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Dec ‘09 - FebDec ‘10 Yosemite Guide Where toGo and What toDoin December16, 2009-February 16, 2010 Experience Your AmericaYosemite NationalPark A portion of the trail pastMirror Lake is closed due to rockfall. Please observeposted signage.

osemite Guide December 16, 2009 - February 16, 2010 Y

Tunnel View, Winter.

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Facilities Services and Things toDo Special Featur and Events Pr Yosemte Bird Count Inside: V ol 35,IssueNo1 Photo byChristineWhiteLoberg Yosemite National Park America Yosemite Experience Your

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US Department of the Interior Third Class Mail Postage and Fee Paid PO Box 577 US Department of the Interior Yosemite, CA 95389 G 83 Experience Your America Yosemite National Park Yosemite Guide December 16, 2009 - February 16, 2010 Things to Do

Keep this Guide with you to get the most out of your visit

Tour The Ahwahnee Step back to an earlier era of history as you explore the National Historic Landmark that opened in 1927. Notable for its architecture and artful décor, the hotel provides a cozy atmosphere to relax and enjoy a warm drink in. (Food & Beverage, page 7.)

Drive to One of the most famous views of , Tunnel View has captivated visitors for over 75 years. Newly rehabilitated, it offers expansive views of , Clouds Rest, Half Illustration by Lawrence W. Duke Dome, and . (See map, page 2.) hat do you want to do with your Wspecial time in Snowshoe with a Ranger Yosemite's Badger Pass. Photo by Kenny Karst/DNC Resorts at Yosemite,Inc. Yosemite? The choice is yours. But to Learn about the wonders of winter on a give you some ideas, park rangers made ranger-guided snowshoe stroll. a list of possibilities for winter. How to Use Your Yosemite Guide Programs are offered daily at Badger The list on this page offers 10 popular things to do. The Pass Ski Area through March 28th, In no particular order, here are 10 table of contents (“What’s Inside...”) at lower right shows conditions permitting. A free shuttle popular activities for a day in Yosemite where you can turn for more information. A detailed listing from Yosemite Valley to Badger Pass is National Park. of program information can be found on page 3. available. (See page 3.) Walk to a Waterfall See at Sunset The Valley is famous for its awe- Visit the Yosemite Museum Hike to Towering more than 4,000 feet above inspiring waterfalls. As distinct as the Learn about Yosemite Indians by Situated at the base of Half Dome, the eastern end of Yosemite Valley, Half granite cliffs they dive over, taking a exploring a museum collection that Mirror Lake frames reflections of Dome compels eyes to gaze on it. Sunset walk to the base of a waterfall is well includes remarkable woven baskets and Yosemite’s most iconic cliff. The quiet lights up the cliff face, creating a worth it. is a short walk traditional dress. Tour the outdoor trail is gentle and follows Teneya Creek dramatic and colorful scene. Witness from Yosemite Lodge and Yosemite Indian Village or talk with an Indian as it winds its way through the eastern the effect from Sentinel Bridge or one Village. You can also venture farther to cultural demonstrator. The Yosemite Valley. The trail starts at shuttle stop of the meadows near Yosemite Village , where the trail to Vernal Museum is located in Yosemite Village #17. (See Valley map on the back of or . (See the Valley map on Fall and begins. (See the at shuttle stops #5 and #9. (See page 6.) this Guide.) the back of this Guide.) Valley map on the back of this Guide.) Take a Photography Class Ice Skate at Curry Village Explore a Sequoia Grove Learn how to best capture the land- The outdoor ice rink at Curry Village is Meet the most massive living trees on scape of Yosemite by joining a photog- nestled among the dramatic scenery of earth as you explore a sequoia grove. raphy expert from the Ansel Adams Yosemite Valley. Rent equipment for Yosemite is home to three groves—each Gallery. Several classes are offered each skating, sit by the fire pit, or enjoy the within walking distance of a road. Skis week. Some have fees, some are free. warming hut at the Curry Village ice or snowshoes are recommended when Learn more and sign up at the Ansel Ad- rink, which operates through March 7, the trail is snow covered. (See page 7.) ams Gallery located in Yosemite Village. conditions permitting. (See page 4 for Shuttle stops #5 and #9. (See page 3.) contact information.)

visitors. Call 209/372-0645 (Voice) or 209/372- Welcome, and Be Prepared Half Dome rainbow. Photo by Christine White Loberg 4726 (TTY) to request an interpreter. Emergency: Dial 911 Please call at least two weeks before the visit. Assisted listening devices are Website: www.nps.gov/yose/ available at the Visitor Center. Twitter: twitter.com/YosemiteNPS Road, Weather, and General Park Lost and Found What’s Inside: Information: 209/372-0200 To inquire about items lost or found at one of 08 Protecting Yourself & Yosemite’s restaurants, hotels, lounges, shuttle 02 Discover Yosemite Access for People With Disabilities buses, or tour services, call 209/372-4357. For 03 Program Schedule Wilderness Permits The Yosemite Accessibility Guide is avail- items lost or found in other areas of the park, 09 Protecting Your call 209/379-1001. 04 Exploring Yosemite able at park entrance stations, visitor centers, and Park and Bear Info online at www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/accessi- 05 Badger Pass and bility.htm. Accessible parking spaces are available Weather 10 Feature Article: Sudden changes in weather are common in the just west of the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center. To winter activities . Check at a park visitor center for Christmas Bird Count reach these, enter the Valley on Southside Drive. the most up-to-date weather forecast. 06 Yosemite Valley Turn left on Sentinel Drive. Turn left on Northside 11 Supporting Your Drive, and follow the blue-and-white signs. Road Information Focus Park An American Sign Language interpreter Construction may cause short delays or detours 07 Visitor Service 12 Shuttle Map is available for Deaf and hard of hearing on some park roads. Road info: 209/372-0200.

Where to Go and What to Do in Yosemite National Park Experience Your America Yosemite National Park Yosemite Village/ Yosemite Falls Visitor Center Stanislaus Yosemite Lodge The National Ahwahnee Forest To To El Curry Manteca 120 Capitan Village Valley Day Discover Yosemite View Parking To 140 Bridalveil Tunnel Fall View To To To Yosemite Valley Merced 41 Fresno Let your curiosity guide you to new places (Elevation 4,000 feet/1,220 meters)

Entrance Fees Tioga Road and Road are closed during the To 395 Reservations are NOT required Lake & Eleanor Lee winter season; typically until Vining to enter Yosemite. The park is O’Shaughnessy open year-round, 24 hours a day. Dam 4 the end of May. 120

iver Hetch e R n d Hetchy um Vehicle $20 oa ol R Tu y Backpackers' h c t Campground Valid for 7 days Hetch e

H (Wilderness t h Hetchy He c Permit Required) Entrance Tuolumne Tioga Individual $10 Meadows Pass

Entrance

In a bus, on foot, bicycle, motor-

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e White Wolf r cycle, or horse. Valid for 7 days. g r e e n d R a o o Campground a R d ad a o g R io Yosemite Pass $40 a T og Ti Valid for one year in Yosemite. Porcupine Hodgdon Flat Lake Meadow Interagency Annual Pass $80 120 Big To Oak Valid for one year at all federal Manteca Flat recreation sites. Entrance Tuolumne Grove Valley 3 Tamarack Flat Visitor Interagency Senior Pass $10 Center Crane B ig Merced Flat r (Lifetime) Oa F 1 ive k l R a Yosemite Grove t d R ce For U.S. citizens or permanent Trailhead o Mer a Valley d Glacier residents 62 and over. Point Arch Tunnel Rock View Interagency Access Pass (Free) El Portal Entrance (Lifetime)

To r Glac Rd e ier nt For permanently disabled U.S. iv Poi Merced M R Inyo erced Bridalveil Creek National citizens or permanent residents. 140 Badger Forest Yosemite Pass West Ski

Area

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Reservations w o

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d 877/444-6777 www.recreation.gov 2 Ranger Station

Lodging Reservations Food Service & Lodging 801/559-5000 Wawona Wawona Campground www.yosemitepark.com Campground Gas Station Pioneer South Sierra Yosemite Entrance Regional Info National History Mariposa Center Grove Sierra Forest National 0 5 km 5 miles Yosemite Area Regional Forest

Transportation System 41 To Fresno (YARTS) www.yarts.com Highway 120 West Yosemite Valley Yosemite Chamber of Commerce Yosemite Valley is world-famous for its impressive waterfalls, cliffs, and unusual rock formations. In winter, it may be 800/449-9120 or 209/962-0429 1 reached via Highway 41 from Fresno, Highway 140 from Merced, and Highway 120 west from Manteca. The Valley is Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau known for massive cliff faces like El Capitan and Half Dome, its plunging waterfalls including the tallest in North America, and 800/446-1333 www.thegreatunfenced.com its attractive meadows.

