2010 Autumn/Winter Magazine – Yosemite Conservancy

YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY

INSIDE

ONE DAY TO DISCOVER YOSEMITE

YOUTH PROGRAMS FORGE FUTURE STEWARDS

MEET THE PROGRAMS

EXPERT INSIGHTS ON YOSEMITE SONGBIRDS

YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY COUNCIL MEMBERS

CHAIRMAN

Hal Cranston*

VICE CHAIRMAN

Christy Holloway*

COUNCIL

Jeanne & Michael Adams

Lynda & Scott Adelson

Gretchen Augustyn

David & Chet Barclay

Meg and Bob Beck

Susie & Bob* Bennitt

Barbara Boucke

David Bowman & Gloria Miller

Allan & Marilyn Brown

Gabriella Casares*

Don & Marilyn Conlan

Suzanne Corkins & Trey Pruitt

Hal Cranston*

Leslie & John* Dorman

Dave & Dana* Dornsife

Lisa & Craig Elliott

Kathy Fairbanks

Cynthia & Bill* Floyd

Jim Freedman

Mr. Richard N. Goldman

Bonnie & Rusty*

Gregory

Christy* & Chuck Holloway

Alan Holroyde

Suzanne & Dan* Jensen

Jennifer & Greg Johnson

Jean Lane

Walt Lemmermann*

Bob & Melody Lind

HONORARY TRUSTEES

Thomas Bowman

Ed Grubb

Genelle Relfe

*Indicates Board of Trustees

PRESIDENT’S NOTE

PRESIDENT Mike Tollefson*

VICE PRESIDENT Jerry Edelbrock

Sam & Cindy Livermore

Jon & Lillian Lovelace

Anahita & Jim* Lovelace

Carolyn & Bill Lowman

Dick & Ann* Otter

Norm & Janet Pease

Sharon & Phil* Pillsbury

Arnita & Steve Proffitt

Bill Reller

Frankie & Skip* Rhodes

Angie Rios & Samuel Norman

Liz & Royal Robbins

Lennie & Mike Roberts

Dave Rossetti & Jan Avent

Marjorie & Jay Rossi

Linda & Steve* Sanchez

Thomas & Irene Shephard

Dana Gaffery & Jonathan* Spaulding

Greg & Lisa Stanger

Ann & George* Sundby

Clifford J. Walker*

Jill Appenzeller & Wally Wallner

Jack Walston

Art Baggett & Phyllis* Weber

Polly & Ward* Wolff

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

Superintendent Don Neubacher

We are excited to share this first issue of the Yosemite Conservancy magazine with you. The magazine captures the spirit of our new organization, which resulted from the merger of Yosemite Association and The Yosemite Fund. We hope you like the new look as you read about how to have a perfect day in Yosemite. In this issue, you’ll find an update on our signature project, Youth in Yosemite. You’ll also hear stories from volunteers and supporters, like Owen, who at seven years old has already begun his stewardship of Yosemite. And, we’ve included insights from park experts, like Sarah Stock, who describes the status of Yosemite songbirds.

With each new issue, we will share updates on our projects and insights about Yosemite. If you haven’t already joined us for an Outdoor Adventure or theater program, you’ll learn more about these offerings. Additionally, with the launch of our new website, yosemiteconservancy.org, we will bring you more up-to-the minute information on Yosemite and ways to stay connected.

We have so much to be thankful for this year. We are especially thankful to you, our supporters for your commitment to our organization and to Yosemite. Thank you!

Mike Tollefson, President

04 DISCOVERY DAY

Yosemite Conservancy helps enhance visitor experiences and creates connections for park visitors of all ages.

06 YOUTH IN YOSEMITE

Future park stewards spent the summer working alongside National Park Service employees building knowledge, leadership skills, and a love for the outdoors.

08 MEET THE PROGRAMS

Discover ways to connect with Yosemite–tap into your inner artist, provide information to park visitors, or ski to Ostrander Ski Hut this winter.

