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Daily Report – Yosemite National Park
Wednesday, July 12th, 2017
Today: Sunny. A 20 percent chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs 81 to 89 at 5000 feet…68 to 78 at 8000 feet.
Tonight: Partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Near the crest, mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then mostly clear after midnight. Lows 56 to 66 at 5000 feet…44 to 54 at 8000 feet.
Tomorrow: Sunny. Near the crest, slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs 81 to 87 at 5000 feet…68 to 76 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.
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RECENT NEWS
Stephen Mather Live Stage Theater Performance Saturdays
These performances are free for NPS & Park Partner Employees & Volunteers!
Starting July 15th, Yosemite Conservancy will be offering a special show at Yosemite Theater for five Saturday nights, ending August 12th. Travel back to 1928 to join the National Park Service’s first director, Stephen Mather, for his annual inspection of Yosemite Valley. A trip to Yosemite years earlier had helped inspire Mather, a successful businessman, to push for the creation of the NPS in 1916. Come see Steve Hale bring history to life in this live performance. Showtime is at 7 pm. (C. May)
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Wilderness Trail Updates
Snow, soggy meadows and flooded trails remain a July theme in Yosemite Wilderness. Additionally, please note:
– Wapama bridge is damaged: repairs being done, scheduled to reopen mid July.
– Bridges in Pate Valley and Glen Aulin (over Conness creek) are damaged with no estimated date for repair.
– White Wolf Road is closed: must hike to trailheads from Tioga Rd. Road Access to Lake Eleanor Trailheads has reopened.
Specific trail condition reports can be read from an NPS computer at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Qc0a8mGhirE3JYw7iBnWl_dH3HwpvFeEJsgPMys1wt4/edit#gid=2. (L. Kretsch)
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Clinic X-Ray Back in Service
Yosemite Medical Clinic’s X-Ray is back in service. (C. Griffin)
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Congressionally Mandated Senior Pass Price Increase to Take Effect on August 28 – NPS News Release July 10, 2017
WASHINGTON – In order to meet requirements set by legislation passed by Congress in December 2016, the price of the America the Beautiful – National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Senior Pass will increase from $10 to $80. The change will take effect August 28, 2017. Pass holders are given lifetime access to more than 2,000 sites and parks. The fee increase will support critical investments in maintenance projects at national parks and federal recreational lands nationwide.
The Senior Pass has cost $10 since 1994. Until August 28, U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are 62 years or older can purchase the lifetime Senior Pass for $10. Previously purchased lifetime Golden Age or Senior Passes will be honored for the lifetime of the pass holder.
The Senior Pass can be used at sites managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Funds from passes are used to enhance the visitor experience and support priority projects and programs.
The pass can be purchased for $10 before August 28 at a national park or other Federal recreation area that charges an entrance or standard amenity (day use) fee. The pass can also be obtained by mail or on line, for $10 before August 28 but there will be an additional $10 charge for processing, for a total of $20. Due to expected high order volume, there could be delays with online and mail order processing of up to several months.
The legislation requires that the price of the lifetime Senior Pass be the same as the Interagency Annual Pass, which is currently $80. The legislation also introduces a new annual Senior Pass that can be purchased for $20. Seniors who purchase annual Senior Passes for four years can trade them in for a lifetime Senior Pass at no additional charge.
The Senior Pass covers all entrance fees and standard amenity (day use) fees and may provide senior discounts for things such as tours or campsites. The pass also waives the entrance fee for travelling companions. At per-vehicle fee sites, the pass admits the pass holder and all passengers in a noncommercial vehicle. At a per-person fee site, the pass admits the pass holder and three other adults. Children under 16 are always admitted free. (J. Trust)
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CONSTRUCTION & TRAFFIC DELAYS
Yosemite Valley Road Work
Work crews are on schedule to finish work on Northside Drive in west Yosemite Valley between the Bridalveil View pullout and Pohono Bridge by the end of July. One lane will remain open at all times. Crews also expect to complete construction on Southside Drive between Housekeeping Camp and Half Dome Village by the end of July. (L. Acree)
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El Portal Road Delays
Crews have begun repairing damaged sections of the El Portal roadway, shoulders and embankment from this past Springs storms and slides. Crews will be working Mondaythru Friday, 7AM to 5PM with 15 minute delays and single lane traffic control between the western park boundary near Yosemite View Lodge and the Big Oak Flat Intersection. This work on El Portal Road is scheduled to be complete by July 15th. For more information contact Michael Pieper at 209-200-1131. (M. Pieper)
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Wawona Road Delays Near South Entrance
6-6-17: Crews are continuing the Rehabilitation of the Wawona Road. This work will continue over the next 4 months. At this time there is no weekend or night time work scheduled. The current work zone along Wawona Road is 1 mile south and 1/2 mile north of the South Entrance intersection. The current traffic delays are as follows:
Monday thru Friday
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM 15-Minute Delays With Alternating One-Way Traffic
8:00 AM to 3:00 PM 30-Minute Delays With Alternating One-Way Traffic
3:00 PM to 5:30 PM 15-Minute Delays With Alternating One-Way Traffic
(Pilot cars may be used to escort vehicles thru the construction zones.) (M. Pieper)