Highway 41 Wawona and Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is located 36 miles (1 ¼ hours) south of Yosemite Valley via the Wawona Road 2 559/683-4636 (Highway 41), two miles from the park’s South Entrance station. The road to the grove is closed from December until www.yosemitethisyear.com April due to snow. See page 7 for Mariposa Grove hiking details. Nearby in Wawona, the Pioneer Yosemite History Center is a Highway 132/49 collection of historic buildings associated with people and events that shaped the national park idea in Yosemite. Coulterville Visitor Center 209/878-3074 Crane Flat and Tuolumne Grove Crane Flat is a pleasant forest and meadow area located 16 miles from Yosemite Valley at the junction of Big Oak Flat and 3 Highway 140/49 Tioga Roads. A number of hikes through pleasant meadows are available—when snow covers the ground these turn into Yosemite Mariposa Tourism Bureau delightful ski and snowshoe tracks. To see giant sequoias, park at the Tuolumne Grove parking area located on the Tioga Road, 866/425-3366 or 209/966-7081 and walk one steep mile down to the Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias. Or, park at Merced Grove trailhead and walk two www.homeofyosemite.com steep miles down to this small grove. These groves north of Yosemite Valley are smaller than the more-famous Mariposa Grove, Highway 120 East but are quieter and off-limits to vehicles. Remember that the walk down is easier than the walk back up. Lee Vining Chamber of Commerce and Mono Lake Hetch Hetchy Visitor Center, 760/647-6629 Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, a source of drinking water and hydroelectric power for the City of San Francisco, is home to 4 www.leevining.com spectacular scenery and the starting point for many wilderness trails. The area’s low elevation makes it a good place to

Calif. Welcome Center, Merced hike in winter. Hetch Hetchy Reservoir is located 40 miles, a 1 hour and 15 minute drive, from Yosemite Valley via Highway 800/446-5353 or 209/384-2791 120, Evergreen Road, and Hetch Hetchy Road. Hetch Hetchy Road is open limited hours: 8 am to 5 pm through March 31. www.yosemite-gateway.org Trailers, vehicles over 25 feet long, and RVs and other vehicles over 8 feet wide are not allowed on the narrow, winding Hetch Hetchy Road.

2 Yosemite Guide December 16, 2009 - February 16, 2010 Events and Programs

Where to go and what to do

Yosemite Valley Wawona Badger Pass

9:00am Photography Walk 1½ hrs, Limited space, sign up in advance (AAG) 10:00am Mariposa Grove Holiday Snowshoe 9:00am Adventure Hike Snowshoe to Dewey 1:00pm Crane Flat to Clark Range Vista Snowshoe Walk (Starts in January, Walk Point 6½ hrs, Badger Pass Nordic Center, Moun- all Sundays) 3 hrs, No experience required, advance sign up required at any (January 17 & February 14 only) 6 hrs, No expe- taineering School, Tickets/Info at any tour desk tour desk (DNC) $ rience necessary, advance sign up required at (YMS) $ 2:00pm Ranger Stroll – Rivers and Waterfalls 1½ hrs, Shuttle stop #6 (NPS) any tour desk (DNC) $ 10:30am Snowshoe Walk – Explore the Forest 2:30pm History of Bracebridge Talk (Dec. 20 only) ½ hr, The Ahwahnee Winter in Winter Conditions permitting, 2 hrs, Meet Club Room (DNC) at ranger office A-frame for naturalist tour of winter landscape. Bring warm clothing; snowshoes Sunday 3:00pm Fine Print Tours 1 hr, Limited space, sign up in advance (AAG) provided. (Suggested donation $5) (NPS) 7:00pm Evening Program 1 hr, Check local listings for venue & topic (DNC) 7:00pm Winter Theater Live! The Spirit of : Stories of Ice and Snow (January 17 only) 1 hr, Yosemite Lodge at the Falls Cliff Room, tickets at any tour desk or at door, if available (DNC) $

9:00am Photography Walk 1½ hrs, Limited space, sign up in advance (AAG) 10:00am Mariposa Grove Holiday Snowshoe 10:30am Snowshoe Walk – Explore the Forest 2:00pm Ranger Stroll – Yosemite's First People 1½ hrs, Front of Yosemite Walk in Winter Conditions permitting, 2 hrs, Meet Museum (NPS) (January 18 & February 15 only) 6 hrs, No expe- at ranger office A-frame for naturalist tour of 4:00pm Winter Twilight Stroll 1 hr, The Ahwahnee back lawn (DNC) rience necessary, advance sign up required at winter landscape. Bring warm clothing; snowshoes any tour desk (DNC) $ provided. (Suggested donation $5) (NPS)

Monday 7:00pm Ranger Evening Program 1 hr, Check local listings for venue and topic (NPS)

9:00am Photography Walk 1½ hrs, Limited space, sign up in advance (AAG) 5:30pm Vintage Music of Yosemite 10:30am Snowshoe Walk – Explore the Forest 12:00pm Yosemite Forum 1 hr, Lecture series, topics vary. (Jan. 12 & Feb. 9 only) (December 22 & 29 only) 4 hrs, Live music in Winter Conditions permitting, 2 hrs., Meet 12:30pm Using Your Digital Camera 4 hrs, Limited space, sign up in advance and historical programs with pianist/singer at ranger office A-frame for naturalist tour of (AAG) $ Tom Bopp. Programs are available by request, winter landscape. Bring warm clothing; snowshoes provided. (Suggested donation $5). (NPS) 2:00pm Ranger Stroll – Trees 1½ hrs, The Ahwahnee, shuttle stop #3 (NPS) usually given at 8:30 pm. Drop by the piano early in the evening and ask Tom for details. 6:30pm Full Moon Snowshoe Walk (January 26 2:30pm History of Bracebridge Talk (Dec. 22 only) ½ hr, The Ahwahnee Winter lounge. (DNC) only) 2hrs, No experience required, advance Club Room (DNC) sign up required at any tour desk, Badger Pass 3:00pm Storytime (December 29 only) ½ hr, Yosemite Lodge at the Falls Cliff

Tuesday Lodge (DNC) $ Room (DNC) 7:00pm Evening Program 1 hr, Check local listings for venue and topic (DNC) 7:00pm Winter Theater Live! The Spirit of John Muir: Stories of Ice and Snow (December 29 only) 1 hr, Yosemite Lodge at the Falls Cliff Room, tickets at any tour desk, if available (DNC) $