10 EXPERT INSIGHTS

Wildlife biologist, Sarah Stock, talks about songbirds in Yosemite and how they’re responding to climate change.

12 Q&A WITH A YOSEMITE INSIDER

Superintendent Don Neubacher shares his thoughts on the value of nonprofit partnerships.

14 PROJECT UPDATES

Tioga Trailheads breaking ground, Pacific fisher research update, Views and Visitors Exhibit images and more.

19 PROGRAM UPDATES

Nightly theater performances, thousands of wilderness permits, interpretive hikes and more.

30 READER’S PHOTOS

Yosemite Conservancy supporters share their special Yosemite memories.

Merced River in Autumn.

DISCOVERY DAY

AMAKING A CONNECTION ON A FIRST VISIT TO YOSEMITE VALLEY

BY CHRISTY HOLLOWAY

friend’s question filled me with excitement. “If you had a day in Yosemite Valley, what would you do?” she asked. The valley’s offerings are so diverse that everyone’s visit is a personal journey of discovery. I love Yosemite and wanted her to feel the same way.

With one day, planning is critical. Yosemite Conservancy and National Park Service websites are excellent resources. As I poured through ideas with my friend to customize her perfect day, it was clear that whether we were discussing vistas, wildlife, art, hiking or history, Conservancy projects and programs would shape her experience.

I wanted her first embrace with the valley to inspire. Tunnel View Overlook is the perfect place to start. The view here is framed by Bridalveil Fall, El Capitan and Half Dome. Having so many natural icons in one location shouts to Yosemite’s inclusion as a World Heritage Site–and why countless people have spent their lives protecting it. Tunnel View today is

improved over its original 1933 designs. A 2008 overhaul using Conservancy donations created larger and safer viewing areas, wheelchair accessibility, educational exhibits, a rebuilt trailhead, revamped parking areas, and more.

It would be easy to spend an entire day at valley overlooks–awed by nature and, perhaps, using your imagination to remember Yosemite’s past.

Walking to the base of Yosemite Falls, the highest waterfall in North America at 2,425 feet, is especially dramatic in springtime when its flow peaks from winter’s snow melt. There’s an easy one-mile loop to an overlook at the base of the falls, an array of educational exhibits, and you can even stand in the place where John Muir lived when he was a woodcutter in Yosemite.

In the evening, consider driving or taking a shuttle bus to enjoy sunset at Glacier Point. It’s a 45-minute trip that puts you at 7,214 feet and 3,200 feet above the valley–at eye level

“If you had a day in Yosemite Valley, what would you do?”

POINTS OF INTEREST

TUNNEL VIEW OVERLOOK

Opened in 1933 at an event called the Pageant of Progress, attended by hundreds.

YOSEMITE FALLS

Look for the ice cone at the base of the upper fall during winter and for roaring runoff April through June.

INFORMATION KIOSKS

Visitors can stop at any of the volunteer visitor information kiosks located throughout the valley.

COOK’S MEADOW

One-third of all of the plant species found in Yosemite occur in its meadows, but comprise just 3% of Yosemite National Park’s area.

VALLEY VISITOR CENTER

Find out information, enjoy exhibits, and browse the Yosemite Conservancy bookstore.

with Half Dome, Yosemite Falls and Clouds Rest.

The Valley Visitor Center is a hub of history, art and information--a place to learn and design new adventures–with help from Conservancy staff and volunteers. The adjacent theater features The Spirit of Yosemite, a stunning film funded by the Conservancy that provides a bird’s-eye view of Yosemite National Park. The bookstore provides a wide assortment of trail maps, educational books and videos for all ages. The proceeds from all purchases are invested back into Yosemite. This bookstore, or similar ones in Wawona or Tuolumne Meadows, are the perfect place to plan a visit or select special mementos to help share your experience with family and friends back home.

Near the Visitor Center is the Yosemite Art & Education Center where resident artists share their skills in daily art classes. Aspiring artists of all ages can paint and draw in the shadow of Half Dome and other famous rock formations that have inspired generations with their majesty and grandeur.

