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Yosemite Nature Notes Episode 10 – Rock Fall

Steven — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:48:08 +0000

Here’s the latest installment of the Yosemite Nature Notes Series. This one is about rock falls in Yosemite Valley, their impacts on the park and how the NPS works to help ensure the public’s safety. Another great job by Steve Bumgardner producing this video. You can check out all ten episodes on Yosemite National Parks YouTube Page.

Yosemite Nature Notes #9: Frazil Ice

Steven — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:49:52 +0000

Here is the newest episode of Yosemite Nature Notes, a very interesting one on frazil ice. What’s frazil ice? You’ll have to watch the video to find out. I recommend watching this in full screen HD.

Yosemite Nature Notes- Episode 8 – Snow Line

Steven — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 17:20:24 +0000

Here’s the newest video in the Yosemite Nature Notes series. This one is entitled Snow Line and is about the snow line in the Sierra Nevada during storms. It also includes some amazing footage of the flood in 1997. I want to thank the National Park Service, The Yosemite Fund and Steve Bumgardner for putting these on YouTube and allowing us to embed them on our sites now. That’s awesome. This can also be watched in full screen HD by choosing 720p from the drop down menu on the right and then clicking the full screen button next to it.

Lady Sierra at Her Finest

Steven — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 03:08:10 +0000

Did you see the Yosemite cam at sunset this evening? If not, here’s what you missed.

This is Lady Sierra at her finest!!

Yosemite Time-Laspe

Steven — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:41:08 +0000

Here’s an interesting time-lapse video from Yosemite. It was created by Steven M. Bumgardner, the same guy who does the Yosemite Nature Notes. It’s called “People in Yosemite: A TimeLapse Study”.

People in Yosemite: A TimeLapse Study from Steven M. Bumgardner on Vimeo.

My favorite part of the video is the climbers. They look like insects crawling all over the rock. To learn more about the video click on the links above.

Uniquely Yosemite

Steven — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 15:49:59 +0000

Flickr has a new feature called Galleries. It let’s you build galleries of up to 18 pictures from other members images. It’s a cool way to show off other folks photography that you enjoy. The other day I decided to play around with the gallery feature and I built my first gallery. The gallery is called Uniquely Yosemite and features images from photographers who have photographed Yosemite from unique perspectives. These photos aren’t your typical Yosemite shots.

To give an example of how over shot Yosemite Valley is, and how many of those images are taken from the same places in the valley, I had to go through 50 pages of photos, with each page containing 50-60 photos, to find these 17 unique images. Is that nuts or what?

If you’d like to check out this gallery, here’s the link: Flickr Gallery, Uniquely Yosemite
I think my favorite shot is #13, it is so hilarious.

One of my images has been included in a gallery so far. It was one of the back lit rose images. Here’s the link to that: Flickr Gallery, Flower Macros
I consider it quite a compliment to be included in that gallery of macro images.

Tioga Rd Closed Through Labor Day

Steven — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:14:46 +0000

Here is the latest from InciWeb on the Big Meadow Fire in Yosemite.

Current Situation: Yesterday firefighters completed fireline near the Tamarack Flat Campground Road. Smoke conditions in Yosemite Valley, foothill communities and other areas of the park are improving significantly. Today firefighters will continue restoring trails and fireline to their natural condition, mopping up hot spots, and removing hazard trees in order to open the roads as soon as possible.

Although road closures will remain in place through the Labor Day weekend, Yosemite Valley is open and accessible from Highway 140 via El Portal and Highway 41 from Wawona. In addition, visitors on the east side of the park can still access Tuolumne Meadows, Olmsted Point, and White Wolf via Highway 395 from Lee Vining. Hodgdon Meadow Campground remains open to visitors.

Special Announcements: The evacuation order for the community of Foresta will be lifted at 10:00 AM Friday, September 4, 2009. Residents and property owners with proof of residency or ownership will be allowed unrestricted access to private property and unburned areas in the immediate vicinity of Foresta.

If you are attending the Strawberry Festival at Camp Mather this weekend, please use the Evergreen Road. The Cherry Oil Road is closed through Monday due to traffic accessing fire camp at Drew Meadow.

The fire is now 85% contained and has burned 7354 acres.

Fire Updates

Steven — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:17:41 +0000

It’s looks like firefighters are beginning to get the upper hand on the Big Meadow Fire in Yosemite. Here is the latests from InciWeb:

At 7:30 PM on Monday, August 31, the evacuation of Old El Portal and Yosemite View Lodge was lifted. Residents are cautioned that the Big Meadow Fire remains only 55% contained and fire behavior could dictate additional evacuations in the future, so they should remain vigilant with irreplaceable documents and possessions ready to move. The evacuation of the Foresta community remains in place while firefighters continue to mop up hot spots and cut down hazardous dead and burned trees along access roads.

The fire is now at 4909 acres.

Unfortunately the same can’t be said for all the other fires burning in California. There are currently 11 fire burning out of control in the state with over 100,000 people evacuated from their homes. Sadly 2 firefighters on the Station Fire lost their lives on Sunday when their truck slid down an 800 foot hill side. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of these two men.

Once again I must thank all firefighters for the work they do. These are truly amazing men and women who risk their lives everyday and deserve all the thanks we can give them.

State of Emergency Declared for Yosemite

Steven — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 21:58:18 +0000

A state of emergency was declared today for the Big Meadow Fire burning in Yosemite National Park.The fire has grown to 3506 acres today and forced the evacuation of 500 residents in the towns of Foresta and Old El Portal.

The fire is 16% percent contained with 900 personnel working the lines.

The state of emergency orders all state agencies to release personnel to help fight the fire.

Yosemite Big Meadow Fire Update

Steven — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:39:46 +0000

I’ve yet to find much info to update you guys on this morning.

Yosemite News and Lodging Info is reporting that officials are very concerned that the fire will move down into the Merced River Canyon and threaten the town of El Portal. There is also concern for the Crane Flat area. Crane Flat Campground has been evacuated.

I’m not sure of the size of the fire. I’ve read everything from 1200 to 3000 acres.

Here are the road closings in the area of the fire:

The Big Oak Flat Road is closed from Highway 140 to Crane Flat and the Foresta road into the community of Foresta. There is no estimated time for the road to re-open.
Tioga Road (Highway 120) from Big Oak Flat entrance station is open to Crane Flat, on to Tuolumne Meadows, and Highway 395.

The west facing webcam on Turtleback Dome has had some amazing views of the fire. Including this one from last night.

I’ll keep you guys updated as I get more info. If anyone else has any information, please comment on it.