yosemitenews.info - Yosemite National Park News, Information, Advice and Discussion - General Discussion General chat, jokes, environmental concerns, other parks, off-topic stuff, fun. Youll find the older Yosemite threads here as well.http://yosemitenews.info/forum/list.php?1Thu, 09 Sep 2010 06:02:06 -0700 Phorum 5.2.10 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28638,28638#msg-28638 Rim to Rim: Hiking the Grand Canyonhttp://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28638,28638#msg-28638Hitting rock bottom is generally not a gratifying experience. But when I reached the Colorado River at the base of the Grand Canyon after two days of hiking, I was elated: Less than one percent of all visitors to the Grand Canyon ever see more than its rim. I set down my pack and felt as though I had made it to the moon. Then I promptly fell asleep on a picnic table with my boots on.

http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/intelligenttravel/2010/09/rim-to-rim-hiking-the-grand-ca.html?source=link_tw09082010l]]> eeek General DiscussionThu, 09 Sep 2010 02:13:56 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28635,28635#msg-28635 Angels Landing Hiking Route to Close for Repairshttp://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28635,28635#msg-28635Date: September 8, 2010
Contact: Ron Terry, 435-772-0160
Contact: Erik DeGroat, 435-772-0180

Superintendent Jock Whitworth has announced that the Angels Landing hiking route and all climbing routes on that rock formation will close for several days starting in mid-September. A Zion National Park trail crew will be working on route improvements including re-chiseling existing steps, drilling and installing new posts and chains in some areas to better delineate the route, and adding dry stone masonry to improve footing. The closure is necessary due to helicopter activity in the area, movement of materials and equipment, and for visitor and work crew safety while work is in progress on the narrow route.

September 15 and 16 and September 20 through the 23, the West Rim Trail will be closed from The Grotto to Scout Lookout. The Angels Landing Route will also be closed from Scout Lookout to the summit of Angels Landing. All climbing routes on the cliff faces of Angels Landing will also be closed for those time periods.

From September 27 to October 14, the Angels Landing Route from Scout Lookout to the summit and climbing routes on the Angels Landing cliff faces will be closed Monday through Thursday. The Angels Landing Route and climbing routes will be open Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The West Rim Trail from The Grotto trailhead will be open during this time period for those hikers wishing to visit Scout Lookout or the West Rim of Zion Canyon.

Alternate hikes with similar views are available on the Observation Point and East Rim Trails. When open, the West Rim Trail to Scout Lookout and farther up to the canyon rim is also very rewarding. Rangers at any of the park visitor contact stations can help with alternate trip planning or you can visit the park website at www.nps.gov/zion.

Visitors are reminded that their safety is their responsibility. Even with the route improvements, exposed cliffs and great heights present situations where lack of situational awareness can have life threatening consequences. Any location with vertical exposure can be dangerous and should not be underestimated. Attention to the terrain and focus on footing are essential for a safe experience.]]> eeek General DiscussionWed, 08 Sep 2010 16:22:09 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28634,28634#msg-28634 Lost hikers will find emergency kits with water, cell phonehttp://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28634,28634#msg-28634Lost hikers in Palm Springs will soon find emergency kits filled with a blanket, cell phone and water, among other rescue supplies. The Palm Springs Mounted Police Search and Rescue Team will install two boxes Saturday — one at 2,500 feet and a second at 5,000 feet — along the Skyline Trail, the police department announced Wednesday.

http://www.mydesert.com/article/20100908/NEWS01/100908034]]> eeek General DiscussionWed, 08 Sep 2010 15:43:18 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28485,28616#msg-28616 Re: Where not to carry a handgun while hikinghttp://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28485,28616#msg-28616 bbb General DiscussionTue, 07 Sep 2010 09:44:04 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28598,28603#msg-28603 Re: Chick-on has a new job?http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28598,28603#msg-28603
]]> chick-on General DiscussionMon, 06 Sep 2010 07:46:56 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28598,28602#msg-28602 Re: Chick-on has a new job?http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28598,28602#msg-28602 tomdisco General DiscussionMon, 06 Sep 2010 07:41:38 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28598,28598#msg-28598 Chick-on has a new job?http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28598,28598#msg-28598]]> eeek General DiscussionSun, 05 Sep 2010 17:10:57 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28597,28597#msg-28597 Yellowstone Monthly Update issued Sep 5, 2010http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28597,28597#msg-28597
Ground Deformation Summary: Careful analysis of the Yellowstone GPS data shows that the period of accelerated Yellowstone caldera uplift, beginning in 2004, has decreased toward long-term background levels. A record of recent ground displacement can be found at: http://pboweb.unavco.org/shared/scripts/stations/?checkkey=WLWY&sec=timeseries_plots&timeseries=raw]]> eeek General DiscussionSun, 05 Sep 2010 16:44:07 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,27861,28586#msg-28586 Re: Old priest grade roadhttp://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,27861,28586#msg-28586
Quote
mrcondron
The Old Priest Grade Road is the shortest and fastest way up the hill assuming one is not deterred by the thought of a grizzly death by running off the road. No trucks or motor homes to get in the way. It will be closed for a couple of months now.

