Image by Daleberts via Flickr

When adventurers come to Yosemite and the big trees, they think Mariposa Grove of the Giant Sequoias located near the southern entrance of Yosemite National Park. This is the largest grove of giant sequoias in Yosemite and well worth the visit.  But what many don’t know is that just a few miles from giants is a hidden treasure named Nelder Grove this is a secluded 1,540 acre stand of the old giants.

John Muir found John Nelder, for whom the grove is named, living as a hermit amidst the big trees when he wandered through this area  in 1875.

Nelder Grove boasting of 101 Giant Sequoias as well has evidence of others cut down by logging operations at the turn of the century. The grove is peaceful without the large crowds that frequent the Mariposa Grove. When at Nelder Grove take the 1 mile walk down the Shadow The Giants Trail an easy self-interpretive trail that features the Giant Sequoia trees. In the springtime masses of dogwoods are in bloom, replaced in the fall by glorious reds and oranges. It’s a perfect place to spend time picnicing  and getting to know these gentle giants. Another trail leads from the Nelder Grove Campground on a 1 mile loop to the Bull Buck Tree, a contender for the worlds largest Giant Sequoia.  Nelder Grove is one of the few places where you can get up-close-and-personal with these beautiful trees.

Nelder Grove Campground Information

Elevation:  5,500′

Setting In Historic Nelder Grove. California Creek nearby.

Reservations:  No reservations, first come first served.

Map Quad White Chief Mt. Quad

Road Access Paved and dirt

Total Campsites:  7
Walk-In Campsites:  None
Max. Vehicle Length:  20′
Max. Length of Stay:  14 days
Max. Group Size 6 per site
Water:  No
Restrooms:  Yes, vault
Tables:  Yes
Stoves Grills and fire rings.
Fee: None
Season of Use:  May - October

Services:  Site Manager

How to get there

Directions:  Take Hwy 41 to Sky Ranch Road (6S10), which is also Forest Road 10, travel 6.6 miles turn left on 6S47Y, go 1.2 miles to the fork in the road, continue right on 6S90 for 3/10 of a mile, turn left at Nelder Grove campground sign, travel 5/10 of a mile to campground.

Special:  Not recommended for motorhomes or large RV’s; Shadow of the Giants trail, nearby, 5/10 of mile and is a National Recreation Trail. Parking lot; restroom; Trail to the Buck Bull Tree starts near picnic area.

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… C: wait… SD: wait…

TELEGRAPH FIRE
Updated: July 31, 2008 7:00am

Administrative Unit: CAL FIRE Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit
Location: Telegraph Road and Sherlock Road in the Midpines Area.
Acres Burned: 33,705
Containment: 40% contained
Structures Threatened: 4,000 residences in the communities of Midpines, Briceburg, Mariposa, Greenley Hill, Coulterville, Bear Valley, and Mt. Bullion Camp.
Structures Destroyed: 21 Residences and 33 Outbuildings
Injuries: 15 minor
Evacuations: Update: The following areas will open for residents to re-enter.
THE COMMUNITIES OF MIDPINES, GREELEY HILL AND COULTERVILLE ARE UNDER AN EVACUATION ADVISORY.
Hwy 140 will have various restrictions East of Mariposa. As of 12 pm, the following roads are in the evacuation area: Texas Hill Rd. Dogtown Rd from Texas Hill Rd to Schilling Rd., Schilling Rd. to Hwy 49N, Michaeloaks Rd. with road closure beginning at Hwy 49N.
For the latest on current evacuations contact (209) 966-1133.
Evacuation Center: Mariposa Elementary School, 5044 Jones St., Mariposa
Cause: Human (Target Shooting)
Estimated Cost: $18.8 million
Resources Committed:
4,427 Personnel (2,314 CAL FIRE)
458 Fire Engines
96 Hand Crew
64 Dozers
57 Watertenders
13 Helicopters
12 Airtankers
Cooperating Agencies:
CAL FIRE, Mariposa County Fire, Mariposa Sheriff’s Department, BLM, USFS, National Park Service, OES, CCC, and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Conditions:
The active portions of the Telegraph Fire continue to be on the north and east flanks of the fire near Jenkins Hill in the Merced River Drainage. This area continues to be a high priority for the deployment of firefighting resources. Firefighters have made excellent progress in diminishing the threat of fire to structures in the Midpines and Mariposa areas. Some 200 residencies were allowed to return to their homes yesterday.

