Yosemite Daily Report for Nov 14

Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Monday, November 14, 2011

WEATHER

Yosemite Valley 
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 50. 
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. 
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 56. 
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 56.

El Portal
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 68. 
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 39. 
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 74. 
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 75.

Wawona
Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 32.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 68.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 68.

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HAPPENING TODAY

Scheduled Power Outage
PG&E will be temporarily interrupting electrical service to install new underground equipment on Monday November 14th, 2011 beginning at 1pm and last until 6am on Tuesday November 15th, 2011. Locations that will be affected on this overnight outage include Badger Pass, Chinquapin Comfort Station, Chinquapin Fuel Station, and the Glacier Point/Hwy 41 Intersection. PG&E will be temporarily interrupting electrical service to relocate overhead lines on Wednesday November 16th, 2011 from 7am-4:30pm. Locations that will be affected on this outage include all of the Wawona area. For further information regarding these outages, please contact Heather Gonzales, PG&E Planned Outage Coordinator, (209) 726-5588. (K. Bablitch - 11/9)

Wawona Road Brushing Today
Valley and Mather Forestry Crews will continue brushing the Wawona Road between Bridalveil and Tunnel View Monday, weather and road conditions permitting. Work involves removing roadside brush and lifting low overhanging limbs. Traffic control will be in place as indicated. Contact 390 on Valley net for emergency traffic. (B. Mattos - 11/14)

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PARK AND PARTNER NEWS

Combined Federal Campaign
It's that giving  time of year again. Time to think about all of those wonderful causes that need our support through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). This marks the 50th year since President John F. Kennedy authorized this highly successful charitable event. The Yosemite Park Service community has always been a very compassionate and caring family, and each year we show that through our donations to the many worthy causes through the CFC. The donation season for CFC is running from October 31st to December 9th. In Yosemite we have some wonderful, dedicated individuals that serve as key workers for this great effort. They will be planning presentations and events so that you can find out more about some of the organizations that benefit from your contributions. More information will be sent out shortly to let you know the times and dates. We are always very grateful for their efforts, and new key workers are always welcome, so please contact Janina Harrison (379-1111) if you would like to help. Please contribute if you can. (D. Neubacher - 11/14)
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Chowchilla Mountain Road Closed for Season

Beginning Friday, November 11th, the Chowchilla Mountain Road leading into the park in Wawona, is closed for the season. The road is currently very muddy and difficult. The section of the road just outside the park in the forest has very deep muddy ruts and is nearly impassable. The gate at the park boundary and the Wawona Golf Course will be locked. Employee's who use this road to commute to and from Wawona, will either need to take the Summit Road turn off to Fish Camp, or take an alternate route. (E. Scott - 11/14)
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Lottery for Space at Historic Ostrander Ski Hut in Yosemite National Park Ends Nov. 16 - news release
Incredible Winter Experience Awaits Cross Country Ski and Snowshoe Enthusiasts

Scott Gediman & Kari Cobb (NPS) 209-372-0248
Peter Bartelme (Yosemite Conservancy) 415-664-1503
Jennifer Miller (Yosemite Conservancy) 415-434-1782

Yosemite Conservancy is accepting lottery registration forms for the 2012 season at Ostrander Ski Hut, a popular overnight destination for those making the stunning 10-mile trek from Badger Pass Ski Area to Ostrander Lake in Yosemite National Park.

“Ostrander Ski Hut provides visitors with the opportunity to have an unforgettable and breathtaking winter experience in Yosemite,” said Mike Tollefson, president, Yosemite Conservancy. “Along the routes to Ostrander, there are places of solitude and awe-inspiring views of Half Dome, the Clark Range and Mount Hoffmann.” Tollefson also described the backcountry skiing opportunities at Ostrander Lake. “The ski area around the Ostrander cirque offers many unique ski trails, including multiple descents off Horse Ridge,” he added.

Yosemite Conservancy manages the rustic two-story stone ski hut, which sits in a small glacial cirque at the edge of Ostrander Lake at 8,500 feet. The historic hut was built in 1941, and maintains much of its original facilities. Nightly rates range from $42 Mon.-Thurs. and $52 Fri.-Sun.

Yosemite Conservancy’s Fritz Baggett lives at the hut during the winter months and has been one of only three hut keepers to maintain the building since the organization took over its management in 1974. “It's truly a unique experience to be in real wilderness in a national park during winter,” he said. “Imagine open granite bowls stretching from ponds and lakes to peaks and steep ridges – it’s very special.”