Hopefully this guy won't be on it:

]]> eeek General DiscussionFri, 03 Sep 2010 14:30:27 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28584,28584#msg-28584 Zion Announces Enhanced Labor Day DUI Enforcementhttp://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28584,28584#msg-28584Date: September 3, 2010
Contact: Therese Picard, 435-772-7852

To combat the often deadly problem of drunk driving, rangers at Zion National Park today announced the continuation of an intensive and sustained crackdown on all who drive drunk in the park."We’re expanding DUI checkpoints and patrols to help ensure a safe visit for the over 2.7 million people who each year come here to enjoy Zion," said Park Superintendent Jock Whitworth.

The park will conduct several waves of "High Visibility Enforcement" to combat drunk driving. Enforcement activities will include sobriety checkpoints and saturation enforcement patrols on many of the park’s roads. Rangers at Zion will also be partnering with Utah Highway Patrol on some of the enforcement activities. In addition to this Labor Day Weekend, high visibility patrols are planned for late October, around Halloween and hunting season. Regular enforcement efforts will continue to occur throughout the year.

"The absolute intention of our intensified enforcement campaign is deterrence. We’re much more interested in preventing drunks from getting behind the wheel than in writing tickets," said Whitworth.

Though the vast majority of the park’s visitors have a safe and enjoyable experience, the consumption of alcohol has resulted in problems through the years. This has included incidents of public intoxication, disorderly conduct and drunk driving.

In 2008 alone, there were 11,773 alcohol-impaired fatalities on U.S. roadways, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. About 32 percent of the 37,261 deaths on the country’s roadways in 2008 involved a drunk driver. Throughout the U.S., including the country’s national parks, anyone driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher is considered legally drunk.

Zion National Park rangers wish for all visitors to have an enjoyable Labor Day holiday weekend. This should include driving safe and sober or appointing a designated driver for those who have over indulged]]> eeek General DiscussionFri, 03 Sep 2010 14:21:07 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28580,28580#msg-28580 Search Underway For Overdue Mountaineerhttp://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28580,28580#msg-28580Search Underway For Overdue Mountaineer

A search is underway in the area of Storm King Mountain for a 49-year old resident of the Seattle area who was reported missing on Monday, August 30th. The experienced mountaineer was planning to solo climb Storm King Mountain on Saturday, August 28th. Late Wednesday afternoon, a backpack was found by a ground search team at the 7400-foot elevation level directly below Storm King’s 8500-foot summit. The backpack was on the route to the summit, and it is believed that the pack was purposely placed at this location. National Park Service rangers were able to confirm the gear belongs to the missing climber. Rangers confirmed that a tent and other gear found on Monday belong to the missing climber, who had been issued a backcountry permit to stay at that location on Friday, August 27th. The designated camp site is along the Park Creek Trail en route to a Storm King climbing route. Ground searches on Tuesday and Wednesday covered a 1500-acre search area. The terrain where the searches are being conducted is steep and difficult. Fifty personnel from the National Park Service, Chelan Mountain Rescue, Stehekin Community and the King County Sheriff’s Office are now searching for the missing climber. They were aided yesterday by four helicopters, including two with forward looking infrared (FLIR). FLIR is an imaging technology that detects thermal energy and can help find missing persons if they are in areas that cannot be seen.]]> eeek General DiscussionFri, 03 Sep 2010 03:03:09 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28579,28579#msg-28579 Petroglyphs Vandalizedhttp://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28579,28579#msg-28579
NPS Photo

LAUGHLIN, Nev. – A 20-year-old Bullhead City, Ariz. man suspected of vandalizing petroglyphs at Grapevine Canyon in Lake Mead National Recreation Area was cited by park rangers on Friday, Mar. 19. He and a 13-year-old boy were reportedly shooting paintballs in the area.

At least four petroglyph panels and numerous rock faces were defaced with paint. This week, the National Park Service is coordinating the clean up with area tribes.

