Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Weather
Yosemite: TODAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. WINDY NEAR THE CREST. HIGHS 70 TO 80 IN
YOSEMITE VALLEY... 49 TO 59 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
TONIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. WINDY NEAR THE CREST. LOWS 34 TO 44 IN YOSEMITE
VALLEY... 27 TO 35 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
WEDNESDAY...MOSTLY SUNNY. WINDY NEAR THE CREST. HIGHS 66 TO 76 IN YOSEMITE
VALLEY...42 TO 52 IN THE HIGH COUNTRY.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT...CLEAR. LOWS 33 TO 43 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY...26 TO 34 IN THE
HIGH COUNTRY.
THURSDAY...SUNNY. HIGHS 70 TO 80 IN YOSEMITE VALLEY... 50 TO 60 IN THE HIGH
COUNTRY.
El Portal: Today: Sunny, with a high near 80. South southeast wind 10 to 15
mph becoming west northwest.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. North northwest wind between
9 and 14 mph.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 78. North northwest wind between 13 and
16 mph.
Wednesday Night: Clear, with a low around 44. North northwest wind between
5 and 15 mph.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 83. Northwest wind around 11 mph.
Happening Today/This Week (Check the Community News section for other
events)
Foresta Area Prescribed Fire Notification - June 4, 2008
The National Park Service plans to conduct a prescribed fire in the Foresta
area in Yosemite National Park from June 4, 2008 through June 6, 2008,
weather and air quality conditions permitting.
This project is approximately 75 acres and is located southwest of Foresta,
along the park’s boundary with the Stanislaus National Forest. The project
is expected to last about 3 days, with additional mop-up and monitoring
happening through the weekend.
A specific goal of this project is to provide community protection to
Foresta by reducing unnatural fuel loads. This project is strategically
located adjacent to homes in the community, which provides protection from
fire originating in the Merced River canyon.
The intended burn units are comprised primarily of ponderosa pine, meadow,
and manzanita. The Foresta area burned during the 1990 A-Rock fire, with 45
structures lost. There are 173 structures in the Foresta area.
Minimal smoke impacts are possible in the Foresta, with some additional
impacts possible in El Portal during morning hours. Residents and visitors
are advised to take precautions to minimize smoke impacts. People with
respiratory problems should use caution when exerting themselves in smoky
areas.
A public meeting was held Monday, June 2, 2008 at 6:30 pm at the fire house
in Foresta to address community concerns and answer questions.
Additionally, those wishing to preview the proposed burn area are invited
to attend a walk through Tuesday, June 3, 2008. Walk through participants
should meet staff at the fire house at 10:30am.
You will see hand crews, engines, helicopters, extra water storage tanks
and heavy equipment along roads and on the burn perimeter through the
weekend. Even after the burn is complete, we'll keep people and equipment
in the area to make sure it is safe. Please be cautious and drive with
extra care in the area.
For further information about this or other prescribed burn projects in
Yosemite National Park please contact Yosemite’s Fire Information Office at
209/372-0480. Additional updates about the proposed burn will be available
at www.inciweb.org or on the park’s website at
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/conditions.htm.
