Yosemite Photos, Video and News

************************
Block Party - Mike Siler is Leaving the Valley
Please join the Valley Shift as we say goodbye to the Siler Family as they
travel to the beautiful Brunswick Georgia and the Federal Law Enforcement
Training Center so Mike can shape young impressionable minds into Super
Rangers.
Where: Lower Housing, Oaklane,
When: September 30, 2010 from 5:30 to ?
What: Potluck, bring a dish to share, we'll provide the meat. BYOB and
plenty of stories about Mike, Andrea and the kids. (M. Stark - 9/30/10)
******************************************************
Yosemite Valley, El Portal Road (Hwy. 140) and Big Oak Flat Road Striping
Work
The Sign Shop along with a contractor will be stenciling in the Valley
Sept.- 30 from 8:00am - 8:00pm.  Road Striping operations will start on the
Big Oak Flat Rd. between 8pm - 6am  Road Striping operations will start on
Hwy.140 to the Valley, Sept. 28- 29 - 30 , between 8:00pm - 6:00am Short
delays are expected.  (G.Taylor - 9/30/2010)
****************************************************
Wawona Road Work - Preparation for Winter
Starting  Monday , September 27 through Thursday September 30, the Wawona
roads crew will be working at various locations between Chinquapin and the
Wawona campground in preparation for snow stake installation. Short traffic
delays are expected. D. Dozier - 9/27/10)
****************************************************
Invasive Blackberry Control in Rancheria - Beginning 9/27
Himalayan blackberry control operations will be taking place beginning
Monday Sept. 27thwest of El Portal Road to Foresta Bridge including
Rancheria and the trailer village. Crews will be gridding and mapping all
blackberry encountered. If blackberry occurs in the yards of residences a
poster will be hung up at the residence giving notice of our intention to
treat the blackberry in the week beginning 4 October. Away from residences
the treatments will be concurrent with the survey and mapping operations.

Himalayan blackberry is an introduced exotic pest that infests our creeks
and displaces our native vegetation. More than 100 acres of valuable native
plant habitat in Yosemite have already been impacted. The berries also
attract bears, and bring them closer to human habitat. The removal of
Himalayan blackberry is a HIGH priority in Yosemite.

Crews will treat plants with a dilute concentration of glyphosate
(Round-Up) that will be noticeable with blue dye. Sprayed areas will be
noted by a CAUTION sign. The blue dye will be visible for a few days. The
plants will take a few weeks to die back and should not be cut or clipped
until completely dead. If you have questions or concerns, please contact
the invasive plant crew leader Heather Smith (209) 742-3825, and/or
invasive plant program lead Martin Hutten at (209) 379-2006. (M. Hutten -
9/24/10)
****************************************************
Contractor PBS&J will be surveying and mapping floodplains in the El Portal
and Wawona areas from September 20th to October 8th. This work is being
done in support of the Merced River Planning effort. (J. Roche - 9/21/2010)
****************************************************
The Mather and Valley road crews will be performing road maintenance on
Tioga Road  from ghost forest working west, expect short traffic delays.
(B. Brantley - 9/21/2010)

Construction Update
NEW PROJECT: Tioga Trailheads Project (October 4 - winter closure)
Allison Sierra Inc. (contractor) will begin work on October 4, 2010 at the
Yosemite Creek/Ten Lakes Trailhead. At that time they plan to close off the
whole parking lot to rehabilitate these areas. Contractors may begin
barricading off segments of the Yosemite Creek parking area on Friday,
October 1 to allow people the weekend to get their vehicles moved or to
alert hikers not to park their beyond Monday. Hikers will be directed to
the nearest parking areas which are very close by.

The purpose of this project is to address site maintenance and design needs
that improve visitor safety and experience while protecting natural and
cultural resources.

There are eight formal trailheads included in this project: Gaylor Lakes at
Tioga Pass, Mono Pass, Snow Creek, May Lake/Weston Pond, Porcupine,
Yosemite Creek/Ten Lakes, Lukens Lake, and Tamarack Flat/Aspen Valley. This
effort does not include Sunrise or Murphy Creek trailheads (Tenaya Lake
Area Plan), nor Dog Lake and Cathedral Lakes (Tuolumne River Plan) as these
are addressed in other planning efforts.