“This area in particular is incredibly sensitive and sacred to the Native American tribes of the Lower Colorado River. It’s unimaginable to think of someone having a paintball fight in the Sistine Chapel; however from the perspective of local tribal members that’s what happened here,” said Rosie Pepito, chief of cultural resource management for Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

A caller to Bullhead City 911 reported that there were kids in the canyon shooting paintballs. Park rangers responded and contacted the man at the Grapevine Canyon trailhead parking lot. A preliminary investigation lead rangers to suspect that the man was responsible for the red and green paint splatters in the canyon.

The man was cited for defacing/disturbing an archeological resource, using and discharging a weapon, littering and vandalism.

He was cited and released but will be required to appear before a federal magistrate. His name is being withheld pending filing of formal charges.

Lake Mead National Recreation Area’s archeological resources are protected by federal law and regulation. On lands administered by the National Park Service, it is unlawful to excavate, remove, disturb, deface or destroy any historic or prehistoric building, structure, ruin, site, or in-place exhibit, artifact or object, or to collect, appropriate, excavate, damage, disturb or destroy artifacts, pictographs, petroglyphs, objects of antiquity, fossils or scientific specimens.

Criminal penalties can include a year in jail and/or a $100,000 fine. Violators may also be responsible for restitution and reimbursement of costs associated with mitigation and restoration.

SITE LOCATION:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=35.227041,-114.686097&sll=35.226586,-114.683672&sspn=0.004251,0.009602&ie=UTF8&ll=35.214771,-114.65538&spn=0.136039,0.43808&t=h&z=12

video: http://www.nps.gov/lake/parknews/images/Petroglyph_paintball.JPG]]> eeek General DiscussionFri, 03 Sep 2010 02:31:44 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28578,28578#msg-28578 Beer for deer?http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28578,28578#msg-28578
]]> eeek General DiscussionThu, 02 Sep 2010 22:36:15 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28571,28577#msg-28577 Re: Aw, Wilderness!http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28571,28577#msg-28577
http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?3,28235]]> bill-e-g General DiscussionThu, 02 Sep 2010 20:28:42 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28571,28571#msg-28571 Aw, Wilderness!http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28571,28571#msg-28571ONE day in early 1970, a cross-country skier got lost along the 46-mile Kekekabic Trail, which winds through the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota. Unable to make his way out, he died of exposure. In response, the Forest Service installed markers along the trail. But when, years later, it became time to replace them, the agency refused, claiming that the 1964 Wilderness Act banned signage in the nation’s wilderness areas.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/27/opinion/27stroll.htm?_r=1]]> eeek General DiscussionThu, 02 Sep 2010 18:51:22 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28567,28567#msg-28567 Moose injures child near Grand Lakehttp://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28567,28567#msg-28567As a moose charged from the forest, a toddler playing with his older brother was trampled beneath the cow's hooves at Shadow Mountain Reservoir in Grand County. The 2-year-old from the Granby area was rushed to The Children's Hospital in Aurora as a precaution for his head injury, officials said.

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_15974401]]> eeek General DiscussionThu, 02 Sep 2010 17:53:33 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28485,28559#msg-28559 Re: Where not to carry a handgun while hikinghttp://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28485,28559#msg-28559 mrcondron General DiscussionThu, 02 Sep 2010 16:27:34 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28556,28556#msg-28556 Rangers Rescue Drowning Manhttp://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28556,28556#msg-28556Rangers Rescue Drowning Man

California State Park ranger Mauricio Contreras and NPS ranger Paul Tibbetts rescued a distressed swimmer from the Smith River on August 29th. The 30-year-old Oregon man was swimming with friends near the Jedediah Smith campground picnic area when he disappeared in 20 feet of water. Contreras was one of the first rescuers in the water and worked with friends and bystanders to locate and bring the man to the surface. He was not breathing when he reached shore, so Tibbetts began and continued CPR until county ambulance personnel arrived and took over care. By the time he was transported to Sutter Coast Hospital, he had regained a pulse but was still not breathing on his own. He is currently in intensive care.]]> eeek General DiscussionThu, 02 Sep 2010 14:50:45 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28494,28553#msg-28553 Re: Tree in a Test Tubehttp://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28494,28553#msg-28553
For anyone interested, a quick websearch using the keywords “plastic sources” resulted in the following useful links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic
http://www.design-technology.org/plastics.htm
http://www.aerias.org/DesktopModules/ArticleDetail.aspx?articleId=60
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/plastic.html
http://www.pacinst.org/topics/water_and_sustainability/bottled_water/bottled_water_and_energy.html]]> szalkowski General DiscussionThu, 02 Sep 2010 14:19:30 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28485,28552#msg-28552 Re: Where not to carry a handgun while hikinghttp://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28485,28552#msg-28552
Quote
eeek
Quote
mrcondron
Well, you never know when you might need to shoot some ass on the trail.