One way to forge deeper connections with Yosemite is to sign up for a class or tour focused on park wildlife, botany, history or trekking in the high country led by Conservancy naturalists. For example,

Continued on Page 11

SUMMERTIME ENRICHED FOR FUTURE PARK STEWARDS

Most of us can remember the moment when we first felt connected with the outdoors and national parks. Whether it was camping and hiking in Yosemite Valley, chasing butterflies in an alpine meadow or simply gazing up at the most enormous tree we had ever seen in Mariposa Grove–those moments will stay with us for a lifetime.

This summer, Yosemite Conservancy helped pass the torch to tomorrow’s leaders and future park stewards by funding Youth in Yosemite. This signature project, made possible by your generosity, provided a $1 million dollar grant to fund several programs in Yosemite, including:

California Conservation Corps (CCC). These crews • repaired front-country trails in the Valley, near Wawona and the Merced River watershed, and more than 60 miles of backcountry trails.

Youth Conservation Corps (YCC). Youth ranging from • 15 to 18 years old helped repair trails, remove invasive species, restore campsites, and more.

•

Student Conservation Association (SCA). High school

and college interns removed illegal campsites and aided in the Dixon art and historic archive preservation projects. Expanded Junior Ranger programs and created new • exhibits at the Nature Center at Happy Isles to give more children a taste of Yosemite’s unique natural features.

JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAMS

The Junior Ranger program helps children, ages 7 to 13, forge deep connections with Yosemite National Park. Donor funding has helped provide the opportunity to keep the Happy Isles Junior Ranger Center open nine months, seven days a week this year.

“We’re providing programs to help show young people the magic of our national parks,” said Victoria Mates, who manages interpretive programs for the National Park Service in Yosemite. “It’s a connection we hope they will carry with them the rest of their lives.”

STUDENT CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION

Six high school interns, members of the SCA group this summer, provided over 1,500 hours of service while removing illegal campsites and restoring these areas to their desired wilderness

ABOVE YCC working to fill mines in the Mono Pass area.

“It’s a connection we hope they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.”

– VICTORIA MATES

character. They covered 71 miles in the southwestern corner of the park.

The students were satisfied to see their handiwork. “It was empowering to see how unpolluted everything was, which reminded us of why we were there,” reminisced one of the participants. “Our experience felt so wild, like we really earned the sense of accomplishment we felt walking out.”

YOUTH CONSERVATION CORPS

Twenty-four teens from across the United States spent eight weeks living and working in Yosemite this summer as part of the Youth Conservation Corps program. This crew of teens quickly formed friendships, and worked together as teammates on challenging trail restoration work in the High Sierra, repairing campground sites and split-rail fence. They worked alongside Miwok elders constructing portions of the new Indian Village in Yosemite Valley, and helped preserve historic structures in the backcountry.

For many participants this was a unique experience. “YCC was an amazing experience,” noted one participant. “It changed my life.” Another teen shared, “This was the best experience of my life.” Youth that participate in these programs are forever a part of the Yosemite family, and many choose to pursue careers in the park service.

“YCC participants have found career paths as biologists, trail interpreters, firefighters, and park utilities and communications specialists,” said José Lopez, YCC Coordinator. Today, more than a dozen YCC alumni work in Yosemite.

YCC PARTICIPANTS FEELINGS ABOUT THEIR TIME IN YOSEMITE

Indescribable Fun

Fulfilled Satisfied Incredible Satiated Blisters

Beyond words Comin’ back Life changing Inspired Sweaty

Accomplished Lovin’ It

RIGHT Trial crews remove debris.

MEET THE PROGRAMS

ENHANCING YOUR VISIT TO YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

Visit us at yosemiteconservancy.org for more information and a calendar of our programs.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE PROGRAMS

Conservancy programs provide special Yosemite park insights for visitors whether they desire a family camping trip or to learn more about Yosemite’s history and culture.

