if you read the accounts carefully, you can usually find about three or four points in every story where a different decision would have led to a different result. Of course, not always for the better—but still. There were options. There are almost always options.

We’ve been on lots of trips where we took stock of where we were and decided that it was time to back off, back out, or back down. No, we weren’t facing certain death. But we just decided that we had gone far enough, pushed our luck with the elements far enough, or simply didn’t like the way things looked.

Or we’ve been slightly off trail, confused about the map, separated from our hiking partners, running out of water, getting cold, or worried about how late it was getting. None of those are very dangerous situations in and of themselves. We just didn't like the odds.

So we bailed. We turned around. That’s not very adventurous or determined, but it always seemed like the right decision at the time. You might read this and think that we are just like everyone else on the internet—that we’ve never made a mistake and we can’t imagine finding ourselves in a situation that requires rescue. You'd be wrong. In fact, we’d suggest just the opposite.

We CAN imagine ourselves in that situation, and that’s why we turn around (or chicken out.) We never like being in a situation where there is only one possible option to get out. The first option is always that you can turn around and go home. That’s a pretty good option in many cases, even if it doesn’t lead to epic or heroic adventures. Epic is over-rated.

The single best piece of survival equipment is your brain. And the best way to use it is to avoid situations with few potentially good outcomes. (You might explain that to the idiots who star in those outdoor survival shows on TV. They are clueless about this.)

The most famous example of all might be the Donner Party. They started a bit late, took an ill-advised cut-off, lost more time in the desert, and started up into the mountains when they were weak, low on food, low on energy and out of time. And that’s when the snows hit. Lots of people made similar mistakes, but not all on the same trip, and not in a year when the snows were massive. They left themselves with only one option, and it wasn't a good one.

Of course, if the Donner Party happened today, we would hear lots of explanations about how stupid they were, and how the various posters on the internet never find themselves in any trouble whatsoever when they travel, because they always make sure that …yadda yadda yadda.

High Country trails (10 replies)

Ryno98 — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:54:33 -0700

Anybody checked out the snow/mud/trail situation for the Tioga Rd/TM trailheads this year? I know normally things are pretty snowbound for a few weeks after the road first opens, but this year has obviously been different... I'm heading up on 5/19 and trying to put together my plan of action. Also bringing the kids (3.5 yrs and 20 mos) for the first time on our backs, so trying to avoid anything too tricky balance-wise. Backpacking got too easy, so I've upgraded to packs that spontaneously shift and jump around. ;)

John Muir Trail Open (no replies)

eeek — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:20:59 -0700

The "ice cut" section of the John Muir Trail (between Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall) has opened for the season.

Yosemite Creek Trailhead Construction (2 replies)

eeek — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:28:23 -0700

Allison Sierra, Inc. will repave the Yosemite Creek trailhead parking lot, south of Tioga Road on Wednesday May 9th. Parking in the unpaved lot north of Tioga Road will remain available. Parking at the Yosemite Creek picnic area will also remain available. The vault toilet at Yosemite Creek trailhead will be unavailable to the public during repaving, however the vault toilet at the picnic area will remain available.

Taft Point (16 replies)

Calaveras — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:23:32 -0700

My friend and I want to take the walk to Taft Point from the parking lot in the near future for some photography but I don't want to go until Sentinel Creek is a non issue. By that I mean it's an easy hop across it, no wading or looking for logs to cross, and no snow on the trail. I'd appreciate if anyone has been out there recently or maybe is going this weekend to post what the conditions are like.

I was out to Taft Point several times in the late 80's in late May or early June and I don't even remember there being a creek. Last year in early June I took some first time visitors to Yosemite and got skunked on our attempt to go to Taft Point because it was snow bound and the creek was a raging 10' wide river. I know last year was exceptional but the recently posted pictures of Sentinel Falls looks there's still lots of water despite the low snow pack.

Staying in the valley for free... (5 replies)

hotrod4x5 — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:13:47 -0700

I ran into a guy last summer while photoing the moonbow who said he didn't have a place to stay. What? I asked, where do you sleep at night?

He said he didn't sleep at night, he slept during the day. He claimed he would stay up all night to avoid being bothered by park LEO and just sleep during the day in his car, which apparently is not prohibited.

