photo Hauling at El Capitan. 2023. November. Young-wook Heo
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Daily Report – Yosemite National Park
Monday, November 20, 2023
Yosemite National Park Zone Forecast
Today: Windy. Not as cool. Sunny. Patchy blowing snow in the morning. Highs 39 to 55. Northeast winds 15 to 30 mph shifting to the east 10 to 20 mph in the afternoon. Gusts up to 50 mph.
Tonight: Clear. Lows 26 to 38. East winds 5 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the evening.
Tomorrow: Sunny. Highs 43 to 57. Northeast winds up to 10 mph shifting to the northwest 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
Yosemite Theater Closed 19th-22nd
The Yosemite Valley Theater will be closed for work on the system November 19th-22nd. (S.Miyako/EWhittle)
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Volunteer Uniform Items
Many of our volunteers have left for greener pastures now that the winter season is approaching. If you still have some of their uniform items, especially jackets, please return them to the Volunteer Office in El Portal so we can recirculate them to our new volunteers. You can reach us at Yose_Volunteers@nps.gov (A. Martinez)
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Farewell Party for Sally Martinez/El Portal Travel Series
Come to the El Portal Community Hall on Tuesday, November 28th at 5:30 to celebrate Sally Martinez, as she moves on to her next big adventure superintendent a Honouliuli National Historic Site. After cake and drinks, join Sally at the El Portal Travel Series at 7pm! Starting in July, Sally Martinez went on detail as the Superintendent of Honouliuli National Historic Site on the island of O’ahu. Alex joined her for some travels on Kaua’i and the Big Island of Hawai’i. They will share photos and stories of boat trips, jungly hikes, cultural events, and more. Sally will also share the complicated history of Honouliuli, which was Hawai’i’s largest and longest-serving prisoner of war and civilian incarceration camp during World War II.
Sally started with the Volunteer Office in 2015. Since then she took on the role of Branch Chief of the Volunteer Office, and has served in that position for many years. During her time, Sally has not only held up one of the most complex volunteer operations in the National Park Service, but has also been a key player in Yosemite’s growing DEIA work, including creating an internship position to specifically support DEIA projects in the park. She is well respected as a supervisor who cares deeply for and supports her employees any way she can. Sally will be sorely missed by volunteers and employees, and we are excited to see her in her next awesome adventure in Hawaii. (S. Miyako)
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Congratulations to Elizabeth Hale!
Congratulations to Elizabeth Hale, who was recognized by the NPS GIS Council at this year’s Geospatial Training Workshop for the innovative work she has been spearheading as Yosemite National Park’s GIS Coordinator. Under her leadership, Yosemite actually swept the Innovation category, with honors also going to the Design & Engineering Branch and to former GIS Intern Dini Zucker. (N. Belle Isle)
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The Ansel Adams Gallery will be closed for Thanksgiving
We will resume our normal hours from 9am – 5pm the following day.
The Ansel Adams Gallery will also be foregoing its traditional Black Friday Sale this holiday season. However, as this is a small community, The Gallery would like to extend to all locals living and working in the park (Yosemite, El Portal, Wawona, Foresta, The West) a 25% discount on all in store items (original fine art and educational classes excluded). To give ample time, this offer will be good until Monday, November 27th and not just on Black Friday proper. The Ansel Adams Gallery asks that you please bring with you a form of ID that lists a local address or park employment. Thanks, and Happy Holidays from TAAG Staff! (I. Carlson)
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House for Rent in Midpines
3 B/R, 2 Bath on five acres available January 1.
Central heat, AC, wood stove, Jacuzzi tub. Beautiful location on Rancheria Creek Road, 6
minutes off Hwy 140. $2700/month plus utilities. Security deposit $2500. For more
information, please email coloradoroad.rental@gmail.com (P. Pyle)
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Yosemite Road Condition Information – CALL THE ROAD TAPE
To obtain the latest and most current information on road conditions in Yosemite National Park, please follow the following steps:
Call the Yosemite Road Tape, 209-372-0200
Press option 1
Press option 1 again.
Please note that calling Yosemite Dispatch will not provide you with different information and you will be directed to call the road tape number above. For road information outside Yosemite please contact Caltrans. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated. (C. Mitchell)
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Clinic Hours
Nov 20-22 NO urgent care. Limited scheduled primary care TELEHEALTH by Dr. Irwin-Warren. Walk-in free flu shot 9am-12pm & 1 – 3pm.
Nov 23 CLOSED for Thanksgiving Holiday
Nov 24 Free Flu Clinic only 9am – 12pm & 1- 3pm. (S.Webb)
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ONGOING PROJECTS
Wawona Road Hazardous Fuel Removal
Tribal crews and contractors are removing hazardous fuels along Wawona Road from the South Entrance to the park boundary at Mt. Raymond Road. Removing hazardous fuels in the form of small trees and previously downed logs will support fire fighters to implement an interagency prescribed fire that will ultimately lead to better protection of the Mariposa Grove and the communities of Fish Camp and Wawona from high severity fires. Delays up to 15 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 Valley Shuttle Bus Stop Improvements
The NPS contractor continues site demolition and preparation in Curry Village (Orchard Parking) and at Upper Pines and Lower Pines campground stops on the Happy Isles Loop. Work sites are being prepared for paving. Disruption and delays in traffic circulation are to be expected. The contractor is authorized to conduct traffic control operations Monday through Thursday. This work will continue until mid-December, weather permitting. (J. Donovan)
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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 lobby elevator is off-limits except in case of emergency. The lobby stairs are still blocked off and the rest of the lobby area is closed unless you are involved with the project. Warehouse occupants and visitors 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. To access the Dispatch office area, follow the signs in through the Trails area door just inside the fence/gate. Apologies for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience. Contact Nicole Belle Isle, Project Manager, for more information. (N. Belle Isle)
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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)
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Valley Shuttle Construction Impacts
Valley Shuttle stops 19, 4 and 2 are out of service due to construction. (C. Layman)
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Road work on Wawona and Glacier Point Road
Park Forestry crews will be working on Hwy 41 Wawona Road North of Henness Ridge Road through the end of November. Crews will also be working along Glacier Point Road intermittently through the end of November. Anticipate 20 minute delays, and please keep speeds slow while traveling through the work zone. Thanks for your patience. (B. See)