Yosemite Daily Report for Jan 25

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Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Wednesday, January 25, 2012

WEATHER

Yosemite Valley
Today: Sunny, with a high near 54. 
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 41. 
Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. 
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.
El Portal
Today: Sunny, with a high near 63. 
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 35. 
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 66. 
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 66.

Wawona
Today: Sunny, with a high near 62.
Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 26. 
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 60.
Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 62. 

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PARK AND PARTNER NEWS
Badger Pass Ski Area to Open Thursday, January 26
The 77th winter season at Badger Pass Ski Area begins Thursday, January 26 after recent snow storms dropped more than 24 inches of snow. Yosemite's Badger Pass Ski Area has been operating as California's original ski area for family fun since 1935. With 10 slope runs and five convenient lifts, families can enjoy stress-free skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. To help celebrate the season, DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite is offering several packages and season pass offers designed to help visitors hit the slopes for less.

Skiers and riders can purchase passes for the 2011-12 season at $129 for adults and $79 for children through the end of the season. To thank current season pass holders for awaiting the opening of the season, Badger is offering 35 percent off any 2012-13 season pass purchases. "Two for Tuesday" - Skiers and snowboarders can also enjoy midweek  Yosemite skiing with Badger's new "Two for Tuesdays" deal, which offers two adult lift tickets for the price of one at $42. In addition to these exciting packages, Delaware North operates two shuttle services to and from Badger Pass Ski Area. The first operates within Yosemite National Park and shuttles guests from the park's lodges to Badger Pass. The second provides snowboarders and skiers staying in Oakhurst with transportation services on select dates to the ski area. For a complete schedule, please visit www.YosemitePark.com. Snow tubing will not be available until Badger receives more snow. For 24-hour ski conditions, call 209-372-1000. (L. Cesaro - 1/25)
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Yosemite National Park Releases Environmental Assessment for Hiking to Half Dome - news release
Half Dome Trail Stewardship Plan Draft Environmental Assessment Available for Public Review
Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529

Yosemite National Park announces the availability of the Half Dome Trail Stewardship Plan Draft Environmental Assessment for public review.  Public comments on the plan will be accepted from today, Tuesday, January 24, 2012 through Thursday, March 15, 2012.   The Half Dome Trail Stewardship Plan was developed to address crowded conditions, visitor experience, and safety on the Half Dome Trail and encompasses the two mile section from the John Muir Trail to the summit of Half Dome. 

The Preferred Alternative is to keep the cables in place with their current configuration and implement daily use limits of 300 people per day.  This alternative provides the best combination of accessibility to the summit, free-flowing travel conditions on the cables, which improves safety, and low encounter rates on the trail, similar to use levels found on other high-use trails in Yosemite’s wilderness and other wilderness areas.  The park implemented an Interim Half Dome Cables Permit System for the 2010 and 2011 hiking seasons.  An Interim Half Dome Cables Permit System will also be implemented during the 2012 hiking season.

In 1964, Congress passed the Wilderness Act, creating the National Wilderness Preservation System.  As such, approximately 95% of Yosemite National Park , including Half Dome and the Half Dome Trail, is designated Wilderness.  Consequently, all of the action alternatives were developed to improve the wilderness character of the trail.

The Environmental Assessment (EA) presents environmental analysis of five alternatives, including the Preferred Alternative.  Alternative A, the No Action Alternative, would retain the cable system and continue managing the Half Dome Trail as it was through 2009, with no permits required.  This action violates National Park Service (NPS) policy and will not be considered.  Under Alternative B, the park would retain the cable system and implement day-use limits through a permit system allowing 400 hikers per day.  Under Alternative C, the Preferred Alternative, the park would retain the cable system and implement day-use limits through a permit system allowing 300 hikers per day.  Under Alternative D, the park would retain the cable system and implement day-use limits through a permit system allowing 140 hikers per day.  Under Alternative E, the park would remove the cable system from Half Dome. 

The park considers all public comments in making a decision, which will be documented in the Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), if appropriate.  If approved, the plan will be implemented for the 2013 hiking season.  Hiking permits for Half Dome will be allocated through an online reservation system and/or a lottery. 

The public review and comment period begins with release of the EA.  The document is available for electronic review at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/halfdome.  Please submit written comments electronically through the website, or join us at the park’s monthly Open House at the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center Auditorium on Wednesday, February 29, 2012, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.,   to discuss the plan with park staff.  Hard copies or CDs of the EA may be requested by emailing yose_planning@nps.gov.  You may also mail your comments to P.O. Box 577 Yosemite, California 95389, c/o Superintendent, ATTN: Half Dome Plan; or send a facsimile to (209) 379-1294. (K. Cobb - 1/25)
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Critical Incident Stress Debriefing - Sonny Lawhon

There will be two debriefings at the El Portal Community Hall on Thursday, January 26. The debriefing for the first responders will be at 0900. The debriefing for the community will be at 1100. 