This year work will occur on the following trailhead areas. Work will
continue this fall until they complete all of the following locations or
until weather forces an end to the work. Next year's work will include the
remaining trailhead segments within this project as listed above.
2010
1.) Yosemite Creek/Ten Lakes(Beginning October 4, 2010)
2.) Gaylor Lakes
3.) Snow Creek
4.) May Lake Turnoff
5.) Tamarack Flat/Aspen Valley
(M. Ortiz - 9/30/10)
******************************************************
Wawona Utility River Crossing Replacement (September 13 through November
30, 2010)
Candelaria will be replacing utilities under the South Fork of the Merced
River in Wawona (near the Wawona Fire Station).  Work consists of in-kind
replacement of two 10-inch water mains and electrical conduit that was
damaged in the 1997 flood.  Construction within the river bed shall be
completed by October 15, 2010 (low water flow).
This week: Upcoming work of note is the blasting of the bedrock on the
north side of the river, scheduled for Thursday, Sept 30th.  The bedrock
was not be able to be removed by mechanical means within a timely fashion
to be out of river by Oct 15 so blasting will be required.(D. Engelstad -
9/29/10)
******************************************************
Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station Improvements (August 16 - November 2010)
Abide International (contractor) began work Monday, August 16 to upgrade
the Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station. Work will last approximately three
months. Expect slight delays at the kiosk during this time. The entrance
will be upgraded with new area lighting, a new security camera system, new
doors and reconditioned windows, and new HVAC system along with other
improvements that will bring the entrance station up to date in energy
efficiency and security.  (M. Ortiz - 8/30/10)
******************************************************
El Portal Complex Photovoltaic (PV) System (July 22, 2010 - December 2010)

Paragon Industrial Applications (PIA) [contractor] started moving material
and equipment into the El Portal Complex area on July 22, 2010. To minimize
potential traffic and parking problems, PIA has agreed to work Thursday -
Sunday.  The contractor's staging area is located by the Wastewater
Treatment Plant, where they will keep their material, equipment and tools.

        Parking will be restricted in the Planning Trailer area this week
        Thursday - Sunday.

IMPORTANT - Get Creative to Avoid Extra Cars at the EP Complex : During
contracted work days (Thursday - Sunday) El Portal Complex employees are
strongly encouraged to carpool, use the bus, ride your bike or walk to work
during construction days as there will be a noticeable decrease in parking
during construction. Specific locations of work will be posted throughout
the project. Please remember to park Government vehicles in appropriate
locations and avoid taking over the limited parking available for personal
vehicles (perimeter of complex). (M. Ortiz - 9/24/10)
******************************************************
Wawona Road Rehabilitation (May 3 - November 2010):
**Please use caution when driving along the Wawona Road - there are a
number of locations with unpaved surfaces.

  **Today's locations of work: Today, there will be pulverizing and
  subexcavation for stabilization in the area that runs approximately 2
  miles north of the South Entrance to a mile north of the Wawona
  Campground.
  **Tonight's locations of work: Tonight, there will be paving in the area
  that begins a half mile north of the South Entrance to a mile north of
  Wawona.
  ** Tomorrow's locations of work:Tomorrow, there will be pulverizing and
  subexcavation for stabilization in the area that runs approximately 2
  miles north of the South Entrance to a mile north of the Wawona
  Campground.

-For all Yosemite road construction information and updates, visit the
park's website: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/roadwork.htm

-For daily traffic control updates, call the park information line at (209)
372-0200 (then press 1, and 1 again). (M. Ortiz - 9/30/10)
******************************************************
Integrated Utility Master Plan [IUMP] (to be completed by the end of 2010)
River Crossing and Meadow Work Underway - Removal of Old, Abandoned
Utilities Embedded in the River and Within Meadows
Mozingo Construction (contractor) is currently working on the river
crossing - related portions of the project this week. You are likely to see
work near the Stoneman Bridge area (across from Curry Village). Work with
heavy machinery will begin each day at 9:00am - and travel through areas
such as Lower Pines Campground, North Pines Campground, Housekeeping Camp
will be essential in accessing the river during certain portions of this
project.