THEATER PROGRAMS

Yosemite stars and storytellers take over the stage seven nights a week throughout the summer to provide entertainment for park visitors.

Participants make new friends while at a Family Camping Jamboree.

Living legend, Lucy Parker shares her Native American history while showing visitors how to make traditional woven baskets.

Actor Lee Stetson, portrays John Muir.

Yosemite Conservancy programs are one of the easiest ways to experience Yosemite. You can participate in a variety of activities from nature walks, theater performances or photography classes and learn from experts along the way. We staff bookstores and

rent bear canisters, and volunteers provide information to visitors throughout the park.

On your next visit, stop and say hi to Yosemite Conservancy staff and volunteers who help even the most veteran Yosemite visitor an opportunity to experience the park in new ways.

YOSEMITE ART & EDUCATION CENTER

The Art & Education Center is located in the heart of Yosemite Valley, and is the perfect place to be inspired and express your creativity. Conservancy art classes are offered daily throughout summer.

WILDERNESS PROGRAMS

Visitors year round benefit from Yosemite Conservancy wilderness programs. The Conservancy manages Ostrander Ski Hut, a traditional Sierra winter destination, along with advance wilderness permits and bear canister rentals.

YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY VOLUNTEERS

Whether they’re sharing park information with visitors, repairing trails, removing invasive species or restoring wilderness areas, volunteers make a noticeable difference in Yosemite.

An art class participant showcases her woodblock rendering of Half Dome.

Volunteers tackle invasive species in Yosemite Valley.

Winter snows provide the base for ski and snowshoe treks to Ostrander Ski Hut.

ABOVE Wildlife Biologist

participants.

YOSEMITE SONGBIRDS

HOW ARE YOSEMITE’S BIRDS RESPONDING TO CLIMATE CHANGE?

BY SARAH STOCK AND RODNEY B. SIEGEL

Yosemite’s much-celebrated birdlife is changing. A UC Berkeley study has found that many Sierra species have shifted their ranges upslope during the past century, likely in response to changes in temperature and precipitation patterns. More recently, researchers from The Institute for Bird Populations (IBP) and the National Park Service discovered that the once common Willow Flycatcher, a diminutive gray-green songbird that brightens the soundscape of Sierra meadows with its’ cheerful “fiz-bew” song, no longer breeds in the park.

Yet these changes likely pale in comparison to changes that are expected to result from accelerating climate change in the coming decades. Assessing the effects of annual weather variation on birds, predicting the effects of future climate change, and identifying management actions that might help cushion species are critical steps for safeguarding Yosemite’s bird populations. Thanks to an enduring partnership between Yosemite National Park Service and IBP, we now have the tools to do all three.

Since 1990 we have operated bird-banding stations at meadows in Yosemite as part of the continent-wide Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS) Program, coordinated by IBP. Capturing, banding, and releasing birds each summer enables us to produce annual indices of adult population size and reproductive success, estimate survival rates, and most importantly, assess changes in Yosemite’s bird populations over

Sarah Stock demonstrates bird banding techniques to YCC

RIGHT Park biologists were excited with the very rare sighting of this Hooded Warbler.

time. Yosemite Conservancy has been integral in providing funding for the last few years of this study.

Preliminary results from Yosemite’s MAPS stations indicate that substantial changes in the populations of common bird species at Yosemite are already happening--we see significant increases in some species, such as the American Robin and Mountain Chickadee, and troubling decreases in several others, including the Dusky Flycatcher and Yellow Warbler. This winter we will conduct a comprehensive analysis of 20 years of Yosemite MAPS data, using cutting-edge techniques to reveal relationships between annual weather variation and the population dynamics of Yosemite’s birds. This analysis will enable researchers to make predictions about longer-term changes in bird populations that are likely to result from climate change.

Sarah Stock is a Wildlife Biologist in Yosemite National Park, and Rodney Siegel is Executive Director, The Institute for Bird Populations.