Anyone ever hear of anyone doing this?

Migratory Patterns of P. Roseus (3 replies)

basilbop — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:45:22 -0700

Abstract: Informal field observations of the "pink Sierra chick-on" (Pseudogallus roseus) suggests that it has a peculiar migratory pattern. Instead of the dominant season-based frequency, this bird's migrational frequency is exactly one week. The bird spends several days in a former alluvial delta-wetlands environment, migrating to the Sierra Nevada for a few days every weekend. To further study this unusual migratory pattern, the author attempted unsuccessfully to intercept and trap P. roseus along a theoretical migratory route at a high point roughly along a proposed great-circle route. The failure to capture or intercept a specimen warrants further studies to refine the timing, location, and potentially the transportation mode used for the migration.

Figure 1: P. roseus trap located near Mt. Rose, California.

Field Notes

Home, Ohlone (12 replies)

basilbop — Thu, 10 May 2012 08:42:08 -0700

So, what do we local Yosemite/Sierra nuts do when we can't make it to the *real* mountains for the weekend getaway? Sometimes, we just have to be content to stroll around our regional parks... which this weekend meant a 28 mile day hike along the Ohlone - Sunol trail from Del Valle (south of Livermore) to the Mission Peak staging area (near Fremont). This trail has some single-track sections, but mostly follows old fire/ranch roads that meander--sometimes steeply (7600' elevation gain)--through the East Bay hills, connecting several regional parks, two of which are managed in a wilderness-like manner. The trip took us about 13 hours, but the regional park district maintains several backcountry campgrounds for whose who want to do the trip in multiple days.

We encountered only a dozen or so hikers and runners outside of the normal "day use" areas near the "Little Yosemite"/Sunol area and the Mission Peak corridor, which was unusually crowded, presumably with people who wanted to witness the rising of the weekend's "supermoon" from the summit.

Next weekend, back to the real mountains!

More Pictures

More Information

Glen Aulin to White Wolf (5 replies)

sewolpe — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:16:43 -0700

I've got a permit for Glen Aulin to Waterwheels pass thru to White Wolf for the first weekend of August. Last year we were wading through most of the trail between Waterwheels and Return Creek (our turn around point) and this was late July. It was an outstanding trip to say the very least!

From what I've been reading, this year will not be nearly as wet so late in the season. Should I be expecting a dry Tuolumne river come August? Or do ya'll think I'll still have a good water source throughout the trip? I haven't been to the park since last September, so I'd love to hear from some of you lucky folks who are closer to the action. Thanks!

North Rim backpacking/hiking (9 replies)

LisaT — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:27:18 -0700

Hi,

For all the time I've been to Yosemite, both hiking and backpacking, I've somehow never managed to get atop the North Rim. (Yosemite Falls, Snow Creek, North Dome, etc.)

Wondering if you might share your favorite trips (starting from either the Valley or Tioga Road)...

1. Day hike. (4-14 miles)
2. Backpacking trip. 2-3 days, 6-12 mi/day (depending on trail conditions)

We are pretty strong and experienced backpackers. Some x-country route-finding, offtrail camping, or a bit of water-carrying to camp somewhere with a great view...All good. Escaping the insane crowds could be good too.

LisaT

Vernal Fall Footbridge Comfort Station Closure (7 replies)

eeek — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:55:32 -0700

The comfort station at the Vernal Fall foot bridge will be closed May 9th from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon for pavement maintenance. The drinking fountain near the bridge will remain available during this temporary closure.

Wawona Northwest Prescribed Fire Scheduled for Tuesday, May 15, 2012 (no replies)

eeek — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:08:07 -0700

Yosemite National Park fire managers are planning the 846 acre, Wawona Northwest Prescribed Fire, to begin on the morning of May 15, 2012. Favorable weather is predicted for the project through the week, with conditions for good smoke dispersion. Please Note – these are predictions only, and if stagnant air develops or persists over the Sierra Nevada region, fire managers will postpone the prescribed fire.

The primary objective of the prescribed fire is for the direct protection to the community of Wawona. This project will take advantage of the 2007 Jack Fire perimeter and reduce hazardous fuel loading in the Wawona Wildland Urban Interface area. Burning this segment will form a barrier to the community of Wawona from the spread of unwanted wildfire approaching from Turner Ridge to the north and partially from the South Fork Merced River drainage to the northwest. This project ties together multiple and historical research, natural and prescribed fires, and mechanical thinning.

