Yosemite Photos, Video and News

Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Friday, November 19, 2010

Weather

Yosemite Valley
Today: A 10% chance of showers after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near
48. South southwest wind between 18 and 21 mph, with gusts as high as 28
mph.
Tonight: Rain showers. Low around 36. South southwest wind between 18 and
21 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Saturday: Rain and snow. Snow level 4200 feet. Temperature falling to
around 31 by 9am. South southwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as
20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.
New snow accum. of less than a half inch possible.
Saturday Night: Snow showers. Low around 26. Breezy, with a south southwest
wind between 17 and 25 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of
precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 6 to 10 inches possible.
Sunday: Snow. High near 26. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 25 to 28
mph decreasing to between 17 and 20 mph. Winds could gust as high as 39
mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 9 to 13
inches possible.
Sunday Night: A 50% chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low
around 24. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Monday: A 40% chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 27.
Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Monday Night: A slight chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24.

El Portal
Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. South wind between 14 and 17
mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph.
Tonight: Showers. Low around 34. South southwest wind between 11 and 14
mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%.
Saturday: Rain. High near 44. South southwest wind between 8 and 11 mph.
Chance of precipitation is 100%.
Saturday Night: Rain and snow showers. Snow level 2500 feet. Low around 29.
Breezy, with a south southwest wind between 14 and 23 mph, with gusts as
high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no snow
accumulation expected.
Sunday: Rain and snow. Snow level 2400 feet. High near 40. Breezy, with a
south southwest wind 23 to 26 mph decreasing to between 14 and 17 mph.
Winds could gust as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Little
or no snow accumulation expected.
Sunday Night: A chance of rain and snow showers. Snow level 2400 feet.
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little
or no snow accumulation expected.
Monday: A chance of rain and snow showers. Snow level 2600 feet. Mostly
cloudy, with a high near 42. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no
snow accumulation expected.
Monday Night: A slight chance of rain and snow showers. Snow level 2700
feet. Mostly cloudy,with a low around 25.

Wawona
Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. South wind between 14 and 16
mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph.
Tonight: Rain showers. Low around 32. South southwest wind between 11 and
13 mph. Chanceof precipitation is 90%.
Saturday: Rain and snow. Snow level 4200 feet. High near 40. South
southwest wind between 8 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New
snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Saturday Night: Snow showers. Low around 21. South southwest wind 10 to 13
mph increasing to between 18 and 21 mph. Winds could gust as high as 28
mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 9 to 13
inches possible.
Sunday: Snow. High near 35. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 21 to 24
mph decreasing to between 11 and 14 mph. Winds could gust as high as 34
mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 8 to 12
inches possible.
Sunday Night: A 50% chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low
around 19. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.
Monday: A 30%t chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39.
Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Monday Night: A slight chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low
around 18.

Tuolumne Meadows
Today: A 20% chance of snow showers after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a
temperature falling to around 30 by 5pm. Breezy, with a southwest wind
between 26 and 28 mph, w/gusts as high as 39 mph.
Tonight: Snow showers. Low around 17. Breezy, with a southwest wind between
24 and 26 mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is
90%. New snow accum. of 4-to-8 inches possible.
Saturday: Snow. High near 21. Southwest wind between 17 and 20 mph, with
gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow
accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.
Saturday Night: Snow showers. Low around 10. Wind chill values as low as
-10. Breezy, with a southwest wind between 21 and 24 mph, with gusts as
high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 5
to 9 inches possible.
Sunday: Snow. High near 16. Breezy, with a southwest wind between 23 and 26
mph, with gusts as high as 37 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New
snow accumulation of 6 to 10 inches possible.
Sunday Night: Snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy and breezy, with a low
around 9. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of around
an inch possible.
Monday: A 40% chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 25.
Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Monday Night: A slight chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low
around 7.

