Each time I visit a National Park, I am stuck by how much effort is made to undo a what seems like a correctable problem. Specifically, the threshold for entering a park is very low. Once inside the park, much effort is made to get visitors to be aware of dangers, to obey regulations related to plants and wildlife, to adhere to trail use recommendations--- essentially to behave in such a way thaby Frank Furter - General Discussion
Recent Chron article on the Yosemite Falls of Muir. I presume the spot he found is now what is referred to as Fern Ledge and that he was not actually "behind" the falls? http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/28/PKC41K3L5V.DTLby Frank Furter - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteHitech QuoteFrank Furter For example, a fatal bear mauling of a child in 2007 while in a tent with food improperly stored, recently resulted in a finding of negligence by both the parents and the government (in this case, the Forest Service) with the government found to be 65% responsible. http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/05/05/36377.htm A developed campsite it not even close to theby Frank Furter - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/07/28/28greenwire-wolves-move-from-endangered-to-hunted-in-rural-92931.html DILLON, Mont. -- Earlier this month, a black wolf attacked and killed one of Rick Sandru's calves as it grazed on a forest allotment in the upper Ruby Valley above his southwest Montana ranch. As the wolf feasted on the 400-pound carcass, a range rider fired a shot...by Frank Furter - General Discussion
QuoteSierraGold But, what are the chances that three adults, who are not blood related, would be stricken with the same disorder at the same time? You can't even claim hypnosis by watching the flowing water. I am not pretending to make judgments on this whole event, although I do have a personal opinion. My point is merely to introduce the idea that all things are not as they may appear initiaby Frank Furter - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteHitech QuoteFrank Furter Wilderness is never completely wild. There are many, many situations where the NPS decides that a location is too dangerous, even in the wilderness... When areas are deemed too dangerous for ANYONE, then closing them is acceptable. However, this was not the case. Emerald Pool is too dangerous for anyone and IT IS CLOSED. That is good enough. No different thby Frank Furter - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteplawrence Quoteszalkowski Quoteplawrence Quoteszalkowski You might want to talk to the folks over at the USGS about that since Discovery View is the official name of the location on their maps. Nevertheless, it's still a misnomer. The attachment "View" to the name of a location is almost universally assigned to the object which one is viewing. Hence, my designations on thby Frank Furter - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Wilderness is never completely wild. There are many, many situations where the NPS decides that a location is too dangerous, even in the wilderness. For example, in Yellowstone NP, frequently a popular swimming area called the Boiling River (actually the Gardiner River) is regularly closed for high water in the spring and low water (burn risk) in the fall. Bear closures occur depending upon &by Frank Furter - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
NPS daily report: Seven bears have been reported hit by vehicles so far in 2011. Please obey speed limits and pay attention while driving! In 2010, 28 bears were hit by vehicles. Do not abandon your food! This week a bear obtained food from various backcountry campsites throughout the park. When hiking, do not leave food or packs unattended, even for a few minutes. No matter where you’reby Frank Furter - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Valley Loop Trail Construction Completed Construction has been completed on the Valley Loop Trail between Church Bowl And Lower Yosemite Falls Trail. The trail is now open to regular foot traffic.by Frank Furter - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteplawrence Quotetraildad It was a bit sketchy in places, but it can be done. I had to step over a little water and there was a spot that seem to have "crumbs" on it that worried me a bit. If you go sideways and work yourself to the natural features that are not smooth rock you can work your way down. This was taken 7/14/2010 Next time you visit Waterwheel Falls, you ought toby Frank Furter - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
NPS Press Release: Small Fire Burning In Yellowstone’s Central Plateau Lightning from recent thunderstorms has started a small fire in the western section of Yellowstone National Park on the Central Plateau south of Gibbon Falls. The Gibbon Fire was discovered at 9:00 a.m.,Tuesday, July 26 by a park research overflight. The fire is several miles southeast of Gibbon Falls. It was namedby Frank Furter - General Discussion
Mount Rainier National Park (WA) Rangers Conduct Technical Rescue Of Injured Climber On the afternoon of Sunday, July 24th, park dispatch received an emergency PLB (personal locator beacon) signal from a party climbing high on the Kautz Glacier route on Mt. Rainier. After determining the location of the signal, climbing rangers from Camp Muir responded on foot to find a visitor with a probablby Frank Furter - General Discussion
Library of Congress has some historic photos including Hutchings Hotel, Laddeig's Hotel, and Sentinel Hotel: See: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/index/subjects/by Frank Furter - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
