Yosemite Photos, Video and News

********************
Badger Pass Daily Snow Report
Date:       Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Downhill Operations
Base Depth: 72”-75”
New Snow:3”
Snow Conditions: Powder, Packed Powder
Forecast: Snow
Temperature:      High 40 Low 28
Runs Groomed: Bruin, Eagle, Rabbit, Badger, Chipmunk, Turtle, Red Fox
Lifts Open: Turtle, Bruin, Eagle, Badger
Runs open: All
Many features (10) in our terrain park!!! Come and try them out!!

Cross Country Conditions
Groomed XC trails: Freshly groomed tracks from Badger Pass to Glacier Point
on Tuesday Morning,  December 21, 2010. Tracks were set out to Bridalveil
Campground on Tuesday evening 12-21-2010.

XC trail snow conditions:  Excellent
Tubing Hill:   Two Sessions Per Day 11:30 – 1:30 & 2:00 – 4:00
                                   (S.Costello-12/22/10)

Employee News

Tim Ludington is Retiring!
Help us to say Happy Trails to Tim with cake & coffee on Thursday January
6, 2011in the El Portal Large Breakroom from 2:30pm to 4:30pm.
(M.T.Matheson-12/22/10)
**************************************************
The General Services Administration is conducting an internet auction of
Yosemite personal property consisting of a hydro-flusher, 2 trailers with
water tanks, and a slide projector viewer.  For further information
regarding the sale items or to register to bid, visit the website
gsaauctions.gov. Sale number 91QSI11079 lots 316 thru 319.  The sale will
close on December 27, 2010.  An appointment must be made with Don Ramsey
(379-1024) prior to inspection, no exceptions (serious bidders only). Park
employees must view the items and bid on their own time. Park employees are
allowed to participate in the sale, with the exception of any employee with
unfair (nonpublic) detailed knowledge or prior use of an item offered for
sale. Such employees are prohibited from bidding on that item, and the
prohibition includes their immediate family as well. (D.Ramsey-12/22/10)
************************************************
Please do not park in construction areas in the El Portal Complex.  There
are some no parking signs posted in areas that are now off limits to
employee parking.  The parking area across from the gas pumps is now a no
parking Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday area.  Your private vehicle
may be damaged by on-going construction or towed if parked in a
construction zone.
Thanks,  (D.Coon-12/21/10)
**************************************************
The NPS Mail Room has a United States Postal Service letter from Nevada
City, CA.  addressed to Sandra Jackson. Can anyone tell us where this
person is stationed?(D.Hales-12/21/10)

