Daily Report – Yosemite National Park Friday, October 25, 2024

Daily Report – Yosemite National Park
Friday, October 25, 2024

Yosemite National Park Zone Forecast
Today: Sunny early in the morning then becoming partly sunny. Highs 54 to 68. Southeast winds up to 10 mph shifting to the southwest in the afternoon.
Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows 31 to 47. Southeast winds up to 10 mph.
Tomorrow: Mostly sunny. Highs 55 to 67. Southeast winds up to 10 mph shifting to the southwest in the afternoon.
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 & HAPPENING TODAY

No new submissions for today.

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RECENT NEWS

Kudos to Eric Nelson!
Thank you, Eric, for jumping in and assisting the Research Library team with getting those FIVE cabinets down the stairs. You saw a need and stepped up without being asked. (V. Sanchez)
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Kudos to Madeline Miller and Mara Yachik!
Huge KUDOS to VIPs Madeline Miller and Mara Yachik. Their work and dedication is outstanding, and their intellectual curiosity regarding the Research Library in particular and Yosemite in general brings credit to them and is a demonstrated asset to our community. They shirk at nothing and at the short time they’ve been onboard they’ve made a palpable difference. (V. Sanchez)
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House for Rent
3 bed, 2 bath home for rent near Triangle and Carleton in Mariposa. $2250/month. Easy commute to EP/Yosemite. Please text 209-617-0631 if interested. (T. Darcy)
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Supervisor and Workplace Leader Training Workshop – 10/29 to 10/31 – Space Available
The Yosemite Fee Team is hosting a 3-day supervisor training at the Yosemite Valley Auditorium, 10/29/24 to 10/31/24, 8:30am to 4:00pm. Facilitated by Management Concepts – topics include Becoming a Supervisor, Delegating, Cultivating Motivation & Engagement, Diversity and Inclusion, Coaching, and Improving Performance and Motivation. 9 seats available – priority given to supervisors and leads. Please reach out to Cory_Oliver@nps.gov to sign up and/or for more information. (C. Oliver)
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Yosemite Bear Facts — October 20, 2024

2024 Total Bear Incidents to date: 34
2024 Total Property Damage to date: $3,034

Bear Incident Comparisons (year to date—previous years compared to 2024):
Last year (2023) – up by 6%
Most Incidents (1998) – down by 98%
Fewest Incidents (2019) – up by 55%
Bear Activity Summary: So far this year, about one third of bear incidents have occurred in Yosemite’s residential areas, another third have happened in wilderness, and the rest were in various frontcountry areas. This highlights the important impact we all have on wildlife in Yosemite both living here and visiting the park. Constant diligence with your food storage is important and can have drastic impacts on the lives of the bears that live here.

Bears this time of year are spending the majority of their time eating, trying to pack on pounds for hibernation. Acorns are a primary food source for bears in the fall, and the crop of acorns is particularly large this year. Bear activity has been picking back up in Yosemite Valley the past couple of weeks, with a bear getting into a food storage locker that was not properly latched this week.

Red Bear, Dead Bear: Please help protect wildlife by obeying speed limits and being prepared to stop for animals in roadways. Twenty bears have been hit by vehicles with three confirmed dead.

Fascinating Bear Facts: Fat is the only source of metabolic energy during black bear hibernation. In the fall, bears focus on food with high fat content (such as acorns) over high protein content. Hyperphagia is over-eating in order to build these fat reserves.

Other Wildlife: Mule deer bachelor groups have been very active roadside in developed areas, foraging for oak leaves and acorns causing frequent traffic jams and crowds. Always avoid getting close to wildlife. Deer are particularly unpredictable in the fall with hormonal changes impacting behavior.

Please report bear incidents and sightings: Call the Save-A-Bear Hotline at 209-372-0322 or e-mail yose_bear_mgmt@nps.gov.