Happening Today

Yosemite Winter Club Tonight, Friday November 19: Join us at Yosemite Lodge
Garden Terrace for the Annual Yosemite Winter Club membership dinner.
First, we are hosting a Ski
Swap from noon - 5pm at the East Auditorium in Yosemite Village, Ice
Skating at Curry Village starting at 3 pm, and then a delicious meal and
beverage service starting at 5:30pm at
Yosemite Lodge. Sign up to be a member at the dinner ($15 adults, $10 kids)
which includes the meal, festivities, and membership fee. Badger Pass
season passes will be available during the dinner time hours. If you've
already signed up on our website (yosemitewinterclub.com), bring your
receipt to the dinner. For detailsbaggett.art@gmail.com. See you there.
.(V.McMichael-11/19/10)
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El Portal Debris Pile- The vegetation debris pile in El Portal will be
burned today, Friday, November 19, 2010. El Portal fire crews will light
the pile in morning, and monitor the burn pile throughout the day. Rain is
expected later in the day,and then through most of next
week.(G.Wuchner-11/19/10)
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Wawona Area Pile Burning- Pile burning is to continue in the Wawona area
south of the South Fork of the Merced River, near Bills Hill. Sixty to 100
piles are being burned per day. Fire crews are on scene of the project
throughout the day.(G.Wuchner-11/19/10)
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World Liberty Contract Services will be continuing brush removal on the Big
Oak Flat and El Portal Roads around Foresta and Cascades . Brief periods of
traffic control will be in effect on weekdays through November. Staff may
view further descriptions of the work:
http://sharepoint.yose.nps.gov/intp/Shared%20Documents/Planning,%20Project,%20and%20RM
S%20Fact%20Sheets/Roadside%20Brushing_9.10.pdf (B.Mattos - 11/9/10)

Park & Partner News

All Operational Project Managers: The project submission deadline for the
December project review is Friday, November 26, 2010. Please have the
signed Project Creation Authorization
Form (PCAF), completed Project Effects Questionnaire (PEQ), required
vicinity and site maps, and any other supporting drawings, photos, etc.,
for categorically excluded projects that you want
considered at this meeting submitted no later than the above date.
Pre-planning all aspects of your project including consulting subject
matter experts will allow your project to move through the process smoothly
and efficiently. You can find the necessary compliance forms on Share Point
and the Environmental Planning and Complaince website on YoseNet.
http://sharepoint.yose.nps.gov/proj/compliance/operational/default.aspx We
have updated the Project Effects Questionaire and can send it to you
electronically. Once you have entered your project into PEPC and are ready
to move forward, please notify me so I can put it on the agenda. I will not
assume the project is ready to go until you have informed me that all the
planning has been completed and it is ready to be reviewed at the Monthly
Planning Forum (.R.Kennec-11/18/10)

Acting Designations

Greg Torres will be Acting Trails Supervisor from Nov. 19 - Dec. 3. Greg's
cell phone number is 742-8811. (S.Baudoux-11/19/10)
***************************************************
Madelyn Ruffner will be Acting Branch Chief for Environmental Planning &
Compliance from November 22 to November 26. Madelyn can be reached at
379-1226. You can also contact Jessica Zeek, Administrative Support for
EP&C, at 379-1002. (J.Zeek-11/19/10)
***************************************************
Mark FIncher will be Acting Branch Chief for Wilderness from 11/17-11/29
while Mark Marschall is out of the park. Mark Fincher can be phoned at
372-0219.
***************************************************
Mary Kline will be the Acting Chief of Interpretation & Education Nov. 15 -
Dec. 6. Mary can be reached at 372-0645.(T.Medema-11/15/10
***************************************************
Tom Tobin will be the Acting Branch Chief for Contracting from Nov 19-26.
Tom can be reached via email at 379-1040. (L. Schafer - 11/08/10)
***************************************************
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
call 379-1282 or 379-1104. (J. Bayless - 06/03/10)
***************************************************
Ed Dunlavey will be the Acting Operations Branch Chief and Deputy Chief
Ranger until further notice. (C. Cuvelier - 09/07/10)
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Ken Stowell will be in charge of PCO until Monday, November 22. Ken's
number is 372-0533, or you may leave a message with Tammy Lawhon at
379-1271.
***************************************************
Ansley Rothell or Heather Cave should be contacted from Nov 19-Dec 6 for
any Emergency
Communications Center needs. (N.Bissmeyer-11/18/10)
***************************************************
Sonny Montague is Acting Branch Chief for Anthropology from November 22
through 26. (L.Kirn-11/18/10)
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Deron Mills will be the Acting Chief of Fire and Aviation Management from
11/19 - 12/06. Contact him at 379-1902.(K.Martin-11/19/10)
***************************************************
Mike Pieper will be the Acting Construction Branch Chief from November
22-26. Pieper can be reached at 379-1263[office] or 209-742-8593[cell]
(M.Wichmann-11/19/2010)
***************************************************
Kristina Rylands will be the Acting Division Chief for the Planning
Division November 22-24. Kristina may be reached by phone at 379-1175.
***************************************************
Mike Yochim will be the Acting Division Chief for the Planning Division
November 29-30. Mike may be reached by phone at 379-1441. If unavailable,
you may leave a message with Doyle Harrison at 379-1110. (D.Harrison 11/18)

