Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Thursday, February 16, 2012
====================================================== Thursday, February 16, 2012
Changes to the Daily Report
As announced Monday, this is the first week of the new Daily Report format. A review of changes can be found at http://www.nps.gov/yose/parknews/upload/daily_changes_summary.pdf .
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WEATHER
Yosemite Valley
Today: Sunny, with a high near 46.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 29. Wind gusts as high as 20 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50.
Saturday: A slight chance of rain showers after 10am. Partly sunny, with a high near 44. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
El Portal
Today: Sunny, with a high near 62.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 34. Wind gusts as high as 18 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 65.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 57.
Wawona
Today: Sunny, with a high near 53.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 30. Wind gusts as high as 18 mph.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 57.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 49.
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NEW AND HAPPENING TODAY
Tuolumne Meadows Winter Conditions Update - February 15, 2012Weather: (February 8 through February 15)
High temp: 51°F (February 9)
Low temp: 4°F (February 14)
New Snow: 13 inches
Total settled snow depth: 24 inches as of February
Skiing Conditions and Weather: Winter is finally paying us a visit. Both recent storms have dropped some light, fluffy powder. The skiing has been fantastic. Trail breaking isn't difficult in the light snow, but can be once the temperatures change so bring plenty of skin & ski wax!
Avalanche and Snowpack Conditions: For the latest avalanche advisory for this area go to www.esavalanche.org for the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center and click on advisory. The ESAC site is updated several times a week and more often during weather events.
The new snow that fell this week was cold and dry with only 0.6" of water in 13" of snow. Not much wind below tree line resulted in a uniform snow cover and no slab conditions. Above tree line the snow is more wind affected and pockets of wind slab are possible. We observed some collapsing on a North facing, wind loaded slope. This slope had old snow on it from November and the collapsing took place on the old faceted snow near the ground. These pockets of old snow are very isolated on the shadiest of north facing slopes and, generally speaking, are not widespread enough to pose much of a hazard.
Wildlife: A Pine Marten was seen sniffing around the Tuolumne Lodge area. While skiing in variable conditions earlier this week on Gaylor Peak, two Golden Eagles loomed overhead, perhaps thinking they would soon find their prey! Not to fear now that there's powder…
Questions: Please note that power and phones are out for the season. Contact the Wilderness Office at 209/372-0740 with any questions or concerns. Be prepared for winter conditions, finally! -- Laura & Rob Pilewski, the Tuolumne Meadows winter rangers. For regular updates, bookmark our blog on the park's website: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/tmconditions.htm . (M. Ortiz)
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Private Rental - Midpines
Three bedroom one and half bath 960 sq-ft. mobile-home at $675/mo. Includes
appliances and an option of partial furnishings. Refrigerator, propane furnace and stove, with front loading washer and dryer, propane water heater and swamp cooler. Located just off of Highway 140 on Colorado Rd, Midpines. Please no pets. Available beginning of April 2012. Please contact: Ofer Brender, ofer@kadima.us 510-915-0404. (C. Baker)
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Upcoming Servicewide Radon Testing for NPS Residential Units
The radon testing kits have arrived in the park. The schedule for placing the test kits within NPS housing units is listed below:
Yosemite Valley: February 21 - 24
El Portal: February 24 - 27
Mather District: February 24 - 27
Wawona District: February 24 - 27
We ask that all windows and doors remain closed for up to 12 hours prior to the kits being placed. You may access your unit at any time; we just ask that no door be left open for an extended amount of time. The testing kits will need to remain in place for three days. Park staff will be responsible for placement of the test kits, as well as collection and delivery to designated laboratory facilities following the three day sampling period. The Housing Office will relay any questions or concerns regarding radon that are raised by residents to the Regional Office. The placement of a radon testing kits within NPS residential units should not be interpreted as a cause for alarm. Testing will enable screening for problem areas or locations and serve as the basis for follow up actions, including additional testing and mitigation measures if necessary. If radon is discovered and remediation is necessary, radon remediation techniques are available and highly effective.
