Daily Report - Yosemite National Park
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
WEATHER
Yosemite Valley
Today: Sunny, with a high near 86.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 54.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 83.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 83.
El Portal
Today: Sunny and hot, with a high near 102.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 58.
Thursday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98.
Friday: Sunny and hot, with a high near 98.
Wawona
Today: Sunny, with a high near 92.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 47.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 87.
Tuolumne Meadows
Today: Sunny, with a high near 70.
Tonight: Clear, with a low around 36.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 68.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 69.
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PARK AND PARK PARTNER NEWS
Yosemite Fires - Update #8
Avalanche Fire: (37 39.794 x 119 42.238; 6,400’el. Mariposa Co.) This lightning caused fire was found on the afternoon of July 31, 2011. It is located near Avalanche Creek, east of the Glacier Point Rd. and is approximately I mile north of the Wawona Rd at Chinquapin. The fire is within the park’s Wilderness boundary and will be managed for multiple objectives. A single standing dead tree (snag) was struck by lightning. Fire crews scouting the fire, initially reported a .3 ac fire, creeping and smoldering through duff and other surface fuels. Smoke is visible from many locations along the Wawona and Big Oak Flat Roads, and from the community of El Portal.
Combined with previous fires, roadside mechanical thinning, vegetation debris pile burning, and prescribed fires, this fire will provide a defensible fire buffer to the community of Yosemite West, Badger Pass Ski Resort, Glacier Point and other park infrastructures. Although numerous fires have occurred in the area, the most recent being the 2009, 3,500 ac. Grouse Fire, this area has no recorded fire history. Extensive logging did occur in the early 1900’s. Fire crews are gathering weather, fuel moistures and other fire data for fire managers to determine operational strategies. Wilderness values will be considered through the use of the Minimum Tool Requirement Analysis and the use of natural barriers to maintain the fire’s perimeter.
Lightning caused Wildland fires frequently occur during the summer, and are a natural part of the Sierra Nevada ecosystem. These kinds of fires have shaped the forest landscape for thousands of years. The fire will rid the forest of an overabundance of dead and down surface fuels and smaller diameter shad tolerant trees. The fire will enhance wildlife habitat and the ability of animals to move through the forest.
Smoke will be visible. Yosemite’s Division of Resources and Sciences crews have installed air quality monitoring equipment within the communities of Yosemite West, El Portal and Yosemite Valley. Fire mangers are working closely with the Mariposa County Air Pollution Control District concerning potential air quality impacts.
Three additional fires were found after the thunderstorm and were put out. The locations include: Moss Creek, near the Merced Grove; the Moraine Dome and Lost Fires, both located in Little Yosemite Valley. It is not unusual to “find” other lightning caused fires as the days warm. For additional Information, Fire Information and Education: Gary_Wuchner@nps.gov; (209) 375-9574 or (209) 372-0480. Yosemite Fire Management Website: http://www.nps.gov/yose/parkmgmt/current_fire.htm. (G. Wuchner - 8/3)
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Tree Work on Southside Drive
Valley District Forestry crew is working along Southside Drive felling and removing hazardous trees. Traffic control will be in effect with minor delays between 7:00am and 3:30pm. Estimated completion date is 8/10. (L. Castro - 8/2)
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Hiker Fatality on Half Dome Cables in Yosemite National Park - news release
Scott Gediman 209-372-0248
Kari Cobb 209-372-0529
At approximately 12:00 p.m. Sunday, July 31, 2011, Yosemite National Park’s Emergency Communication Center received a 911 phone call reporting a fall of a hiker on the Half Dome cables. Hayley LaFlamme, a 26 year old female from San Ramon, California, had gone to the top of Half Dome and was descending when she fell 600 feet off the cables. National Park Rangers pronounced her deceased upon arrival on scene.
A severe lightning, thunder, and rainstorm was present in the area of Half Dome for several hours in the morning and early afternoon yesterday. This type of weather can make for hazardous trail conditions and the granite slopes become very slick. Half Dome trip planning and safety information is available through the Yosemite National Park webpage at http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/halfdome.htm
The cause of the fall is currently under investigation.
The last hiker who died on Half Dome was Majoj Kumar, from San Ramon, California, on June 13, 2009.
