Yosemite Photos, Video and News

Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Weather

Yosemite Valley

Today: A 20 percent chance of rain after 11am. Increasing clouds, with a
high near 61. South southwest wind between 6 and 15 mph, with gusts as high
as 21 mph.
Tonight: Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. Low around 32. South
southwest wind between 11 and 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Wednesday: Rain and snow. The rain and snow could be heavy at times. Snow
level 5700 feet. High near 54. South wind between 7 and 13 mph. Chance of
precipitation is 80%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Wednesday Night: Rain and snow showers likely. Snow level 5700 feet.
Cloudy, with a low around 32. South southwest wind between 7 and 11 mph.
Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Thursday: Rain and snow showers likely. Snow level 5100 feet. Cloudy, with
a high near 58. South southwest wind between 8 and 10 mph. Chance of
precipitation is 70%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Thursday Night: Rain and snow showers likely. Snow level 5400 feet. Cloudy,
with a low around 29. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no snow
accumulation expected.

El Portal
Today: A 30 percent chance of rain after 11am. Increasing clouds, with a
high near 65. South southwest wind between 8 and 11 mph.
Tonight: Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. Low around 36. South wind
between 8 and 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Wednesday: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 59. South wind between
7 and 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around
37. South southwest wind at 8 mph becoming east southeast.
Thursday: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 62. South wind between 5
and 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 34. Chance of
precipitation is 60%.

Wawona
Today: A 20 percent chance of rain after 11am. Increasing clouds, with a
high near 63. South southwest wind between 6 and 11 mph.
Tonight: Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. Low around 34. South wind
around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Wednesday: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 57. South wind between
7 and 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.
Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around
34. South southwest wind between 3 and 8 mph.
Thursday: Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 61. South wind between 6
and 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night: Rain showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33.
Chance of precipitation is 60%.

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Happening Today

Training Session: Yosemite Soil Survey Map and Associated Data
When: Today, May 25, 2010, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Where: Large Breakroom, NPS Administrative and Maintenance Facility,

El Portal

Who: Open to All Interested Employees (A. Long - 5/24/10)

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Construction update:
Integrated Utility Master Plan (IUMP) Contractor Mozingo Construction will
be doing sewer manhole construction work on Village Drive and Ahwahnee
Drive for the next couple of days. Mozingo will also continue work at the
new Ahwahnee Hotel sewer lift station. Mozingo will also start pulling old
abandoned utilities out of the ground just South of the Ahwahnee Hotel in
the next week or so. The removal of abandoned utilities is a large part of
the IUMP work in Yosemite. IUMP utility replacement work involves the
relocation of old failing utilities (water, power, sewer) from sensitive
environmental areas and relocating the new utilities into new integrated
utility corridors underneath roads and pathways. This allows meadow and
wetland habitat to revert back to pristine conditions.

Allison Sierra Construction will continue utility work in the Lower Tecoya
area.

Candelaria Construction is continuing work this week on the new fire alarm
upgrades in the Wawona Tunnel.

Please drive cautiously in construction zones. (D. Coon)

Park and Partner News

Need to know if camping is available in Yosemite? Please call
209/372-0266. The Valley Campground staff now has recorded information
about the status of all of Yosemite's campgrounds. We update the
information as soon as possible so please call our status line
(209/372-0266) for the latest availability. (K. Woods - 5/25/10)
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Yosemite is our backyard enrollment now open
A week long educational day camp for local children
Yosemite Institute, a campus of NatureBridge, is hosting a week-long summer
program for local youth that combines physical challenges, team building
activities, and adventures in Yosemite.

Yosemite Is Our Backyard offers an educational day camp experience for 7-9
and 10-12 year olds. They will learn the secrets of Yosemite and go on day
hiking adventures throughout Yosemite Valley with a skilled educational
staff. The program also includes one evening cookout and campfire for 7-9
year olds and an overnight at the Historic Merced Grove Ranger Cabin for
the 10-12 year olds. Learning adventures will begin each day at 8:45 a.m.
and end at 4:00 p.m. The days begin and end in Yosemite Valley. Tuition is
$175. Volunteer as a parent-chaperone for the full week and your child will
attend at no cost or volunteer for 2-3 days and your child will attend for
half-price.