As a pre-teen, I visited Glacier Point in the late 50's (we camped in the valley with the bears, so did not see much of the inside of the hotel). Parking was in front of the hotel and, I believe, there was an outbuilding with flush toilet facilities apart from the hotel. Or perhaps it was a public bathroom on the side of the hotel. The pictures of the hotel on the internet suggest that it was hugby Frank Furter - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteplawrence QuoteFrank Furter Remarkable change in policy given the historical Canadian regulations against carrying or importing pepper spray ( for human deterrent, as oppose to "bear spray" ). Does "bear spray" work well as a human deterrent too? Absolutely. Check out youtube for some demonstrations (note the wind effect initially in the following example)by Frank Furter - General Discussion
Quotey_p_w Quotebasilbop As a rule of thumb, the output of the panels will drop by about 1% per year, so the break-even time is probably greater than 36 years. Before then I would expect that it would make more sense to buy a full replacement when the price goes down and performance goes up. They're not doing this to achieve breakeven. I think the reason for photovoltaics is a sense that thby Frank Furter - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quoteparklover Are there any pictures of the project? (from the NPS today) Yosemite National Park Unveils Largest Solar Energy System in the National Park System - news release $5.8 Million Photovoltaic Project in El Portal Grid Connected and Producing Power Scott Gediman 209-372-0248 Kari Cobb 209-372-0529 Yosemite National Park Superintendent Don Neubacher led a ribbon cutting ceremony tby Frank Furter - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Volunteer Opportunity in Tuolumne Meadows Researchers from the Utah State University and Yosemite National Park are seeking assistance with a visitor travel information study in the Tuolumne Meadows area. Brief training and supplies will be provided. Assistance from individuals aged 14 and older is requested for the following sessions: - July 30th, 2pm-7pm - July 31st, 9am-2pm - August 4th, 2by Frank Furter - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
QuoteMom Anyone know how many river crossings there are on this trail? Gephyrophobia?by Frank Furter - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Remarkable change in policy given the historical Canadian regulations against carrying or importing pepper spray ( for human deterrent, as oppose to "bear spray" ).by Frank Furter - General Discussion
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/26/us-arizona-bear-idUSTRE76P5LJ20110726 An Arizona woman has died from a massive brain hemorrhage nearly a month after being mauled by a 250-pound male black bear while walking her dog at a country club,...by Frank Furter - General Discussion
http://gtnpnews.blogspot.com/2011/07/grand-teton-national-park-clarifies.html ... The appearance this year of grizzly bears #399 and #610 and their collective five cubs creates unprecedented opportunities for park visitors to view superb wildlife; these opportunities also increase appreciation for animals and national park values. At the same time, the tremendous interest in viewing these beaby Frank Furter - General Discussion
NPS reports: Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area (MT,WY) Two Pryor Mountain mustangs were killed within the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range around 2 a.m. last Sunday morning. These mustangs are considered very special because of their direct colonial Spanish American heritage. A driver found the dead horses along U.S. Highway 37 near Crooked Creek Bay and notified rangers and county depby Frank Furter - General Discussion
Grand Canyon National Park (AZ) Teenager Rescued From Below Canyon Rim The park received a report of an injured man beneath the canyon rim near Mather Point just after 7 a.m. last Saturday. Arriving rangers found a 19-year-old man approximately ten feet below the rim. Within 20 minutes of the initial call, they had made it down to him and began stabilizing his injuries and preparing him forby Frank Furter - General Discussion
Quotettilley QuoteFrank Furter Quotettilley I've seen no assertion, anywhere, that the guard rail in question was in disrepair. I have seen statements that it was jumped, w/ no denials of that. The adequacy of the guard rail, it seems to me, would nevertheless be an issue in any litigation. QuoteAs for "anger" and "grieving", you'll observe that my first criticism inby Frank Furter - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Quotettilley I've seen no assertion, anywhere, that the guard rail in question was in disrepair. I have seen statements that it was jumped, w/ no denials of that. The adequacy of the guard rail, it seems to me, would nevertheless be an issue in any litigation. QuoteAs for "anger" and "grieving", you'll observe that my first criticism in this thread was of the attorneyby Frank Furter - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Anger is part of the normal grieving process (see Death and Dying by Kubler-Ross). Here is an interesting bit from the NPS Half Dome website QA: Quote Isn’t part of the wilderness experience taking and assuming risks associated with outdoor activities such as climbing Half Dome? When we install and maintain a structure or facility, such as the Half Dome cables, we have a responsibilitby Frank Furter - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
To summarize, YARTS travels west into the Valley (from over near Mammoth Lakes) in the morning and returns eastward in the afternoon. If you want to go to TM in the afternoon, that is the bus to take. If you want to go to TM in the morning, take the Delaware North Hiker Bus. If you travel late in the season, be sure to check the schedules because in the past, YARTS and the DN Hiker bus didby Frank Furter - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I think you are referring to the Delaware North bus. Check out this link: http://www.yosemitepark.com/Activities_GuidedBusTours_TuolumneMeadows.aspx Strangely, it does not seem to be linked from the NPS transportation website. Several years ago this was not overly crowded and tickets could be purchased at various sites around the valley, but it looks like you can reserve earlier if youby Frank Furter - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion