Yosemite Daily Report for Nov. 15

Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Tuesday, November 15, 2011

WEATHER

Yosemite Valley
Today: Sunny, with a high near 51.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 41. 
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 54. 
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 50. 

El Portal
Today: Sunny, with a high near 71. 
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 40.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 73. 
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 73. 

Wawona
Today: Sunny, with a high near 63. 
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 34. 
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 66. 
Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high near 63.

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HAPPENING TODAY

Carabiner Closed Tonight
The Carabiner will be closed on Tuesday evening.  The entire Degnan's complex will be closed that day due to a necessary power outage.  See you Wednesday for all you can eat Spaghetti & Meatballs. (E. Brosk - 11/15)

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PARK AND PARTNER NEWS

Hetch Hetchy Construction
Hetch Hetchy Water and Power is starting today to construct a communications tower at Poopenaut Pass within Yosemite National Park. The new wireless communications site will improve internal communications at their facilities within the park. They expect to work on the site this fall and winter until weather conditions suspend construction for the season. The tower and equipment shelter will be installed next summer. Visitors and staff should expect minor delays along the Hetch Hetchy Road as equipment is delivered to the site and utility connections are made. (S. McCabe - 11/15)
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Brush Hauling
ALW Enterprises will begin hauling brush piled during and after the Motor Fire from the El Portal sand lot to the Fresno area for green disposal (biomass energy and landscape mulch). Please watch for trucks turning in and out of the sand lot. (B. Mattos - 11/15)
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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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EMPLOYEE NEWS

Combined Federal Campaign Events in El Portal
- Biscuits & Gravy/French Toast Breakfast - November 16, 7-9am.

- Chili Cook-Off & Pie Contest - November 30, 11-1pm. Donations of chili and pies appreciated.  Judges needed for pie contest.  Chili will be judged on People's Choice.

- Cupcake Challenge, Holiday Theme - December 5, 7-9am (in conjunction with the Monday coffee bar & baked goods sale). Cupcakes will be judged on taste and presentation.  Cupcakes will be considered a donation and will be available for sale after 11am.

- Holiday Goodies - Get those holiday yummies without spending time in the kitchen! December 14, 9am until they're gone! Donations of cookies, fudge, cakes, pies, bars, etc. appreciated.

Every Monday during the campaign (through December 12):
- Coffee Bar & Baked Goods Sale (a little pick me up on those Monday mornings) - 7-9am, or until all baked goods and coffee are gone. Donation of baked goods for any or all of these events will be appreciated.

All events are being held in the Small Breakroom at El Portal due to Large Breakroom being unavailable.  Representatives from various charities will be available to speak with you about their programs on the 16th and 30th. Visit our SharePoint site located on the main page in the left hand column for information about the CFC.  We are collecting recipes to create a Yosemite Cookbook.  You will find this under Shared Documents.  If you have a recipe and cannot upload it, one of our keyworkers can scan it and load it for you.  Just let us know. Contact a keyworker to participate in any of these events by donating items or time to help. Current list of keyworkers:  Gina Bissmeyer, Ami Knighten, Angelina Long, Pat Lendvay-Humphrey and Jon Youngblood.  (J. Harrison - 11/15)

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GIS Day Celebration

Stop by the RMS Conference Room between 11 am and 1 pm on Wednesday, Nov. 16 to participate in Yosemite's first-ever celebration of GIS Day. GIS Day is an annual worldwide event that takes GIS technology out of the lab and brings it to the people. Be there at 11 am sharp for a viewing of the (possibly infamous) "GIS Rap Video." Then check out stations set up with demos of cool things you can do with GIS at Yosemite (including a sneak preview of the new Yosemite Web GIS 2.0), and sign up for an exclusive GIS-focused tour of Dispatch. BONUS: GIS Day is traditionally celebrated with a "GIS cake," and RMS's resident Pastry Chef has produced a cake big enough to feed the world! Open to park staff. (K. Hastings - 11/15)

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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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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 

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.
Jana Friesen McCabe will be Acting Branch Chief for Public Outreach and Engagement from November 15 to December 9. She can be reached at 372-0288.
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

Holiday Fire Prevention That Can Save Lives
According to the United States Fire Administration, fires that occur during the holiday season claim the lives of over 400 people, injure 1,650 more, and cause over $990 million in damage. Since it can take less than 30 seconds for a dry Christmas tree to engulf a room with fire and for Christmas lighting to spark flames, we suggest following the holiday safety tips at http://firesafetyforall.com/2010/11/holiday-fire-prevention/. (J. Alviso - 11/15)
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For Rent
Accepting applications for a great, energy efficient, 2bd, 2bt, 1282 sq. ft. home on 3+ acres in Bootjack, with a nicely finished, separate 2 car garage. Home has a wood stove, propane heating & cooking, swamp cooler, refrig/freezer, dishwasher, washer/dryer. Quite, peaceful neighborhood in Quail Ridge Estates area, with privacy and views. No smokers. Strong preference for no pets but may negotiate, depending. References are required. Available this month. Previous tenant was there 5 years and rented this home for $1000 a month. Now $900 a month, plus $1500.00 interest earning security deposit. Call Dennis at 209-966-5807 for details. (J. Day - 11/15)
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For Rent
- 1 bedroom apartment plus extra room totaling 1100 sq. ft.  Very nice & large. Unfurnished (includes stove & refrigerator) in Bootjack area of Mariposa on Boyer Road. Apartment adjoins another home with separate entrances.  Available Dec. 3rd. $595 per month plus utilities. $300 cleaning deposit required.  (209) 742-5933 / Chet    
- Two-Story House.  4 Bedroom & 4 Bathroom; gameroom, built-in pool, indoor hot tub, jacuzzi tub on 7 acres in the Triangle and Darrah Road Area.  $1,700 month (includes yard, pool and hot tub maintenance).  Rent negotiable if able to perform yard duties.  Move in costs are one month's rent plus $2,000 deposit.  (209) 742-7354 Helen. (Y. Radanovich - 11/15)
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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)