9:00am Wee Wild Ones (Except January 27) ¾ hr, Stories & activities for kids 6 & 5:30pm Vintage Music of Yosemite 9:00am Adventure Hike Snowshoe to Dewey under The Ahwahnee Great Lounge Fireplace (DNC) (December 23 & 30 only) 4 hrs, Live music Point (Except Dec.16) 6½ hrs, Badger Pass Nordic 2:00pm Ranger Stroll – Wild About Wildlife 1½ hrs, Front of Yosemite Valley Visi- and historical programs with pianist/singer Center, Mountaineering School, Tickets/Info at any tor Center (Except Jan.20) (NPS) Tom Bopp. Programs are available by request, tour desk (YMS) $ 2:30pm History of Bracebridge Talk (Dec. 16 only) ½ hr, The Ahwahnee Winter usually given at 8:30 pm. Drop by the piano 10:30am Snowshoe Walk – Explore the Forest in Club Room (DNC) early in the evening and ask Tom for details. Winter (Except Jan. 20) Conditions permitting, 7:00pm Ranger Evening Program 1 hr, Check local listings for venue and topic Wawona Hotel lounge. (DNC) 2hrs, Meet at ranger office A-frame for naturalist (NPS) tour of winter landscape. Bring warm clothing; snowshoes provided (Suggested donation $5) 7:00pm Winter Theater Live! The Spirit of John Muir: Stories of Ice and

Wednesday (NPS) Snow (December 30 only) 1 hr, Yosemite Lodge Cliff Room, tickets at any tour desk, if available $ (DNC) 6:30pm Full Moon Snowshoe Walk (January 27 only) 2hrs, No experience required, advance sign up required at any tour desk, Badger Pass Lodge (DNC) $ 9:00am Photography Walk 1½ hrs, Limited space, sign up in advance (AAG) 5:30pm Vintage Music of Yosemite 10:30am Snowshoe Walk – Explore the Forest in 11:30am History of Bracebridge Talk (Dec. 24 only) ½ hr, The Ahwahnee Winter (December 24 & 31 only) 4 hrs, Live music Winter Conditions permitting, 2 hrs, Meet Club Room (DNC) and historical programs with pianist/singer at ranger office A-frame for naturalist tour of 12:30pm In the Footsteps of Ansel Adams 4 hrs, Limited space, sign up in Tom Bopp. Programs are available by request, winter landscape. Bring warm clothing; snow- advance (AAG) $ usually given at 8:30 pm. Drop by the piano shoes provided. (Suggested donation $5) (NPS) 2:00pm Ranger Stroll – Yosemite's Legacy 1½ hrs, Front of the Yosemite Val- early in the evening and ask Tom for details. 6:30pm Full Moon Snowshoe Walk (January 28 Wawona Hotel lounge. (DNC) only) 2hrs, No experience required, advance Thursday ley Visitor Center (NPS) sign up required at any tour desk, Badger Pass 7:00pm Evening Program (Except December 24 & 31) 1hr, Check local listings for Lodge (DNC) $ venue & topic (DNC)

9:00am Wee Wild Ones ¾ hr, Stories & activities for kids 6 & under. The Ahwah- 5:30pm Vintage Music of Yosemite 10:30am Snowshoe Walk – Explore the Forest in nee Great Lounge Fireplace (DNC) (December 18, 25, & January 1 only) 4 hrs, Live Winter Conditions permitting, 2 hrs, Meet 2:00pm Ranger Stroll – Geology 1½ hrs. Front of the Yosemite Valley Visitor music and historical programs with pianist/ at ranger office A-frame for naturalist tour of Center (NPS) singer Tom Bopp. Programs are available by winter landscape. Bring warm clothing; snow- 2:30pm History of Bracebridge Talk (Dec. 18 and 25 only) ½ hr, The Ahwahnee request, usually given at 8:30 pm. Drop by the shoes provided (Suggested donation $5). (NPS)

Friday Winter Club Room (DNC) piano early in the evening and ask Tom for 6:30pm Full Moon Snowshoe Walk (January 29 7:00pm Film: Ansel Adams 1 hr, Check local listings for venue & topic (AAG) details. Wawona Hotel lounge. (DNC) only) 2hrs, No experience required, advance sign up required at any tour desk, Badger Pass Lodge (DNC) $ 9:00am Photography Walk 1½ hrs, Limited space, sign up in advance (AAG) 5:30pm Vintage Music of Yosemite 10:30am Snowshoe Walk – Explore the Forest in 12:30pm Using Your Digital Camera 4 hrs, Limited space, sign up in advance (December 19, 26, & January 2 only) 4 hrs, Live Winter Conditions permitting, 2 hrs, Meet (AAG) $ music and historical programs with pianist/ at ranger office A-frame for naturalist tour of 1:00pm Winter family Celebration (Jan. 16 only) Curry Village, 3 hrs, See singer Tom Bopp. Programs are available by winter landscape. Bring warm clothing; snow- details below, Curry Village Guest Lounge (DNC/NPS) request, usually given at 8:30 pm. Drop by the shoes provided (Suggested donation $5). (NPS) 1:00pm Winter family Celebration (Feb. 13 only) Yosemite Lodge Cliff Room, 3 piano early in the evening and ask Tom for 6:30pm Full Moon Snowshoe Walk (January 30 hrs, See details below, Curry Village Guest Lounge (DNC/NPS) details. Wawona Hotel lounge. (DNC) only) 2hrs, No experience required, advance sign up required at any tour desk, Badger Pass 1:00pm Crane Flat to Clark Range Vista Snowshoe Walk (Starts in January, Lodge (DNC) $ all Saturdays except January 23) 3 hrs, No experience required, advance sign up required at any tour desk (DNC) $ 2:00pm Ranger Stroll – Winter Ecology (Except Jan. 16 & Feb. 13) 1½ hr, Yosem-

Saturday ite Lodge, shuttle stop #8 (NPS) 3:00pm Storytime (December 26 only) ½ hr, The Ahwahnee Great Lounge Fire- place (DNC) 7:00pm Ranger Evening Program 1 hr, Check local listings for venue & topic Programs printed above in COLOR are especially for (NPS) 7:00pm Winter Theater Live! The Spirit of John Muir: Stories of Ice and Children and their Families Snow (January 16 only) 1 hr, Yosemite Lodge at the Falls Cliff Room, tickets at any tour desk, if available (DNC) $

NPS National Park Service A sign language interpreter may Yosemite Forum Special Winter Events! DNC DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, Inc. be available for deaf and hard-of- This science-based lecture hearing visitors. Contact 209/372- Winter Family Celebration! Join park staff for an afternoon of AAG The Ansel Adams Gallery series is offered at the 4726 (TTY) or 209/ 372-0645 to YMS Yosemite Mountaineering school crafts, learning stations, walks, and winter fun. Jan. 16 at Curry request an interpreter. Advance Yosemite Valley Auditorium. YA Yosemite Association notice of 2 weeks is requested. A new topic is presented monthly. For details ask at Village Guest Lounge, and Feb. 13, Yosemite Lodge Cliff Room $ Programs offered for a fee Assistive Listening Devices are the Valley Visitor Center. Winter Theater Live! The Spirit of John Muir: Stories of Ice Indicates facilities accessible to available upon advance request. Jan. 12 & Feb. 9 only visitors in wheelchairs. Short, steep Inquire at a visitor center. and Snow Dec. 29-30, & Jan. 16-17, Yosemite Lodge Cliff Room. inclines may be encountered.

3 3 Experience Your America Yosemite National Park Exploring Yosemite

Spectacular vistas and quieter corners of the park

colder, tours will travel by motorcoach.

Call 209/372-1240 for reservations or inquire at tour/transportation desks at Yosemite Lodge, Curry Village, or Yosemite Village.

Take a Photography Class Learn how to best capture the landscape of Yosemite by joining a photography expert from the Ansel Adams Gallery. Several classes are offered each week. Some have fees, some are free. Learn more and sign up at the Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite Village. Shuttle stops #5 and #9. (See pages 2 and 6.) Self-Guiding Trails

A Changing Yosemite This one-mile-long walk through Cook’s Meadow explores both natu- ral and cultural stories of Yosemite. Brochure available at the Valley Visitor Center.

Mirror Lake Mirror Lake interpretive trail is a short loop adjacent to Mirror Lake, a seasonal lake on Tenaya Creek. Exhibits focus on the rich natural history of the area and American Indian use. To reach the start of the trail, walk one mile from shuttle stop #17 to the disabled parking spaces near the lake. The trail be- The Incomparable Yosemite Valley gins here.

