Daily Report – Yosemite National Park
Friday, September 15, 2023
Yosemite National Park Zone Forecast
Today: Sunny until late afternoon then becoming partly sunny. Highs 57 to 73. East winds up to 10 mph shifting to the west in the afternoon.
Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows 41 to 55. East winds up to 10 mph.
Tomorrow: Sunny. Highs 57 to 73. 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
Fire System Inspections
We are finishing up in El Portal today and the team, Steve Lyon and the contractors from HCI, will be moving to the Valley on Monday to begin inspecting and testing the fire protection systems in the public and administrative buildings. Residential inspections will begin on Tuesday. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this required annual fire system inspection. (C. Toepper)
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Kudos to Telecom Team
Thanks to the team of Tolley & Roubal from Telecom for putting on an outstanding class on such a short notice. We all walked away with a better understanding on how to use our NPS radios. Keep up the great work. – The Special Projects Shop (S. Branham)
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Room for Rent in Midpines
Midpines-1 bedroom with shared bath, furnished, includes PGE, Propane, Wi Fi, Smart TV, housecleaning once per month. Water and Dryer included.
$1100 month plus $600 security deposit. Call or Text Laura Lee 209-347-9202
Also renting an air bnb by the room or the whole house (open to either) November thru March
https://airbnb.com/h/chateau-yosemite-the-little-house (L. Lee)
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Room for Rent in Mariposa
Sublet available immediately through July, 2024:
Adorable poolside efficiency in a quiet Mariposa neighborhood, 10 minute bike ride to YARTS stop. Perfect for a single household at 460 square feet. Furnished and includes stove, oven, microwave, fridge/freezer, a/c, laundry room, pool, parking. $500 deposit and $1450/month includes water, sewer, garbage, electric, propane. Internet is available. No pets, no smokers. Renter (me!) lives on property in separate area. Email shesanomad@gmail.com for more info. (M. McCabe)
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RECENT NEWS
Valley Shuttle Construction Impacts
Valley Shuttle stops 19, 4 and 2 are out of service due to construction. (C. Layman)
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Cascades CERCLA Removal Action
The Cascades CERCLA site is located near Ribbon Creek/El Cap Woodlot. This site was formerly the Civilian Conservation Corps Cascades Camp, a name derived from the original site at Cascade Creek along El Portal Road. The camp utilized a creosote dip tank to treat lumber and this practice has led to present day contamination of the soil. NPS Environmental Compliance and Cleanup Division has contracted a non-time critical removal action at this site. The Contractor has mobilized on 9/11/23 and begun excavations. Beginning on 9/18/23, they will begin loading out contaminated soil from this site to a waste collection facility outside the park. The contractor will be working MON-THUR 7A-5P. Anticipated completion of backfill mid-October. There is no traffic control associated with this work, but please be mindful of truck traffic between Pohono Bridge and El Capitan Bridge on both sides of the river. Contact Moshe Calm with any questions. (M. Calm)
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Badger Pass Early Bird Season Passes
Badger Pass Early Bird Season Passes are on sale now through October 13th! Tickets can be purchased at travelyosemite.com (C. Layman)
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Mariposa Grove Road Hazardous Fuel Removal
Tribal crews and contractors are removing hazardous fuels along the Mariposa Grove Road from the South entrance to the lower grove welcome plaza. Removing hazardous fuels in the form of small trees and logs will support fire fighters to implement planned prescribed fires that will ultimately lead to better protection of the Mariposa Grove from high severity fires. Delays up to five minutes may be expected. Please slow down and watch for workers along the road. Contact garrett_dickman@nps.gov with any questions. (G. Dickman)
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Yosemite Facelift September 20th-24th
Yosemite Facelift is just right around the corner on Wednesday September 20th-Saturday September 23rd from 8AM-10PM and Sunday September 24th from 8AM-3PM. We can’t wait to see everyone for our 20th Anniversary Celebration! Join us for a park-wide clean-up starting at the Yosemite Valley Visitors Center. Show up early to help with special projects and take some time to keep Yosemite pristine. Amazing evening programs are scheduled, so be prepared to hang out, have a great time, & maybe even win some top-notch giveaway prizes. Participants can pre register at yosemiteclimbing.org . We will provide trash bags, litter sticks, gloves and safety vests. All volunteers receive a ticket for the daily 5 PM giveaway. The Sunday giveaway will be at 2 PM. (H. Fleetwood)
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Kira Lucier’s Farewell
The amazing Yosemite Valley seasonal supervisor, Kira Lucier, is headed to Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument come September 22nd. We’re excited to see this new adventure for begin for her. Kira’s farewell will take place on September 19th at 6pm at The Alley in Mariposa.