There are 8 different areas through the river corridor where contractors
will be removing abandoned utilities pipes and materials. These pipes are
embedded into the river, therefore it is a delicate process to remove them.
Contractors will work to minimize turbidity in the river during this
process and will be monitoring turbidity levels. Work will occur over the
next 2 months through mid-October.

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.

Other Areas of Work (both current and upcoming) include:
     Areas within Ahwahnee Meadow
     Areas within Stoneman Meadow

Allison Sierra (ASI) was awarded the contract for the new North Pines sewer
lift station project that is to start shortly before the campground closes
for the season. Stay tuned for more information as the project continues.
(M. Ortiz - 9/24/10)
******************************************************
Tecoya Housing (to be completed by October 1, 2010)
Allison Sierra (ASI) [contractor] will be working in the Lower Tecoya area
to replace old and failing water, sewer, and power lines and remove them
from sensitive ecological areas. This contractor (ASI) was also awarded the
contract for the new North Pines sewer lift station project that is to
start shortly.  (M. Ortiz - 7/26/10)
******************************************************
Wawona Meadow Restoration (through November 2010)
The south side of the Wawona Meadow Loop trail will be closed from 7:00am
to 5:30 pm Monday through Friday during meadow restoration. This temporary
closure is likely to be in effect through November, 2010.  (A. Freeman -
9/8/2010)

Park and Partner News
Hydroclimate Workshop in Yosemite
Yosemite Resources Management and Science will be hosting the 2010
Hydroclimate workshop on Thursday, October 7, 2010 from 9:00am to 5:00pm at
the Yosemite Lodge Cliff room and on Friday, October 8, 2010 from 8:00am to
noon at the Yosemite Lodge Garden room.The Hydroclimate meeting is a series
of talks by researchers who study hydrology, weather, and climate in and
around Yosemite National Park. The purpose of the conference is information
exchange amongst researchers and with park staff and partners. All park
staff and partners are welcome. Interested members of the public should
RSVP (to assure available space) to Jim Roche at 379-1446. (M. Thornley -
9/30/10)
******************************************************
Yosemite News Release
September 29, 2010
For Immediate Release

Media Contacts:
Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529

Yosemite National Park Announces Public Site Visit for the Tioga Road
Rehabilitation Project
Yosemite National Park is currently developing an Environmental Assessment
(EA) to study rehabilitation on approximately 40 miles of the Tioga Road,
the highest trans-sierra highway that crosses the northern part of the
park.  The primary goal of this project is to improve visitor safety along
the Tioga Road while still preserving the natural and cultural resources
throughout the Tioga Road corridor.

Yosemite National Park invites the public to a site visit for the Tioga
Road Rehabilitation Project on October 9, 2010, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00
p.m.  This public site visit is an opportunity for interested parties to
learn more about this planning effort.  Park planners will be at the
meeting to discuss the project and hear comments and concerns regarding the
planning effort and proposed rehabilitation actions.

Due to the high elevation of the Tioga Road, the proposed Tioga Road
Rehabilitation Project will be completed over a series of three phases.
Phases include:
  Phase 1: Crane Flat to White Wolf (2012)
  Phase 2: Olmsted Point to east of Tuolumne Lodge (2014)
  Phase 3: White Wolf to Olmsted Point (2016)

The site to discuss the Tioga Road Rehabilitation Project will take place
in two locations along the Tioga Road.  Interested parties are invited to
join one, or both, portions of the discussion.  Visitors should meet at the
South Fork Bridge turnout along the Tioga Road (approximately seven miles
east of Crane Flat) from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.  The second site visit
will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor
Center parking lot.

Visitors wishing to attend the site visit are urged to wear comfortable
hiking shoes and bring water, lunch and/or snacks, and wear appropriate
attire in preparation for colder weather.

The Tioga Road Rehabilitation Project will be released for public review in
spring of 2011.

