Well- Thanks to "parklover" for the suggestion. I posed the question to the Yosemite History Facebook page. Here is the response from Sonny Montague----- "That is Sewer Plant Meadow. Walk around out there and you'll find the remnants of ceramic pipe, etc. from the sludge system that pre-dated the sewer treatment plant built near Bridalveil Creek. Slaughterhouse and Wosky Pond (naby Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
This may be a silly question, but does anyone know the background of this meadow? The trees seem cleared at a 90 degree angle. Possibly previously used for crops or livestock?by Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
"likely OK--unless there's a dead rodent/discarded used diaper/other human or animal waste upstream" I've always thought Fern Spring's water was from Silver Strand fall and filtered through massive amounts of sediment. How would contamination enter the source except at the exit pond? In which case it would be obvious. To your point, I suspect you're right in that NPS is protecting itselby Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Stopped at Fern Spring today and noticed a sign stating "Non-Potable Water." Folks have been drinking that water since time began. Has something changed to affect the quality? Also noticed the dearth of vegetation around the spring. Not typical for that area.by Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
OK. Now I'm confused. Or maybe it's the three glasses of wine I just had. But you say---Sentinel Beach to El Capitan Bridge is closed as of May 27, 2021, due to trees falling into the river following a prescribed fire. The Merced River from Stoneman Bridge (between North Pines and Lower Pines Campgrounds) to El Capitan Bridge is open each day that the gage height at Pohono Bridge is below 7 feetby Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Here's an excerpt from the Fresno Bee---- “An additional 1,000 passes will be released Sunday-Wednesday and an additional 650 passes will be released Thursday-Saturday, for a total approximate target of approximately 5,000 vehicles in the park each day.” Park officials said in April that vehicles in Yosemite this year might increase to as many as 6,480 park-wide each day, about 90% of vehby Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Well- in the meantime I saw a FB post that says recreation.gov issues 1600 or more reservations daily. Since there is a three day window for use that means a potential 4,800+ reservations in use on any given day.by Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Just wondering if anyone knows how many day entries Recreation.Gov issues for a given day for Yosemite. I was in the valley last Tues. and it looked like full blown summer traffic. If the object of reservations is to control crowding, that experiment is not working.by Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Thanks for the info. I was there on April 8th. That's when the road was closed. It must have opened in the meantime.by Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Is the trailhead parking near Upper Pines Campground open? I was in the valley not long ago and the road was closed beyond Lower Pines. When hiking to Vernal or Half Dome, where can we park?by Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Finally. If I remember correctly this was supposed to happen 6 years ago. The two bridge bypass was ok for a brief time, but it's been 15 years with no progress.by Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Temperatures decrease about 5.5 degrees for every 1,000ft. elevation on a clear day. If the temp on the valley floor in 91 then you can expect the top of HD to be near mid 60's. LYV can be quite warm since there's little air flow mid-day in summer. By the time you get back to Vernal fall bridge you'll really feel the warmth.by Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I also asked at the entrance. I got the same reply. When the park reopens I guess I'll try the visitor center and see if they have any info. Maybe they'll also know something about the Ahwahnee sign that disappeared during the naming rights controversy.by Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
This sign used to be near the approach to the south entrance. Anyone know what happened to it? And are there any plans to replace? Other National Parks have entrance signs. Why not Yosemite?by Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
So by the logic of NPS, is the Sugar Maple across from the chapel the next to go? After all, it's also not native to the valley.by Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Seems like anyone wanting to see the sights beyond Badger Pass, on Glacier Point Road, better do it by 2020 or wait almost 2 years. https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/news/yosemite-national-park-will-host-a-public-meeting-on-the-upcoming-glacier-point-road-rehabilitation-project.htm?fbclid=IwAR0cgBTghv8nf2DNi82UCN0uOhUibFBFUQZi-IGsGetgIzxbkNCu40vtPOgby Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I wrote CalTrans a little over a year ago to inquire as to the status of the slide repair. There is supposed to be a shed over 140 when repairs are completed. CalTrans said construction was to begin 2 years ago but have delayed it because the area is still too unstable. They couldn't predict when construction would start.by Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
ERICG- So in other words-----STAY AWAY, right? Years ago I would park off road, in a turnout, between Four Mile & Swinging Bridge. With a five minute walk towards the river I would be in a great location for viewing Horsetail fall. AND, I was all alone. Sadly the internet, news media, and pro photographer groups have created a huge crowding problem for the Park Service. Not sure what the remeby Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
chick-on---Great information. I really appreciate it. Thanks.by Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
plawrence----Thanks for the info on the fence. I didn't realize it was so recent. Seeing it so often I thought it was a lot older.by Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
chick-on---So it appears from the valley map that the first camp was on the west side of the moraine near the present Bunnell marker. And the Lower Iron Bridge became the Pohono Bridge. But I'm still puzzled about the rail fence. I will definitely hunt down the Linda Greene book. Thanksby Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
For 67 years I've visited Yosemite at least once a year. I even worked two years for YP&CCo. in the early 70's. Now that I'm retired I am trying to learn as much of the history of Yosemite as I can. I've read several books and Googled many sites. Some questions I still have not found answers and thought this forum may be able to help. Three that come to mind are------- 1. What's the storyby Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Yosemite-National-Park-man-woman-die-Taft-Point-13336307.phpby Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
So--- do we know why the helipad was there in the first place?by Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
I recently discovered an earthquake/volcanic activity monitoring station along Wawona road. It's located approx. mid-way between the campground and mosquito creek crossing. Near that equipment is the remains of an abandoned helipad. Anyone know why it's there? It's so remote that, it seems if a copter was needed because of an emergency, the the golf course could be used instead.by Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Reports of another fire in Yosemite. This time in the Wawona region. Near Wawona Dome and the S.fork of the Merced. http://sierranewsonline.com/fire-reported-near-wawona-inside-yosemite/by Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Any info on when they'll be starting the pedestrian subway from Yosemite Lodge to the falls. Or is that still in the plans?by Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
Wow! After fifty years of driving on the old configuration this is going to take some getting used to.by Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
BTW-This is what the area looks like now. The two large boulders are to the left out of scene.by Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion
You got it. The fewer the better.by Pohono - Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. News & Discussion