Tag Archives: Yosemite national park

National Parks

Yosemite Conservancy Unveils its Outdoor Adventures for 2015

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

My favorite park group has just announced their outdoor adventures program for 2015!

Summer Camp for Grown-ups, Beginning Backpacking and Hikes to Rarely Seen Alpine Areas Are Among the Guided Outdoor Adventures Offered for Visitors to Explore Yosemite National Park

Yosemite Conservancy has unveiled a compelling line-up of Outdoor Adventures for 2015 with more than 60 programs for visitors to explore the park on guided adventures with local experts involving backpacking, photography, bird watching and more.

“Yosemite Conservancy’s Outdoor Adventures provide unique ways to see, learn and experience the park, and inspire people to care for one of the world’s natural treasures,” said Frank Dean, president of Yosemite Conservancy. “Visitors to the park are discovering that some of the best things to do involve organized small group adventures.”

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National Parks, Wildfire

The Rim Fire – a new video on YouTube

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

A hat-tip to Bill Gabbert over at wildfirtoday.com who penned a post about a new video titled “the Rim Fire” that appears on YouTube today.  The video was posted by yosemitenationalpark, who put up the following description:

“The 2013 Rim Fire was the largest forest fire in California history, and the largest fire in Yosemite history. Burning 400 square miles, the speed and size of the fire was unprecedented. As these unnaturally large fires become more commonplace due to previous fire suppression and climate change, Yosemite National Park is seeing the benefits of carefully allowing smaller, controlled fires on the landscape.”

 

National Parks

Yosemite National Park Launches New Website to Commemorate 125th Anniversary

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

On October 1, 2015, Yosemite National Park will commemorate the 125th anniversary of the establishment of Yosemite National Park. On that date President Benjamin Harrison signed legislation which created the United States of America’s third National Park. With a stroke of a pen, over 1,500 square miles of pristine California land was preserved for future generations.

To celebrate this occasion, Yosemite National Park has launched a new website specifically geared to the 125th Anniversary.

From the National Park Service:

“The events in the gateway communities were a huge part of the success of the 150th anniversary of the Yosemite Grant,” stated Don Neubacher, Yosemite National Park Superintendent. “We are looking forward to working closely with our gateway communities again as we celebrate this significant historical milestone.”

The website offers a calendar of all anniversary events, projects, and commemorations that will take place throughout 2015. Additionally, visitors to the site will be provided opportunities to share their Yosemite stories;read a timeline of Yosemite’s rich history;learn how to host and/or organize an anniversary event or activity;and apply to use the anniversary logo on retail products.

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National Parks

Fire Restrictions in Effect in Yosemite National Park

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Restrictions on Campfires in Wilderness Areas Below 6,000 Feet in Elevation

Fire restrictions for Yosemite National Park went into effect yesterday, Tuesday, July 15, 2014. The fire order restricts the use of campfires in wilderness below 6,000 feet in elevation. However, campfires in designated campgrounds and picnic areas will still be allowed.

Yosemite National Park is implementing fire restrictions due to several years of exceptional drought conditions and high fire danger. The winters of 2011-12, 2012-13, and 2013-14 were all below average precipitation. The Yosemite Region, along with all of California, is in the third year of drought. Conditions are comparable to the major drought of the 1970’s. Due to these conditions, the order is designed to reduce the chances of human caused fires in some of the park’s driest areas. Vegetation throughout the park is drier than at this time last year and increased care and caution are required to protect park resources and ensure visitor and staff safety.

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National Parks, News

Rockfall Closes Trail to Rancheria Falls in Yosemite National Park

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

A rockfall in the Hetch Hetchy area of Yosemite National Park has closed the trail to Rancheria Falls east of Wapama Falls.

According to the National Park Service, at approximately 1:30 p.m. on March 31, a large rockfall occurred from the cliff just east of Wapama Falls above the Hetch Hetchy reservoir. The trail was closed just east of the Wapama Creek footbridges for safety purposes.  Boulders are preventing access beyond Wapama Falls to park visitors.  No visitors were injured in the rockfall.

Roughly 16,000 tons of rock fell from approximately 500 feet above the base of the cliff. Rock debris hit the slope below the cliff, breaking into numerous boulders, crushing trees, and creating a small dust cloud. Fresh boulders completely covered the slope, and many boulders tumbled into the reservoir. Roughly 400 feet of the Rancheria Falls Trail was destroyed in the main impact area.

Hikers can still access Wapama Falls starting from O’Shaughnessy Dam. The trail to Rancheria Falls just after Wapama Falls will be closed until further notice.