Category Archives: National Parks

National Parks

Erik Westerlund Receives the 2013 Yosemite Conservancy Award

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The Yosemite Conservancy Award is presented each year to an unsung hero in the Yosemite community — someone who goes above and beyond the requirements of their job to truly make a difference. Erik Westerlund recently was presented with this award for his exceptional efforts in providing interpretation in Yosemite National Park and his many volunteer contributions within the community.

Erik recently formed the Yosemite Natural Club, an open group of professional and armchair naturalists from the Yosemite community who gather regularly to investigate seasonal or special natural-history topics in Yosemite Valley. This informal club develops an esprit de corps among all the area naturalists, and creates a platform for new science to be shared among interpreters. Continue reading →

Interesting Places, National Parks

Ahwahnee Hotel on Odd Inns and Uncommodations

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

In case you haven’t checked it out yet, Yosemite’s Ahwahnee Hotel is up over at the Odd Inns and Uncommodations.  From the website:

In the early 1920’s, Stephen Mather, the National Park Service Director, realized that the Park needed accommodations to suit the affluent and influential traveler. The concept of a hotel such as The Ahwahnee became the impetus to draw such a visitor. The site for The Ahwahnee, once a village of the native Miwoks, was chosen because of its exposure to the sun and stunning views of Yosemite’s icons – Half Dome, Yosemite Falls and Glacier Point.

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National Parks

Yosemite Spyglass for Oculus Rift & iPad

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

xRez Studio has put up an AMAZING app for the iPad and Oculus Rift “Yosemite Spyglass.”

From their website:

We love Yosemite and have found a few new ways to experience it in gigapixel on the iPad and Oculus Rift!

The Oculus Rift version of Yosemite Spyglass is available for the Mac and PC.  The Yosemite Spyglass for the iPad is available in the Apple App Store. Yosemite Spyglass is a free download for either platform!

Yosemite Spyglass Tech Demo is a collaboration between Art + Science Labs and xRez Studio  and powered by GigaEngine, a spherical gigapixel viewer for the Oculus and iOS. If you would like to add gigapixel viewing to your App email info@gigaengine.com

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National Forests, National Parks

Record of Decision available for Mariposa Grove Plan

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

The National Park Service (NPS) at Yosemite National Park is pleased to announce that the Record of Decision for the Restoration of the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias Final Environmental Impact Statement (Mariposa Grove Final EIS) was approved by the Regional Director on December 10, 2013. The Record of Decision (ROD) formally selects Alternative 2, South Entrance Hub for implementation. Alternative 2 was identified as the park’s Preferred Alternative in the October 2013 Mariposa Grove Final EIS. The Selected Action in the Record of Decision is substantially the same as described for Alternative 2 in the Final EIS.

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National Forests, National Parks

USFS plans to eliminate Day/Year Adventure Pass fees from some National Forest Areas

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Yep, that means that you can visit some forest areas free of the $5 daily or $30 yearly Adventure Pass fees!  Hikers and off-roaders rejoice!

Or that may be just what they’re expecting us to do.

I will always look a gift horse in the mouth – especially if that gift horse is coming from a governmental agency.  The plan is called the “Federal Lands Recration Enhancement Act” – or REA.  When you walk around it and kick the tires, it seems like a good idea.  But when you look under the hood, there’s some hinky.  There’s ALWAYS some hinky.  Here’s a portion of what the REA says in their summary:

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