Yosemite Valley embraces one of the world’s most outstanding concentrations of waterfalls, Indian Village granite walls, meadows, wildflowers, and trees. The Valley also harbors a rich collection of This short loop winds through the human stories, from American Indian lore to the birth of the National Park movement. Indian Village of Ahwahnee, a re- constructed Miwok-Paiute village. A booklet is available at the trailhead and in the Visitor Center. The trail Yosemite Valley monument, dominates most views in Winter sports get underway begins behind the Yosemite Yosemite Valley. Forces of uplift, erosion Badger Pass Ski Area is tentatively Museum. An unlimited array of possibilities await from rivers and glaciers, and rockfall all scheduled to open December18. Enjoy Curry Village you in Yosemite Valley. Most involve shaped this famous feature into what ice skating at Curry Village. To learn The Legacy of Curry Village is an sightseeing and learning about the we see today. Cook’s Meadow, Sentinel more: 209/372-8341. easy stroll commemorating the early scenery before you. See page 2 for more Bridge, Tunnel View, Glacier Point, and days of Camp Curry. Pick up a map information on program topics, and Tunnel View, along Wawona Road Olmsted Point are just a few locations and guide at the Curry Village front (Hwy 41) provides a classic view of page 6 for visitor services. with stunning views of Half Dome. desk or tour desk. Yosemite Valley, including El Capitan, The base of Lower Yosemite Fall is Happy Isles is a place to see dramatic Half Dome, Sentinel Rock, Cathedral an easy walk from shuttle stop #6. This natural processes at work. It is easily Rocks, and Bridalveil Fall. It is particu- hike features educational exhibits and reached by shuttle at stop #16. Cross larly spectacular at sunset or after the a picnic area, and is accessible to the the footbridges onto the Isles or wan- clearing of a storm. mobility impaired. You can visit der through outdoor exhibits detailing Bridalveil Fall by car on your way into Yosemite’s geologic story. Shuttle buses To experience the Valley on foot, stop by a visitor center for a trail map or out of the Valley. Winds swirling may not travel to stop #16 when the and the most current trail conditions. about the cliff lift and blow the falling road is snow-covered or icy though. water in a delicate free-fall. if For a strenuous day hike, you can use To enjoy Yosemite Valley by bike, you've brought yours along, take a sce- El Capitan, a massive granite monolith, this trailhead to reach foot- nic ride along the designated bike trail stands 3,593 feet from base to summit. bridge (¾ miles) and Nevada Fall (2.7 routes, as well as paved roads. Bicycles From spring to fall, climbers come from miles) via the . The Nevada are not permited on hiking trails. all over the globe to scale El Capitan. Fall portion of this trail closes in winter Note: Please park on the paved road due to snow and ice. Visitors with Take a Sightseeing tour, to experience shoulder next to El Capitan Meadow. mobility impairments can obtain a plac- the Valley with a bus and guide. The Delicate meadows are easily damaged by ard at the Valley Visitor Center or at an Valley Floor Tour is a 26-mile, 2-hour trampling, so please stay on footpaths. entrance station that will authorize them tour that departs twice daily from Upper Yosemite Fall. Photo by Cristine White Loberg to drive to Happy Isles or Mirror Lake. Half Dome, Yosemite’s most distinctive Yosemite Lodge. As the weather turns Photography walk. Photo by Christine White Loberg

4 Yosemite Guide December 16, 2009 - February 16, 2010 Badger Pass

A free shuttle serves Badger Pass Ski Area Through its planned closing date in March. Two buses pick up each morning. Departure times are 8 and 10:30 am at Curry Village; 8:10 and 10:40 am at Yosemite Village; 8:15 and 10:45 am at The Ahwahnee; and 8:30 and 11 am at the Yosemite Lodge.

The ski area is about an hour by road from Yosemite Valley and is located a short distance from Wawona Road and Chinquapin on Glacier Point Road. Badger Pass Ski Area is the oldest continuously operating ski area in . The lodge and original lift opened to the public in December 1935. Nordic ski facilities in the area include close to 25 miles of machine-groomed track (depending on conditions) and the availability (with reservation & fee) of ski huts at Glacier Point and . Nordic rentals are available. Badger Pass Ski Area lodge Photo by Wendy Malone Glacier Point

The Glacier Point Road is open to snowshoeing and nordic skiing during the winer months. It is closed to vehicle past Badger Pass Ski Area. The snow-covered road takes you right to the brink of Yosemite Valley. Go to the railing's edge and catch your breath at an exhilarating view, looking down 3,124 feet to the Valley Floor. For a trip to an overhanging lookout, choose the ski trail to Dewey Point. The trailhead for snow travel is at Badger Pass Ski Area. The road usually opens to vehicle traffic sometime in May. Tioga Road

Tioga Road is closed to vehicles during the winter months, usually until May or later. Winter brings ski and snowshoe options for experienced parties. Reaching Tuolumne Meadows via the road is a serious, multi-day undertaking. An expe- rienced guide and avalanche beacons are amoung the essentials needed for the Cross country skiing. Photo by Brian Grogan journey. Wawona

Located six miles from the park's South Entrance, or one-hour drive from the Valley, the Wawona area tells the story of Yosemite's human history and pioneer past. The charming 19th-century Wawona ahotel and the Pioneer Yosemite History Center are a history buff's delight. The center is a collection of historic buildings associated with the people and events that shaped the national park idea in Yosem- ite. Interpretive signs and a brochure provide a self-guiding tour. Also in Wawona, you will find hikes of varying difficulty to places like Wawona Meadow and Chilnu- alna Falls, one of the tallest outside Yosemite Valley. Hetch Hetchy

Once considered a twin to Yosemite Valley, Hetch Hetchy was decribed by John Muir as "a grand landscape garden." Hetch Hetchy is located along the Tuolumne River in the northern part of the park and now contains a large reservior . Hetch Snow at Wawona’s covered bridge. Photo by Christine White Loberg Hetchy's relatively low elevation gives the area one of the longest hiking seasons in Yosemite National Park.

Winter Weather and Driving in Yosemite Tioga Road and Glacier Point Road are closed each year from November to late May or early June. Other roads are generally plowed and maintained, but can close or present delays during storm periods. Motorists should al- ways carry chains and check weather and road conditions before travel. To check conditions, call 209/372-0200 for roads inside the park and 800/427-7623 or visit www. dot.ca.gov for highways connecting to Yosemite.

Hetch Hetchy Reservoir. NPS Photo by EriK Skindrud

5 Experience Your America Yosemite National Park Yosemite Valley

Where to Go and What to See

Throughout Yosemite National Park In Winter, Yosemite is a place of special beauty, offering unique opportunities for outdoor adventure. Below you will find a list of services and facilities that are available throughout the park.

