Yosemite Photos, Video and News

There will be a Network Outage on Monday 27 December starting at noon. All
data connectivity outside of YOSE (Internet, NPS etc.) will be affected.
The outage is scheduled to allow the upgrade of Network equipment and
should be completed by 1 PM.  Please contact the Help Desk at 379-1123 if
you have any questions.  Your understanding is appreciated. (C.Pribyl-12
/23/10)

**************************************************

TUOLUMNE MEADOWS

WINTER CONDITIONS UPDATE
December 22, 2010

Weather: (December 16 through December 22)
High temp: 35° (December 16)
Low temp:  -3° (December 16)
New Snow: 79 inches
Total settled snow depth: 67” as of December 22

Ski Conditions and Weather: We had quite a week here in the High Sierra. A
series of major storms pounded us relentlessly since last Friday. We
received 79 inches of new snow with an impressive water content of 7.63
inches. It is currently still snowing. The winds were strong, especially on
Saturday when we had blizzard conditions all day. We stayed close to the
house most of the week since it was a little scary to venture too far. We
did manage to get out further on Tuesday during a break in the storms, and
the skiing was actually quite good. After all that snow we expected trail
breaking to be impossible, but it was fairly easy- trail breaking was never
more than knee deep. The snow was so wet, it set up great and we were able
to stay on top for the most part. Nearby Mammoth Mountain ski resort
reported that this was their snowiest December on record and we still have
a week left to go in the month. We are not sure where the snowline is since
it was a fairly warm system. It was all snow here in Tuolumne Meadows.

Avalanche and Snowpack Conditions: We have not seen any avalanche activity
but we haven’t been able to go very far or see any of the high peaks due to
the clouds. Extreme caution would be advised anywhere you go. For the
latest avalanche advisory for this area go to www.esavalanche.org for the
Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center and click on advisory. The ESAC site is
updated several times a week and more often during weather events.

Wildlife: Even with all the snow, we still saw tracks of Pine Marten,
weasel, White-tailed Jackrabbit, Chickaree, and coyote, along with many
tiny rodent tracks.

Birds seen this week include the Mountain Chickadee, Red Breasted Nuthatch,
Brown Creeper, Clark’s Nutcracker, and Raven. Last Thursday we saw a Belted
Kingfisher flying along the still open waters of the Tuolumne River. We are
hoping it headed for a more hospitable climate since the storms.

Questions: Not surprisingly, we lost all power and phone lines due to the
storm. They still are not working as of today. We have not heard if or when
they will be back on. (Jeff and Kathi, the Tuolumne winter rangers).
(12/23/10)
**************************************************
Badger Pass Daily Snow Report
Date: Thursday, December 23, 2010

Downhill Operations
Base Depth: 72”-75”
New Snow: 0”
Snow Conditions: Powder, Packed Powder
Forecast: Partly Sunny
Temperature:      High 37 Low 17
Runs Groomed: Bruin, Eagle, Rabbit, Badger, Chipmunk, Turtle, Red Fox,
                                         Beaver
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. Tracks Were Set Out To Bridalveil
Campground On Wednesday Evening 12-22.
XC trail snow conditions:  Excellent
Tubing Hill:   Two Sessions Per Day 11:30 – 1:30 & 2:00 – 4:00

Employee News

After more than 30 years in Yosemite, Mark Butler is heading for Joshua
Tree National Park, as the park’s newly appointed Superintendent.  His
going away party will be held on Friday, January 21, 2011, so be sure to
save that date!  More information will follow in the days to come.
(S.Henderson-12/23/10)

***************************************************
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)

Acting Designations

Mae Frantz will be the Acting Division Chief for the Planning Division
December 27-28.  You may phone Mae at her El Portal office at 379-1218.
Holly Fetzer Fickler will be the Acting Division Chief for the Planning
Division December 29-30.  You may phone Holly at her El Portal office at
379-1217.  (D.Harrison 12/23/10)
**************************************************
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 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;
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

In Bootjack, room with bath. Full use of the house/kitchen etc. Female
preferred. $400 mo. Utilities included. $300 deposit. Call Kim @
209-966-8440.(M.Battcher-12/23/10)
**************************************************
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)