Another objective for this project is to conduct ecosystem restoration by applying fire to this fire adapted landscape. Prior to the exclusion of fire over 100 years ago, fire was a natural process that played an integral role in shaping the landscape of Yosemite. Densities of shade tolerant tree species, such as white fir and incense cedar, and forest litter and duff have accumulated to unnatural and unaccepted levels in the absence of fire. Through the application of fire, a more natural vegetation composition can be achieved that would likely support a surface fire, but less likely to support crown fire.

Community members and visitors will see equipment and crews moving into the area as they prepare the fire perimeter for fire ignition and operations. Other pre-fire planning efforts include taking fuel moistures and moving remote automated weather (RAWS) equipment into the fire area.

Smoke will be present during the prescribed fire, particularly during the early morning hours. Fire managers are working with the Mariposa and Tuolumne Counties, San Joaquin Valley, and Great Basin Air Pollution Control Districts (APCDs), daily to time the project to coincide with favorable weather that will facilitate good air quality, and move and disperse smoke into the atmosphere away from the community. A burn permit will be issued to the park by the Mariposa County APCD, and air quality measuring devices are being moved to local communities. It is suggested that community members that are sensitive to smoke, close windows and doors and/or they may wish to leave the area during active ignition of the project.

This fire segment is identified in the 2004 Yosemite Fire Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement and re included in the Multi-year Strategic Fuels Management Plan. The goals and objectives for this project conform to the park’s General Management Plan and Vegetation Management Plan.

More updates will be published in the next few days and through the prescribed fire project. For additional Information: Yosemite Fire Information and Education Office: gary_wuchner@nps.gov - (209) 375-9574 or 372-0480. Yosemite Fire Management Website: http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/rx-fire-projects.htm. Yosemite Fire Twitter: http://twitter.com#!/YosemiteFire.

DNC Tour and Activity Openings (1 reply)

eeek — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:31:06 -0700

The Grand Tour is in operation. This eight hour tour takes guests through Yosemite Valley, Glacier Point, Wawona and on to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. The tour departs daily from Yosemite Lodge at 8:45 AM.

The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is open and the trams are running! Free Shuttle available from Wawona Store Parking lot.

Yosemite Valley Stables to begin the half-day rides to Clarks Point, beginning Wednesday, May 9, 2012.

What water purifier to buy? (55 replies)

Ataim — Mon, 14 May 2012 21:05:11 -0700

I'm getting ready for my trip and the only thing I don have is a water purifier. What do you use? I'll use it a few time a year, so I don't want to spend 100 buck on one, but I also don't what to get sick.

Thanks,

Paul

Transportation Ideas - Yosemite Valley to Mammoth (4 replies)

Fugazi — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:32:27 -0700

Sorry to Chick-on if I missed this in a prior link (I'm sure I did), but I need a little help from the pros here. My group will be doing a small piece of the JMT from around Devil's Postpile to YV between June 21-25. However, YARTS does not run during the week at this point in the summer. We are trying to leave our getaway car in the valley and get a ride to Mammoth. With YARTS out of the picture, I'm not sure what the best way to get transportation from the valley to Mammoth. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance for the help.

Camp 4 availability (9 replies)

DB1 — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:19:41 -0700

I'm thinking about trying to stay at camp 4 (much closer to our trailhead than the backpacker camp) the night before our hike this summer and I'm reading conflicting information on getting a spot. I understand that we'll have to line up in the morning prior to the ranger getting there at 8:30, but I'm confused on how many people are given spaces. There are supposed to be a total of 210 spots, but I've heard that the first 210 people in line may not get spots. I've read in a couple of places that when the rangers open up in the morning they announce how many spots are available for that night.

So if I get to the line and there are say 75 people ahead of me, am I guaranteed to get a spot? I don't want to waste a couple hours in line just to find out that they only gave spots to the first 65 people.

thanks

North Rim Hike (feat. Backpacker's) (4 replies)

gkim — Mon, 07 May 2012 21:46:31 -0700

Hello! New to this forum and excited to join in on the conversation!