Interested in reading more about this groundbreaking study? Visit our website for additional details about Yosemite’s Songbirds, yosemiteconservancy.org/yosemite-conservancy-magazine.

Continued from Page 5

there’s a Yosemite Conservancy Outdoor Adventure course on birding, snowshoeing and countless hikes to the lesservisited regions of the park. Photography classes are offered throughout the year to take advantage of the changing seasons and shifting sunlight on granite for which Yosemite is well-known.

Children will enjoy the Junior Ranger program–learning about everything from the park’s bears and Giant Sequoias to its bounding waterfalls and Native American history. Conservancy grants have bolstered children’s education programs over the years, including the recent addition of a children’s learning nook in the Happy Isles Nature Center.

Of course, the best way to see Yosemite is by foot. There are more than 800 miles of hiking trails in the park. The Valley Wilderness Center is staffed by Conservancy employees to provide backcountry permits, bear canister rentals and advice about different hikes.

SARAH STOCK is a Wildlife Biologist at Yosemite National Park where she studies wildlife ranging from songbird population dynamics to the ecology of bats. She earned her Master’s degree at the University of Idaho in 2001 where she focused on the migration ecology of forest owls. She has studied birds in locations ranging from Alaska to the South Pacific islands.

Sarah has authored many technical reports and peer-reviewed publications on western landbird status, ecology, and management; and serves on California Partners in Flight Executive Steering Committee.

YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY has provided a grant to Yosemite National Park to help fund the Yosemite MAPS stations; this research enables park biologists and managers to better understand Yosemite’s songbird populations today and predict longer-term changes into the future.

Experience Yosemite’s songbirds up-close and personal with a knowledgeable park naturalist. Yosemite Conservancy offers a variety of birding courses that will focus on locating and observing birds, as well as learning to identify their songs and environments.

The opportunities to create a perfect day in Yosemite Valley are as staggering as its natural beauty. How would you answer my friend’s question?

Visit us on Facebook and tell us where you would spend your perfect day in Yosemite.

Visitor enjoys the sunset from Glacier Point.

“Giving back to such a magical park is also good for the spirit and soul.”

– DON NEUBACHER Superintendent Yosemite National Park

Q&A

WITH YOSEMITE INSIDER

Don Neubacher was named Yosemite National Park’s new superintendent in February. He previously served as superintendent of Point Reyes National Seashore, deputy general of the Presidio of San Francisco, chief of visitor services at Point Reyes, and a park ranger at Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska.

After his first summer season, Superintendent Neubacher shares with us his experience of living and working in Yosemite and the value of nonprofit partnerships.

Q :: You’ve been on your new post for about eight months now. What do you like best about living and working in Yosemite National Park?

A :: Yosemite is one of the most precious spots on the planet and inspires countless Americans every day. I believe the setting is so powerful it transforms visitors in a positive way about the importance of saving special places, and their role in our quality of life. Could life be better? The park continues to inspire me in many ways and I cannot think of another job in the National Park Service that could be as rewarding as the one I have here.

Q :: How does the National Park Service benefit from a nonprofit partner like Yosemite Conservancy?

A

:: The National Park Service relies on partners for resources and programs that may be outside the scope of the park service budget, but are nonetheless important for preservation, protection, or the visitor experience. Many projects are only possible because of assistance from Yosemite Conservancy, including essential funding for research, ecological restoration, youth education, and wildlife preservation like the current songbird studies; or visitor services such as the new exhibits at the Nature Center at Happy Isles.

Q :: Please describe how a partner like Yosemite Conservancy, which has staff and volunteers working alongside the National Park Service, can enhance a park visitor’s experience.

A :: Yosemite Conservancy staff and volunteers are an integral part of the park’s daily operations and provide resources for services which would otherwise not exist. For example, the Yosemite Conservancy is responsible for managing volunteer information booths and the performances at the Yosemite Theater. Each year, these volunteers inspire and inform thousands of visitors that come to Yosemite.