For more information about Yosemite’s bears: please visit: www.KeepBearsWild.org (C. Lee-Roney)
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Please Welcome Brian Valimont, Yosemite’s New Compliance Archeologist
Brian comes to Yosemite from the University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg where he has been teaching college-level courses in anthropology, archaeology, sociology, social sciences and related fields. He has 25 years of experience and expertise in complex Cultural Resource Management projects including 10 years as owner and principal investigator of New England Archaeology Company. Brian has also been an Interpretive Ranger at Salem Maritime and Minuteman National Historic Parks. He has a Master of Arts in History and Anthropology. We look forward to him joining our team working in a leadership role on parkwide projects. (E. Davenport)
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2024 Shakespeare in Yosemite Video Now Available
The film of A Midsummer Yosemite’s Dream is now OUT! Check it out here, share with friends and family and strangers!

Shakespeare in Yosemite performed A Midsummer Yosemite’s Dream over Earth Day weekend 2024, and this recording captures the Saturday evening performance. Around 800 live spectators saw the show in Yosemite’s Curry Village and on the campus of UC Merced.

This year’s production not only had the largest cast & crew ever, but also the largest number of Yosemite participants. Special thanks and congratulations to
Ranger Marion Roubal [NPS employee]
Ranger Eid Broughton [NPS employee]
Aliya Hunter [Yosemite Hospitality employee]
Ranger Jessie Levitt [NPS employee]
Gisel Diaz [Yosemite Hospitality employee]
Tonatiuh Newbold [Yosemite Hospitality employee]
Ranger Scott Gediman [NPS employee]
Ranger Steve Lyon [NPS employee]

Shakespeare in Yosemite is a partnership between University of California Merced, Yosemite National Park, and Yosemite Hospitality, with sponsorship support from Visit Yosemite Madera County, Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau, Misfit Inc, and private donations.

Find Shakespeare in Yosemite on Instagram and TikTok @yosemiteshakes
More at Yosemiteshakes.ucmerced.edu (M. Roubal)
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WFR and WFR-R Courses at Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort
Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort will be offering WFR (Wilderness First Responder Course) and WFR-R (Wilderness First Responder Recertification Course) this December. There will be a 10-day WFR class starting December 3rd. A 3-day WFR-R will also be offered with options to start December 14th or December 18th.

People can email caroline@yosemitebug.com or call 209 979 3598 ext 100 to register. (C. McGrath)
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Housekeeping Camp Closed for Season
After a wonderful season, Housekeeping Camp is officially closed! The laundromat at Housekeeping Camp will stay open throughout the winter, thanks to the help of the Curry Village Housekeeping Department. All other facilities will be closed until the 2025 season. We look forward to a great 2025 season! (L. Benbow)
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ROOMS FOR RENT – Mariposa, near Mid Pines (Furnished)
Available Nov 1. Newly remodeled, 3 bedroom, 2 bath. (Near the Corner of Highway 140 & Triangle)

Bedroom with a shared bath $600 plus utilities. Master bedroom with private bath $800 plus utilities.

Call or text Laura for more information or to schedule a viewing 209-347-9202 (L. Noriega)
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Yosemite Conservancy Outdoor Adventures Seeks Naturalist Guide
Do you have a passion for all things nature? Are you always sharing your knowledge of the vital role fire plays in the Yosemite ecosystem with anyone who will listen? Do you love dragging your friends outside to stargaze? If you enjoy helping visitors expand their understanding and appreciation of the natural world, Yosemite Conservancy has the perfect opportunity for you! We are seeking a skilled Naturalist Guide to join our team and lead interpretive day hikes, backpack trips, and bus tours May-October 2025.