I just had a few questions and wanted to get some confirmation on the info I have obtained. I've been planning this for months and I like to play it on the safe side by re-checking everything 10x or more (lol). Better safe than sorry is my motto. I'll be taking this trip the first week of June. Oh, and I'll be exiting off the Upper Yosemite Falls trail.

I've read the forum post covering "Old Big Oak Flat Road from Tamarack to the Valley" and got a lot of useful information off that post (thank you to all the contributors!).

1. I was planning on parking my car close to the Yosemite Falls trailhead and taking the shuttle to stop E4 (El Capitan Bridge) and hike up 0.7 miles to the trailhead entrance for OBOFR. Is this information still accurate?

2. Going east of Cascade Creek, I noticed that the trail runs along Fireplace Creek. Is there reliable water source there usually or should I stock up at Cascade?

3. It seems that the rockfall area is the "hardest part." To date, is that portion relatively clearly marked and is the "zig-zagging" still the current trail to get past that section?

thanks in advance!

Pohono trail conditions? (2 replies)

BrendanHickeyUSA — Mon, 07 May 2012 22:05:40 -0700

Great news about the 4 mile trail opening. What about conditions on the Pohono? Was considering a Pohono to 4 Mile shuttle hike and don't want to deal with snow on the trail...

Naked Man Found Riding Horse Along Parkway (2 replies)

eeek — Mon, 07 May 2012 21:31:45 -0700

Blue Ridge Parkway
Naked Man Found Riding Horse Along Parkway

On April 13th, rangers received a report that state police had a man in custody who may have been involved in a possible accident in the area where the parkway crosses over Interstate 77. Upon arriving on scene, rangers learned that a man travelling the parkway drove his vehicle off the road and through a field, eventually striking a fence that parallels I-77. He then decided to take off all his clothes and begin walking. He eventually "commandeered" a horse belonging to a local farmer whose land borders the park and began riding the horse along an adjacent county road. When state and county officers arrived on scene, they saw that the horse was trying to buck off the naked rider. Eventually, the man was thrown from the horse, at which time officers took him into custody. He told the officers that he was under the influence of methedrine. He was taken to a local hospital for mental evaluation; charges are pending and may include horse theft, indecent exposure and public intoxication.

Tioga Road is open (13 replies)

eeek — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:55:04 -0700

http://yosemitenews.info/highway-status/

Four Mile Trail (5 replies)

eeek — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:53:50 -0700

The Four Mile Trail is now open.

When will the Tuolmne Meadows Store / Gas Station open? (1 reply)

beccawright — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:12:36 -0700

Does anyone know when the store will open this year? Thanks.

Public Comments Sought for Proposed Land Management Plan Amendment (no replies)

eeek — Mon, 07 May 2012 08:47:29 -0700

Release Date: Apr 30, 2012

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif., April 30, 2012 - Forest Service officials are seeking public comments on a Proposed Amendment to the Land Management Plans for the four Southern California national Forests (the Angeles, Cleveland, Los Padres, and San Bernardino).

The Proposed Amendment would modify the existing land use zones allocations in selected inventoried roadless areas to include more back country non-motorized and recommended wilderness areas. An alternate monitoring framework is also proposed. The full details of the proposed action can be found on the project webpage at: http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=35130

This Proposed Amendment to the Land Management Plan is part of the Settlement Agreement approved January 3, 2011, in the case of California Resources Agency, et al vs. United States Department of Agriculture, and Center for Biological Diversity, et al vs. United States Department of Agriculture.

Public Meetings

The four national forests will be hosting multiple open houses during the 45-day scoping period that began April 27. The content and format of each meeting will be identical; however each forest will be presenting information specific to what the Proposed Amendment means locally. Forest Service staff officers will be available to answer questions, and maps of the proposed changes will be available for viewing. The meeting times and locations are:

May 29, 2012, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, E.P. Foster Library, 651 E. Main Street, Ventura, CA 93001 (Los Padres National Forest)
May 30, 2012, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Angeles National Forest Headquarters, 701 North Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia, CA 91006 (Angeles National Forest)
May 31, 2012, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Santa Maria Red Cross, 3030 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria, CA 93455 (Los Padres National Forest)
May 31, 2012, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Santa Clara Mojave Rivers Ranger District Office, 33708 Crown Valley Road, Acton, CA 93510 (Angeles National Forest)
May 31, 2012, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, San Bernardino National Forest Headquarters, 602 S. Tippecanoe Ave., San Bernardino, CA 92408 (San Bernardino National Forest)
May 31, 2012, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Palomar Ranger District Office, 1634 Black Canyon Road, Ramona, CA 92065 (Cleveland National Forest)
June 1, 2012, 1:00 PM to 4 PM, Frazier Park Library, 3732 Park Drive, Frazier Park, CA 93225 (Los Padres National Forest)
June 5, 2012, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Descanso Ranger District office, 3348 Alpine Blvd, Alpine, CA 91901 (Cleveland National Forest)
June 5, 2012, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Trabuco Ranger District office, 1147 E. 6th Street, Corona, CA 92879 (Cleveland National Forest)

How to Comment

The public is encouraged to participate in the process. Comments should be received within 45 days of the publication of the Notice of Intent in the Federal Register. The Notice was published on Friday, April 27, 2012, and the comment period closes on Monday June 11, 2012. Send written comments to:

Cleveland National Forest
10845 Rancho Bernardo Road
Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92127-2107
ATTN: LMP Amendment

Comments may be sent via e-mail to socal_nf_lmp_amendment@fs.fed.us, or filed through the project web page at http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/nepa_project_exp.php?project=35130

For further information, contact Project Manager Bob Hawkins at socal_nf_lmp_amendment@fs.fed.us or visit the project website at http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php?project=35130

reccos on "best" way to hike Sentinel Dome and Taft Pt (36 replies)

JRinGeorgia — Thu, 10 May 2012 19:09:21 -0700

Hi everyone, upcoming first trip to Yosemite (end of May) and looking for a bit of guidance on the "best" way to do Sentinel Dome and Taft Point.

Most trail guides I have read say SD and TP are a 2.2 mi roundtrip; this is deceiving because it seems that each one is 2.2 mi r/t from the shared trailhead. So, it would be 4.4 mi to do both as a pair of back-to-back loops both starting at the trailhead. This approach would miss the segment of the Pohono Trail that connects between SD and TP.

I recently read here of the area to park just up GP Road from this trailhead, the dirt lot near the old service road. This puts you much closer to SD and looks like a great time-saver to SD. I had assumed it also would be a time-saver for continuing on to TP, but I mapped the trail and came to 2.9 mi one-way from that dirt parking area to TP (including going up and down SD). So to go to TP this way and then double back would be about 5.3 mi (I subtracted about .5 mi for the return trip because we wouldn't go up and down SD again). In other words this approach seems to be a little longer than looping through the shared trailhead, according to my calculations. Is that right?

A third approach would be to do a 'triangle', starting at either the shared trailhead or the dirt parking area then taking one big loop (SD trail to Pohono to TP then TP trail back to trailhead, or reverse order). I suppose it wouldn't really matter where we started with this approach since we would have to do the full loop to end up back where you started. I don't know how long this approach would be -- it seems it would end up longer than either of the first two approaches but I really don't know.

Distance is not our only consideration – scenery is worth a little extra distance, for example. I believe Pohono has great scenery in many spots but from the trailhead out to TP and much of the trail to SD is forest. Elevation changes would be another consideration.

So two basic questions: first, is my math correct on distances? And second, all in all, what recommendations do you have for a SD/TP hike – where to start and what route to take? Thanks in advance.

Scalper ads to flag (43 replies)

eeek — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:23:34 -0700

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/wan/2999610323.html
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/for/2999014203.html

Hiking from Hemlock Crossing, up Stevenson Canyon to??? (6 replies)

Jeffrey Olson — Mon, 07 May 2012 07:34:53 -0700

I'm doing a loop of the Minarets/Banner/Ritter this summer and we'll be spending a day up in Stevenson Canyon. I've looked at topos and google earth and am wondering if there is a class 2 or 3 hike over a ridge around Forester Peak or Electra Peak from Blue Lake or Rockabound Lake that drops you down to the bench above Harriet Lake, or down into the cirque of the Lyell Fork of the Merced River.