Q :: Yosemite Conservancy provides grants to the park based on requests passed along by National

Park Service team members. How does your office prioritize which projects to ask for Conservancy funding each year?

A :: Each year, the Yosemite Conservancy generously provides the park with supplemental funding for critical projects that would never be accomplished with limited federal funding. The park creates the proposed projects list by issuing a call for proposals to all staff in the summer. In 2010, the park received close to 70 proposals. The projects are vetted by division chiefs and then sent to the park’s leadership team for final prioritization based on the park’s strategic goals. After careful review, the senior team places each project on a priority list based on its importance to the park overall. This year about 30 of these projects will receive some level of funding. These projects provide the park with a “margin of excellence” that would not be achieved without Conservancy support.

Q :: What advice would you give to someone looking for a quintessential overnight hike in Yosemite?

A :: The park has something for everyone and we try to optimize the experience for each visitor. Choreograph the visit to your personal, educational and recreational needs. My favorites are the overnight hikes from Tioga Road that lead one into the wildness of Yosemite. The park has breathtaking backcountry, not seen by many visitors.

Q :: What are some of the best ways for an individual to help Yosemite?

A :: If you have a passion about National Parks or for Yosemite, get involved. You can volunteer, engage in park planning, or help the Yosemite Conservancy through financial donations. With your help, the beauty and splendor of Yosemite will remain pristine for all visitors and future generations. Your individual help will make a difference. Giving back to such a magical park is also good for the spirit and soul.

Read more from Superintendent Neubacher on our website, yosemiteconservancy.org/yosemite-conservancy-magazine

New Projects in 2010*

TRAIL REPAIR & ACCESS

California Conservation Corps Crew

Legendary Valley Trails

$355,775

$411,450

Yosemite Trails Campaign (8 trails) $2,547,535

Youth Conservation Corps Program

HABITAT RESTORATION

Crane Flat Habitat Restoration

$319,350

$124,322

Harden Lake Road Removal - Phase 2 $107,270

Upper Cathedral Meadow Restoration $196,102

Wilderness Restoration

$199,050

VISITOR SERVICES & EDUCATION

Dixon Art Preservation

Hansen Interpretive Ranger Fund

Happy Isles Exhibit Upgrade

Historic Archive Preservation

$37,970

$19,836

$4,000

$50,000

Indian Village Exhibit Renovation $9,500

Junior Ranger Center at Happy Isles

Mariposa Grove Visitor

Experience Studies

Nature Notes Web Series

$67,000

$200,000

$50,000

Views and Visitors Museum Exhibit $50,074

Wawona Search & Rescue Cache Upgrade

Yosemite Guide

CULTURAL & HISTORIC PRESERVATION

High Sierra Camps National Register Nomination

Merced Lake Cabin Restoration

Residence 1 Preservation Study

Thomas Hill Studio Fountain Restoration

$13,500

$67,300

SONGBIRD RESEARCH

ARE YOSEMITE’S SONGBIRDS STILL SINGING?

$40,420

$59,488

$75,000

$91,225

Wawona Hotel Fountain Restoration $160,625

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

High Elevation Plant Survey

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

Following Yosemite’s

T$174,360

by a symphony of songbirds. A study to determine if Yosemite’s migratory birds are declining or are shifting their habitats is being funded by Yosemite Conservancy. In 2010, the National Park Service, in partnership with The Institute for Bird Populations, completed a three-year $115,000 songbird-monitoring program that is part of a national effort called Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship (MAPS). Our funding enabled a comprehensive analysis of population trends of Yosemite’s montane-meadow songbirds. Fieldwork was completed in August 2010, and data analysis and a final report are expected in summer 2011. To involve and educate the public about songbird conservation, interpretative programs were conducted the past two summers. Learn more about the study in our Expert Insights feature on page 10.

*Total project funding is included for multi-year projects.

Green-tailed Towhee.