Kira has been with Yosemite since 2015, first as a seasonal ranger in Valley Interp, then a lead, and then coming on year round in 2019 as the seasonal supervisor. Most recently she detailed with Inter-mountain Region as administrative support, and then came back to Yosemite in the last few weeks before the Gila NM tranistion to support field ops with many tasks including designing the layout for back of house of the Welcome Center in terms of furniture/storage, finding the items, and setting most of it up herself. Many thanks to Kira for her commitment to Valley Interp over many years. (S. Miyako)
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Yosemite Fire Update September 10th, 2023
Thunderstorms passed through Yosemite National Park on Saturday, September 9th, bringing 179 lightning strikes, a small amount of precipitation, and some new lightning fire starts in the park.
There are no closures associated with the active fires, no immediate threats to critical infrastructure, and no smoke impacts.
Yosemite Fire management officers are assessing the fires to determine a management strategy utilizing natural barriers such as roads, ridges, rivers, and abundant granite.(Yose Fire Information)
JAN
Location: Between Hoover Lakes, North of Buena Vista Crest
Elevation: 8,800’
Discover date: September 9, 2023
Size: 0.5 acre
More info: Jan Fire – Inciweb
MARMOT
Location: Near Moraine Meadow, south of Merced Pass
Elevation: 8,700’
Discover date: September 9, 2023
Size: 0.01 acre
More Info: Marmot Fire – Inciweb
CHIQUITO
Location: North of Chiquito Pass
Elevation: 8,000’
Discover date: August 17, 2023
Size: 2 acres
More Info: Chiquito Fire – Inciweb
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Fire System Inspections
HCI and the structural fire team (Steve Lyon) will bein El Portal performing fire system inspections all week (Sept. 11-15). Residential inspections all week, with the Maintenance area on Tuesday and Thursday. So be aware that alarms will be sounding and strobing, the inspectors will have to do visual inspections on devices as they are alarming. We will attempt to perform the inspections on the Maintenance Buildings in the morning, to affect as few people as possible. Thanks again for your patience with this annual requirement. (C. Toepper)
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ONGOING PROJECTS
Ackerson Meadow Restoration Project
The long-planned Ackerson Meadow Restoration Project, on Evergreen Road, is set to begin. Be aware of potential truck traffic in the area between August 14 and October 31.