With your cooperation and participation, we can ensure a safer and healthier environment for our families living in NPS housing.
For additional information regarding Radon, click on the EPA Citizen Guide to Radon link: http://www.epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide.html or visit the Housing SharePoint site @ http://sharepoint.yose.nps.gov/admn/housing/default.aspx
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Badger Pass Daily Snow Report - 2/16
Base Depth: 24” – 36”
New Snow: 18” – 24”
Snow Conditions: Powder to Packed Powder. Excellent Coverage & Conditions.
Forecast: Sunny & Breezy
Temperature: High 46 Low 23
Runs Groomed: Bruin, Eagle, Turtle, Red Fox, Beaver, Rabbit, Badger, Chipmunk, Wildcat
Lifts Open: Turtle, Bruin, Eagle, Badger
Runs open: All
XC trail snow conditions: 100% coverage and groomed from Badger Pass to Bridalveil Campground. (S. Costello)
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RECENT NEWS
Weekly Safety Topic
Hello Yosemite employees - be sure to check out this week's safety topic, "Safe Lifting." Whether it is 2 pounds or 50 there is a correct way lift and save your back! http://sharepoint.yose.nps.gov/safe/Safety%20Pics/Yose_Weekly_safetyFY12.PDF . (C. Ronay)
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Music at the Carabiner
This Saturday, the wonderful Adam Burns Band will play a FREE live show at the Carabiner (Degnan's Loft). They will rock the Valley from 8ish to 11ish. Don't miss this one, it's a chance to turn all those snow dances into a true celebration! There's only a handful off live music opportunities left this season at the Carabiner, stay tuned for the details. We're really going out with a bang this year! (E. Brosk)
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Sixth Street Cinema Supporters
It is with sincere regret that we inform you that the Sixth Street Cinema will being going dark beginning the first week of March, after fifteen years, approximately 2,300 screenings and events, and nearly 46,000 patrons through the doors. It has been our privilege and our pleasure to bring so many great films from around the world, and so many cultural, educational and humanities programs to our community. We are truly thankful to those in the community who have supported us over the years, be it financial, voluntary, or in spirit.
The capital project, and more to the point, the problems incurred with funding, and the health issues affecting Tony over the last year and a half, have dealt a hard blow to our financial stability. With the down time, we will attempt to piece together a solution to our current condition. If there is a way for us to survive this, we will.
To that end, we will provide more details in the coming days and weeks. And of course we will have an event in the near future for face to face discussion of the details and the possibilities, and the impossibilities. In the absence of screenings, we do not expect our members, who have so diligently supported us over the years, to continue sending payments. That said, you are welcome to continue your membership payments during this dark period until a resolution is at hand, as funds are necessary for whatever outcome lies ahead for us.
The Leonardo screenings will take place as scheduled, February 19th, 23rd and 26th, as will the Opera scheduled for Feb. 25. We will not be screening a film this weekend, but we will return next weekend, February 24th and 25th, and the following weekend, March 2nd and 3rd, with what we consider to be the best drama and the best comedy of 2011, for our final films. As always, thank you for your kind words, thoughts, and support.
Sincerely,
The 6th Street Cinema Board (T. Arfsten)
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Sixth Street Cinema
Located upstairs at the Old Masonic Lodge in downtown Mariposa. For more information, please call (209) 742-6666 or go to www.sixthstreetcinema.org . Coming soon - a very special event: LEONARDO LIVE. Feb. 19 (Sun.), 23(Thu), and 26(Sun), 7:30 p.m. Admission: $7 general public; $5 students; $3 SSC members. A satellite-delivered HD presentation of the once-in-a-lifetime exhibition “Leonardo da Vinci: Painter at the Court of Milan”, captured at the U.K. National Gallery. LEONARDO LIVE offers an unprecedented opportunity for audiences worldwide to experience these da Vinci works. The historic exhibition is sold out in London and, due to the fragility of the paintings, the exhibition cannot tour. See trailer: http://leonardolivehd.com/ (T. Arfsten)
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NPS 100th - 2016 Call to Action and America's Summit on National Parks
As you may know, partners of the NPS (National Parks Conservation Association, National Park Foundation, and National Park Hospitality Association) recently hosted a three day conference in Washington, DC. The conference focused on the Call to Action initiative set forth by NPS Director Jarvis, honoring the 100th Anniversary of the NPS. The Call to Action charts a direction for the National Park Service as we move into our second century of preservation and enjoyment.