You never know nose when you'll find an ass:


http://yosemitephotos.net/main.php/v/misc/sh-dscn3714.jpg.html


Spelling corrected above.

By the way, I hope that people haven't overlooked the irony of the name of the geographical location where the handgun incident occurred.]]> szalkowski General DiscussionThu, 02 Sep 2010 13:18:12 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28485,28547#msg-28547 Re: Where not to carry a handgun while hikinghttp://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28485,28547#msg-28547
Quote
mrcondron
Well, you never know when you might need to shoot some ass on the trail.

In this case the ass was both the doer and the doee. Efficiency is golden.]]> tomdisco General DiscussionThu, 02 Sep 2010 12:05:58 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28351,28543#msg-28543 Re: WiFi at Curryhttp://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28351,28543#msg-28543 Sowersby General DiscussionThu, 02 Sep 2010 09:38:37 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28485,28534#msg-28534 Re: Where not to carry a handgun while hikinghttp://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28485,28534#msg-28534
Quote
mrcondron
Well, you never know when you might need to shoot some ass on the trail.

You never know when you'll find an ass:


http://yosemitephotos.net/main.php/v/misc/sh-dscn3714.jpg.html]]> eeek General DiscussionThu, 02 Sep 2010 04:02:25 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28485,28532#msg-28532 Re: Where not to carry a handgun while hikinghttp://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28485,28532#msg-28532 rightstar76 General DiscussionThu, 02 Sep 2010 00:14:03 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28485,28528#msg-28528 Re: Where not to carry a handgun while hikinghttp://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28485,28528#msg-28528 mrcondron General DiscussionWed, 01 Sep 2010 21:46:07 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28485,28517#msg-28517 Re: Where not to carry a handgun while hikinghttp://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28485,28517#msg-28517
Quote
tomdisco
Yep, them hand guns come in real handy out there on the trail. Yessiree by gum! Brilliant move.:cocktail:


Undoubedtly necessary to protect oneself from roaming bands of Sasquatch.]]> szalkowski General DiscussionWed, 01 Sep 2010 18:58:04 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28485,28514#msg-28514 Re: Where not to carry a handgun while hikinghttp://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28485,28514#msg-28514 tanngrisnir3 General DiscussionWed, 01 Sep 2010 18:53:12 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28485,28509#msg-28509 Re: Where not to carry a handgun while hikinghttp://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28485,28509#msg-28509 tomdisco General DiscussionWed, 01 Sep 2010 16:58:48 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28506,28506#msg-28506 Yellowstone Canyon Rim Paving Project To Begin After Labor Dayhttp://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28506,28506#msg-28506
The project will consist of milling 4 inches of old asphalt off the road and replacing it with 4 inches of new asphalt from Artist Point to the intersection with the Grand Loop Road.

HK Contractors, Inc., of Idaho Falls, submitted the winning bid of just under one million dollars, and will start work on Tuesday, September 7.

Visitors can expect up to 30-minute delays during construction. Some temporary road closures will also be necessary, in order to complete paving before it gets too cold.

The South Rim Drive will be closed nightly between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., from Wednesday, September 8, through Friday, September 10, for the milling process of the project. The road will also be closed daily between noon and 8:00 p.m., from Monday, September 13, through Thursday, September 16, for the repaving process of the project.

During the short-term closures, visitors will still be able to capture breathtaking views of the Upper and Lower Falls and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone from overlooks along the North Rim Drive including Inspiration Point, Grand View Overlook, and Lookout Point.

The entire South Rim Drive repaving and rehabilitation project is set to be completed by late September, weather permitting.]]> eeek General DiscussionWed, 01 Sep 2010 16:32:27 -0700 http://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28504,28504#msg-28504 California Coastal Cleanup Dayhttp://yosemitenews.info/forum/read.php?1,28504,28504#msg-28504California Coastal Cleanup Day is the premier volunteer event focused on the marine environment in the country. In 2009, more than 80,600 volunteers worked together to collect more than 1,300,000 pounds of trash and recyclables from our beaches, lakes, and waterways.

http://www.coastal.ca.gov/publiced/ccd/ccd.html]]> eeek General DiscussionWed, 01 Sep 2010 15:16:59 -0700