The project goal is to eliminate excessive soil erosion, slow water loss, and reverse loss of water-loving plants and animals, and impacts to endangered species. To do this, a contractor will completely fill the century-old human-caused erosion gully that is now more than 3 miles long, and up to 14 feet deep by 100 feet wide. Revegetation of the area will be completed using more than 425,000 wetland container plants and 700 pounds of native plant seeds. This project is planned for completion in spring 2025, and is a partnership of American Rivers, Stanislaus National Forest, Yosemite Conservancy, and Yosemite National Park. Learn more: https://go.nps.gov/ackerson. For questions, contact tim_kuhn@nps.gov. (T. Kuhn)
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Valley Forestry on Glacier Point
Valley Forestry will be removing hazard trees along Glacier Point Road through the end of September. Work will take place from 0800-1530 Monday through Thursday. Expect 15 minute delays. Thanks for your patience. (B. See)
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Glacier Point Road Delays
Crews are continuing rehabilitation of the Glacier Point Road between Wawona Road junction (Chinquapin) and Glacier Point. The Crews will be working Monday thru Friday from 6AM to 6PM with alternating one-way traffic control and up to 30-minute delays. Delays should be diminishing as work progresses over the next couple of months; however, please expect delays thru September 29, 2023. Please contact Michael Pieper, with any questions or concerns at (209) 200-1131. (M. Peiper)
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Tioga Road Delays
Crews are continuing to complete intermittent road repairs on the Tioga Road between Tamarack Flat Campground entrance road and Little Blue Slide. Over the next couple of months there will be multiple crews working at various locations along the Tioga Road corridor. The Crews will be working Monday thru Friday, from 6AM to 6PM with alternating one-way traffic control and up to 15-minute delays. These Tioga Road delays will continue thru September 29, 2023. Please contact Michael Pieper, with any questions or concerns at (209) 200-1131. (M. Peiper)
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Construction in Bug and Ranger Camps is underway in Tuolumne Meadows
Several crews are repairing damaged structures and replacing the underground and overhead electric. Please avoid the area unless you are a resident. Any questions, contact Matt Outhier. (M. Outhier)
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Mist Trail Repair July 10th – November 2nd
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 7/10/23 – 9/1/23. Beginning 9/2/23 – 11/2/23 the trail will be closed M-Fr between 7:00am and 3:30pm. The trail will be open on Labor Day and Columbus Day.
The trail will remain open on weekends. 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 Little Yosemite Valley, 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 Friday. Otherwise, they must hike the JMT. (W. Weaver)
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The Merced Grove is Closed for Restoration
Giant sequoias are adapted to frequent, low-intensity fire and depend on fire for reproduction. Frequent fires reduce fire intensity by thinning the forest of small and unhealthy trees and reducing the accumulation of dead branches and trees. But over the past century, fires were suppressed, and drought and insects killed millions of trees in Yosemite. In the Merced Grove, there is limited sequoia regeneration and fuel loading has increased to dangerous levels. Currently, we cannot safely introduce fire without first mechanically removing fuels first. Since 2020, wildfires have killed almost 20% of mature giant sequoias across their range due to extreme fuel loading, and we aim to prevent that outcome in the Merced Grove. Therefore, we are removing small diameter conifers, trees posing a hazard to firefighters and containment lines, and dead and downed wood to reduce wildfire risk to the sequoias and firefighters as preparation for the first prescribed fire in and around the grove. The grove will be closed for 2.5 months during the restoration for visitor and worker safety. Please contact garrett_dickman@nps.gov with questions or for access. (G. Dickman)
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Dispatch Expansion Project
The Dispatch Expansion project is converting most of the El Portal Warehouse lobby into office space for the Emergency Communications (Dispatch) Center. The work is temporarily on hold, so the elevator across from the RMS building can be used for the time being. The stairs are still blocked off and the rest of the lobby area is closed unless you are involved with the project. To access the Dispatch office area, follow the signs in through the Trails area door just inside the fence/gate. Warehouse occupants and visitors not using the elevator need to use alternate means of ingress/egress until the re-construction of the stairs is finished. Do not enter through the RMS building unless you work there. Contact Nicole Belle Isle, Project Manager, for more information. (N. Belle Isle)
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Sugar Pine Floodplain Restoration Through November 10
The Vegetation and Ecological Restoration Branch will be conducting restoration work in the floodplain south of Sugar Pine Bridge from August 14 to November 10. This project will excavate fill from historic channels to reactivate the floodplain, provide habitat for aquatic wildlife and plants, and restore natural hydrology. This project is a recommended action from the Merced Wild and Scenic River Management Plan to mitigate the effects of the historic but undersized Sugar Pine Bridge on the Merced River. Earth moving machinery, including excavators and dump trucks, will be operating in this area. Please ask that the public stay out of this area for their safety. To learn more about Merced River restoration visit: https://www.nps.gov/yose/learn/nature/mercedriverrestoration.htm (A. Puchkoff)
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Y8 Fuel Station Down
The Y8 gas station is currently down. For gas needs in the meantime, please call the garage from 8 am – 5 pm, 7 days a week at 209-372-1060 to schedule a fill until further notice. We’ll update when the station is back up and running. (C. Layman)