Yosemite Photos, Video and News

Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Thursday, March 31, 2011  

WEATHER  

Yosemite Valley
Today: Sunny, with a high near 68.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 45.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 71.
Saturday: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 49.

El Portal
Today: Sunny, with a high near 86(!).
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 51.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 89(!!).
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 76.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 67.

Wawona
Today: Sunny, with a high near 76.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 50. 
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. 
Saturday: A 50 percent chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 63. 
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 54.

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HAPPENING TODAY

Foresta Road Closure at El Portal Waste Water Treatment Plant
Foresta Road in front of the El Portal Waste Water Treatment Plant will be closed intermittently for helicopter operations associated with the Snow Survey. As always, you can use Spur Road to detour around the closure. The closure will be this Thursday from 8:00am to 5:00pm. (A. Rothell - 3/30)

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CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Foresta Road Closed Until Further Notice Between Barium Mine Road and Old El Portal
Due to safety concerns associated with the recent slide on the Foresta Road, it is now closed to all vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic between the intersection of the Barium Mine Road and Old El Portal. The road will remain closed until further notice. FHWA engineers will be onsite next week to assess the slide and the road stability. Middle Road will remain open between the intersection of the Foresta Road and CA State Highway 140 (Access to and from Middle Road will be limited to CA St. Hwy. 140). As further information becomes available, it will be updated in the Daily Report. If you have questions or concerns please contact Michael Pieper at (209) 379-1263 or (209) 742-8593. (M. Pieper - 3/30)
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Traffic Delays on the El Portal Road
Traffic delays are scheduled to begin next week on the El Portal Road to stabilize a rock slide area near Dog Rock (Approx. 0.25 miles east of the western park entrance). The contractor is scheduled to begin work next Monday, April 4, 2011 with up to 30-minute delays (Except during the commuter hours of 6:30 and 8:30 AM in the mornings and 4:00 to 6:00 PM in the afternoon, when there will be a maximum of 15 minute delays.). They are planning to work from sun-up to sun-down, Monday thru Friday. The contractor will have one lane traffic control with flaggers. This project includes rock scaling and bolting to help stabilize an area that slid during the December 30, 2010 storm and again during last weeks storm event. There may be less delays the first day as they mobilize onsite. The current schedule is to have the work completed in a few weeks and prior to Easter. (M. Pieper - 3/29) (M. Pieper - 3/29)

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PARK AND PARK PARTNER NEWS 
 
Badger Pass Snow Report - 3/31  
Base Depth: 180”
Temperature: High 65 Low 41
Runs Groomed: Bruin, Eagle, Rabbit, Turtle, Chipmunk, Badger
Lifts Open: Turtle, Bruin, Eagle, Badger
Groomed XC trails: Fresh Tracks from Badger Pass to Glacier Point on Thursday evening, March 31. (S. Costello - 3/31)
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2011 National Natural Landmarks (NNL) Photo Contest Announced
The NNL program is seeking images highlighting the significant natural resources of the 586 designated Natural Landmarks nationwide. The top 13 winning photographs will appear in the 2012 National Natural Landmarks calendar, which will be a commemorative edition in honor of the NNL Program’s 50th Anniversary (1962-2012). Entrants, potentially including NNL landowners, the public as well as NPS employees, may submit up to three photographs to the contest, but each photograph must be from a different NNL site. In the case of the Pacific West Region you have 94 NNLs to choose from. However, images of the 13 NNL sites featured in large format in the 2011 calendar are not eligible for this year’s contest.  These images can be found at http://www.nature.nps.gov/nnl/currentwinners.cfm . Entries are accepted in digital, print, and slide formats. All entries must be e-mailed or post-marked no later than June 30, 2011. Winners will be announced in September. 

As you are aware, National Natural Landmark sites are not units of the National Park System. While a few NNLs do occur within national park units, most sites are located within state, county or city parks, wildlife refuges, national forests, tribal or private lands. The NNL program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of our country’s natural history. It is the only natural areas program of national scope that identifies and honors the best examples of biological and geological features in both public and private ownership. The National Park Service partners with and supports landmark owners and managers in their conservation efforts. For official rules and entry form, please visit http://www.nature.nps.gov/nnl/photocontest.cfm. (A. Kunz - 3/30)

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ACTING DESIGNATIONS 

Ryan Leahy will be acting Branch Chief of Wildlife Management on Thursday, March 31, and Friday, April 1 (372-0476).