For more information about this project please visit:
http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/tioga_rehab.htm (K. Cobb - 9/30/10)
******************************************************
Yosemite News Release
September 29, 2010
For Immediate Release

Media Contacts:
Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529

Surprise Bus Inspection Conducted in Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park, in conjunction with the California Highway Patrol
(CHP), held a surprise inspection for all commercial for hire multiple
passenger tour buses in Yosemite National Park last Friday, September 24,
2010.  The purpose of this unannounced inspection was to ensure visitor
safety through safe operation of tour buses.  The goal of these unannounced
inspections is to reduce chances of crashes, injuries, and fatalities
involving tour buses bringing passengers into the park.

Roadside inspections adhere to the guidelines of the North American
Standard for bus safety.  There are five levels of inspections including a
vehicle component, a driver component, or a combination of both.
Inspections are designed to determine if buses are in compliance with the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations.  Violations may result in fines
or taking a bus out of service immediately.

Yosemite National Park receives approximately 4 million visitors per year,
with approximately 300,000 of these people arriving on tour buses.  The
large majority of tour bus passengers are international visitors from
countries such as Japan, Korea, Germany, and England.  Many of these
visitors come to Yosemite in conjunction with visiting other parts of
California.  It is a primary concern of the National Park Service (NPS) in
Yosemite that these visitors are safe during their travels in the park.
Further, the extensive travels of international visitors throughout the
state affords the opportunity for cooperating agencies to work together to
promote bus safety.  Yosemite National Park and the CHP strive to ensure
visitor safety and appreciate the mutual support of the other agencies
involved in these surprise bus inspections.

On the day of inspection, Yosemite Park Rangers and CHP Officers examined
30 commercial buses.  Out of the 30 inspections conducted, 18 buses were
found to be safe, with no violations, and were released without citation.
A total of 12 minor “fix-it” tickets were written.  Of those 12, three were
for logbook failures.  Additionally, two buses were taken temporarily out
of service for logbook violations.  No buses were taken out of service for
mechanical deficiencies.

Surprise bus inspections have been occurring on a regular basis throughout
the State of California.  These inspections help to keep commercial bus
passengers safe, as well as other travelers on the road. (K. Cobb -
9/30/10)

  Acting Designations
Randy Fong will be Acting Division Chief of Project Management beginning
Thursday, September 30, 2010, through October 8, 2010.  Randy may be
reached at 379-1022 or you may contact Sarah Henderson at 379-1202. (S.
Henderson - 9/30/10)
******************************************************
Trudy Hawkins (379-1802) wll be Acting Human Resources Officer from
September 23 through October 1, 2010 (C.Whitten - 9/20/10)
****************************************************
From September 19-October 3, Ed Dunlavey will be the Acting Chief Ranger
while I'm out on annual leave. (C. Cuvelier - 9/17/2010)
****************************************************
Walt Schmidt will be the Acting Branch Chief for Contracting & Procurement
through 5 November 2010.  If you have contracting related questions, don't
already have a point of contact, and aren't able to find the information
you need at our SharePoint site (
http://sharepoint.yose.nps.gov/admn/contract/default.aspx) please call Tom
Tobin at 379-1040. (L. Schafer - 9/7/2010)
****************************************************
Tom Medema, Interpretation and Education Division Chief, will be Acting
Deputy Superintendent  September 7 through 30.  You may reach him at
372-0332. (K. Dera - 9/1/10)
****************************************************
Until further notice, Brenna Lissoway (379-1283) will be the Acting Park
Archivist while Paul Rogers is on a detail as the Acting Regional Archivist
(PWR). If you have need to access the Archives, or have archive related
questions, you can also try calling at 379-1282 or 379-1104. (J. Bayless -
6/3/10)
****************************************************
Until further notice, Ed Dunlavey will be the acting Operations Branch
Chief and Deputy Chief Ranger.

  Employee News

  Community News
Yosemite Conservancy Fall Gathering this Weekend
Yosemite Conservancy is hosting the 35th Annual Fall Gathering at Wawona
for members this weekend. There will be full schedule of walks & talks led
by rangers and naturalists throughout the weekend, along with a program of
speakers, a raffle & auction, afternoon reception, and a Saturday evening
barn dance in the Pioneer Yosemite History Center Grey Barn.

