Yosemite -Daily Report – Yosemite National Park Monday, July 8, 2024

Yosemite -Daily Report – Yosemite National Park
Monday, July 8, 2024

Yosemite National Park Zone Forecast
Today: Sunny. Highs 74 to 88. South winds up to 10 mph shifting to the southwest with gusts to around 30 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight: Cooler, clear. Lows 48 to 64. Southwest winds up to 10 mph with gusts to around 25 mph shifting to the southeast after midnight.
Tomorrow: Sunny. Highs 73 to 87. Southeast winds up to 5 mph shifting to the southwest 5 to 15 mph with gusts to around 30 mph in the afternoon.

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NEW & HAPPENING TODAY

Congratulations Martinez Family
Congratulations to Sally and Alex Martinez on the arrival of their baby girl! Amparo entered the world on July 5th. The family is doing well. The Division of Interpretation and Education is so excited to celebrate with the Martinez family. (S. Martinez)

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Kudos
Arch Rock would like to send a HUGE thank you to Rachel Lemay and the rest of the VCG staff for supporting us over the past week when we’ve been severely shorthanded. You guys are awesome!!!
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Join us today for Coffee with a Ranger!
Today, July 8 at 10:00, come to the Curry Pavilion Poolside Room for an informal event with Yosemite Valley Law Enforcement. Learn about our many roles in the park and ask any burning questions you may have. Coffee provided by Yosemite Hospitality! (B. Vollmer)

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Midpines Home for Rent

Fully furnished 3 bed, 3 bath 2400 ft.² house on quiet, forested 4 acres, only 2.5 miles from the Bug and 10 minutes from the Merced River. All 3 rooms are available in a shared home or the entire home can be rented as one unit. UTILITIES ARE INCLUDED(except internet and firewood). There are 2 master suites with private bath, each renting for $1300/mo, plus a third bedroom with an adjacent bathroom for $1000/month, 2 large separate living spaces, large open kitchen, sunny atrium dining nook, fenced outdoor patio with heated in-ground pool (average swim season is April-Oct). Pets OK with owner approval. 2 seasonal creeks on property. Wonderful neighbors. Cooler night time temperatures. I plan to have the property ready to rent mid-September. Contact Chuck Carter at mtboy13@gmail.com with interest.
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Ahwahnee Home for Rent

Rental in Ahwahnee on Hwy 49 $1200
1 bedroom stand alone house (this is not a shared house) with detached 16 x 16 enclosed porch and 10 x 12 shed with W/D hookup on 17 acres with beautiful views. House is not furnished. There is separate propane tank for it that you are responsible for. Instant hot water heater keeps propane use way down. Wood burning stove and propane wall heater. There is A/C window unit in good condition but if it breaks it won’t be replaced. Contact 805-910-5291 if good credit and no criminal record. $35 application fee non refundable.
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Jr. Ranger Day is this Saturday, July 13

The Division of Interpretation is thrilled to announce this year’s Junior Ranger Day celebration will take place this Saturday, July 13, 2024, from 10 AM – 4 PM. Join us in celebrating Yosemite’s Jr. Rangers on this day of fun and discovery with FREE family-oriented programs and activities throughout the park! Programs are open to the public. The day’s schedule can be found on the park website calendar and the NPS App. (L. Serio)

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Yosemite Valley Rafting Closed for the Season
Starting July 8th, 2024, raft rentals will be closed for the season. (C. Lewis)

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Barry Hance Award Ceremony, Tuesday July 8th
Please join us for the annual Barry Hance Award Ceremony on Tuesday, July 9th at the Valley Auditorium.

Schedule of events –
All-employee photo in front of the Exploration Center – 2:00pm
Barry Hance Award Presentation in the Valley Auditorium – 2:30pm
Late lunch in the auditorium courtyard – 3:00pm

As always, we encourage you to please bring your mess kits if you are able.

Please click on the link below for a brief visual description of what this award is all about.

https://youtu.be/dSzr8q3J0TE
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Mather District Meeting with Yosemite Leadership Team, July 10th
Please join us for the Mather District Meeting hosted by the Yosemite Leadership Team on Wednesday July 10th, from 2-4pm behind the Tuolumne Ranger Station. Any and all are welcome to attend any of the district meetings, which will be shaped around district-specific projects, issues, concerns, and successes. We hope these will be conversational in nature with good dialogue and as such, they will not have a virtual component.

Please coordinate attendance with your supervisor. For those who can’t attend or are working remotely, we will follow up with summary notes.There will also be an optional social half-hour beginning at 1:30pm – snacks and drinks provided. If there is a specific topic you would like to see discussed at this meeting, please email yose_superintendent@nps.gov with the details and we will do our best to fit it into the agenda.
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El Portal Child Care Center is Hiring!
Do you love working with children? Are you passionate about early childhood education and working with a great team? El Portal Child Care Center is currently hiring for the following position: Full-Time Teacher
Ideal applicants will have experience working with young children, be flexible and able to “go with the flow”, be dedicated and reliable!
Interested applicants should send a cover letter and resume to Heather Webster at director@ynpccc.org. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Compensation is commensurate with experience. Housing may be available. Located within 10 minutes of the Yosemite gate. (H.Webster)
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Recycling Center Now Open
Recycling Center in front of the Village Store has returned and will now be open Tuesday – Saturday 1:00 – 3:30 pm
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Traffic Delays on Big Oak Flat Rd for Vegetation Managment 07/08- 07/09
There will be vegetation management on Big Oak Flat Rd starting at the Foresta and Big Oak Flat intersection to Crane Flat on 7/08 – 7/09. Flaggers will hold traffic for 10 – 15 minutes at a time to allow for vegetation management work. Please be aware and follow Road Work Ahead Signs. (G. Hernandez)
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Yosemite Hospitality – Heat Related Changes
As we enter an excessive heat warning in the Valley, we want to make sure that all of the Yosemite Community has a safe space to hang out and cool off. Beginning on July 3rd and going through the end of the forecasted heat wave (July 9) the following two areas will be open during all normal business hours as spaces for the community to rest and get out of the heat: The Poolside Room at Curry Village Pavilion, 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM and The Carabiner (at Degnan’s) 7:30 AM – 10:00 PM. Please be respectful of fellow team members as you are utilizing these spaces.