the street. Guide to the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center Yosemite Museum post office and Bookstore Cemetery is available at the Valley Located in Yosemite Village next to the Visitor Center. Yosemite Village Main Office Located just west of the main post Valley Visitor Center. Monday-Friday: 8:30am - 5pm office (shuttle stops #5 and #9). Visitor Ansel Adams Gallery Saturday: 10am - noon center and bookstore hours are 9 am to Indian Cultural Exhibit Yosemite Lodge The gallery is located in Yosemite Vil- 5 pm daily. The center offers informa- Interprets the cultural history of Yo- Post Office lage next to the Valley Visitor Center Monday-Friday: 12:30pm - 2:45pm tion, maps, and books in the attached semite’s Miwok and Paiute people from and is open daily. Hours are 10 am to 5 El Portal bookstore. Explore the new exhibit hall 1850 to the present. Open 9 am to 5 pm, Post Office pm. The gallery offers the work of Ansel and learn how Yosemite’s spectacular may close for lunch. Monday-Friday: 8:30am - 5pm Adams, contemporary photographers, closed for lunch from 12:30 - 1:30 landscape was formed, how people have Wawona Post Office Yosemite Museum Store and other fine artists. See page 3 for interacted with it through the centuries, Monday-Friday: 9am - 5pm photo walk and other event times. For how wildlife adapts and survives. The store offers books and traditional Saturday: 9am - noon American Indian arts, crafts, jewelry, more information, call 209/372-4413, or Film: Spirit of Yosemite and books. Beginning Jan. 1, open visit www.anseladams.com. books, gifts, & apparel This inspiring visitor-orientation film Thurs. - Sun., 9 am to 5 pm, may close Yosemite Village is shown in the Valley Visitor Center for lunch. Closed Monday-Wednesday. Internet Access The Ansel Adams Gallery Theater every 30 minutes, Mon. - Sat. 10am - 5pm Fee-based terminals are open at between 9:30 am and 4:30 pm; Sunday Yosemite Bookstore Indian Village Degnan's Deli. Free internet access is Inside Yosemite Visitor Center and Christmas Day, between noon to 9am - 5pm available at the Mariposa County branch 4:30 pm. Located behind the Yosemite Museum Yosemite Museum Store and open daily, the village offers a self- library, adjacent to the Yosemite 9am - 5pm, Thur. - Sun., closed Mon. - Wilderness permits Cemetery. Hours vary. Ask at the Valley Wed. May close for lunch guiding trail brochure and exhibits on Village Store Rangers issue permits at the Valley Visi- Ahwahneechee life. Visitor Center. 8am - 8pm tor Center from 9am - 5pm. Bear Sport Shop canister rentals are also available at the 10am - 4pm Yosemite Cemetery Top Left: Meet a Ranger. Photo by NPS The Ahwahnee visitor center. See page 8 for other loca- Top Center: . Photo by Chris- The Ahwahnee Gift Shop tions to obtain wilderness permits. tine White Loberg 8am - 8pm This historic cemetery is located just The Ahwahnee Sweet Shop Top Right: El Capitan. Photo by Christine White Loberg west of the Yosemite Museum, across 7am - 10pm Yosemite Lodge Gift/Grocery Help Badger Pass celebrate 75 years of skiing history! 8am - 7pm Nature Shop Saturday & Sunday, January 23rd and 24th! Check local listings or 11am - 7pm Curry Village visit www.badgerpass.com for scheduled activities. Mountain Shop 9am - 5pm Curry Village Gift/Grocery 9am - 7pm Wawona Store & Pioneer Gift Shop 8am - 6pm Dec. 25: 8am - 5pm

Winter Sports Badger Pass Ski Area and Sport Shop Scheduled tentatively to open De- cember 18, weather and conditions Abovepermitting. Left: Ranger Stroll. Photo by Bob Roney AboveInformation Middle: Stoneman (Recorded) Bridge reflection. Photo by209/372-1000 Erik Skindrud Information (Live) 209/372-8430 Above Right: Half Dome. NPS Photo

6 Yosemite Guide December 16, 2009 - February 16, 2010

Hours listed are core hours for facilities and may be extended during periods of peak visitation. Check local postings for changes to hours of operation. Food & beverage Visitor Services Yosemite Village Degnan’s Delicatessen 7am - 5pm Internet Kiosks available The Ahwahnee Where to find what you need. Dining Room Breakfast: 7am - 10:30am Lunch: 11:30am - 3pm access is limited to foot, snowshoe, or ski. tures catalog at: www.yosemite.org, the No lunch service 1/1/10 due to New Year’s Day Grand Brunch Wawona Visitor Center, or call 209/379-2321. Dinner: 5:30pm - 9pm Distance and Elevation Park entry and camping are included; No a la carte service on Bracebridge motel rooms have been set aside. YA nights: Dec. 13,14, 16, 18, 20, Pioneer Yosemite Distances below do not include the 22, 24, 25 also arranges Custom Adventures: History Center 2-mile approach from the locked gate Sunday Brunch: 7am - 3pm [email protected]. Appropriate attire respectfully near the park's south entrance. Go back to a time of horse-drawn Jan. 16 Discover the Winter World requested for dinner. wagons, a covered bridge, and log Reservations recommended for with Ranger Dick Ewart. dinner and Sunday Brunch: cabins. A visit to the Pioneer Yosemite Grizzly Giant Jan. 21-24 Winter Landscape Photography 209/372-1489. History Center explores Yosemite’s Distance from trailhead: 0.8 mile/1.3km with camera pro John Senser The Ahwahnee Bar 11am - 11pm history and explains how Yosemite was Elevation Gain: 400ft/122m Jan. 30 Full Moon Snowshoe Hike Yosemite Lodge at the Falls with naturalist Karen Amstutz. Food Court the inspiration for national parks across Grove Museum Feb. 15-18 Winter Natural History at Breakfast: 6:30am - 11am America and around the world. The Ostrander Ski Hut Lunch: 11:30am - 2pm Distance from trailhead: 2.1 miles/3.5km center is accessible throughout the year. with Pete Devine. Dinner: 5pm - 7:30pm/ Sat-Sun 5pm- Elevation Gain: 800ft/292m 8pm Mountain Room Lounge Evening Programs Fallen Tunnel Tree 4:30pm - 11pm (Mon - Fri) Distance from trailhead: 2.5 miles/4km Big Oak Flat Noon - 11pm (Sat-Sun) Join pianist/singer Tom Bopp in the Dec 24 - Jan 1 Noon - 11pm Wawona Hotel lobby from 5:30 pm to Elevation gain: 1,000 ft/305m (Hwy 120) New Year’s Eve Noon - 1am Mountain Room Restaurant 9:30 pm, Tuesday through Saturday, as Wawona Point Big Oak Flat Information Station Sunday - Thursday 5pm - 8:30pm he performs songs and tells stories from Distance from trailhead: 3 miles/4.8km The information station is closed until Friday - Saturday 5pm - 9:00pm Yosemite’s past. Christmas 4pm - 9pm Elevation gain: 1,200ft/438m spring, but wilderness permits are New Year’s Eve 5pm - 10:30 Dogs and bikes are not permitted available at a self-service, 24-hour kiosk Reservations taken for 8 or more. Wilderness Permits 209/372-1281 anywhere in the Grove. throughout the winter season. Curry Village Visitors can obtain wilderness permits at Pizza Deck a self-service kiosk on the porch of the Outdoor Adventures Merced Grove 5pm - 9pm (Beginning Dec. 18) Wawona Visitor Center at Hill’s Studio, Noon-9pm Sat-Sun only The non-profit Yosemite Association (Dec. 23 - Jan . 2) adjacent to the Wawona Hotel. sponsors this year-round series of fun, Yosemite’s quietest stand of sequoias is Jan. - Feb. Fri 5pm - 9pm; educational field seminars; they’re a the Merced Grove, a group of about 20 Sat Noon - 9pm Mariposa Grove trees accessible only on foot. It’s a four- Noon - 9pm Jan. 17 great way to deepen your connection to mile round-trip hike, ski, or snowshoe Noon - 9pm Feb. 14 Located near Yosemite’s South En- our park. Pick up an Outdoor Adven- Coffee Corner (about three hours) into the grove from 7am - 11am Dec. 19 - Jan. 3 trance, the Mariposa Grove is the park’s Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120 West). 7am - 11am Sat & Sun only Jan. - Feb. largest stand of giant sequoias, with 7am - 11am Jan 18 & Feb 15 Located 3½ miles north of Crane Flat about 500 trees. The road to the Grove Ski Buffet and 4½ miles south of the Big Oak Flat Sat Jan.16 & Feb. 13 & 20. Dinner closes in December and opens some- Entrance, the trailhead is marked by a 5:30pm - 8pm. Dancing 8pm - 10 pm time in April. Visitors can walk, ski, or Wawona road sign and post labeled B-10. Wawona Hotel Dining Room snowshoe when the road is closed to Breakfast: 7:30am - 10am Breakfast vehicles. complimentary for hotel guests. Tuolumne Grove Lunch: 11:30am - 1:30pm Getting to Mariposa Grove Dinner: 5:30pm - 9pm This cluster of about 25 sequoias is Reservations taken for 6 or more. Allow 1 hour driving time to reach the near Crane Flat at the intersection of 209/375-1425. The Wawona Hotel grove's access road from the Valley. A Big Oak Flat and Tioga Roads. The for- will close for the season after break- locked gate prevents vehicles from fast on Jan. 3. mer route of the Big Oak Flat Road entering the closure area. Limited park- leads downhill from Crane Flat into groceries ing is available near the gate. the grove. Now closed to cars, this path Yosemite Lodge Snow Travel to the Grove drops 500 feet (150 meters) in one mile. Gift/Grocery Skiers and snowshoers can follow the The trip (you can walk, ski, or snow- 8am - 7pm shoe) is moderately strenuous uphill. Yosemite Village snow-covered road into the grove. Trails Village Store within the grove are marked by yellow Within the Tuolumne Grove there is an 8am - 8pm flags attached to trees above ground level. easy, half-mile, self-guiding nature trail. Degnan’s Delicatessen When snow covers the ground here, 7am - 5pm Giant sequoias. Photo by Christine White Loberg Curry Village general services service organizations Gift/Grocery showers and laundry 9am - 7pm Curry Village Village Garage Alcoholics Anonymous Wawona Showers – Open 24 hours NO GAS AVAILABLE IN 7:30 pm Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday DNC General Office Building Store & Pioneer Gift Shop YOSEMITE VALLEY 8am - 5pm (Employee Training Center) Yosemite Village 8am - 6pm; Dec. 25: 8am - 5pm Laundromat – 8am to 10pm Towing 24 hours. Propane available until religious services 4pm. 209/372-8320 Al-Anon No Al-Anon meetings are currently taking place. Gas Station yosemite community CHURCH Worship ServiceS / Yosemite Valley Chapel Dental Services However, if you need to speak with someone, Gas outside Yosemite Valley Sunday 9:15 am Adjacent to Yosemite Medical Clinic. feel free to call Dave M. at El Portal Thursday.: 7 pm; Tuesday Bible Studies For hours, call 209/372-4200. 209/765-1266. 24 hours with credit or debit card Christmas Eve Service 4pm If no answer, call 209/372-4637 Wawona Gas Station New Year's Eve Service 10pm Lions Club Meets the first and third Thursdays of each 8am to 5pm. Diesel & propane. Call 209/372-4831 for information Yosemite Medical Clinic + month at noon, The Ahwahnee. Pay 24 hours with credit or debit card. ROMAN CATHOLIC Emergency care: 24 hours daily. Call 209/372-4475. Crane Flat Yosemite Valley Visitor Center Theater Drop-in and urgent care: 8am - 7pm. Sunday Mass 10 am; Info: 209/372-4729 Appointments: 8am to 5pm Mon. through Fri. 24 hours with credit or debit card Rotary International Christmas Eve Mass: 7:30pm Located on Ahwahnee Drive in Yosemite Val- Meets Thursdays for lunch at noon in Christmas Morning Mass: 10am ley, the clinic provides routine and emergency The Ahwahnee Mural Room. Visiting Rotarian Free Valley shuttle medical care, 24-hour paramedic/ambulance CHURCH OF CHRIST (Nondenominational) services, limited pharmacy, lab, x-ray, physi- families and guests welcome. For meeting Yosemite Valley El Portal Chapel/Worship: Sunday 11am cal therapy, and Mountain Crisis Services for reservations or information, call 209/372-8459. Operates 7am - 10pm. Service Foresta Road, at top of Chapel Lane victims of domestic violence. 209/372-4637 operates every 20 minues. Information: 209/379-2100