HHARDEN LAKE RESTORATION

CORPORATE VOLUNTEERS LEND A HAND IN

RESTORATION EFFORTS

arden Lake is a small sub-alpine lake sitting at 7,600 feet above sea level near the White Wolf area in Yosemite National Park. The Conservancy and National Park Service are cooperating on a two-year project to remove and restore 1.5 miles of closed and abandoned road that runs between Harden Lake and White Wolf. This restoration effort will allow 38 acres of potential wilderness to be designated as “wilderness status.”

In 2010, park staff with the help of Capital Group Companies’ volunteers began removal and restoration of the old road. In 2011, efforts will focus on mulching and reseeding to facilitate natural restoration of the area. This work complements that of a 2009 project, which created a single-track trail in place of an old road by Harden Lake. Together, the projects will dramatically improve wilderness character between White Wolf and Harden Lake, as well as reestablish natural topography, and improve hydrology and forest habitat.

Capital Group Companies’ volunteers hard at work removing an old road bed.

THE PACIFIC FISHER

STUDY OF THREATENED PACIFIC FISHERS UNDERWAY

The Pacific fisher, a medium-sized forest mammal associated with mature and old growth forests, has disappeared from more than half its former range in California and is a candidate for the endangered species list. To help determine the population size and status of fishers in Yosemite National Park, the Conservancy is funding a multi-year research study.

Fifty-six motion-activated camera stations have been strategically located throughout the park to document fisher presence. In addition to the cameras, these sites include scented boxes to attract the animals and secure DNA that will allow wildlife biologists to determine population counts and range of movement.

First year results have provided valuable information, including clear documentation of Pacific fishers in the park and information on their habitat associations. Preliminary results suggest that fisher activity in Yosemite is concentrated in its southern areas–around Mariposa Grove and along the Wawona Road. Study results will help park management determine how best to aid in the recovery of Pacific fishers and the broader ecosystem.

This study is a partnership with the National Park Service, California Department of Fish and Game and UC Berkeley.

Motion-detector camera photograph of Pacific fisher.

TIOGA TRAILHEADS

TRAILHEADS IMPROVED FOR VISITOR SAFETY AND ENJOYMENT

Tioga Road is the only trans-Sierra route in the park, traveling across the northern section of Yosemite National Park. With access to hundreds of miles of trails in Yosemite’s vast wilderness, these trailheads are heavily used during summer. On any given day, you may see backpackers gearing up for a multiday trip, day hikers headed out for an afternoon, or visitors stopping briefly to stretch their legs and take in the view.

Major improvements are being made in 2010 and 2011 to ten trailheads along the Tioga Road corridor. Upon completion of this project, these trailhead areas will safely and attractively improve way-finding and circulation for motorists and pedestrians, create accessible walkways and restroom facilities, include orientation and interpretive exhibits, and provide designated areas for picnicking, trip planning, and congregation of groups.

When Tioga Road re-opens in 2011, look for improvements at Gaylor Lakes at Tioga Pass, Snow Creek, Lower May Lake Road, Ten Lakes, Yosemite Creek, and Tamarack Flat.

Opening Windows to Yosemite’s Early Visitors

Imagine stepping into Yosemite Valley’s Cosmopolitan Bathhouse and Saloon in the late 1800s to discover that President Rutherford B. Hayes had just signed the hotel register. The “Grand Register of YoSemite Valley,” with 800 pages of entries including those of presidents Ulysses S. Grant, Theodore Roosevelt, James Garfield and Hayes, was one of hundreds of items in an interactive exhibit at the Yosemite Museum Gallery entitled “Views & Visitors: The Yosemite Experience in the 19th Century.” The exhibit featured early park visitor photographs, souvenirs, paintings, prints and other artifacts. A $50,000 contribution by Yosemite Conservancy along with funding from the National Park Service preserved this memorabilia and created the exhibit, allowing thousands of new visitors to step through a window in time to a bygone era.

This project will improve orientation and signage for trailheads like Ten Lakes.

