Yosemite Photos, Video and News

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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)

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PARK AND PARK PARTNER NEWS  
 
Weekly Tuolumne Meadows Winter Conditions Update
High temp: 53° (3/30)
Low temp:  -1° (3/25)
New Snow: 38 inches                                      
Total settled snow depth: 84” as of March 31                        

Ski Conditions and Weather: This winter is one for the record books. In March we received 112 inches of snow, containing 8.01 inches of water. We have received over 35 feet of snow this winter, and winter probably isn’t over yet. We reached our maximum snow depth here at the Ranger Station of 105 inches this week. But don’t let that fool you, higher elevations have much more snow. Our snow survey site at Rafferty Meadows (below Tuolumne Pass) had 145 inches of snow containing 57 inches of water. Only the legendary winter of 1983 dropped more snow (156”) at this site, and only the big winter of 1995 dropped more water (58”), since record-keeping began at this spot in 1948.  With 105 inches of snow, this is the fourth deepest end-of-March snowpack at the Tuolumne Meadows snow survey site since 1930, exceeded only by the winters of 1995 (107”), 1969 (126”), and 1983 (138”). The storms have stopped for now; unsettled weather is expected for the weekend. The snow is settling fast now that the temperatures have warmed up, so expect skiing conditions to change daily.
   
Avalanche and Snowpack Conditions: 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: Very few tracks were seen through the copious amounts of snowfall but the usual critters are still out and about; mainly Pine Marten, weasel, White-tailed Jackrabbit, Chickaree, and Coyote, along with many tiny rodent tracks. The spring migration has been put on hold up here. Birds seen and heard this week include the Mountain Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Common Raven, and Clark’s Nutcracker. 

Reminder: Bear canisters are now required for backcountry travel. Power and phones are out of service indefinitely. Come prepared, there is no electricity or phone service at the ski hut. (K. Younger - 4/1)
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Badger Pass Snow Report - 4/1   
Base Depth: 180”
Temperature: High 63 Low 45
Runs Groomed: Bruin, Eagle, Rabbit, Turtle, Chipmunk, Badger, Red Fox
Lifts Open: Turtle, Bruin, Eagle, Badger
Groomed XC trails: Fresh Tracks from Badger Pass to Glacier Point on Thursday evening, March 31. (S. Costello - 4/1)

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EMPLOYEE NEWS
 
Barry Hance Memorial Award Nominations Now Accepted
Barry Hance was an NPS maintenance employee who lost his life in a 1995 avalanche while clearing the Tioga Road.  An award was established in his honor to recognize an NPS employee who exemplifies Barry’s concern for others and dedication to the goals and ideals of Yosemite National Park. Any current NPS employee or NPS group may make a nomination with the approval of the nominee's supervisor.

How do I nominate someone?
- Complete a DI-451 Award Nomination Form;
- Complete and attach a Barry Hance Award nomination form;
- Supervisor must sign the nomination;
- Place the completed nominations in a blue confidential envelope addressed with “Barry Hance Nomination” and send it to the Superintendent’s Office;
- Nominations must be submitted no later than May 27, 2011

To be nominated, the employee…
...is a current employee at Yosemite and they worked in Yosemite National Park in 2010.
...exemplifies the highest ideals of the NPS mission – protecting and preserving America’s natural and cultural resources, while providing for visitor enjoyment for the benefit of future generations.
...is cheerful and projects a positive attitude.
...communicates well with his or her supervisor
...works as a team member and extends a helping hand. (C. Mattiuzzi - 4/1)

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ACTING DESIGNATIONS 

Annette Catamec will be Acting Chief of Business and Revenue Management on Friday, April 1st.

George Jaramillo (379.1378) will be acting Branch Chief for History, Architecture & Landscapes (HAL) on Friday, April 1.

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 

Women’s History Lecture Rescheduled: EOC Hosts Author Fernando Peñalosa to Speak on Women’s History on May 20
Author Fernando Peñalosa will speak noon-1:30 p.m. May 20 (a Friday) on "Making and Documenting Women's History: Enid Michael and Shirley Sargent" in the Valley Auditorium as part of an EOC Women’s History Month program that is open to the public. The Rancho Palos Verdes author has written “Shirley Sargent: Yosemite Historian” about the well-known Flying Spur resident who died in 2004 and “The Joy of Yosemite: Selected Writings of Enid Michael” about an early female ranger, appointed in 1921, who wrote more than 500 articles related to Yosemite’s botany and ornithology. Don’t miss this chance to learn about two prominent Yosemite women, including vintage video footage of Enid Michael interacting with plants and animals. Penalosa’s books will be available for purchase and signing at the event through the Yosemite Conservancy bookstore. Learn more about Yosemite women's history: http://www.nps.gov/yose/historyculture/women.htm. (E. Munding - 4/1)
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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)