Candidates must have a working knowledge of Yosemite ecosystems, geology, cultural and natural history. The ability to lead astronomy programs is a plus. A Wilderness First Responder is required. If you’re ready to turn your passion into a paycheck, apply now at https://yosemite.org/careers/ (K.Chappell)

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ONGOING PROJECTS

Forestry on Tioga Road: Traffic Delays Mon-Thu
Beginning August 26th, Mather Forestry will be working along the Tioga Road between White Wolf and Olmsted Point. Work will take place Mondays through Thursdays, 7:30am to 4:30pm. Expect traffic delays. The work will last several weeks. (J. Brown)
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El Capitan Removal Action
An environmental cleanup contractor will be implementing the El Capitan NTCRA 7/29-11/8. The El Capitan site includes 13 Decision-Units (DUs) to be excavated for removal of buried waste. This former waste disposal area was used up until the 1930’s, with waste mainly coming from Yosemite Valley hotel/campground operations in the early part of the 20th century. The DUs are located in various depressions along the Merced River and slaughterhouse meadow. Upon a satisfactory confirmation testing of these locations, the contractor will be restoring the DUs to a natural grade.

Impacts: The Valley Loop trail will be barricaded at the west end of the project site and at the entrance to the project site south of the El Capitan picnic area. A trail detour is available to hikers by walking north of the project site. The contractor will also be periodically closing the left-hand lane of Northside Drive for approximately 2500 feet west of and in front of the El Capitan picnic area in order to stage trucks for off hauling of waste/soil from the site. Please contact Moshe Calm with any questions/concerns. (C. Moshe)
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Ackerson Meadow Restoration Project
Earth-moving for final phase of the Ackerson Meadow Restoration Project on Evergreen Road has begun. Operations are planned through October 31. Please watch for trucks on roads in the area.

The goal is to eliminate excess soil erosion, slow water loss, and reverse loss of water-loving plants and animals, especially rare/endangered species. To do this, the project team will completely fill the century-old human-caused erosion gully that is >3 miles long, and up to 14’ deep by 100’ wide. Phase 1 of the project was a huge success protecting and rewetting 78 acres of vital wetland habitat, by completing earth-moving of nearly 60,000cy of material between Aug 14 and Nov 9, 2023, and planting over 127,000 wetland container plants on the restored surface this spring. Though smaller in extent, Phase 2 requires the placement of nearly 100,000cy of combined mineral soil and woodchips. More than 290,000 container plants will be installed in May 2025 to complete the restoration project. The project is a partnership of American Rivers, Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite Conservancy, and Yosemite National Park. Learn more at: https://go.nps.gov/ackerson, or https://youtu.be/3u9TpTTcArk. For questions, contact tim_kuhn@nps.gov. (T. Kuhn)
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Mist Trail Repair July 1st – October 31st, 2024
The Lower Mist Trail – from the John Muir Trail (JMT) junction (just uphill from the Vernal Fall Footbridge) to the top of Vernal Fall – will be closed M-TH between 7:00am and 3:30pm from 7/1/24 – 10/31/24 (subject to change).
The trail will remain open Fridays, weekends and holidays. It is expected to be open overnight, however there may be certain days when trail crew is not able to make it safe to open overnight. In that case, the gates will remain closed, and signs will be posted at the two closure gates that the trail is closed.
Hikers and backpackers headed to Half Dome and points beyond from the trailhead at Happy Isles may hike uphill on the Mist Trail if they reach the Mist Trail/JMT junction by 7:00am, Monday through Thursday. Otherwise, they must hike the JMT. (W. Weaver)
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Historic Preservation Crew – Post Office
The Yosemite Historic Preservation Crew is performing stabilization work on the Yosemite Valley Post Office. The project will repair damaged and broken windows, repair cracks in the masonry, and perform preservation carpentry on log elements. There will be no impact on Post Office operations. Please direct all questions to Kevin Brothers (kevin_brothers@nps.gov). (K. Brothers)
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Wawona Hotel Roof Replacement Project
The Wawona re-roofing project is underway and the Contractor, Southwest Property Management, continues to work at the hotel phasing demolition and reroofing in sections progressively. Without unforeseen discoveries, the completion should occur in the fall of this year. Contact Brett Graves, YOSE D&E Project Manager, for more information. (M. Vantzelfden)