Category Archives: California

National Parks

Sunset Magazine’s Top Wow Spots for Yosemite

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Sunset Magazine has quite an extensive series of articles on Yosemite, including a slideshow of the ‘Top Wow Spots’ in the park.

From Sunset Magazine:

Getting there. Yosemite lies 195 miles east of San Francisco, 175 southeast of Sacramento, and 90 miles northeast of Fresno. The main gateway towns to Yosemite are El Portal, on California 140 just west of the park; Mariposa, also on 140 30 miles southwest from El Portal; Groveland, on California 120 west of the park; and Oakhurst, on California 41 south of the park. The entrance fee is $20 per vehicle.

When to go. Yosemite is a four-seasons park. Summer is the busiest time, with highs in the 80s and occasional thunderstorms. Fall offers warm days, cool nights and fall color. Winter brings lows in the 20s, considerable snow at higher elevations and lesser quantities in the valley. Spring is gorgeous, with blossoming dogwoods, splashing waterfalls and highs in the 60s.

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Day Hikes, National Parks

Four Mile Trail reopened!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Four Mile Trail from Yosemite Valley to Glacier Point has reopened. It’s usually closed from December through May because of “dangerous winter conditions,” with the last mile to the top almost NEVER opened up until May.  Even though we’re experiencing a mild winter here on the west coast, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared for winter conditions from Union Point to Glacier Point.

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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

Yosemite National Park’s Ahwahnee Hotel – www.openroad.tv

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

From Wikipedia:

The Ahwahnee is a grand hotel in Yosemite National Park, California, on the floor of Yosemite Valley. It was built by the Yosemite Park and Curry Company and opened for business in 1927. The hotel is constructed of steel, stone, concrete, wood, and glass, and is a premier example of National Park Service rustic architecture. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987.

The Ahwahnee was temporarily renamed the Majestic Yosemite Hotel in 2016 due to a legal dispute between the U.S. government, which owns the property, and the outgoing concessionaire, Delaware North, which claimed rights to the trademarked name. The name was restored in 2019 upon settlement of the dispute.

You can read more HERE.

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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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