7 Experience Your America Yosemite National Park Protecting Yourself

Experience Yosemite —Safely

Keep yourself safe while exploring your park. Vehicle Chain There are many ways to experience the wildness of Yosemite. While the forces of nature can create unexpected hazardous conditions, with a little common sense and some Requirements pre-planning, you can minimize the risks associated with many activities. When you are visiting from November through March, expect chain requirements to be in ef- Rockfall Awareness for five minutes, use of a Giardia-rated • Be prepared for icy travel before fect, even if you only plan to park Due to its steep, glacier-carved cliffs, water filter, or iodine-based purifier. conditions arise. Bring crampons, in the Valley and ride the shuttle bus. Any time chain controls are Yosemite Valley experiences many rock- • To prevent the spread of Giardia and ice axe, climbing skins, and other traction devices. in effect, all vehicles must have falls each year. Be aware that rockfalls other water-borne disease organisms, chains or cable chains ready for are inherently unpredictable and may use restroom facilities where available, • Carry and know how to use a map use. Not having them could sub- happen at any time. Pay attention to and always wash hands afterwards and compass. ject you to an expensive citation. warning signs, stay off closed trails, and, with soap and water. In natural areas • Check weather forecasts. Snow can if unsure, keep away. where facilities are not available, occur with little warning, and can Changes in Elevation Because higher elevation roads wash, camp, and bury human waste make route finding very difficult. Around Ice and Water (6 inches deep) at least 100 feet away receive more snow, chains are Temperature shifts are common. required on the Wawona Road • Stay off frozen lakes, ponds and from any water source or trail. • Avoid dehydration or heat exhaustion; (Highway 41), Big Oak Flat Road streams and away from swiftly-moving (Highway 120 west), and Badger Traffic Safety carry and drink plenty of water, and water. Keep children from wandering Pass Road more often than on bring high-energy food. on or near these hazards. Roads leading to the park are two-lane, the El Portal Road (Highway 140), narrow, and winding. When traveling on • Be prepared to set up emergency roads within Yosemite Valley, and • Never swim or wade upstream from the Hetch Hetchy Road. park roads you can protect yourself, shelter even when out just for the day. the brink of a waterfall, even if the other visitors, and park wildlife by water appears shallow and calm. Each • Know how to use your gear and carry observing the following simple rules: Check by Phone year, unsuspecting visitors are swept basic repair materials. Please obey posted speed limits. Call 209/372-0200 (press 1 then over waterfalls to their deaths when 1) for updated road information Yosemite’s roads are used by both visi- inside the park. This recording is swimming in these areas. Wilderness Permit Details tors and park wildlife. Use turnouts to updated whenever road • Swimming is not permitted in the pull completely out of the road, to take Free wilderness permits are required for conditions change and is the Hetch Hetchy reservoir or in Emerald photos, consult the park map, or simply all overnight trips into the Yosemite same way in which park staff gets road information. This recording Pool above Vernal Fall. enjoy the park’s scenery and wildlife. Wilderness. Rangers issue permits includes information about cur- Avoid Hypothermia at the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center rent chain requirements. Effects of Altitude (9am - 5pm). Self-registration permits Remember that conditions can Sierra winters are comparatively Altitude sickness may develop in are available seven days a week at, Tu- change rapidly. mild, but temperatures can drop into otherwise healthy and fit people who are olumne Meadows Ski Hut, Big Oak Flat, dangerous territory with little warning. exposed to rapid increases in altitude. It Hill's Studio in Wawona, and the Hetch Winter sports require a high degree of You can also call 800/427-7623 can develop at altitudes as low as 8,000 Hetchy entrance station (8am - 5pm). for road conditions throughout preparation and training. Be prepared feet (Yosemite Valley’s elevation is 4,000 Permits for the Glacier Point ski trails California (these links & phone for a bivuoac even when out just for the number do not provide informa- feet). Should altitude sickness develop, and Ostrander Hut are available at Bad- day. Know how to use your gear and tion about roads within descend to a lower elevation. The ger Pass beginning December 18th. Call carry basic repair materials. Yosemite). Yosemite Medical Clinic in Yosemite the park's main phone, 209/372-0200,

Avoid the combination of wetness, Valley is experienced in diagnosing and or visit the park website for current Online Information wind, and cold. Know symptoms of treating this sickness. conditions and updates. Currently, bear A summary of chain control rules hypothermia. Carry emergency fire- canisters can be rented only at the Valley can be found on the park website at www.nps.gov/yose/planyour- starting materials and food. Avoid dehy- Hiking, Backpacking, Backcountry Visitor Center. Snow Travel, and Rock Climbing visit/chains.htm dration; carry and drink plenty of water More Information and carry emergency high-energy food. • There are no scheduled winter patrols, so be prepared. You’re on www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/ backpacking.htm your own. Be honest about your Water Quality Upper Left: View near Dewey Point. Photo by abilities and plan with the least Leave No Trace www.lnt.org Tom Medema To protect yourself from disease, treat experienced member of your group any surface water before drinking. Friends of Yosemite Search and Rescue in mind. Tell someone where you are www.friendofyosar.org • Treatment methods include boiling going and when you are due back.