Employee News

Silent Auction fundraiser for CFC- All items currently donated are located
outside the mailroom in the El Portal Maintenance Complex. More items are
coming. Bidding will continue from
through 12/15. Winning bids will be announced at the Chili CookOff on 12/15
. CFC appreciates all donations to the silent auction. We hope to post
pictures of the items on our CFC link on the home page of SharePoint. This
would be a great opportunity for someone who wants to test their training
on Infopath to create an online bidding form for us! Until then, drop by
and use the old paper copies to bid.
http://sharepoint.yose.nps.gov/cfc/default.aspx (J.Harrison-11/19/10)
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Reminders if you burn firewood to help stay warm:
• Use only dry and seasoned wood in your stove or fireplace
• Stacking firewood away from your house or other structures will lessen
fire danger, protect the housing unit from damage, and will help prevent an
invasion of rodents and other pest.
• Cover wood with dark or clear tarps. Blue tarps are not permitted, per
the Yosemite Residential Yard Care Policy

The Yosemite Residential Yard Care Policy is posted on the NPS SharePoint
Site: Administration/Housing/Policies and Procedures.(C.Baker-11/19/10)
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Take shelter from the cold rain and snow this Friday night at the Yosemite
Bug. John Friedrich, Kim Carr and their daughter Rosie are moving to the
other jewel of the Sierra (Lake Tahoe). They are hosting a farewell
jamboree starting at 5pm. Colorado Road will be performing at 7pm. They
will be joined by other celebrated local musicians! Hope to see you there.
(J. Friedrich-11/18/10))
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Winter Weather Reminder: Freezing water pipes can lead to broken water
lines which can cause major damage to your housing unit and personal
belongings. Please take precautions when you are away from your home during
the next few months by leaving a little heat on in your house. Setting
thermostats between 55-58 degrees will help prevent water pipes in your
from freezing.(C.Baker-11/19/10)
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Mike Hinchberger is going to NATR in Jackson, Mississippi.Wish Mike & Burcu
well by stopping by the Fazio residence at 9013 Ponderosa Lane. on
Saturday, November 20, 2010 starting at 3:00pm.Pheasants, beverages will be
served Bring stories, lies and something to share.(L.Fazio-11/16/10)

