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Daily Report – Yosemite National Park
Friday December 30th, 2016
Today: Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow showers in the morning…a 20 percent chance of showers. Near the crest…a 50 percent chance of snow showers. Snow level 7500 feet. Highs 47 to 57 at 5000 feet…38 to 46 at 8000 feet.
Tonight: Partly cloudy. A 50 percent chance of snow showers after midnight. Lows 27 to 37 at 5000 feet…17 to 27 at 8000 feet.
Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy. A 50 percent chance of snow showers… A 50 percent chance of snow showers near the crest. Snow level 5500 feet. Highs 41 to 49 at 5000 feet…33 to 39 at 8000 feet.
Additional Point Forecast Weather Links:
Yosemite Valley | Wawona | Tuolumne Meadows | Glacier Point | Big Oak Flat | Hetch Hetchy | El Portal | Mariposa | Badger Pass
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NEW AND HAPPENING TODAY
Attention All
As we continue to mourn the passing of Brian Chilcott many are left wondering, “Is there anything can I do?” A close friend has created a GoFundMe page to help with surgery cost for beloved dog Axel and assist Jessi through this difficult time. If you would like more information about helping Axel and Jessi please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/fundraiser-for-axel-and-jessi (H. Bromberg)
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RECENT NEWS
Taste of Yosemite Local Offer
Yosemite Hospitality is pleased to offer tickets for the Taste of Yosemite event for local residents at $119 per person. The discounted tickets are valid for the gala dinners on 1/19 and 1/26. In addition to the five-course gala dinner prepared by award-winning visiting chefs, your ticket includes multiple cooking demonstrations and an evening reception where you’ll mix and mingle with the chefs.
You can view the chef lineup and more info at http://www.travelyosemite.com/things-to-do/specialty-events/food-and-wine-events/a-taste-of-yosemite/. Call 888.304.8993 to make a reservation. (L. Cesaro)
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Housing Opportunity
3 bedroom 2 bath home, or rooms for rent in wawona. available january 22nd. Contact Alex Poehner. #1-513-673-0520 (A. Poehner)
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Employee Looking For Room Or House For Rent
33-year-old male looking for a private bedroom and bathroom in El Portal that will be available for rent around mid-January. Comfortable with male or female roommates.Contact by email: amznlaw@gmail.com. (J. Byerly)
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Half Dome Village Ice Rink is Now Open
The Half Dome Village Ice Rink is now open for the 2016-17 season. The new seasonal ice rink is located on the eastern section of Half Dome Village in the main parking area with stunning views of Half Dome.
Fun Fact: Ice skating in Yosemite is a long winter tradition. The first ice rink was established in 1928 when the Yosemite Winter Club flooded an unused parking lot. Weather permitting, the rink is open every day for several 2.5 hour sessions. Hours and pricing are listed on www.TravelYosemite.com. (L. Cesaro)
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The Nordic Center at Yosemite Ski & Snowboard Area is Open
The Nordic Center offers cross-country ski lessons, rentals for cross-country skis and snowshoes. Guided snowshoe hikes to Dewey Point are offered on select dates. The Nordic Center is open daily from 830 am to 4 pm. Services are limited as the Day Lodge is not open and there is no food service at this time. We are still waiting on more snow to open downhill skiing/snowboarding at Yosemite Ski & Snowboard Area. Yosemite has world-class cross-country skiing with 90 miles of marked trails and 25 miles of groomed track—including the beloved cross-country track from Yosemite Ski & Snowboard Area to Glacier Point (a 21-mile round trip). (L. Cesaro)
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Hazard Tree Removal
Valley Forestry will begin hazard tree removal today at the Valley Clinic, superintendents house, nursing dorm and adjacent buildings. Parking will be affected with controlled access behind the clinic. Parking directly adjacent to the building –in the rear–will be closed entirely. We will be in this area for the entire week. (J. Ivey)
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Beer Tasting at the Carabiner Cafe
The Carabiner is excited to bring back one of their most popular events: Beer Tasting! This year The Carabiner Cafe is hosting 6 local breweries to showcase their finest craft brews. Each event will start at 7:30pm and typically lasts about an hour. Each session will feature 6 beer selections and a snack plate with food items to match each brew. The cost is $10 per person (21 years and older) and you must sign up ahead of time with the cashiers at the Carabiner. These events typically sell out so reserve your spot early. (E. Brosk)
January 6th – Dustbowl
January 16th – Tioga Sequoia
February 1st – Lagunitas
February 23rd – Sierra Nevada
March 11th – Ballast Point
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New Year’s Eve Bash
This Saturday the Carabiner Café is hosting a New Year’s Eve bash and you’re all invited to celebrate!! Let’s end 2016 with an epic dance party featuring Zach Jones behind the turn tables! The doors open at 5pm (until Jan 7, then it will go back to 7pm) and the DJ starts at 9pm. We will count down the new year, drop the balloons, toast with our friends, and dance until just before 1am!! Please remember to have your valid ID if you plan on purchasing alcohol and don’t forget your dancing shoes!! (E. Brosk)
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Yosemite Medical Clinic Holiday Closures
Yosemite Medical Clinic will be closed Monday, January 2 in observance of the New Year holidays. Ambulance response is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week by calling 911.(C. Griffin)
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Valley Forestry
