Yosemite Daily Report for Dec 8

Remember, when planning your Yosemite vacation, visit www.YosemiteThisYear.com

Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Thursday, December 8, 2011

WEATHER

Yosemite Valley

Today: Sunny, with a high near 49. Northeast wind between 3 and 5 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 29. East northeast wind around 11 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 52. East northeast wind between 8 and 11 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 49. East wind at 7 mph becoming west southwest.

El Portal

Today: Sunny, with a high near 63. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 34. East northeast wind between 7 and 11 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 66. East northeast wind between 8 and 11 mph becoming calm.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 63. East northeast wind around 6 mph becoming west southwest.

Wawona
Today: Sunny, with a high near 55. Light west southwest wind.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 29. East northeast wind between 7 and 11 mph.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 58. East northeast wind between 8 and 11 mph becoming calm. 
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 56. East northeast wind around 6 mph becoming west southwest.

**************************************************

PARK AND PARTNER NEWS

Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park to Reopen: Road Temporarily Closed Due to High Wind Event - news release
Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529
After a temporary closure, the Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park will reopen to the public at 3:00 p.m. today, Wednesday, December 07, 2011.  The Tioga Road, the popular east-west crossing of the Sierra Nevada in the northern portion of the park, has been temporarily closed due a high wind event in the Yosemite area. 

Winds up to 75 miles per hour were experienced at the higher elevations of the park, including along portions of the Tioga Road.  Wind in the area knocked over numerous trees and covered the Tioga Road with debris.  Road crews and forestry crews worked throughout the weekend to clear the roadway for travel.  No injuries were sustained and minimal structure damage was reported due to the event.

All roads within the Yosemite National Park are subject to temporary closures or chain control due to hazardous driving conditions.  Visitors should be aware of the potential for icy spots along the higher elevations within the park.  Tire chains may be required at any time during the fall and winter season.  It is strongly recommended that all motorists carry tire chains while driving in the park during the fall and winter months.

For updated 24-hour road and weather conditions for Yosemite National Park, please call 209-372-0200. (K. Cobb - 12/8)
_________________________________________________________

Fire Extinguisher Training

Annual/Re-Fresher Fire Extinguisher Training will be available December 9, 2011 at the El Portal Elementary School. Training will start at 1330 Hours and is open to NPS and DCA personnel. Fire Extinguisher training is an OSHA requirement and required by YNP Superintendent. Training is available on DOI Learn or by scheduling live hands on by contacting the Fire Prevention Office at 209-375-9541. (J. Alviso - 12/8)

_________________________________________________________

The Property Management Office will be closed on Thursday and Friday, December 8th and 9th, while staff is in training. (K. Kolbeck 12/8)
_________________________________________________________

Body Recovered in Yosemite National Park Positively Identified - news release
Ramina Badal was One of Three Hikers Witnessed Plunging Over Vernal Fall on July 19, 2011
Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529

Yosemite National Park has positively identified the body of Ramina Badal, 21 year old female, of Manteca, CA. Badal was found in the Merced River, approximately 120 yards below the Vernal Fall footbridge, by a Yosemite National Park Ranger at approximately 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 3, 2011. The footbridge is located approximately a half mile below the base of Vernal Fall.

Badal has been missing since July 19, 2011, when she, Hormiz David, 22 year old male, of Modesto, CA, and Ninos Yacoub, 27 year old male, of Turlock, CA, were witnessed being swept over the 317 foot waterfall. The body of David was found on August 5, 2011, by Yosemite National Park Rangers and Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel approximately 240 feet below the waterfall. The body of Yacoub was found on November 29, 2011, by a Yosemite National Park Ranger approximately 100 yards below the Vernal Fall footbridge near the area where Badal was later located.

Yosemite National Park, along with several other agencies, have been searching for the victims since July. Fluctuating water levels in the Merced River, changing weather conditions, and treacherous terrain contributed to a difficult and challenging search. However, with low water levels in the Merced River and dry weather, Park Rangers have been able to access areas within the river corridor that were previously impossible to search. All three victims of the July 19, 2011 incident over Vernal Fall have now been accounted for and positively identified. (K. Cobb - 12/7)