Construction Update

Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station Improvements (August 16 - November 2010)
Abide International (contractor) began work Monday, August 16 to upgrade
the Hetch Hetchy Entrance Station. During the past week, crews installed
insulation, the vapor barrier, and the dry wall in the kiosk. They also
installed new exterior lights and drains for the new HVAC unit. In
addition, crews poured the new concrete for the walkway and walk-up window.
(M. Ortiz -11/16/10)
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Wawona Road Rehabilitation (May 3 through November 2010): Work will be
ongoing through the month, as long as weather allows. Please use caution
when driving along the Wawona Road - there are multiple locations where
work is being completed at this time.
NOTE: **Striping south of Chinquapin, snow pole installation, grading for
paved ditches, stone and riprap work, manhole work, shoulder work, final
asphalt work, along with culvert work will continue throughout this week
with crews doing an internal inspection on Thursday (11/18). Delays of up
to 30-minutes throughout the corridor will still be in place for the
remainder of this week. -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 - 11/16/10)
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Update - El Portal Complex Photovoltaic (PV) System (July 22, 2010 -
January 2011) Paragon Industrial Applications (PIA) [contractor] began work
at the El Portal Complex area on July 22, 2010. To minimize potential
traffic and parking problems, PIA is working Thursday -Sunday.
Last Week's Progress:
• PIA subcontractor, Suntrek Solar, almost finished paneling carports 9, 10
and 11 (those across from the gas pumps).
• PIA electricians were also busy installing florescent lighting fixtures
beneath the carports. Some of the existing underground wiring for the
street lights was destroyed by the large drill rig brought in for pier
footings so PIA electricians are also repairing street light circuits. As
of today (11/15) most of the existing street lights including the lights
above the gas pumps will be working again. The new lights inside the
carports will most likely be ready for use within the next two weeks.
• The structural steel workers completed the upper deck parking (carports 6
and 7). The last remaining portion of the upper deck parking (carport 8) is
still being fabricated in Southern California and will       probably be on
site and installed during the first week in December. With the steel work
complete for carports 6 and 7, the painters were able to begin priming and
painting the structure yesterday.
• The contractor has installed 1,780 (240 watt) panels so far. There will
be 2,820 panels installed by the end of this project.
• Due to the recent good weather, the contractor is still on schedule to
complete the project in January 2011.
Parking:
• Many normal parking areas adjacent to the gas pumps will be available to
park employees, but some parking east of there near the Planning Trailer
will have to be restricted to "No Parking -Thursday, Friday, Saturday and
Sunday" as the electricians put up light fixtures. In addition, the upper
deck parking will be off limits to parking until construction ends.
Overall, the upper deck will remain a off
limits construction area until carports 6 and 7 are complete. (M. Ortiz -
11/15/10)
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Update - Drilling for the Glacier Point Water Well (November 3 - 19, 2010)
Work began November 3 digging a new well near Glacier Point. Well
completion is expected by November 19 but is dependent upon factors that
include: weather, reaching water, the depth of the water, and associated
tasks to determine capacity, collect ongoing data, winterizing of the well
and associated site clean-up . Delays this week have occurred due to recent
weather. Beginning next season (after well testing), trenching alongside
the existing road and along existing utility alignments will take place to
connect the new water well to the existing utility system. The well is
being constructed to replace the surface water sources currently used for
the Glacier Point drinking water system. If you have any questions please
contact Russ Balch 379-1089 or Colter Chisum 379-1068. PEPC
#25201(R.Balch-11/12/10)
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Integrated Utility Master Plan [IUMP] (2010 - 2011)
Removal of Old, Abandoned Utilities Embedded in the River, within Meadows,
and within Campgrounds
Phase 3B - Mozingo Construction (contractor) is finishing up with the
river-crossing related portions of the project. The removal of the lift
station near Lower River has also been completed. You will notice work
being done primarily around The Ahwahnee. (Phase 3B to be completed by the
end of 2010)
Update - Phase 2B - Allison Sierra (contractor) began work in the North
Pines Campground area on November 1. This is continuing work to replacing
old and outdated utilities and removing abandoned utilities from
environmentally sensitive areas.This phase includes work within the
following areas, and highlights include:
• North Pines Campground
- New lift station and related accessories to be located near Campground
Entrance Kiosk.
- Removal and replacement of existing sanitary sewer system.
• Southside Drive and Upper Pines Corridor (including Clark Bridge)
- Installation of water, sewer, communication, and electrical utilities
through and across Clark Bridge (between North and Upper Pines Campgrounds)
• Backpacker’s Camp Utilities
- Installation of new vault toilets (removal of current flush toilets).
Because the gravity sewer line serving the Backpacker's Camp bathroom
crosses Tenaya Creek and is impacting the creek flowage, this  sewer line
will be removed from the creek bed. This will require that existing
bathroom with flush toilets to be removed and replaced with vault toilets.
(M.Ortiz - 11/9/10)

Community News

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; nonmember
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 ongoing construction, our temporary entrance is on the
driveway side of the building)
                                  * * *
This week: November 19 - 20 (Friday - Saturday) 7:30pm: THE KIDS ARE ALL
RIGHT.
(Rated R: 104 minutes)
A heartfelt new comedy from acclaimed director Lisa Cholodenko, starring
Annette Bening,
Julianne Moore, and Mark Ruffalo. Two teenaged children (Alice in
Wonderland's MiaWasikowska and Journey to the Center of the Earth's Josh
Hutcherson) get the notion to seek out their biological father and
introduce him into the family life that their two mothers (Bening andMoore)
have built for them. Once the donor (Ruffalo) is found, the household will
never be the same, as family ties are defined, re-defined, and
re-re-defined. It's a movie about basic things,
with the suggestion that the most vulnerable families are the ones least
protected by custom and tradition. They have to find their strength from
within. The New York Times raves that it's "a generous, nearly note-perfect
portrait of a modern family." Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Sixth
Street Cinema! (T. Arfsten-11/18/10))
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FOUND at Midpines Park 'n Ride on morning of Friday Nov 19. Manilla
envelope with name "Jesse "on it, and personal pictures in it. Contact
Linda Niles-Sheetz at 372-0273 if yours.(L.I.Niles-Sheetz-11/19/10)