I'm asking because the guide books say Stevenson Canyon is magnificent, and the trail stops there. I'm guessing there is a knapsack pass/ridge that's not too dangerous to cross over that range. I just can't tell from the maps.

I'm sure the trail over Isberg Pass will be totally satisfying. However, I'm always looking for alternate routes for these summer loops.

We want to end up on Lewis Creek and headed over Vogelsang Pass back to Tuolomne Meadows. Any personal knoweldge of the west side of Ritter/Banner/Minarets will be much appreciated!!!

Jeff.

Lake Vernon/Rancheria Falls 5/4-5/5 (8 replies)

ckm554 — Thu, 10 May 2012 07:16:04 -0700

I took a short trip this weekend to Lake Vernon and Rancheria Falls. I started from the Beehive Meadow trail and hiked to Vernon where I spent the night. Saturday I hiked south to Tiltill Meadow and then Rancheria Falls. I planned on a second night at Rancheria but got there at about 2pm so I just hiked back to the dam. Saw nobody from the rim of the valley to Lake Vernon. There were two other groups camped at Vernon but saw nobody else until Tiltill Meadow. Trails were followable but overgrown in places and lots of downed trees, I would guess from the wind storm back in November. A few snow patches on north facing slopes but mostly snow free.

Here is a link to a few pics (taken via cell phone)

https://picasaweb.google.com/117025886482845091325/VernonMay2012?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIzCwO_SgImPsQE&feat=directlink

Anyone have a guess as to snow conditions in Jack Main Canyon? It looks to be mostly below 8000 ft.

Chris

The Diving Board (22 replies)

Acadia — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:55:15 -0700

High on my bucket list of places to see is to reach the Diving Board; the location from which Ansel Adams took his iconic photograph of HD. In 2003, Backpacker magazine published 5 hikes to classic photos. The directions were: "Hike up the Mist Trail to the top of Nevada Fall. Follow the Merced River upstream for a quarter mile, and then head left into the brush looking for an old social trail, climbing a small ridge and then skirting the left side of swampy Lost Lake. From there, it's only half a mile to the Diving Board but it's a gnarly scramble up 1,200 feet of steep scree and manzanita covered hillside." 9.5 miles round trip. While Adams had a mule to haul his equipment, age and stamina may prove to be my undoing. I doubt finding this location has become any easier since the publication. We've not hiked from the bottom of the valley preferring Toulome Meadows and Glacier Point THs so I'm unfamiliar with this location. Is the "social trail" even discernable as mentioned after hiking a quarter mile up the Merced river? For that matter, is there any bench mark that could be used to determine where the "social trail" may be? Are any permits required to reach this vantage point? Or shall I cross this one off my list? :crybaby:

Yellowstone 'Super-Eruption' Less Super, More Frequent Than Thought (no replies)

eeek — Sat, 05 May 2012 21:55:26 -0700

Researchers at Washington State University and the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre say the biggest Yellowstone eruption, which created the 2 million year old Huckleberry Ridge deposit, was actually two different eruptions at least 6,000 years apart. Their results paint a new picture of a more active volcano than previously thought and can help recalibrate the likelihood of another big eruption in the future. Before the researchers split the one eruption into two, it was the fourth largest known to science.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120430101036.htm

Scientists Core Into California's Clear Lake to Explore Past Climate Change (no replies)

eeek — Sat, 05 May 2012 17:50:18 -0700

ScienceDaily (May 3, 2012) — University of California, Berkeley, scientists are drilling into ancient sediments at the bottom of Northern California's Clear Lake for clues that could help them better predict how today's plants and animals will adapt to climate change and increasing population .The lake sediments are among the world's oldest, containing records of biological change stretching back as far as 500,000 years.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120503142714.htm

Rapid Sierra Nevada Uplift Tracked by Scientists (1 reply)

eeek — Sat, 05 May 2012 16:59:35 -0700

ScienceDaily (May 3, 2012) — From the highest peak in the continental United States, Mt. Whitney at 14,000 feet in elevation, to the 10,000-foot-peaks near Lake Tahoe, scientific evidence from the University of Nevada, Reno shows the entire Sierra Nevada mountain range is rising at the relatively fast rate of 1 to 2 millimeters every year.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/05/120503162021.htm

Waterfalls, Peak Levels? (18 replies)

GreatRafter — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:21:04 -0700

Any guesses on the peak waterfalls level this year, and when will they stop?