Program dates are from June 14-18th. Please contact Dena Staggs at
209.379,9511 ext.25 or dstaggs@naturebridge.org for signups.(K. Cobb -
5/25/10)
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Yosemite Media Advisory - May 24, 2010 Media Contacts: Scott Gediman &

Kari Cobb 209-372-0248

Memorial Day Weekend and Spring Conditions in Yosemite - Special Press
Preview Media Day
Special Press Briefings to Include: Swift Water Rescue Demonstration, Tours
Offered in Spanish on Hybrid Trams, Best Waterfall Conditions in Years,
Campground and Status of Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road

What:
The press is invited to a special day where Yosemite National Park Rangers
and DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite, Inc. representatives will highlight
what is new in Yosemite. These include:

Swift Water Rescue Demonstration – Park Rangers demonstrate rescue
techniques on the Merced River, which is flowing at near peak
capacity.
Reporters will be able to experience swift water rescue from a
firsthand perspective with an opportunity to be a “victim” in
need of rescue. Each reporter will gear up for a brief swim in
the river, experience the powerful flow of the water, and be
“rescued” by Search and Rescue Park Rangers. We will provide
wetsuits and all gear needed for reporter to experience
“firsthand” how a rescue is conducted.

Tours of Yosemite Valley Offered in Spanish on Hybrid Trams – See one
of the new hybrid trams that conducts the Valley Floor Tour. Brand
new devices available for tours to be given in Spanish.
Demonstrations available onsite.

Best Waterfall Conditions in Years – The park’s waterfalls, expected
to peak the first week in June, are at full capacity with this being
the best waterfall year in five years.

Memorial Day Weekend Campground and Road Status Update – Yosemite
Park Rangers available to discuss anticipated conditions for Memorial
Day weekend.

High Water Safety – With an above average snowpack, the park’s rivers
are flowing at a high capacity. Park Rangers available to discuss
safety around water.

When & Where:
Wednesday, May 26, 2010 - 11:00 a.m. - Happy Isles Bridge in
Yosemite Valley. Follow signs to Yosemite Valley Campgrounds and
look for Park Ranger for directions to Happy Isles. (K. Cobb -
5/25/10)
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Yosemite Shuttle Systems - Beginning Saturday, May 22, additional shuttle
services became available throughout the park. Here is an update of what is
available for park visitors:

Valley Shuttle: Operates daily from 7:00am until 10:00pm from 22
stops around the loop. Frequency is every 20 minutes from 7:00am
until 10:00am, every 10 minutes from 10:00am until 7:00pm and every
20 minutes from 7:00pm until 10:00pm.

Overnight Shuttle: Operates daily from 10:00pm until 7:00am.
Visitors and employees should contact the switchboard to arrange a
pick up.

El Capitan Shuttle: Operates daily from 9:00am until 6:00pm. Departs
from Shuttle Stop #5 (Visitor Center) and stops at the El Capitan
Picnic Area, Camp 4, El Capitan Meadow (Bridge) and the Four Mile
Trailhead.

Express Parking Shuttle: 9:00am through 6:00pm. Departs Day Use
Parking direct to the Visitor Center.

Wawona Shuttle to Mariposa Grove: 9:00am until 6:00am with service
between the Wawona Store Parking Lot and the Mariposa Grove Parking
Lot. Frequency of approximately every 20 minutes.

Wawona to the Yosemite Valley: Will begin service next Friday, May
28. Departs Wawona Hotel at 8:30am, and Wawona Store at 8:35am.
Return trip from Yosemite Valley departs from Yosemite Lodge at
3:30pm.

We are NOT operating The Glacier Point Tour, The Grand Tour, Tuolumne
Hikers Bus or the Big Trees Trams as of yet. We are still a week or
two away from gaining proper access to these areas to begin services.
We will send notification once we begin these services.

For more information contact the YTS Dispatch office at (209) 372-8441
(open from 6:00 AM until 4:30 PM) (G. Rosenfeld - 5/24/10)
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Half Dome Cables Will Not Be in Place over Memorial Day Weekend
Cool, wet conditions have persisted well into May, resulting in a
heavier-than-usual and slowly-melting snowpack. As a result, the subdome,
below the Half Dome cables, is covered in snow. A slip and fall from the
subdome's steep snowfield could cause serious injury or death. For the
safety of employees setting up the cables and hikers, the cables will not
be put up until conditions improve. We will monitor conditions over the
next two weeks and issue an expected opening date as soon as possible.

If you have a permit for May 28-31, you will receive a refund.