Due to excessive heat and for the safety of all guests, the Valley Floor Tour will move to a covered coach bus, hopefully returning back to the open-air Green Dragon Trams 7/10 (C.Layman)
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Work with Yosemite Conservancy in Tuolumne Meadows this Summer
Love to camp? Want to live in the high country? Enjoy helping visitors find the items they need? Good at suggesting trails and day trips? Join the Yosemite Conservancy team as a Sales and Information Assistant in the Tuolumne Meadows Visitor Center!
Email kbouchard@yosemite.org with your resume. (K.Bouchard)
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PG&E Contractor Work in El Portal and Wawona
Between the days of July 1 and August 2, PG&E contractors from Arborworks will be conducting vegetation removal and maintenance work in the Wawona and El Portal residential areas. For maps of the locations, please contact Alan Kunz (alan_kunz@nps.gov) or Natasha Lekach (natasha_lekach@nps.gov). Some traffic control may be necessary. (N. Lekach)

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RECENT NEWS

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ONGOING PROJECTS

PG&E Contractor Work in El Portal and Wawona
Between the days of July 1 and August 2, PG&E contractors from Arborworks will be conducting vegetation removal and maintenance work in the Wawona and El Portal residential areas. For maps of the locations, please contact Alan Kunz (alan_kunz@nps.gov) or Natasha Lekach (natasha_lekach@nps.gov). Some traffic control may be necessary. (N. Lekach)
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Valley Mall Tree Removal
Valley Forestry will be working in the Valley Mall area removing trees for a construction project starting the week of 7/8 and lasting through the end of the month. There will be temporary closures of certain walking paths during the operation. Forestry staff will be on site to direct pedestrians around the work zone. (B. See)
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Road Work Along the Tioga Road

Road crews will be working on the Tioga pass road from Lembert dome parking area to the Tioga pass gate clearing drainages and roadside brushing, please drive slow in the work zone and watch out for road workers and equipment in the area, expect up to 15-minute traffic delays Monday – Thursday. (B.Brantley)
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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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Bus Stop Construction and Impacts to Yosemite Valley Shuttle Service
Happy Isles Loop remains impassible to transit buses, due to road construction. All bus stops located east of the Curry Village registration access driveway are closed. Until further notice, all valley shuttle buses are operating on the Valley-wide Route (Green) schedule, with eastbound service terminating at Curry Village registration. (J. Donovan)
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Historic Preservation Crew – Post Office
The Yosemite Historic Preservation Crew will be performing stabilization work on the Yosemite Valley Post Office beginning May 6. 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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Expect delays: North Side Drive between El Capitan Woodlot to Pohono Bridge
Hazardous fuel reduction is taking place on Northside Drive from El Capitan Woodlot to Pohono Bridge. This work is being conducted in preparation of prescribed fire and provide a safer place for fire fighters to work if a wildfire burns up the Merced River Canyon. The 2018 Ferguson Fire reached Cascades Falls and crossed both Wawona and Glacier Point Roads in a single run. Roads are our primary location to stop wildfires and implement prescribed fire. Personnel will be removing small trees and dead and down material. Wood will be transported to Ackerson Meadow where it will be mixed with fill as part of a massive gully restoration project will the aim of restoring one of the largest mid-elevation meadows in the Sierra Nevada. Mixing the wood with the soil sequesters the carbon and increases the water holding capacity of the soil creating a wetter, more productive meadow.

Please watch for workers and drive slowly through the work zone. Traffic holds are 15 minutes while workers remove woody material. Delays may be expected Mon-Fri, 06:00-16:00 through June 20th. Thank you for your support and understanding. (G. Dickman)
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Caltrans Announces Improvement Project on State Route 140: Cathey’s Valley to Mariposa
On Monday, April 29, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will begin a maintenance project to improve State Route 140 (SR-140) between Cathey’s Valley and the town of Mariposa. Work will include pavement preservation with hot-mix asphalt, and removal and installation of guardrails, culverts, dikes, shoulder backing, signage, and corner curb ramps at seven intersections. Crews will work night shifts for approximately 170 working days, Sunday through Thursday, with alternating lane closures on eastbound and westbound SR-140. Project completion is expected in December 2024. The contractor’s work schedule is subject to change due to traffic incidents, weather, availability of equipment and materials, and construction-related issues. Please drive carefully and watch for laborers and equipment in roadways. (J. Donovan)
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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 Steve Dunakoskie, YOSE SPPM Project Manager, for more information. (S. Dunakoskie)
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Dispatch Expansion Project
The Dispatch Expansion project is converting most of the El Portal Warehouse lobby into additional office space for the Emergency Communications (Dispatch) Center. The lobby stairs are no longer walled off, but the stairwell and adjacent entrance will periodically need to be temporarily closed as work dictates. When the stairs and entryway are blocked off, Warehouse occupants and visitors will need to use alternate means of ingress/egress. 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. Contact Alyssa Sharp, YOSE Project Manager, for more information. (M. Vantzelfden)

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