The lottery applications must be returned by 5:00 p.m. PST on Nov. 16. Starting on Nov. 28, remaining reservations can be booked by calling 209-379-5161. Reservation information, equipment lists and a description of facilities can be found at www.YosemiteConservancy.org/Ostrander. (K. Cobb - 11/14)
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Yosemite Toy and Coat Drive
It is that time of year for the Toy Drive and Coat Drive which Yosemite has participated in the past several years. If you would like to donate any new toy, a new or used coat for a boy or girl (infant to 18 years of age), please bring your toys or used coats to the Resource Management Division at the El Portal Maintenance Warehouse and see Ami Knighten (379-1011), or in Yosemite Valley on the second floor in the Admin Building and see Rhonda Soden (372-0290). We will accept coats up until December 9, 2011. We will be accepting gifts up until December 16, 2011. (R. Soden - 11/9)

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CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Foresta Road Closure - Slide Repair Between Rancheria and Old El Portal
Starting Monday, November 14th the Foresta Road will be closed between Rancheria and Old El Portal as crews complete a slide repair from a spring 2011 slide. The Foresta Road will be closed at 7:00 AM on November 14th and remain closed for approximately 2-3 months, while crews complete the stabilization work. The crews are planning to work 6-days per week, Monday thru Saturday, 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Due to the safety concerns, it will require a hard closure, meaning that throughout the duration of the project, there will be no access for pedestrians, bicycles, passenger vehicles, trucks, etc... Access will be limited to construction crews and emergency vehicles only. Trucks will also be using middle road to access CA St. Rte. 140, so please be cautious as you are traveling thru this area of Hwy. 140. Also, crews will be bringing in equipment and materials starting Thursday, November 10th, with intermittent single lane traffic control along Foresta Road. (M. Pieper - 11/10)

Tree Hazard Management at Badger Pass
Several dead trees were cut around facilities at Badger Pass and hauling will begin November 3. (B. Mattos - 11/3)
Sewer Main Rehabilitation along Northside Dr. between Bridalveil Fall View and the El Portal Rd./Big Oak Flat Rd. Intersection
Erick Ammon Inc. (EAI) has been hired by the NPS to rehabilitate the old clay trunk sewer main installed in the early 1970's. EAI has installed a sewer by-pass system and a traffic control system that is necessary for the upcoming work. The project consists of cleaning, video inspection, and installation of a cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) liner inside of the existing 15" clay sewer pipe. The project is on a compressed 7 day a week, 12 hour per day (7 a.m. - 7 p.m.) schedule due to the nature and expense of the CIPP process. All construction work is anticipated to be complete by Thanksgiving. Expect minimal traffic delays through Thanksgiving. Thank you for your patience and PLEASE DRIVE SLOW in construction zones. (M. Wichmann - 10/27)
Tree Work Along Wawona and South Entrance Station Areas
PG&E will be starting a forestry crew in the Wawona and South Entrance areas trimming trees identified in their Reliability program. Please watch for workers and equipment in roadways. (B. Mattos - 10/24)
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ACTING DESIGNATIONS

Lena McDowall is Acting Chief of BRM, Monday, Nov 14. Marty Nielson will be available by cell phone.

Dayna Jackson will be the acting Division Chief for Administration on November 14th and can be reached at 209.379.1872.

Scott Gediman will be the Acting Chief of Staff between Nov 10 and Nov 29, 2011. If you have any questions, please give him a call at 209-372-0248 or email.
Ed Dunlavey will be acting Chief Ranger from Thursday November 10 through Friday November 18. Julie Byerly will be acting Deputy Chief Ranger during the same time period.

Shawn Lingo (379-1416) will be acting Branch Chief for History, Architecture & Landscapes from mid day Wednesday, Nov. 9 thru Monday, Nov. 21.
Ed Dunlavey will be acting Chief Ranger Nov. 14-18, Kevin Killian will be the acting Nov 19-29.
Mark Jones will be acting supervisor, El Portal B&G, while Keith is on leave; effective November 3 through November 17, 2011. Mark can be reached at 379-1280 or 372-0545.
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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COMMUNITY NEWS

Yosemite Winter Club Membership Dinner, Pray for Snow Party, and Ski & Gear Swap
Come join the Yosemite Winter Club and pray for snow! Friday, November 18 at Yosemite Lodge at the Falls. Ski swap starts at 2:00, Ice skating at Curry Ice Rink at 3:30 (weather permitting), dinner at 6:00 in the Garden Terrace followed by the latest ski movies. Cost: $15 per person for dinner and includes membership. Cash bar. Also, stay for live music at the Mountain Room Bar afterward. For more info or to join online visit: www.yosemitewinterclub.com. The Ski and gear swap will be at the Falls Room, Yosemite Lodge from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. If you have items to sell contact Art Baggett (209) 379-2289 or email at baggett.art@gmail.com. $20 suggested donation per table. (J. Bacon - 11/14)
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Yosemite Holiday Craft Bazaar
The Annual Yosemite Holiday Craft Bazaar is looking for new vendors! Come join us in the festive Curry Pavillion on Friday, December 2nd. Tables are inexpensive and the event is well attended. This is your chance to help out a good cause and make some extra holiday cash. Please call Jennifer to receive an application, 372-4819. (YNPCC - 11/14)











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