Yosemite Conservancy books and merchandise will be available for sale
throughout the day at the Grey Barn. Members receive a special 20% discount
on purchases there and at the Conservancy's sales facilities in all park
visitor centers, wilderness information centers, and the Yosemite Museum
and Mariposa Grove Museum stores, during the weekend.

For more info, please visit our website, www.yosemiteconservancy.org, or
call Adriana at 415-434-8446.  (J. Friedrich - 9/30/10)
****************************************************
  Employment Opportunity
Yosemite Institute Program Coordinator
September 29, 2010
This  is  a  32-hour  per  week,  year-round  position  with  the  Yosemite
Institute.  Yosemite  Institute  is  a  nationally recognized leader in the
field   of  experiential  environmental  education,  providing  educational
adventures  in  nature’s  classroom to inspire a personal connection to the
natural  world  and  responsible  actions  to sustain it.  NatureBridge, of
which  Yosemite Institute is a part, conducts programs for more than 40,000
participants  annually  at  its  four campuses:  Headlands Institute in the
Golden  Gate  National  Recreation  Area,  near San Francisco, Olympic Park
Institute  in  Olympic  National  Park,  Washington, Santa Monica Mountains
Institute  in  Santa  Monica  Mountains  National  Recreation  Area, in the
canyons  above  Malibu  in  Southern  California, and Yosemite Institute in
Yosemite National Park, California.

The Program Coordinator (PC) is responsible for supporting the operation of
Yosemite  Institute  programs (transportation, meals, lodging, staffing and
scheduling) by performing various clerical functions.  The PC works closely
with  the  Director  of Operations (DoO) to ensure smooth program logistics
and  communication with school groups.  The ideal candidate is an excellent
communicator  and  incredibly  detail  oriented.  The  PC  is also the main
coordinator  for  the summer schedule, organizing all logistics surrounding
summer  programming and taking on more leadership responsibilities with the
DoO taking time off in the summer months.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:
Associate’s degree (A.A.) or equivalent; six months to one year related
experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and
experience. Highly effective communication, organizational, problem
solving, and customer service skills. Demonstrated office experience,
managing and communicating information quickly and accurately. Strong
organizational, task, and time management skills. Extremely detail
oriented. Poised communicator with a strong customer service orientation.
Good working knowledge of Word, FileMaker Pro, Excel, and proprietary
management software. Ability to maintain a positive working relationship
with staff, participants, and Park personnel.  Must be able to work
independently and effectively with people, especially under
stress.  Flexibility and enthusiastic attitude important. Valid California
state driver’s license and clear driving record required.

COMPENSATION:
This position is 32 hours per week, year-round. This position does not
include housing. Compensation will be provided at a competitive salary rate
depending on experience, with a comprehensive benefits package, including
medical and dental benefits, generous vacation and sick day policy,
flexible benefit plan, and employer matched retirement program.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:
Applicants interested in being considered for this position need to have
their resumes and cover letters submitted by 5:00pm, October 8, 2010.
Invitations for interviews will be extended to selected candidates after
the application deadline.  A completed application consists of a cover
letter, a current resume and contact information for three references.
Completed applications should be sent electronically to: Program
Coordinator Search, at: yi@naturebridge.org.  If you have questions or
would like to review a complete job description, you are welcome to contact
the YI offices at the above email address or leave a message at
209-379-9514, ext.75.
Recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce is a high priority at Yosemite
Institute and NatureBridge. (P. Schmidt - 9/30/10)
******************************************************
  Balanced Rock’s Yoga Jambalaya will take place on Saturday, October 16th
at the Yosemite Bug Spa. Enjoy a day exploring a wide range of yoga
practices and styles in the beautiful open-air spa and studio. We have an
amazing line up of teachers coming from Hawaii, San Francisco, and Northern
California, as well as our own highly experienced Yosemite teachers.

Fresh lunch buffet will be served at the Yosemite Bug Café from 12-2pm, and
hot tub and sauna passes are available at half-price for all participants
($5).