Starting Tomorrow, Tuesday 12/27/16 at 8:30 AM Valley Forestry will be working behind Valley Clinic off of Ahwahnee Dr. We will be removing hazard trees, first focused on a live oak in the parking lot then pines around the superintendents residence the nurses dorm and other outbuildings. We expect to be working in this area stedy 12/27/16 thru 12/31/16.Parking areas will be affected. We will be flexible enough to accommodate emergency vehicles on immediate need basis. I have established this plan with Chip Griffin at the clinic.Parking areas directly behind and adjacent to the clinic building will be closed beginning Monday 12/26/16 at 17:00 hrs -5:00 PM.We will accommodate access to residential parking as needed. There may be some (10 to 15 minute) delay for this accommodation. Any concerns or anyone wanting fire wood from this operation please contact me directly. (J. Ivey)
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CONSTRUCTION & TRAFFIC DELAYS
Yosemite Valley Traffic Detour
Northside Drive and Southside Drive west of Sentinel Drive are back to one-way traffic. Sentinel Drive is open to two-way traffic.Northside Drive and Southside Drive east of Sentinel Drive are open for two-way traffic. Maps are available at:
Yosemite National Park website- https://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/roadwork.htm
Yosemite Sharepoint (internal only)-http://sharepoint.yose.nps.gov/SitePages/Parking%20and%20Road%20Improvements.aspx
LImited parking is available at the Yosemite Village Day-Use Parking Area, in the area of Camp 6. Access this parking off Sentinel Drive. No RVs or trailers please. 4-Wheel drive recommended. Parking for RVs and trailers is available at the Yosemite Falls Parking Area near Yosemite Lodge. (L. Acree)
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Cook’s Meadow Boardwalk
The Trails Crew has started preparing on-sight to replace the deck material on Cook’s boardwalk. Work typically is being performed Monday-Thursday, during which time the boardwalk will be closed to visitors. When crews are not working, the boardwalk will be left so visitors can safely use the boardwalk. This should take 3-4 weeks depending on weather and other emergencies.(A.Shapiro)
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Parkwide Communication Data Network (CDN):
During the next five weeks (Dec 23rd through Jan 20th) Abide International (Contractor) will be installing radio equipment in shelters and aligning microwave dishes on towers at eleven locations throughout the park. This is part of the last phase of the Parkwide Communication Data Network (CDN) project, which started in the Fall 2010, with the construction of communication towers and shelters. Yosemite’s CDN system will replace the dated/unreliable communication infrastructure (wires which run through park/wilderness areas), which dates to the 1950s, with a modern wireless system to support high speed data services and emergency communications for Yosemite National Park. Staging of the microwave equipment is at Old El Portal parking lot. Project is scheduled to be complete by January 20, 2017 (weather permitting). (D. Engelstad)
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Emergency Services Complex:
Construction continues. Structural retrofit is nearly done. Most of the site grading, drainage improvements, utilities, and paving is done. Work on the interior electrical, mechanical, plumbing, fire suppression, and fire alarms continue, as well as the remaining structural work. Finish work will begin soon. Completion is expected in winter 2017. (K. White)
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ACTING DESIGNATIONS
Jim Radmacher will be acting EPWWTP Supervisor January 2th – January 4th. If you need to get in contact with him, please call 379-1828.
George Harders will be acting Branch Chief of Utilities from 12/25/2016-12/31/2016. He can be reached at 379-1825 or contact Marie Matheson at 379-1828.
Gus Martinez will be acting Chief Ranger through Monday, January 2, 2017. He can be reached at 209-372-0520
Renea Kennec will be acting Branch Chief of Environmental Planning and Compliance from 12/27/2016-12/30/2016.
Chris Gateman will be acting Operations Supervisor until 1/3/2017. Chris may be reached at 379-1275
Josh Keyes will be acting Branch Chief for Buildings and Grounds through 1/3/2017 Josh may be reached at 375-9508
Jeff Pirog will be acting Branch Chief of Fire and Aviation Management until 01/06/2017. He can be reached at 209-379-1902.
Dave Henderson will be acting Hetch Hetchy Program Manager and Yosemite Conservancy Liaison until 1/16/2017. He can be reached at 372-0600 or 372-0238.
Parker Davis will be acting Fee and Revenue Branch Chief until the end of February. Parker can be reached at 372-0406 or Parker_Davis@nps.gov
Ben Cunningham-Summerfield will be acting Branch Chief of Interpretive Field Operations until January 4. He can be reached at 372-0303
Michael Liang will be acting Branch Chief for Creative Media (formerly interpretive services) through February 2017. He can be reached at 372-0643
Sheri Ogden will be acting Division Chief of BRM until further notice. She can be reached at 209-372-0316.
Ron Gaunt will be acting Division Chief of Project Management until further notice. He can be reached at 379-1027.
Sabrina Diaz will be acting Chief of Interpretation & Education until further notice. She can be reached at 372-0291 or 347-0113.
R. Brad Lewis will be acting Branch Chief of Design and Construction for Project Management until further notice. He can be reached at 379-1006.
Billy Bryan will be acting Concessions Management Branch Chief until further notice. He can be reached at 372-0272 or william_bryan@nps.gov.
Erin Davenport will be acting Branch Chief of Environmental Planning and Compliance from 12/19/2016-12/23/2016.
Renea Kennec will be acting Branch Chief of Environmental Planning and Compliance from 12/27/2016-12/30/2016.
Ryan Leahy will be acting Program Manager for Human-Wildlife Conflicts until February 13, 2017. He can be reached at 209-372-0476.
Rick McNeill will be acting Park Botanist until further notice. He can be reached at 379-2175.
Rebecca Lund will be acting Deputy Fee Manager through February 2017. She can be reached at 372-0207.
Katie Burnham will be acting Arch Rock Entrance Supervisor through February 2017. She can be reached at 379-2210