Additionally, on June 16, 2007, Hirofumi Nohara, slipped to his death on the cables. Two other Half Dome fatalities involved women who were hiking on Half Dome when the cables were down. These were Jennifer Bettles, who died on April 21, 2007 and Emily Sandal, who died on November 8, 2006. (K. Cobb - 8/2)
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EMPLOYEE NEWS
2011 Volunteer Awards Call for Nominations
Help us celebrate Yosemite's outstanding volunteers and volunteer programs. The 2011 Yosemite Volunteer Awards take place on National Public Lands Day, September 24. We need your help to identify the best of our many extraordinary volunteers! We will be recognizing volunteers and programs in eight categories:
1. Outstanding Volunteer Service – Individual
2. Outstanding Volunteer Service – Youth (up to the age of 25)
3. Outstanding Volunteer Service – Group
4. Outstanding Volunteer Service - Youth Group
5. Enduring Service Award
6. Yosemite Volunteer Program Award
7. Yosemite Supervisor of Volunteers Award
8. Yosemite Facelift Participant Award
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ACTING DESIGNATIONS
Andy Fristensky will be acting Branch Chief of Interpretive Field Operations through August 16th.
Mike Yochim will be the Acting Division Chief for the Planning Division Monday, August 1st through Thursday, August 4th. Mike may be reached by phone at his El Portal office at 379-1441.
George Jaramillo (379.1378) will be acting Branch Chief for History, Architecture & Landscapes (HAL) from Wednesday, Aug. 3 thru Friday, Aug. 5.
Jon Babcock will be acting Machine Shop Supervisor Aug 1-4 and can be reached at 379-1155.
Greg Torres will be Acting Trails Supervisor July 28th - Aug. 15th. He may be reached at 742-8811.
Dean Mullis will be acting Machine shop foreman from July 27th through August 5th will Ken Fipps is on leave, call 379-1155 to contact him.
Jim Roche will be acting branch chief of Physical Sciences and Landscape Ecology through September 30th.
Dale St. Vincent has been selected as the acting Administrative Officer until the AO position is permanently filled.
Karen Kolbeck has been selected as the acting Supervisory General Supply Specialist. Karen can be reached at 379-1028.
Ron Watson has been selected as the acting, Supervisory IT Specialist until the position is permanently filled. Ron can be reached at 379-1074.
Brenna Lissoway (379-1283) will be the Acting Park Archivist while Paul Rogers is on a detail as the Acting Regional Archivist (PWR). 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
Invasive Plant Control
Himalayan blackberry has spread to 130 acres in Yosemite, parkwide. Invasive plant crews will resume control (re-) treatments in the El Portal Administrative areas.
Rancheria, NPS maintenance complex, El Portal Trailer Village, other NPS "operated" areas, and the Mariposa school district grounds will be retreated beginning 4 August 2011. Old El Portal residences, high priority invasive plants will be mapped. NPS crews are prepared to help residents with the removal of high priority invasives (e.g. yellow star-thiste, Himalayan blackberry, tree of heaven, and French broom). There will be no treatments without the explicit approval of the resident. 2010 treatments were highly effective and retreatments will be similar: a non-hazardous dilute solution of glyphosate will be applied to the foliage using backback sprayers. The treatments are conducted by trained Yosemite NPS staff assisted by an invasive plant crew from Pinnacles National Monument. Treated plants will take several weeks to die, and should be left undisturbed until the canes have died back. Residents that would like more information are encouraged to contact Martin Hutten (209-379-2006), the treatment crew cell phone 209-742-3825 (Josh or Heather), or you can visit our new website: http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/invasive-plants.htm. (M. Hutten - 8/3)
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Child Care Center BBQ
Yosemite National Park Child Care Center would like to invite you to our delicious fundraising barbecue on Thursday, August 4th. Join us in front of the Indian Museum from 12:00 - 2:30 (new hours!) to enjoy a Hamburger, Cheeseburger, Veggie burger, or Hot dog lunch. The price for a m eal is just $8 for adults, $4 for children and includes a bag of chips, fresh salad, and lemonade. Baked goods and sodas will also be available for an additional charge. All proceeds benefit the non-profit Yosemite National Park Child Care Centers. Please come by to support the children of our community! (J. Cooley Beavers - 8/3)
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Free Swing Dance Class
Three Wednesdays, Aug. 3, 10, & 17; 6 p.m. at the Wellness Center in Yosemite Valley. This class is open to employees of DNC, NPS, & YC. No experience or partner required. Please bring socks - no outdoor shoes on this floor. Instructor: Lori Landrin. Questions - (559) 658-8541 or mountaindancer@sti.net. (L. Landrin - 8/2)
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For Rent
2003 single wide manufactured home, one bedroom with small office room, one bath, washer and dryer, swamp cooler, furnace, good well water, and a storage building. Very private, on about 15 acres on the dirt part of West Whitlock Road. Good references required; someone who can take care of things, fix things themselves and will be responsible for clearing around the structure in the summer. Cats and mature dogs ok; no indoor dogs or puppies. Tenant pays propane and electricity. Available August 1, 2010. $600/month. (831) 475 1455 / Peter and Donna Thomas. (Y. Radanovich - 8/2)