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The 2008 Weekly Safety Training Binders will be available Tuesday June 3,
2008, at the ALL Supervisors meeting in Yosemite Valley. Please see Roger
Farmer. If you are unable to attend the meeting please contact Claudine
Ronay @ 379-1072 or stop by the Safety Office in El Portal to get your
copy! Thank you and stay safe! (C. Ronay - 6/3/08)
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Invitation to all Yosemite Residents: Please come to Yosemite Valley
School's End of the School Year Picnic, under Yosemite Falls at the School,
Monday, June 2 at 5:30 pm. Burgers (including veggie) and hot dogs
accompanied by your choice of salad, dessert and a drink for $10 for adults
and $5 for children (aged 5-12). Music will be provided by Adam Burns
starting at 6:15 pm. There is a quilt raffle to support our Scotland Trip
2008 and a 50/50 raffle. Thanks to all the community members who supported
our school through out the school year! (C. Soria - 5/22/08)
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Contracting Office Closure - Please be advised that the Contracting and
Procurement office will be closed for internal administrative operations on
Wednesday, June 4, 2008. If you experience an unexpected, urgent situation,
please contact Dan Sohn at 379-1173. (L. Schafer - 5/29/08)
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AUTHOR SIGNING. On Wednesday, June 4th, from 10:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.,
the Yosemite Association Valley Visitor Center Bookstore will host award
winning author Mike Graf signing copies of his best selling young adult
book: “HARROWING ASCENT OF HALF DOME”. This book is the third in a series
featuring the Parker twins as they embark on adventures in our National
Parks. Each book is filled with adventure, drama, humor and outdoor
education: a kind of Hardy Boys adventures for a new generation. With
language suitable for all ages, this series is particularly popular with
middle school students, and families wishing to kindle a love of nature and
the outdoors in today’s youth. The book sells for only $9.95 and is a
perfect gift. Come meet Mike, who you may recognize as a former TV
weatherman, and get your signed copy of this wonderful book. Yosemite
Association members, as always, will receive a 15% discount on their
purchase. Visit Mike’s website to learn more about him and his work:
http://www.author-illustr-source.com/mikegraf.htm (T. Arfsten - 6/2/08)
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Dance to your favorite 80's music at Sal's night this Thursday, June 5th!
Dust off your dancing shoes, get dressed up in costume and kick off the
summer right as DJ Jim McKenzie plays the best music from the awesome 80's.
Enjoy good food, good friends and dance the night away. Sponsored by Y.E.A.
(YEA - 6/2/08)
New Today
Hodgdon Meadow Duplex Installation - The contractor has completed work on
the concrete foundation and floor framing and utility work is now underway.
Wall framing, rough utilities, and insulation will begin soon and continue
for the next several weeks. Construction is scheduled to continue through
the spring and summer and be completed in September. (J. Chisum - 6/3/08)
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We are currently looking for a lost handheld radio, Motorola type, Serial
#320CDWF997, last seen in or near the WABG work shop. If found, please
contact Kermit Comstock at the WABG Office, 375-9508, ASAP. (D. Williams -
6/3/08)
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JUNE 10th - Wild land Fire refresher
WHO: ANY , RED CARDED, wild land firefighter who as not yet attended a
refresher.
When: June 10th. 0900-1600 (Last chance)
Where: Yosemite Valley, Firehouse @ 0900 (Large attendance may result in
another location)
Special Attention:
PLEASE RSVP no later than June 08. Feel free to confirm either by email
or phone (372 0504)
Be prepared to be outside and getting physical (PPE and IA packs) (J.
Panetta - 6/3/08)
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National Parks America Tour
On Saturday, June 7th, Yosemite National Park is hosting the National Parks
America Tour at Yellow Pine Campground. The event will begin at 8:00 am
and end around noon. This year more than 20 National Parks across the
country will be hosting the Tour. During the past ten years, over 70,000
volunteers have contributed more than 280,000 hours of community service
nationwide. This will be Yosemite’s second year hosting the tour, which is
designed to engage employees and citizens of all ages in volunteer
“service-to-the-land” projects to help protect and preserve America’s
National Parks. All park employees and family members are encouraged to
participate. (K. Stowell - 6/3/08)
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Sierra Earthfest 2008 - June 7th
Who said there is nothing to do in Groveland? Thanks to all your requests
to do it again, The Sierra Earthfest: an herb and mountain craft faire will
repeat Saturday, June 7th at Mountain Sage! There will be even more booths,
more free workshops, more live music, extended hours, food served lunch
through dinner and more! Make sure to lock the house and grab a jacket,
you’ll want to spend the whole day downtown!