Hwy 140 east of Mariposa is subject to various restrictions based on fire activity. Travel of Highway 140 may be subject to CHP vehicle escorts. There are various other restrictions to roads in and around the fire area. Visitors to Yosemite National Park may want to use alternate routes.
The incident will have a North operations area (Incident Command Team #6) and a South operations area (Incident Command Team #8).
Phone Numbers: (209) 966-4784 or (209) 966-4785
Evacuation Hotline: (209) 966-1133 (recorded)

TELEGRAPH FIRE
Updated: July 29, 2008 at 12:00 pm

Administrative Unit: CAL FIRE Madera-Mariposa-Merced Unit
Location: Telegraph Road and Sherlock Road in the Midpines Area.
Acres Burned: 29,600
Containment: 15% contained
Structures Threatened: 4,000 residences in the communities of Midpines, Briceburg, Mariposa, Greenley Hill, Coulterville, Bear Valley, and Mt. Bullion Camp.
Structures Destroyed: 25 Residences and 27 Outbuildings
Injuries: 12 minor
Mandatory Evacuations:
Various roads between Mariposa, Midpines, Greeley Hill. As of 12 pm the following roads are in the evacuation area: Texas Hill Rd., Dogtown Rd. from Texas Hill Rd. to Schilling Rd., Schilling Rd. to Hwy 49N, Michaeloaks Rd. with road closure beginning at Hwy 49N.
Evacuation Warnings:
Parts of the communities of Mariposa, Midpines, Greeley Hill, Coulterville and Briceburg.
For the latest on evacuations contact (209) 966-1133.
Evacuation Center: Mariposa Elementary School, 5044 Jones St., Mariposa
Cause: Human (Target Shooting)
Estimated Cost: $10.1 million
Resources Committed:
3,458 Personnel (1,766 CAL FIRE)
408 Fire Engines
71 Hand Crew
59 Dozers
30 Watertenders
13 Helicopters
12 Airtankers
Cooperating Agencies:
CAL FIRE, Mariposa County Fire, Mariposa Sheriff’s Department, BLM, USFS, National Park Service, OES, CCC, and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Conditions:
The fire is burning in the Merced Drainage, on both sides of the River. The fire is burning with a rapid spread in multiple directions. Accessibility problems due to steep and rocky terrain.

Active fire behavior is being observed in all directions primarily on the south and east flanks.

The fire is causing partial and complete closures of Hwy 140 leading to the main entrance to Yosemite National Park. For the latest highway conditions visit Caltrans.

CAL FIRE Incident Command Team #8 is in command of the fire.

TELEGRAPH FIRE UDATE
Date/Time Started: July 25, 2008, 3:15 pm
Last Update: July 28, 2008, 6:30 am

An evacuation order is in place for the Midpines community. A pre-evacuation advisement was issued for the communities of Midpines and Briceburg. Evacuation warnings are in place for residences in the immediate area of the fire, which include the communities east of North Highway 49 at Mykleoaks Road south to the Highway 140 junction and communities west of Highway 140 from Mariposa north to Briceburg.

Acres burned: 26,130
10% Contained

Evacuation Center:
Mariposa Elementary School
5044 Jones St., Mariposa

Structures Destroyed: 12 Residences and 27 Outbuildings
Structures Threatened: 2,000 residences in the communities of Midpines, Briceburg, Mariposa, Greenley Hill, Coulterville, Bear Valley, and Mt. Bullion Camp

Injuries: 3 minor
Cause of the fire: Human (Target Shooting)
Resources Committed: 2,543 Personnel (1,455 CAL FIRE)
268 Fire Engines
46 Hand Crews
39 Dozers
30 Watertenders
12 Airtankers
12 Helicopters

Conditions: The fire is burning in the Merced River Drainage, on both sides of the river. The fire is burning with a rapid rate of spread in multiple directions. Accessibility problems due to steep and rocky terrain.
Active fire behavior is being observed in all directions primarily on the south and east flanks.
CAL FIRE Incident Command Team #8 is in command of the fire.