Ed Dunlavey will be the Acting Chief Ranger March 29-April 2. Charles Cuvelier can be reached by cell phone as necessary.

Ann Roberts (379-1383) will be acting Branch Chief of Environmental Planning and Compliance from Monday, March 28 to Friday, April 1.

Lena McDowall, our BRM Lead Concession Specialist, will be Acting Chief of Administration until April 1.

Jay Shields

will be Acting Mather District Ranger 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 call 379-1282 or 379-1104.

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COMMUNITY NEWS 

El Portal Travel Series Slide Show - "Climbing with Pirates in Yemen" by Josh Helling
Tuesday, April 5th, 7:00pm at the El Portal Community Hall: Searching for adventure in the Gulf of Aden, Josh and Mike Libecki traveled to the remote Island of Socotra during Nov-Dec 2009. With one of the planet's highest concentrations of endemic plant and bird species, Socotra Island revealed constant mystery. Located in the pirate-infested waters between Yemen and Somalia, their Middle Eastern expedition included incredible snorkeling, a desert camel trek, high mountain cloud forests, limestone caves, and multiple 1st ascents of granite spires enshrouded in mist. Even during this period of civil war, the two Americans were always greeted with a friendly “Welcome to Yemen” from the locals. Enjoy a splash of culture, adventure, and natural history from Sinbad the Sailor’s Mystery Island. (P. Amstutz - 3/31)
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Home for Rent
Three bedroom, two bath manufactured home on five acres. Garden area, $750/month (Midpines area off E. Whitlock), Mariposa, CA. Call Erik or Janice Pontoppidan (818) 674-7276. (Y. Radanovich - 3/31)
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Mariposa County High School (MCHS) Grizzly Band Music Marathon
This Saturday (April 2) at the Mariposa Museum & History Center, the MCHS Grizzly Band will be playing at the Music Marathon from 10:00am - 7:00pm. The Concert, Pep, and Show Bands will perform in addition to other selected regional ensembles, all who will dazzle with various musical styles. There will also be a silent auction, raffle, and food to purchase. There is no cost to attend the Marathon which will be held at the Museum's outside courtyard. The band only asks for your support by sponsoring members. Each band participant has promised to perform throughout the day to earn pledges. Funds are being raised because the band has been invited to play in New York City's 92nd Annual Veteran's Day Parade and "Band of Pride" 10-year Commemorative Tribute to the 9/11 Victims. They will be one of only 23 bands involved, and the only one from California. (L. Sheetz - 3/31)
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Upcoming Mariposa Symphony Orchestra Concerts
The orchestra returns to the Ahwahnee Hotel's Great Lounge under Founding Music Director and Conductor Les Marsden on Sunday, April 10 for a 1:00pm matinee concert. The free concert, offered by special arrangement with concessionaire DNC Parks and Resorts at Yosemite Inc, the National Park Service, and (MSO parent organization) the Mariposa County Arts Council, Inc is a first-come, first-seated event that has resulted in standing room only over the past few years. This year, the orchestra is joined by special guest artist cellist Ira Lehn for a performance of Antonin Dvořák's b-minor Cello Concerto. The orchestra will also perform Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's 41st Symphony "Jupiter" and Paul Dukas' Fanfare pour précéder "La Péri." The concert will also be performed at  7:00 PM on Saturday, April 9 in the Fiester Auditorium of Mariposa County High School. Tickets for that concert are only $6 for adults, $4 for students and are available at the Mariposa County Arts Council, Inc. with further information available by calling (209) 966-3155. Tickets are also available at the Mariposa County Visitors Center across from the Miners Inn in Mariposa. Complete concert information is available at http://www.arts-mariposa.org/symphony.html (3/30)
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Condo For Rent
Private rental in Mariposa, 2 bedroom condo, good condition and clean. $875 a month, utilities included except electricity and phone. For additional information contact 818-889-1215. (C. Baker - 3/30)