Cuyamaca Mountains - Joy and Renewal (no replies)

laudizen — Sat, 05 May 2012 11:09:44 -0700

How wild areas renew the human spirit.

(follow the link below)

The Cuyamaca Mountains

El Cap hike suggestions (1 reply)

ryanmj — Fri, 04 May 2012 21:48:35 -0700

Planning a hike this summer, possibly going from the trail head on Big Oak Flat Road across the top of El Cap and down Yosemite falls. I want to get out to the top of ribbon falls and possibly stay along the edge over to Yosemite Falls. Anyone have any suggestions on alternate starts from valley, possibly the old road. Also considering coming down Indian Canyon depending mileage though ive heard coming down is a bad idea if you haven't gone up it before. Vaguely remember hearing of a climbers decent trail just east of EL cap as well.

Sonora Pass is open (1 reply)

eeek — Fri, 04 May 2012 22:07:02 -0700

SR 108
[IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA & SIERRA NEVADA]
NO TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ARE REPORTED FOR THIS AREA.

http://yosemitenews.info/highway-status/

La Niña has transitioned to ENSO-neutral conditions (no replies)

eeek — Fri, 04 May 2012 16:41:18 -0700

La Niña has transitioned to ENSO-neutral conditions, which are expected to continue through northern summer 2012.

La Niña dissipated during April 2012, as below-average SSTs weakened across most of the equatorial Pacific Ocean and above-average SSTs persisted in the east (Fig. 1). The Niño 4 and Niño 3.4 indices were warmer than -0.5oC throughout the month, and the Niño 3 and Niño 1+2 indices remained positive (Fig. 2). The oceanic heat content (average temperature in the upper 300m of the ocean) anomalies also became positive in April (Fig. 3), as below-average sub-surface temperatures largely disappeared and above-average sub-surface temperatures expanded in both the central and eastern Pacific (Fig. 4). Consistent with the demise of La Niña, enhanced trade winds and reduced convection over the central equatorial Pacific were much weakened during April, and the area of enhanced convection that had previously dominated the western Pacific and Indonesia became disorganized (Fig. 5). Collectively, these oceanic and atmospheric patterns indicate a transition from La Niña to ENSO-neutral conditions.

The current and evolving conditions, combined with model forecasts (Fig. 6), suggest that La Niña is unlikely to re-develop later this year. A majority of models predict ENSO-neutral conditions to continue from April-June (AMJ) through the June-August (JJA) season (Fig. 6). However, at least half of the dynamical models predict development of El Niño conditions by JJA. Still, from JJA onward there is considerable forecast uncertainty as to whether ENSO-neutral or El Niño conditions will prevail, due largely to the inability to predict whether the warmer SST will result in the ocean-atmosphere coupling required for a sustained El Niño event. The official forecast calls for ENSO-neutral conditions through JAS, followed by approximately equal chances of Neutral or El Niño conditions for the remainder of the year (see CPC/IRI consensus forecast).

This discussion is a consolidated effort of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NOAA's National Weather Service, and their funded institutions. Oceanic and atmospheric conditions are updated weekly on the Climate Prediction Center web site (El Niño/La Niña Current Conditions and Expert Discussions). Forecasts for the evolution of El Niño/La Niña are updated monthly in the Forecast Forum section of CPC's Climate Diagnostics Bulletin. The next ENSO Diagnostics Discussion is scheduled for 7 June 2012. To receive an e-mail notification when the monthly ENSO Diagnostic Discussions are released, please send an e-mail message to: ncep.list.enso-update@noaa.gov.

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.html

It's that season for scalping (9 replies)

mbear — Sun, 06 May 2012 11:40:40 -0700

Please flag:

SELLERS:

BUYERS:
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/wan/2994697851.html
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/for/2982138854.html
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/wan/2981898143.html

REMOVED: 11/14

Please flag at least the vulture sellers (though it being a two party transaction, I think buyers should be prohibited too)

Whoa Nellie! (8 replies)

Half Dome Hiker — Sat, 05 May 2012 22:11:42 -0700

http://thesheetnews.com/archives/12764

Too bad. I always enjoyed the food. Not too many good options around Yosemite left imho.