Yosemite is playing a leadership role in the Call to Action and we had several partners attend the recent summit. For more information:
Call to Action (external site): http://www.nps.gov/calltoaction/
Call to Action (internal site): http://inside.nps.gov/calltoaction/
Resources from America's Summit on National Parks: http://www.2016parksummit.org/faq/resources.html . (K. Hardy)
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NPS Housing Survey Results
On June 13, 2011, the park provided an "on-line" Housing Survey to all Yosemite National Park employees. The survey was intended to fully understand our complex housing issues, develop a strategy that meets Yosemite’s housing needs and address your concerns and questions. The participation was overwhelming! There were 257 employees who took the time to offer substantive comments and questions. After careful analysis, the comments have been distilled down to 24 pages, capturing the salient responses and common themes.
You can find the results of this survey on the Yosemite SharePoint Site: http://sharepoint.yose.nps.gov/admn/housing/default.aspx
Thank you for taking the time to participate in the survey. Together, we can tackle our housing issues and make Yosemite the best place to work and live in the National Park Service. (C. Baker)
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CONSTRUCTION AND TRAFFIC DELAYS
Village Store Closed
The Village Store will be closed for remodeling beginning Tuesday, January 17th and will reopen on Thursday, February 16th @ Noon. (1/18)
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Foresta Road Will Reopen February 17, 2012 at 6:00 AM (Between Rancheria and Old El Portal)
The Foresta Road Slide Repairs are nearly complete, so the Foresta Road will reopen to traffic at 6:00 AM on Friday, February 17, 2012. Once the road is reopened, there may still be intermittent-single lane traffic control as the crews are removing materials and equipment from this area, so please use caution when driving thru the area on Friday and Saturday, 2/17 and 2/18. (M. Pieper)
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ACTING DESIGNATIONS
Laura Kirn will be acting Division Chief for Resources Management and Science on February 13, 14 and 16, 2012. She can be reached at 209-379-1314.
Danny Schaible will be acting Branch Chief for History, Architecture & Landscapes, February 13 thru February 17, 2012. He can be reached at 209-379-1295
Deron Mills will be the acting Chief of Fire and Aviation Management from Feb 13th through Feb 20th. He can be reached at 209-375-9572.
Tom Tobin will be the Acting Contacting Officer from 2/6 thru 2/21. Jody Auerbach is out to the office and will return on 2/22. Jody will periodically be checking her email. Tom can be reached at 379-1040.
Madelyn Ruffner (379-1226) is on a 120-day detail as Acting Environmental Planning and Compliance Program Manager. Madelyn may be found at her regular desk location in the EPC Trailer. Elexis Mayer (379-1377) has temporarily moved to the Planning Trailer to continue her work on the Merced River Plan. For further assistance, you may also contact Jessica Zeek (379-1002), Administrative Support Assistant for Environmental Planning and Compliance.
Jack Hoeflich will be acting Valley District Ranger until further notice.
Andy Fristensky will be Acting Deputy Chief of Interpretive Operations until further notice. He may be reached at 372-0599.
Jeffrey Trust will be Acting Yosemite Valley Field Interpretation Supervisor until further notice. He may be reached at 372-0307.
Ron Watson will be the Acting Supervisory Information Technology Specialist until further notice. He may be reached at 379-1074.
Brenna Lissoway (379-1283) is on a detail as the Park Archivist. If you have need to access the Archives, or have archive related questions, you can call 379-1282 or 379-1104.
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