Announcements
Glacier Point Electrical Outage - June 11,2008, from 0900 to 1400, weather
permitting, there will be an electrical outage to the entire Glacier Point
and Sentinel Dome areas. The only areas affected will be Glacier Point and
Sentinel Dome, including concessionaire facilities, NPS housing, NPS
utilities, and the Yosemite Valley broadcast TV and radio station
translators. Some cell phone service may be affected. The NPS radio
repeaters at Sentinel Dome are expected to function normally. The purpose
of the outage is to mitigate hazard trees along the power line. (K. Summers
- 6/2/08)
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Leave Share Participants
Currently, YOSE leave share participants are:
Shari Baudoux
Kevin Bowman
Kimberly Cunningham-Summerfield
You can find leave share participants Servicewide on InsideNPS at:
http://insidenps.gov/index.cfm?handler=leaveshare
If you are interested in contributing annual leave, please do so by
completing a Request to Donate Annual Leave to Leave Recipient (Within
Agency) Under the Leave Transfer Program, OPM Form 630-A. A fillable PDF
version of the OPM 630-A may be found at:
http://opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/opm630a.pdf (T. Hawkins - 1/31/07)
Community News
JUNE 7 The Yosemite Fund is coordinating National Trails Day (NTD) in
Yosemite to celebrate the over 800 miles of trails in the park and the
opportunities they afford park visitors for adventure, challenge, solitude
and exercise to increase awareness of the role of trail crews, wilderness
rangers and support staff who maintain the trails and protect the resource,
and to celebrate the completion of the Campaign for Trails which has raised
over $13.5 million dollars to support trail work in Yosemite. Park
Partners will combine to host a day and a half of activities for residents
and visitors to honor the park’s trails. NTD is part of a nation-wide
celebration.
The American Hiking Society has coordinated National Trails Day since 1993.
For National Trails Day 2007, more than 1,100 hosts registered their events
with American Hiking Society.
Check the Yosemite Today for evening program and a special walk. There
will also be a mini-mall event on Saturday, June 7 in front of the Visitor
Center with YOSAR, the YF, YMS and NPS Wilderness. (J. Miller - 6/2/08)
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YOSEMITE IS OUR BACKYARD - 2008
Once again, Yosemite Institute is offering an outdoor education program
just for local children. The groups will be separated by age, 7-9 and
10-12 year-olds, depending on enrollment. Day hikes will begin each day at
8:45 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m. plus, again this year, on Thursday a cookout
and campfire at Crane Flat for the 7-9 year olds and an overnight at the
Historic Merced Grove Ranger Cabin for the 10-12 year olds!
DATES: JUNE 9-13, 2008
COST: $150.00
To keep the cost of the program as low as we can, one volunteer parent
chaperone is needed for each hiking group each day, plus one for the 10 –
12 year-olds going on the overnight to the Merced Grove Ranger Cabin.
There is no cost for chaperones. Adults who chaperone all week can bring
one child at no cost. Adults who can chaperone 2-3 days can bring one
child at 1/2 price.
FOR MORE INFORMATION & REGISTRATION FORMS, PICK UP AN ENROLLMENT PACKET AT
YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL OFFICE, AT YOSEMITE INSTITUTE, CALL YI - 379-9511 OR
EMAIL - yi@yni.org. (P. Schmidt - 5/29/08)
Acting Designation
Randy Fong will be Acting Division Chief for Project Management June 9th &
10th. You may phone Randy at 379-1022 or you may leave a message with
Tricia Radmacher at 379-1221. (D. Harrison - 6/3/08))
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Dean Glenn will be Acting Chief of Facilities Management for June 2-3.
2008. He can be reached at 379-1075 or you can leave a message with Rhonda
Soden at379-1059. (R. Soden - 6/2/08)
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For the next 90 days, I will be out of the park often working on an
assignment for the NPS Centennial. Kristina Rylands will act as the Chief
of Planning whenever I am out during this time. She can be reached at
379-1175. This week I will be out Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. (L. Dahl
- 6/2/08)
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While Jen Nersesian is on an international assignment, Calvin Liu will be
acting branch chief of Public Involvement and Outreach in the Division of
Interpretation until June 24th. (C. Liu - 6/2/08)
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Rodney Raines is now acting Wawona Utilities supervisor until further
notice. He can be reached at 375-9510 or leave a message with Shawnessy.
(K. Bablitch - 5/28/08)
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