**************************************************
EMPLOYEE NEWS

Yosemite welcomes new Deputy Superintendent Woody Smeck
Please join me in welcoming Woody Smeck as Yosemite National Park's new Deputy Superintendent.  Woody joins Yosemite from Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, where he is Superintendent.  Woody's experience also includes assignments as Acting Regional Director for the National Capital Region (Feb-Jun 2011) and Acting Deputy Regional Director for Pacific West Region (Jan-July 2010). 
Woody brings a wealth of experience to his new position; at Santa Monica Mountains NRA he manages the nation's largest urban national park, which is also one of the most visited recreation destinations in the country, with over 35 million visitors per year.  He has partnered with more than 70 agencies and organizations to preserve open space resources and works with the four congressional districts, four state assembly districts, 35 city council districts, and over 250 property owner associations representing an array of diverse community interests within the national recreation area.  In 2006, Woody was selected “Superintendent of the Year for Natural Resources Stewardship.”
Woody is a graduate of Cal Poly, with a Master’s of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning and a Bachelor’s of Landscape Architecture, and continues to maintain a license to practice landscape architecture in the state of California.  Woody is a native Californian, born in Bakersfield.  He has a wife, Karen, and two daughters who are attending college in California.  He enjoys backpacking, running, landscape sketching, and spending time with his family. 
Woody will join the park this April.  We are truly honored to have Woody join the park's leadership team.  Woody has the ideal background to help Yosemite achieve unequalled operational and innovative excellence. (K. Kosick - 12/8)
__________________________________________________________

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)

*************************************************

ACTING DESIGNATIONS

Scott Gediman will be the Acting Chief of Staff on Dec 6, 7, and 8, 2011. If you have any questions, please give him a call at 209-372-0248 or email.
Julie Byerly will be acting Deputy Chief Ranger from Saturday 12/3 through Sunday 12/18, she can be reached at 372-0243.
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.

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.
Greg Torres will be Acting Trails Supervisor 11/30 through 1/3. He can reached at 742 8811.
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.
****************************************************
COMMUNITY NEWS

Holiday Concert of the Mariposa Symphony Orchestra
Saturday, December 17 7:00 pm - Festive Holiday Concert of the Mariposa Symphony Orchestra's 10th Anniversary Season.  Bach, Tchaikovsky, Vaughan Williams and the MSO's own celebration of carols.  The Fiester Auditorium at Mariposa County High School.  $6 Adults/$4 Students.  Tickets/info: (209) 966-3155.   Website: http://www.arts-mariposa.org/symphony.html (MSO - 12/8)
___________________________________________________________
Yosemite Employee Association Winter Social Semi-formal
Have you got your babysitter lined up so you can come and enjoy the Yosemite Employee Association Winter Social Semi-formal on Dec 16? Plan to come to the Cedar Lodge to join your friends, neighbors and co-workers from 5-10PM with hors d'ouevers by Chef Larry, music by Greg Stock and Company, raffle prizes of all sorts, and a host bar. Members-$25 and non-members $30. Spend the night at Cedar Lodge-ask for your YEA discount! Questions?-come by Sal's on Dec 15th and get some answers. (M. Dale -12/8)
__________________________________________________________

Winter Weather and Firewood Reminder
Freezing water pipes can lead to broken water lines which can cause major damage to your housing unit and personal belongings. Please take precautions when you are away from your home during the next few months by leaving a little heat on in your house. Setting thermostats between 55-58 degrees will help prevent the water pipes in your home from freezing.
If you burn firewood to help stay warm, here are a few reminders from the Yosemite Yard Care Policy:
Use only dry and seasoned wood in your stove or fireplace. Stacking firewood away from your house or other structures will lessen fire danger, protect the housing unit from damage, and will help prevent an invasion of rodents and other pest. Use of local wood can prevent spread of forest pests ( http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/forest-pests.htm ). Cover wood with dark or clear tarps. Blue tarps are not permitted. (C. Baker - 12/7)
___________________________________________________________
6th Street Cinema
Located upstairs in the historic Old Masonic Lodge on 6th Street, in downtown Mariposa. Film Entrance is $7 per film for non-members; non-member students pay $5. Monthly membership is $12 allowing film entry for $3 each. (Please note: we are not accepting credit cards this year.) www.sixthstreetcinema.org This week: Dec. 9th -10th (Friday Saturday) 7:30 p.m. Names of Love . Dec. 10th (Saturday) 9:55 a.m.: Met Live in HD: Gounad's "Faust" ($22 gen. public; $18 SSC members; $15 students. Next week: December 1 (Thursday) 7:30 p.m.: One Man, Two Guvnors sponsored by Carol Johnson. Filmed live From the stage at the National Theatre in London. This Thursday, Dec. 1, 7:30 p.m. $15 gen. public; $12 SSC members; $10 students. Sponsored by Carol Johnson. This hilarious 5 star rated British play will be opening in New York on Broadway. (T. Arfsten - 12/7)