Yosemite National Park
Thursday, February 25, 2021
Yosemite National Park Zone Forecast
Today: Sunny. Highs 48 to 55 at 5000 feet…38 to 46 at 8000 feet. Gusts up to 40 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight: Clear. Lows 29 to 39 at 5000 feet…20 to 28 at 8000 feet.
Tomorrow: Sunny. Highs 49 to 56 at 5000 feet…37 to 45 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
There are no new submissions for today, Thursday, February 25.
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RECENT NEWS
Seasonal Climbing Closures March 1 – July 15
Please respect Peregrine Falcons nesting in Yosemite by complying with seasonal climbing closures. Starting Monday, March 1, closures go into effect at Arch Rock, B.O.L.T. Wall, Fifi Buttress, El Capitan, Fairview Dome, Hetch Hetchy, Lost Arrow Spire, Mt. Broderick, Rhombus Wall, the Rostrum, Sentinel Rock, Washington Column and Wawona Dome. If you want to climb at any of these areas, please check the closure notice (posted at http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/climbingclosures.htm) first to make sure you are complying with the closures and not disturbing any nesting peregrines. Thank you for helping to protect Yosemite’s nesting peregrine falcons! (S. Smith)
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Tree Trimming In El Portal Beginning March 1
Valley Forestry will begin residential trimming and hazard reduction in Rancheria and Old El Portal beginning Monday, March 1. Surveyors will be assessing trees. They will be followed by climbing crews performing work. This work will focus on reducing dead wood in trees, and minimizing removal of green limbs unless absolutely necessary. Requests for hazard evaluation can be sent to brian_see@nps.gov. Thanks for being patient with Forestry vehicles affecting traffic. (B. See)
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Yosemite Medical Clinic Closures – All Day March 4 & Partial Day March 11
Yosemite Medical Clinic (YMC) will be closed all day Thursday, March 4 while staff conducts COVID-19 vaccination clinics in Fish Camp and Wawona. The following week, on March 11, YMC will not open until 2PM so that staff can conduct a COVID-19 vaccination clinic earlier that day in El Portal. As usual, ambulance response will be available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week by calling 911.
YMC continues to administer the COVID-19 vaccinations by appointment, following priorities set by the CDC and California Department of Public Health. Please do not call the clinic directly to schedule an initial vaccination. Persons who respond to the online Yosemite NPS Covid-19 Vaccination Planning survey requesting the vaccine will be contacted by a YMC representative to schedule an appointment. The online Yosemite NPS Covid-19 Vaccination Planning survey can be found at https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=urWTBhhLe02TQfMvQApUlPA8NTHkLUdAl21FhhK53yxUNjFHOUxWNVJQWVVaSThVWjg0UEs4VDZDNC4u (C. Griffin)
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Flag At Half Staff
The president of the United States has issued a proclamation for display of the flag of the United States at half-staff until sunset on Friday, February 26, 2021, in remembrance of the more than 500,000 Americans who have died as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. White House proclamations are available at https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions (J. Roubal)
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Welcome Wilderness Patrol Supervisor Lisa Kahn
The Wilderness Branch of Yosemite’s Visitor and Resource Protection Division is pleased to welcome Lisa Kahn as the new wilderness patrol supervisor.
Lisa brings nearly two decades of work experience in Yosemite, much of which was spent patrolling the wilderness and instilling a wilderness stewardship ethic with visitors.
Lisa began in Yosemite in 2003 with the fee program at the Big Oak Flat Entrance Station, and since then has held many different positions in the Park and steadily progressed each time. She has been a general non-commissioned wilderness ranger, a seasonal law enforcement ranger, and since 2016 has been a permanent law enforcement wilderness ranger.
Lisa has received numerous awards for her work performance, her physical fitness, and has completed two prior detail assignments as the wilderness patrol supervisor. Lisa is passionate about the protection of wilderness, has a great sense of humor, maintains a very high work ethic, and will be a great permanent supervisor for the wilderness patrol program. (J. Webb)
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UC Merced Research Week March 1-5
The Office of Research and Economic Development at UC Merced will host their Annual Research Week to celebrate research at UC Merced. Highlights include virtual tours of UC Merced’s Core Facilities such as the Yosemite Field Station and Merced Vernal Pools and Grassland Reserve as well as a Sierra Nevada Research Insititute symposium on Wildfire, Air Quality, and Forest Management. The event runs March 1-5. A complete schedule and registration information can be found at https://research.ucmerced.edu/research-events/research_week. (B. Jackson)
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Yosemite Mindfulness & Communication Training Series (5 Weeks)
Thursdays 12:30-2pm (On Zoom) March 18, 25, April 1, 8, 15
Presented by Jenni Buczko, MA, LPCC
Stressed? Bored? Anxious? Relationship issues? Low motivation? Wanting more calm, peace, joy? The gifts of mindfulness are applicable in every area of life regardless of what you’re feeling these days. Increasing awareness and learning how to better to cope with experiences is crucial in living happier lives. However, it doesn’t stop at mindfulness, it just begins. This training will combine mindfulness with specific communication practices from Non-violent Communication/Compassionate Communication to learn how to better communicate your experience so you can lead a more satisfying life. These skills can be utilized for healthier work environments or at home!
This is an experiential course with practical applications (not a listen-in only). As this is a committed course, please plan to attend the full training series, each week builds on the next.
***This Employee Wellness Training has been approved by the superintendent’s office to occur during working hours. This program is funded by Mariposa County Behavioral Health in conjunction with Park Wellness Initiatives.
RSVP required via email. To RSVP or for more information email Jenni.Buczko@gmail.com (J. Buczko)
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CONSTRUCTION & TRAFFIC DELAYS
El Portal Warehouse Roof Replacement
Replacement of the roofing membrane on the El Portal Warehouse roof is expected to continue through the spring, and possibly the summer. This project includes replacement of four of the large HVAC units on the roof, as well as the deteriorated joint sealant on the tilt-up concrete wall panels on the exterior walls, and demolition of an obsolete solar system. Crews will be working both on the roof and around the exterior of the building on lifts. They will try to keep all entrances open, but there may be periodic interruptions. (K. White)
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El Portal Road Traffic Control
Work on the NPS-owned 70kV transmission line will take place through March 12 along El Portal Road from the park boundary to the powerhouse. This requires intermittent traffic control 0700-1600 Monday through Friday (no holidays) no longer than 10 min. Please plan accordingly. (K. Bablitch)
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Bridalveil Fall
The Bridalveil Fall parking lot and trails are closed to visitation to allow for ongoing rehabilitation work. NPS crews are currently constructing a new accessible trail and making other trail and site repairs. Contractor work consisting of utility upgrades and parking lot and bus platform improvements will continue through May 2021. (P. Johnson)
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