Acting Designations
Charles Cuvelier will be Acting Deputy Superintendent, May 22-23, 2010. He
can be reached through the dispatch office. Katariina Tuovinen will be
Acting Deputy Superintendent May 24-31, 2010. She can be reached at
372-0286. (R. Soden - 5/24/10)
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Craig Anthony will be acting Safety Officer May 24-28 while Roger Farmer is
attending training. (C. Ronay - 5/25/10)
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Historical Architect Sueann Brown (379-1222) will be acting Branch Chief
for History, Architecture & Landscapes Monday May 24 thru Wednesday May 26,
2010. (D. Humphrey - 5/24/10)
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Until further notice, Lorene Schafer (379-1873) will be the Acting Chief
for Contracting and Procurement . If you have contracting related
questions and don't already have a point of contact, please call Helli
Tucker at 379-1368. Please continue to route purchase request (PR)
packages to Lorene for Acquisition Approval in IDEAS.
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Ed Dunlavey will be the acting Operations Branch Chief and Deputy Chief
Ranger until further notice.
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Cindy Whitten will be the acting Human Resources Officer until further
notice - 209/379-1878.
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Employee News
2010 General Yosemite Wilderness Training [June 1, 2010 & June 22, 2010]
Target Audience;
Yosemite National Park staff and Park partners interested in
improving their knowledge and understanding of the Wilderness Act of
1964, the California Wilderness Act of 1984, the importance of
wilderness character, and the role of the Yosemite National Park
Wilderness Office.

Objectives of Training:
Upon completion of this training participants will improve their
understanding of:
The 1964 Wilderness Act
The California Wilderness Act of 1984
Wilderness Character
Yosemite National Park Wilderness policy and operations

Time and Location:
June 1 and 22, 2010
08:00 – 12:00 (4 hours)
Yosemite Lodge in the Cliff Room

Please confirm your attendance by calling Jay Sammer at (209) 372-0568. (D.
Abbe - 5/25/10)
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National Park Foundation Launches Disaster Recovery Fund - Last week, the
National Park Foundation and the National Park Service established the
National Parks Disaster Recovery Fund to help national parks recover from
future natural and manmade disasters. The fund was immediately activated by
Director Jarvis and NPF President and CEO Neil Mulholland to begin raising
funds that will be available to Gulf parks for immediate needs throughout
the oil spill disaster as well as long-term monitoring of the health of
damaged ecosystems.

No funds raised will be used to mitigate the liability of any responsible
parties for the injuries caused by the oil spill.

Individuals wishing to support this effort may visit www.nationalparks.org,
or text “PARKS” to 90999 on their mobile device to make a $10 donation.
Funds raised between now and July 1, 2010, will go directly to the impacted
parks in the Gulf and support critical and immediate needs as well as
sustained scientific study of maintenance of impacted ecosystems.

Parks in the projected path of the Gulf oil spill include: Big Cypress
National Preserve, Biscayne National Park, De Soto National Memorial, Dry
Tortugas National Park, Everglades National Park, Gulf Islands National
Seashore, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, Padre Island
National Seashore. (D. Puskar, Director, Partnerships and Government
Relations - May 25, 2010)

Community News
FOR RENT: Studio apartment in town (Mariposa). Freshly painted; quiet
neighborhood; private. No pets; nonsmoking; one individual. $500/month.
Call 966-6726; ask for Mark or Frank. (Y. Radanovich - 5/25/10)
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The El Portal Market will be changing to summer hours starting this Friday,
May 28th. The store will be open from 7am until 9pm through Labor Day.
Friday also marks the end of our first full year! Come in for a free cup
of coffee between 7-9am - a thank you everyone who has supported the
Market this year. See you Friday! (K. Kari - 5/24/10)
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House for rent: 2 bedroom house for rent with 4 acres on Triangle Rd.
Beautiful front and back yard. $850 a month, pets ok. Garden space in the
back, and a detached garage. 2 miles past Silva Rd. Be moved in on time for
Carter Rd. Music Festival and walk home from the party. Call Adam at
(330)260-6875. (A. Stroup - 5/24/10)
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Yosemite Association/Yosemite Fund in El Portal is seeking temporary
outreach workers for the weekend of June 5-6. Work will involve
interacting with the public outdoors, and will require moderate physical
activity. Employment is 6 hours per day (8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.) at
$11/hour. Contact John at 379-2646, x. 11 or jfriedrich@yosemite.org (J.
Friedrich - 5/24/10)
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REMINDER: Elections are occurring on June 8th. Please vote. (B. Davis -
5/24/10)