Critical Incident Stress Debriefing - Ryan Hiller

There will be a debriefing on Friday, January 27 at 1000 in the Valley SAR-cache training room for those in the community affected by Ryan Hiller's death. (F. Grin - 1/25)

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Gathering to Remember Ryan Hiller *Corrected date
On Friday, January 27 at 3:00 pm there will be a gathering to honor and remember former NPS Ranger Ryan Hiller. We will meet in front of the Valley Visitor Center where there will be flag ceremony and group photograph taken for the Hiller family. Immediately following, refreshments will be offered in the East Auditorium for folks to gather and share stories about Ryan. Uniform for the day will be winter Class A, if available. We are compiling a photo and remembrance book for the Hiller family. If you would like to contribute please email: Jeff_Webb@nps.gov. The Superintendent has authorized that employees on duty may attend this gathering on work time. In lieu of flowers the Hiller family has asked that donations be sent to Friends of YOSAR. (J. Byerly - 1/24)
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Yosemite in the News
Permits required for Yosemite's Half Dome, with a twist
Lottery system is designed to make process more fair
By Marek Warszawski
http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/01/18/2688552/permits-required-for-yosemites.html
Permits will again be required to hike to the top of Half Dome this year, but a new lottery system should make the process more fair……

California storms roll in, causing 1 death
Bee Staff Reports
http://www.modbee.com/2012/01/21/2035914/storms-roll-in-causing-1-death.html
A pair of wet winter storms swept through California before dawn Saturday, dumping snow in the Central Sierra and bringing rain to the parched Northern San Joaquin Valley. At Yosemite National Park, officials reported Saturday that an employee died when strong winds uprooted a huge tree that fell on his tent cabin…. (K. Cobb - 1/24)
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Highway 120 - Big Oak Flat Road Closed in Yosemite National Park - news release
Large Rockfall Closes Park Road Indefinitely
Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529

Due to a large rockfall that occurred at approximately 11:30 [Sunday] evening, the Big Oak Flat Road (the continuation of Highway 120) is closed in Yosemite National Park. The road is closed between the Foresta Junction on Highway 120 (Big Oak Flat Rd.) and the Highway 120/140 (El Portal Road) Junction. Yosemite Valley remains accessible via Highway 140 (El Portal Road) coming from Merced/ Mariposa and via Highway 41 (Wawona Rd.) coming from Fresno/Oakhurst. The Tioga Road remains closed. Foresta Road, between Foresta and El Portal, is not accessible. Yosemite National Park remains open. With a winter storm currently in the park, chain restrictions are in place on some park roads. For 24 hour road and weather information, please call (209)372-0200. The Big Oak Flat Road will remain closed indefinitely. (S. Gediman - 1/24)

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EMPLOYEE NEWS

Upcoming Servicewide Radon Testing for NPS Residential Units
The quality of indoor air in NPS owned housing units will be tested to determine the average annual radon level. The NPS commitment under this plan includes radon testing at approximately 3,500 existing housing units across the Service.

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.
 
The radon test kits for Yosemite NPS housing are expected to arrive sometime in February. The Housing Office will notify residents when the park is contacted by the WASO Environmental Management contractor to coordinate this effort.

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. 

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. (C. Baker - 1/25)
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COR Training and ATR Training (Refresher Training) *Revised
PWR Contracting Officer, Jamie Sherrill will be in the park 1/30-31. The COR training will be held on Monday, January 30, 2012 from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm in the EP large breakroom. Carolyn Lowan, Frank Powers, Jamie Sherrill and Jody Auerbach will be presenting. The ATR training will be held on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 from 8:30 am – 4:30 pm in the EP large break room. Lilette Baltodano will be presenting. In order for you to receive full credit for the COR and/or ATR training, you have to attend the full 8 hours. **Please, RSVP to Jody Auerbach (379-1227) no later than COB on 1/27.(P. Lendvay Humphrey - 1/24)

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CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Fire Management to Resume Debris Pile Burning in El Portal and Foresta
Yosemite fire management may resume hand pile burning in El Portal and Foresta with help from the forecasted rain. Localized flames and smoke will be visible but impacts should be negligible and short lived. In an ongoing effort, park, state and private fire crews have created forest debris hand piles in and around the communities of Foresta and El Portal. These piles are being made to reduce biomass and create a 'defensible space' fuel break around Yosemite's vulnerable Wildland Urban Interface communities. Additionally, thinning, piling and burning can restore fire dependant ecosystems and set the stage for the progressive management of future natural or prescribed fires. Please contact Kelly Singer @ 372-0413 or Taro Pusina @ 375-9576 with any questions. (T. Pusina - 1/20)
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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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UPDATE - Foresta Road Closure thru 2/29/12 - Slide Repair Between Rancheria and Old El Portal
The current road closure along Foresta Road will continue thru the end of February 2012. Due to the unseasonably dry weather crews made good progress on the upper (cut) slope stabilization and it is nearly complete, however the steep slopes required much of the work to occur with hand labor, so they were not able to make as much progress as planned. The remaining work includes the final seeding and mulching along the upper slope, then installation of a retaining wall along the lower (fill) slope, and then the final curb and pavement repairs. (M. Pieper - 1/6)

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ACTING DESIGNATIONS

Colter Chisum will be the Acting Facilities Management Division Chief from Wednesday, January 25 to Friday, January 27. Colter can be reached at 379-1068.

Erin "Echo" Davenport (379-1067) will be Acting Branch Chief of Environmental Planning and Compliance from Monday, January 23 to Friday, January 27.

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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COMMUNITY NEWS

For Rent
2 bedroom/2 bathroom house in Mariposa (near hospital) for rent starting March 1.  Huge master bedroom with fireplace, den, yard, large garage.  $1000/month + dep. Call-966-7697 (evenings). (Chappell - 1/25)
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Yosemite Winter Club Snowball
The Yosemite Winter Club Snowball 2012 is this Friday! Get your tickets and be reunited with all of your winter play pals. Together, you can socialize and dance the night away while inspiring Mother Nature to bring more winter white to Yosemite. The Snowball will be held Friday, January 27, 2012 from 6-10PM at the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite Valley. The evening will feature live music with the Adam Burns Band, fantastic food and festive beverages, a silent auction and great company. So... save the date, get your tickets on the Yosemite Winter Club website, call all your pals and pack the kids--because it will be a great night and you don't want to miss it. Bonus!!! Check out the new rate for the event and if you are interested, there are also a limited number of discounted room rates in the Valley associated with the event. Go to yosemitewinterclub.com and check it out. See you there! (S. Potocky - 1/24)