Cooperating Agencies: CAL FIRE, Mariposa County Fire, Mariposa Sheriffs Department, BLM, USFS, National Park Service, OES, CCC, and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Fire Information: (209) 966-4785
Evacuation Hotline: (209) 966-1133 (recorded)

The back of Fresno Dome, it’s an easy hike to the top.

The Tioga Pass road is open. The Yosemite High Country drive in camp grounds are delayed every year until the snow melts and the camp grounds are prepared. Below are the opening dates for these drive in campgrounds. For more information and reservations click on the site below.

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/camping.htm

Scheduled opening dates:

Crane Flat, White Wolf, Tuolumne Meadows, and Yosemite Creek Campgrounds:  June 20, 2008

Tamarack Flat Campground:  June 24

Porcupine Flat and Bridalveil Creek Campground: July 3

Tuolumne Meadows Lodge is already open, as are other services like the store, grill, gas station, sport shop and stables.

Yosemite National Park, CA – June 2008 – One of the most popular lodging facilities in the High Sierra has opened for the summer season as of Friday, June 6. The Tuolumne Meadows Lodge in Yosemite National Park offers tent cabin accommodations and dining services to backcountry visitors through the first week of September. Since the Memorial Weekend opening of Tioga Pass on highway 120, the Tuolumne Meadows gas station, mountain shop, grill and store have all opened to park patrons.

The Tuolumne Meadows Lodge is an ideal base camp for day hikes throughout the meadows area or overnight backpacking into the High Sierra. “Wildflowers we usually see in late-May and early-June are just now starting to bloom and many local streams are full to bursting, making this a great time to explore all Tuolumne Meadows has to offer,” said Colin Baldock, manager of guest recreation for DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, the official park concessioner.

Situated in the largest sub-alpine meadow in the Sierra Nevada at an elevation of 8,775 feet, the Tuolumne Meadows Lodge has 69 canvas tent cabins that sleep up to four people per tent. Each canvas-covered unit is wood-framed on a cement platform and equipped with beds and linens, candles for lighting, and a wood-burning stove. Central shower and restroom facilities are nearby. Rates are $82 plus tax, per night (double occupancy), with additional adults $10 and children $6.

Tuolumne Meadows Lodge serves hearty, breakfast buffets and family-style dinners in a central dining tent beside the Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River. Advance dinner reservations are required and may be made by calling 209-372-8413. Guests may also order box lunches at the front desk the night before needed. To make lodging reservations, or for more information regarding area services and attractions, call 801-559-4949 or visit www.YosemitePark.com.

DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite also announced the opening of their rafting operations, commencing on Friday, June 6. Located in the Curry Village Recreation Center, the Raft Stand provides guests with rafts, paddles and mandatory personal flotation devices for a leisurely, three-mile float on the Merced River through the heart of Yosemite Valley.

The family-friendly rafting activity offers unique views of park icons Half Dome, Sentinel Rock, Glacier Point and Yosemite Falls. “When you’re floating down the Merced River, you can’t help but smile,” said Sean Costello, manager of the Curry Village Raft & Bicycle Stands. “It’s perhaps the most peaceful and relaxing way to see Yosemite’s spectacular scenery.”

Tioga Pass will open 8 AM, 5/21 This coming Wednesday

This is a great read with outstanding photos, It seems folks did experience the Sierra’s in the good “ole” days.

http://jr.darwin.ptvy.ca.us/trans_sierra/trans_sierra.html

Image via Wikipedia

Roads in the Sierra Nevada are starting to open up.  Snow is still heavy in the upper regions of the mountains.  The McKinney Grove Road to Wishon will be open Saturday.   Kaiser Pass Pass Road above Huntington Lake is scheduled to open by Memorial Day.   The Sierra Vista National Scenic Byway is open to Mammoth Pool.  National Parks Week is next week,  both Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks will have free admission Saturday.