8 Yosemite Guide December 16, 2009 - February 16, 2010 Protecting Your Park

Enjoy park places, plants, and wildlife safely and responsibly

Keeping Bears Wild

Three Top Ways to Keep Yosemite’s Black Bears Wild and Alive. Remember that Yosemite Bears are Active All Winter Long:

1. Store Your Food Properly. “Food” includes any item with a scent, regardless of packag- ing. This may include items that you do not consider food, such as canned goods, bottles, drinks, soap, cosmetics, toiletries, trash, Sow and cub. Photo by Christine White Loberg ice chests (even when empty), and Protect Yosemite’s Wilderness these reaches of the river, it is catch- Permits and Other Rules unwashed items used for prepar- ing or eating meals. Do not store • Pack out all trash and toilet paper/ and-release only for rainbow trout. To find out more about Yosemite food in your car after dark: use a sanitary products. Brown trout limits are five fish per day. National Park regulations visit www.nps. Only artificial lures or flies with gov/yose/plan yourvisit/yoursafety.htm food locker. Remember to clear • Use gas stoves rather than wood fires. barbless hooks may be used. and find a copy of the Superintendent’s your car of food wrappers, baby • Camp in an existing campsite at Compendium. This document is a wipes, and crumbs in baby seats. • The use of live or dead minnows, bait least 100 feet from water and trail. compilation of designations, closures, If you are staying in a campsite or fish or amphibians, non-preserved fish You must be four trail miles from any permit requirements, and other tent cabin, you must store all your eggs or roe is prohibited. populated area and one mile from restrictions made by the superintendent, food in food lockers. A food locker any road before camping. Pets in addition to what is contained in appli- is available at each campsite and Some visitors choose to bring pets along tent cabin. Food may be stored out • To minimize trampling of vegetation, cable federal statutes and regulations. on their vacations. Keep in mind, in of sight in hard-sided RVs with bring a container to carry water to Yosemite, pet owners have a few rules to Reporting Violations windows closed. Do not leave food your camp from lakes or streams. follow: During your visit to Yosemite be aware unattended at picnic areas and • Maximum group size is 15 people that there are people who either • Pets are only allowed in developed along trails. When backpacking in for trail travel and eight people for unknowingly or intentionally harm park areas and on roads and paved bike the wilderness, bear resistant food off-trail travel. resources. In accordance with new fed- paths. They are not allowed on other containers are required. • Yosemite is a wildlife preserve. Pets, eral regulations, possession of a firearm- trails, or in wilderness areas. 2. If you see a bear, scare it weapons, bicycles, strollers, and within Yosemite must be in conformity • Pets must be on a leash (6 feet or less) away or keep your distance. motor vehicles are never allowed on with federal law and California statutes. or otherwise physically restrained. Yosemite’s wilderness trails. Please contact a park official if you see You may not see a bear during • For the courtesy of others, human the following illegal acts: your visit because they naturally Fishing companions are responsible for • Actively feeding or harassing wildlife avoid people. However, if you Fishing in Yosemite is regulated under cleaning up and depositing pet feces see one in a developed area (like • Collecting plants, reptiles, or insects state law. A valid California sport-fishing in trash receptacles. a campground or parking lot), license is required for those persons age • Pets are not allowed in any lodging • Hunting or directly harming animals act immediately to scare it away: 16 years and older. When fishing, the facilities or other buildings within • Picking up archeological items such as Make noise and yell as loud as license must be plainly visible by the park and are not allowed in some arrowheads possible. If there is more than one attaching it to an outer layer of clothing campgrounds. person, stand together to present • Using metal detectors to locate and above the waistline. a more intimidating figure, but do • Pets may not be left unattended. collect historic objects not surround the bear. • Trout season opens on the last Bicycling • Driving vehicles into meadows If you see a bear anywhere else, Saturday in April and continues Each season, plants are crushed from consider yourself lucky—but keep through November 15 (except Frog • Camping outside of campgrounds bicycle travel in meadows, camp- your distance (at least 50 yards, or Creek near Lake Eleanor, which • Possession of weapons grounds, and picnic areas. Please about the distance made by four opens June 15). respect park resources and keep bicycles If you see activities that could harm shuttle buses parked end to end). • Special fishing regulations apply on on paved roads and paved bicycle trails. people or park resources, jot down any If you get too close, you will be the Merced River in Yosemite Valley They are not allowed to travel descriptions or a vehicle license plate helping the bear become used to from Happy Isles downstream to the off-trail or on dirt paths or trails. number and call the park dispatch office being around people. Foresta Bridge in El Portal. Within at 209/379-1992. Mountain Lions closely and never let them run ahead or shout, and throw objects at it. The goal 3. Drive the speed limit. lag is to convince it that you may be danger- The most common human-related Mountain lions are a normal and behind on the trail. Teach children what ous. If attacked, fight back! cause of death for a black bear important part of the park ecosystem. to do if they see a lion. Never approach in Yosemite is being hit by a car. Report lion encounters at 209/372- They are attracted to areas with healthy a lion, especially if it is with kittens. Please slow down! 0322. deer and raccoon populations, which in- Most lions will avoid confrontation. clude many areas of the park. Generally, To report bear sightings, improper they are calm, quiet, and elusive. Always give them a way to escape. Don’t run. Hold your ground, or back away food storage, trash problems, and Sightings are quite rare, so if you spot slowly. Face the lion and stand upright. other bear-related problems, leave one, consider yourself privileged! Raise your arms. If you have small chil- a message for the Bear Manage- dren with you, pick them up. If the lion ment Team at 209/372-0322. Avoid hiking alone. Watch children behaves aggressively, wave your arms, Mountain lion by Tom Whitworth

9 Experience Your America Yosemite National Park

Bird-watching Opportunities

Feature Article

Bird Counts, are particularly interest- ing toYosemite researchers because new evidence suggests that the Sierra Nevada is home to a genetically distinct population, compared to great gray owls outside California.

Yosemite is the southernmost range of almost all of California’s great gray owls. Researchers estimate there are only 200 to 300 individuals in Cali- fornia, and about 75% of the state’s population resides in Yosemite. This rare and endangered owl is the largest North American owl—standing as tall as 2 feet with a 5-foot wingspan. Unlike the more common great horned owl, the great gray lacks “horns” or ear tufts, and instead has a smooth rounded head with piercing yellow eyes, accented by large facial disks. In the winter, great gray owls generally move downslope to snow-free areas to more easily access rodent prey. Great gray owls can be active at any time of the day or night, preferring to hunt in open meadows and clearings within the forest, using branches and low seedlings for listen- ing posts. If you happen to spot a great gray owl during the Bird Count, con- Yosemite National Park’s scientists have documented the presence of more than 250 bird species in the park. Birders are sure to have a lot to see. NPS photo by Sarah Stock. sider yourself lucky.

