Travel, Vacation, Sierra Camping, fishing, hiking, Yosemite

If this national park were a man-made theme park, the theme would be "waterfalls". Nowhere else in the world is there such a concentration of major waterfalls. Ribbon and Upper Yosemite rank among the worlds’ highest, Bridalveil, Yosemite, and Vernal among the best known. From almost any point on the valley floor one can see at least one waterfall. From Sierra Point one can see four major and several minor falls.
The majestic Yosemite Waterfalls are iconic symbols of scenic beauty as they are set in impossibly scenic valleys and canyons. It’s no wonder why Yosemite National Park is California’s Waterfall Mecca. In springtime of a year with abundant snowfall there are dozens of ephemeral falls, a person could spend days trying to see them all.

Every year, millions of visitors pay homage to Yosemite National Park’s grandeur and beauty. It’s one of those places that you’ve got to see at least once in your life – especially this April, May and early June when the waterfalls thunder as they tumble and plunge their way down from vertical cliffs at least 1000ft tall!
The concentration of towering cataracts within its incomparable Valley as well as its variety of falls outside the Valley will delight you. In addition to the famous Yosemite Waterfalls such as Yosemite Falls (one of the tallest waterfalls in the world) and Bridalveil Fall, you can find the classic Vernal Fall, the unusual Waterwheel Falls, and the ephemeral Horsetail Falls (a photographer’s challenge) among others. Couple that with landmarks (such as El Capitan and Half Dome) and you couldn’t ask for a better place to see waterfalls. You can watch this short video to understand the amazing beauty that awaits you.Oakhurst, CA is your perfect base camp for your visit to Yosemite. The 10 mile between Oakhurst and Yosemite is largely forested, and like Yosemite, waterfalls and scenic beauty abound here as well. Plan your visit today; to see these amazing waterfalls that are guaranteed to put on one of the best shows Mother Nature will give in our lifetimes. Visit: http://www.oakhurstchamber.com for more information.

March 30, 2010

Road construction on the Wawona Road in Yosemite National Park is set to begin in May. This project will vastly improve 24.4 miles of the Wawona Road starting from the South Entrance of Yosemite. This improvement project will end at the junction of the Wawona Road and Bridalveil Straight in Yosemite Valley.

Visitors traveling into Yosemite via Highway 41/Wawona Road will experience up to 30 minute delays Monday through Thursday from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. and from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday. Additionally, 60 minute delays will be scheduled from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. on Sunday through Friday. There will be no weekend delays.

This project will resurface, restore and rehabilitate the roadway, improve drainage and grading, add new signage and striping of the roadway.

Road construction on the Wawona Road is slated to be completed by November, 2010.

NEWS RELEASE
USDA Forest Service
Washington, D.C.

Release No. 1004 Contact: Press Office
(202) 205-1134

USDA Forest Service Continues Discounts at Campgrounds

WASHINGTON, March 17, 2010–USDA Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell announced today his decision not to implement proposed changes to fees charged to holders of passes at Forest Service campgrounds operated by private businesses.  The Chief’s decision means Seniors and people with disabilities will continue to receive a discount at Forest Service campgrounds run by private concessions.
The Forest Service had proposed changes to discounts provided to holders of Golden Age and Golden Access Passports and Senior and Access Passes.  Under the proposal, discounts at concession-operated campgrounds would have changed from the current 50 percent to 10 percent. After considering many public comments, the Chief determined the proposed changes are not the best way to address growing challenges regarding services provided by private businesses at Forest Service recreation facilities.
"Each year more than 175 million people enjoy recreational opportunities on national forests and grasslands, and that includes more than 15 million visits to our campgrounds," said Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell.  "Particularly in these difficult economic times, it is very important to maintain affordable access to our national forests and grasslands, giving people easy ways to recreate and find respite in the great outdoors."
The Chief’s decision leaves in place a 50 percent discount at campgrounds run by private concessions for holders of Golden Age and Golden Access Passports and Interagency Senior and Access Passes. Concessioners are not required to accept passes at day-use sites.  Seniors age 62 and older pay a one-time $10 fee for the Senior Pass. Lifetime Access Passes for people with disabilities are free.
The Forest Service conducted a 60-day public notice and comment period on the proposed changes. More than 4,000 comments were received.
The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.  The agency manages 193 million acres of National Forest System land, provides stewardship assistance to non-federal forest landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world.  For more information, visit: www.fs.fed.us.  
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Sugar Pine

Five (5) miles north of Yosemite Forks. Sugar Pine PO was opened in 1907 and closed in 1934 in favor of Oakhurst. Madera Sugar Pine Company built a sawmill and company town at the place in 1899 and 1900.

Date: January 29, 2010

Hiking to the top of Half Dome is one of the most popular hikes in Yosemite National Park. The iconic granite monolith, at 8,842 feet above sea level, attracts people from all over the world who attempt to climb to the summit. Most visitors ascend Half Dome via the cables, which are in place from mid-May through mid-October.

Approximately 84,000 people climbed to the top of Half Dome in 2008. Although there are several trailheads leading to the cables on Half Dome, the majority of visitors start their hike at the Happy Isles Trailhead in Yosemite Valley.

The increase in popularity of the hike has resulted in large numbers of visitors using the cables, particularly on weekends and holidays. During last summer, Saturdays and holidays averaged 840 visitors per day. On peak days, visitor numbers were estimated at 1100 to 1200. This increase has resulted in significant safety concerns. Specifically, there was both a visitor fatality and a visitor who sustained serious injuries on the cables during two consecutive crowded weekends last summer. This increase in use has also impacted the resources and has negatively affected the visitor experience. For example, visitors have had to wait up to an hour to ascend the cables on a busy day.

In an effort to address these issues, the park will institute an interim program that will require a Day Use Permit to hike the cables on Half Dome on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays starting in May, 2010. Four hundred permits will be issued per day, 300 of these will be Day Use Permits and 100 will be included in wilderness permits. These permits are required for the use of the trail from the base of the Subdome to the summit of Half Dome and include the Half Dome cable route.

The Half Dome Day Use Permits will be available starting March 1, 2010 through www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Each person climbing the Half Dome cables will be required to have their own permit. Up to four permits may be obtained under one reservation. The permits are free, however, there is a non-refundable $1.50 service charge for each permit obtained.

During this interim program, visitor use and impacts to the park will be monitored. Yosemite National Park Rangers will be studying visitor use and safety, assessing the visitor experience, and compiling data that will be analyzed by park managers. At this point, the interim program will be in effect for the 2010 visitor season, as well as the 2011 visitor season. An Environmental Assessment process for a long-term plan for the Half Dome Cables will begin public scoping in spring 2010.

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