Classes are $15 each, a three-class pass for $40, or an all-day pass for
$50. Space is limited; Pay at the door or advanced reservations are
available by phone or online: info@balancedrock.org www.balancedrock.org
(209) 379-WILD. All classes open and appropriate for all levels.

9:00-10:00       Meditation and Pranayama with Cynthia Ramaciotti
10:15-11:15     The Yoga of Creativity with Heather Sullivan
11:30-12:45     Vinyasa and Hatha Yoga with Demian McKinley

2:00-3:00         The Yoga of Sound: Kirtan/chanting with Arin Trook and
Liesa Scholze
3:15-4:30         Vinyasa Yoga with Nadine Johnson
4:45-6:15         Self Expression in Anusara Yoga with Dr. Paula Barros (A.
Took - 9/29/10)
******************************************************
     6TH STREET CINEMA is located upstairs in the historic Old Masonic
Lodge (under historic renovation) on 6th Street in downtown Mariposa.
Entrance is $7 per film for non-members; non-member students pay $5.
Monthly membership is $12 allowing film entry for $3 each. Special
performances and broadcasts have alternate pricing structures. Recorded
Information: 209 966-1333. Staff: 209 742-6666. Visit our website:
http://www.sixthstreetcinema.org or e-mail us: sixthstreetcinema@sti.net

Note - Due to continuing construction, entry is through the far side door
alongside the garage, up the narrow staircase. The normal entrance is still
available as an emergency fire exit only.

This week: October 1st -2nd (Friday - Saturday) 7:30 P.M.: THE GIRL WITH
THE DRAGON TATTOO.

A discredited journalist and a mysterious tattooed Goth computer hacker
work to solve the mystery of a 40-year-old murder of a girl who may have
been killed by a member of her own family. Inspired by late author Stieg
Larsson's immensely best-selling Millenium trilogy. (In Swedish with
English subtitles; 148 mins.; Rated R). (T. Arfsten - 9/29/10)
******************************************************
FOR RENT: For Rent:  4 bedroom, 1-3/4 bath house, 50 minutes from El Portal
on lower Jerseydale Road. Available fully furnished (even dishes!) for
$1400/month or empty for $1150/month, includes
satellite TV.  Freshly painted, new carpet in almost entire house, very
clean!  Garage with opener, pool, woodstove, fireplace, forced-air heat,
evaporative cooler. Secluded setting off good paved road.  No smoking;
pets considered with increased deposit/rent. More info. at
www.vrbo.com/311747 209-966-6644 or e-mail house@shearwalls.com (C. Baker -
9/29/10)
******************************************************
Groveland Events - Oodles to do this week, and most of it is free!
10/02 Living History Day at the Museum brought to you by the Southern
Tuolumne County Historical Society. Interactive and educational living
history day. Attendees may participate and try their hand at gold panning,
candle making, weaving, spinning, and rope making just to name a few of the
activities being demonstrated. Children can play games from the 1800s and
make corn husk dolls. Food will be cooking in dutch ovens and strolling
minstrels will be entertaining. 10am to 3pm in the museum parking lot
Admission is FREE! www.Grovelandmuseum.org

10/02 Pine Mountain Lake Airport Young Eagles: Free flights for kids aged
8-17

10/02 Pine Mountain Lake Airport Day from NOON to 3:00 pm. Airplane
displays (including a DC-3), formation flying exhibitions, precision flying
demonstrations, etc. etc. Use the Elderberry Way entrance to PML Airport.
Free Admission.

10/03 Happy 120th Birthday Yosemite, Opening ceremonies for the 1-year long
celebration form 2-5pm at "Birthday Central" member businesses, Hotel
Charlotte & Dori's Tea Cottage in Downtown Groveland. Celebration
induction, opening comments and banner unveiling beginning at 3pm. Watch
for more details as the event nears.

10/04 MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL At PML Lounge. New England Patriots @ Miami
Dolphins Guest Chefs: Dick & Thelma Faux Chicken Cacciatore Ravioli Stew,
Green Salad, Rolls Dessert: Carrot Cake $10 Dinner served at 7 pm
 For a more details and additional events, visit www.HotelCharlotte.com
(Hotel Charlotte - 9/29/10)