Acting Designations

Jonathan Bayless will be Acting Chief of Interpretation December 22, 2010.
He can be reached at 372-0282 or you can leave a message with Rhonda Soden
at 372-0290.
Mary Kline will be Acting Chief of Interpretation December 23-31, 2010.
She can be reached at 372-0645 or  you can leave a message with Rhonda
Soden at 372-0290. (R.Soden-12/22/10)
**************************************************
Glenn Dean will be Acting Safety Officer Dec 20 - Jan 3, 2011.  He can be
reached at 209-379-1064.(C.Ronay-12/21/10)
**************************************************
Jay Shields will be Acting Mather District Ranger until further notice.
Shawn Cave will be Acting Canyon Ranch Subdistrict Ranger until February
12, 2011. (K.Killian-12/21/10)
**************************************************
Irwin Bomba will be the Acting Design Branch Chief for the Project
Management Division Monday, December 20 - Thursday, December 23, 2010.  He
can be reached at 372-0475.
Ron Gaunt will be the Acting Design Branch Chief for the Project Management
Division Monday, December 27 -  Thursday, December 30, 2010.  He can be
reached at 379-1027.
(S.J.Henderson-12/21/10)
***************************************************
Todd Newburger (209-379-1434) will be Acting Branch Chief for Visitor Use
and Social Sciences on Thursday, December 23.
Sue Vezeau (209-379-1458) will be Acting Branch Chief for Visitor Use and
Social Sciences Monday, December 27- Thursday, December 30.
Bret Meldrum will also be available via cell phone for the duration of this
time. (B.Meldrum-12/21/10)
**************************************************
Victoria (Tori) Seher will be Acting Branch Chief of Wildlife Management:
Monday, Dec. 20 - Thursday, Dec. 24;  Monday, Dec. 28 - Thursday, Dec 31.
(S.Thompson-12/20/10)
**************************************************
Lena McDowall will be Acting Chief of BRM December 20 through December 23,
2010.
Marvin Mann will be Acting Chief of BRM December 27 though January 5, 2011.
(W.Malone-12/20/10)
**************************************************
During the holidays, the following people will be Acting Branch Chief,
Vegetation and Ecological Restoration: Dec 22  - Sue Beatty (209-379-3282);
Dec 23 - Tori Seher 372-0476),  Dec 27 to 29 - Carol Knipper
(209-379-1097).  (L. Acree-12/21/10)
**************************************************
Alan Hawksley will be Acting B&G Branch Supervisor Dec. 17-30; Matt
Bablitch will be Acting Historic Preservation Shop Supervisor Dec. 10-30;
Greg Schmaus will be Acting Parkwide Projects Shop Supervisor Dec. 20-22;
Mark Jones will be Acting Parkwide Operations Shop Supervisor Dec. 15-23.
(T.Darcy-12/15/10)
**************************************************
A.O. Acting assignments: 12/28-30 - Cindy Whitten (1868); and Dan Sohn
(x1173). Katariina will be available by cell phone and email.
(P.L.Humphrey-12/16/10)
**************************************************
 Danny Schaible (379-1295) will be Acting Branch Chief for History,
Architecture & Landscapes Monday, Dec. 20, 2010 through Thursday, Dec. 23,
2010. (D.T.Humphrey-12/20/10)
**************************************************
Chad Andrews will the Acting Wawona District Ranger Dec. 18-28.  Chad can
be reached at (209) 375-9520. (E.Scott-12/20/10)
**************************************************
Irwin Bomba will be the Acting Construction Branch Chief for the Project
Mgmt. Division Dec. 20 - 23.   Irwin is available by phone in his Yosemite
Valley office at 372-0475.  If unavailable you may leave a message with PM
Division Office at 379-1202 or 379-1371. (M. Wichmann-12/1410)
**************************************************
Jeremy Brown will be Acting Trails Supervisor Dec. 13 - Jan. 3. (D. Kari -
12/10)
**************************************************
Rachel Lewis  (Bravo 10) will be  Acting Wilderness Patrol Supervisor  from
12/11-12/26.  Rachel can be reached at the Wilderness Patrol Office at
372-0360, the Wawona Ranger Station 375-9520, or through Dispatch. (D. Abbe
12/10/2010).
**************************************************
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 - 6/3/10)
**************************************************
Joe Meyer (379-1185) will be Acting Chief of Resources Management and
Science on December 20-23.(N.S.Nicholas-12/20/10)
**************************************************
Paul DePascale is Acting Branch Chief for Anthropology December 20 - 24.
Jennifer Hardin is Acting Branch Chief for Anthropology December 27 - 31.
(L.Kirn-12-13-10))
**************************************************
Jana Friesen McCabe will be Acting Branch Chief for Public Outreach and
Engagement until December 30. (D.Sisson-12/14/10)
**************************************************
Mike Yochim will be the Acting Division Chief for the Planning Division
Dec. 14--Dec. 23.  Mike is available by phone in his El Portal office at
379-1441.  If unavailable you may leave a message with Doyle Harrison at
379-1110.  (D.Harrison 12/13/10)
**************************************************
Acting Branch Chiefs for Contracting & Procurement  for the month of
December.
Dec. 20-24-Tom Tobin;  Dec. 27-Jody Auerbach; and Dec. 28-30-Gina
Bissmeyer. (L.Schafer 12/15/10)
**************************************************
Between December 21-24 and December 27-28, Mark Butler, Chief of Project
Management, will be acting superintendent. Tom Medema, Chief of
Interpretation and Education, will be acting deputy superintendent.  During
the period between, December 25-26, Mark Butler is available as Deputy
Superintendent and available by phone.  Happy Holidays to all. - Don
Neubacher

Construction Update

Update (12/20) - 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. Contractors work Monday - Thursday.

  Last Week's Progress, Parking, and more:
        On Wednesday (12/15), the contractor worked to install PV panels
        on the upper parking deck (carport 6).
        The contractor (PIA) also worked to run conduit and pull conductor
        from the panel string to the inverters and then to the transformer
        in order to finalize all necessary connections.
        This week employees will be able to use carports 1, 2, and 3 for
        parking.
        Please use extreme caution when you are near the construction
        areas. Please do not cross through the barrier tape or enter the
        "hard hat only" zones without your hard hat.
        There have been 2,220 panels installed so far with 600 to go to
        get to the final number of 2,820!

Overall, the Design/Build Install Renewable Energy Equipment at the El
Portal Complex  is going well and proceeding on schedule.  (M. Ortiz -
12/20/10)

Community News

Yosemite Community Church Christmas Eve Service 4:00pm Candlelight Service.
New Years Service 10:00pm.  Bring in the New Year with prayer and
Communion. (F.Moore-12/22/10)
**************************************************
For Rent:  One-bedroom, one bath cabin. Front-loading washer & dryer,
electric stove, and newer refrigerator.  Partial furnishing optional.
$475/mo.  Located in Midpines near Highway 140 on Colorado Road.  Please no
pets.  Contact Ofer Brender; ofer@kadima.us; 510-915-0404.  Ok to call
until 10:30 pm; if VM, leave a good time to call back. Contact the Housing
Office to see photo (379-1839 or 379-1879). (Y.Radanovich-12/21/10)
**************************************************
Looking for some excitement this Christmas?  Look no further!  On Christmas
Eve the Carabiner will be hosting a special "Ugly Xmas Sweater" edition of
the ever popular Karaoke Night!!  One wayor another you're guaranteed a
good laugh.
Please remember that the Carabiner and Wellness Center will be closed on
Christmas Day as we will all be enjoying the DNC Family Feast at Curry.
Once again, this holiday dinner is FREE to all DNC employees and their
dependants.  It is only $5 for employee guests and community members.  The
buffet-style feast will be open from 4-8pm in the Curry Pavilion. Happy
Holidays from your friends at Employee Recreation. (E.Brosk-12/21/10)