Yosemite Christmas Bird Count, a park tradition since 1932, Volunteer for the Dec. 20 Event To attend the Christmas Bird Count happens on Dec. 20. Zoom in on the park's avian diversity! on Dec. 20, or next year in December 2010, contact ornithologist Sarah Stock birds of 65 species. Species with the male bird’s winter plumage is dull com- by e-mail at [email protected] or by By Ranger Elizabeth Munding and biggest annual counts are band-tailed pared to his colorful plumage in the phone at 209/379-1435 to be assigned Sarah Stock, Wildlife Biologist pigeon (1,100 individuals in 1970), spring when he is interested in attract- to an area and a group. Bring lunch, American robin (580 in 2008), moun- ing a female. Also, note subtle nuances plenty of warm clothes and sturdy shoes. A small fee exists to support the nwrap a seasonal surprise for tain chickadee (560 in 1972), Oregon in a bird’s song or call—long trills or publication of count results in National yourself. During winter, watch dark-eyed junco (503 in 1953), and short chips. In the winter, birds rarely Audubon Field Guide Note. Plan to be John Muir’s favorite bird, the golden-crowned kinglet (483 in 1953). sing but make call notes to defend a U During the 2008 event, 32 birders were territory, announce the presence of a outside from dawn to dusk. A compila- American dipper, as it plunges under- tion potluck dinner closes the day to neath ice in its search for aquatic in- separated into six groups to cover predator, or to keep up with a mixed- allow participants to share Yosemite sects and minnows. Or, observe a flock large expanses of the park. Highlights species foraging flock. birding highlights. of gregarious mountain chickadees and included a northern goshawk in the west end of Yosemite Valley, a merlin Necessary Equipment red-breasted nuthatches as they mob a Carrying the right equipment is key for in Foresta, a northern mockingbird in tiny northern pygmy-owl. birding: Bring a bird guide, notebook El Portal and two red-breasted x red- and pen, and a pair of binoculars. First See the birds add up fast during the Yo- naped sapsucker hybrids—in El Portal spot a bird with your eyes, and then lift semite Christmas Bird Count on Dec. and Foresta. 20 and then continue to give yourself your binoculars to your eyes without the gift of bird-watching throughout The Art of Birding moving your head or losing sight of the winter season. An astounding 255 Experienced birders confidently iden- the bird. Becoming familiar with your species of birds have been documented tify birds by just a glimpse. Birders use field guide by interpreting the range in Yosemite; including 165 resident and silhouette, posture, flight pattern, size, maps and learning the terms for various migratory species. and habitat to recognize different birds. field marks will help you more quickly Start by keying in on a general group identify birds. Record your observa- A Park Tradition or family of birds, such as warblers, tions, such as species, date, location, Since 1932, Yosemite National Park’s flycatchers, hawks, owls, and wrens and observers. participation in the Christmas Bird because all members of a group share Count has contributed more than similarities. As a next step, note the A Distinct Population Birds are said to be excellent indica- 90,000 observations to the annual field marks—colored or patterned tors of an area’s environmental health; conservation event. On a winter day places on a bird’s body, head, and therefore many research studies seek each year, tens of thousands of vol- wings. Remember that a bird’s feathers to gain a greater understanding of unteers throughout the Americas join change as a juvenile bird molts into its bird populations. Great gray owls, Yosemite is home to the most southerly to celebrate and count birds. In 2008, adult plumage, or as an adult molts into population of the great gray owl in California. observed in past Yosemite Christmas Photo by Sharna Tolfree. Yosemite participants identified 3,028 its winter plumage. For many species, a

10 Yosemite Guide December 16, 2009 - February 16, 2010 Supporting Your Park

Providing for Yosemite’s Future

Enhancing the Visitor Experience It takes a legion of people working together to protect this special park for you and future generations of visitors. You, too, can extend your connection to Yosemite well after you return home by getting involved with the organizations that partner to preserve Yosemite.

This publication was made possible by the Yosemite Park Partners listed on this page. Read more below or visit www.yosemitepartners.org to learn more about helping these organizations provide for the future of Yosemite National Park.

The Ansel Adams Gallery Yosemite Association The Yosemite Fund The Ansel Adams Gallery, owned by the The Yosemite Association is a nonprofit The Fund provides broad-based Contact Us... family of photographer Ansel Adams membership organization that pro- private funding from 27,000 donors for since 1902, is a center that celebrates vides opportunities for people to learn projects that preserve, protect, or en- The Ansel Adams Gallery the arts and the natural grandeur of our about, enjoy, and experience Yosemite hance Yosemite Park. Fund operations PO Box 455 environment. It cultivates an aesthetic National Park and the Sierra Nevada. result in material improvement in the Yosemite, CA 95389 appreciation and concern for our world The Association celebrates the majesty stewardship and quality of Yosemite’s 209/372-4413 209/372-4714 fax by offering visitors a unique variety of and grandeur of this region through its natural, cultural or historical resources www.anseladams.com literature and art, as well as programs visitor services, publications, outdoor or the visitor experience. Fund grants that inspire creativity. Visit online at classroom, and membership activities, repair trails, restore habitat, conduct DNC Parks & Resorts www.anseladamsgallery.com. which give people of all ages the chance scientific research, enhance visitor at Yosemite to forge an enduring and inspirational education, preserve park history, and PO Box 578 DNC Parks & Resorts connection to Yosemite. This, in turn, protect wildlife. Since 1988 the Fund has Yosemite, CA 95389 at Yosemite builds a commitment to the long-term provided over $50 million to complete 801/559-5000 DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite preservation and vitality of Yosemite more than 200 projects. Visit online at www.yosemitepark.com (DNC) operates hotels, restaurants, and our National Parks. Since 1923, www.yosemitefund.org. Yosemite Association sightseeing tours, recreational activities, the Association has provided important PO Box 230 interpretive programs, stores, shuttles services and financial support to the Yosemite Institute El Portal, CA 95318 and service stations in the park under National Park Service. Anyone who Since 1971, thousands of school-age 209/379-2646 contract with the U.S. Department loves Yosemite and wishes to be become children have benefited from learn- 209/379-2486 fax of the Interior. DNC encourages its em- more closely involved and affiliated with ing in “nature’s classroom” through www.yosemite.org ployees to develop a strong relationship the park will enjoy membership in the the residential field-science programs The Yosemite Fund with the park during their tenure. For Association. For more information, visit offered by Yosemite Institute (YI). A YI 155 Montgomery St. #1104 more information and employment op- park bookstores or www.yosemite.org. experience strives to foster a life-long San Francisco, CA 94104 portunities with DNC at Yosemite, visit connection to the natural world— 800/469-7275 or 415/434-1782 online at www.YosemitePark.com. whether it is in Yosemite, on a city street www.yosemitefund.org or in our own backyards. YI also offers professional development for teachers, Yosemite Institute summer youth programs, backpacking PO Box 487 Yosemite, CA 95389 adventures, community outreach pro- 209/379-9511 grams and service learning projects. For 209/379-9510 fax more information, visit www.naturebridge.org/yosemite www.naturebridge.org/yosemite.

Above right: Half Dome. Photo: Christine White Loberg

11 Dec ‘09-FebDec ‘10 Yosemite Guide Where toGoand WhattoDoinYosemite National Park December16,2009-February2010 Experience Your America Yosemite National Park A portion of the trail pastMirror Lake is closed due to rockfall. Please observeposted signage. December 16, 2009 - February 16, 2010 16, 2009 - February 16, December Guide Yosemite Tunnel View, Winter. 10 06 03 01

Special Feature: Facilities Services and Things to Do and Events Programs Yosemte Bird Count Inside: Vol 35, IssueNo1 Photo byChristineWhiteLoberg Yosemite National Park National Yosemite America Your Experience

US Department of the Interior Third Class Mail National Park Service Postage and Fee Paid PO Box 577 US Department of the Interior Yosemite, CA 95389 G 83