YOSEMITE TREASURES PRESERVED

Yosemite archivists and a $52,000 contribution by Yosemite Conservancy have preserved one of the most remarkable collections of wildlife images in the National Park Service. The collection of Joseph Dixon, a National Park Service wildlife biologist and photographer, contains approximately 7,400 early wildlife images from Yosemite and other western national parks. Acquired by the Yosemite Archives in 2008, the collection contains lantern slides, glass plates, nitrate, and cellulose photographic negatives, prints, and field notes created by Dixon from 1909 to 1952. This project preserved and protected the collection, as well as digitized images for increased access and use.

The Dixon collection adds to the massive Yosemite Archives that contain approximately 100,000 slides and 8,000 historic drawings. A $63,000 Yosemite Conservancy grant funded new equipment as well as the time of eight Student Conservation Association interns who scanned these slides and drawings. So far, thousands of images have been digitized and incorporated into a searchable database. Both of these projects help preserve Yosemite’s irreplaceable artistic treasures.

ABOVE Archivists preserve historic images of Yosemite. BELOW An image of the high country from a painted lantern slide.

ART IN YOSEMITE

VISITORS CREATE THEIR OWN MASTERPIECES

“This is about shaping memories and connections–eye, heart and soul.”

– DONNA NAES Resident Artist

Yosemite has inspired artists and performers for generations, and today Yosemite Conservancy provides many activities for park visitors to be immersed in the arts. Art in the Park programs encompass the Art & Education Center, Yosemite Theater, and support for events, like the Parsons Summer Series in Tuolumne.

Yosemite Theater, located near the Valley Visitor Center, buzzes with performances throughout the summer season. This year, more than 10,000 visitors experienced lively performances by a variety of notable local actors and Yosemite personalities. Performers shared stories ranging from Yosemite’s Buffalo Soldiers to more contemporary climbing experiences.

“Our presenters directly channel for the audience ways of experiencing Yosemite through others, past and present: a great naturalist, a rock climber, a Park Ranger, a Buffalo Soldier, and in my program a century’s worth of tourists,” said Tom Bopp, a Yosemite Theater performer.

Art courses taught in the Art & Education Center reach over 2,000 visitors in the course of a season and carry on the long tradition of capturing Yosemite in a variety of mediums. Resident artist Donna Naes sums up the experience perfectly: “This is about shaping memories and connections–eye, heart and soul.”

TOP RIGHT Young painter participates in Yosemite art class TOP LEFT Art class participant’s depiction of Yosemite Falls.

ABOVE The open backcountry surrounding Ostrander Ski Hut is a favorite destination for cross-country skiers.

RIGHT Hiker’s find “opportunities for solitude” in Yosemite’s wilderness.

WILDERNESS PROGRAM

STREAMLINING ACCESS TO BACKCOUNTRY SOLITUDE

Conservancy staff fulfills an important role in augmenting National Park Service efforts to avoid overcrowding of areas, which are meant to provide opportunities for solitude. This year, Yosemite Conservancy staff issued over 7,400 advance permits and assisted the National Park Service in issuing over 6,400 permits out of the valley’s Wilderness Center.

Conservancy staff provides necessary bear canister rentals and information to backcountry hikers. Bear canisters are essential in Yosemite for helping to keep bears wild and hikers safe. This year, Yosemite Conservancy staff rented over 11,000 canisters to park visitors.

Ostrander Ski Hut, located at the edge of Ostrander Lake, is open to backcountry skiers and snowshoers from late December until early April. The hut is managed and maintained by seasonal hut keepers. Ostrander Ski Hut is so popular that spots are secured through an annual reservation lottery. Last winter, there were over 13,000 overnight visits.

This winters’ lottery takes place on November 22, with a request deadline of November 19 at 4pm. Visit our website for more information and to check availability of any remaining reservation spots.

Strap on your skis or snowshoes and come experience the magic and serenity of Ostrander Ski Hut. Season starts December 2010 and ends in April of 2011. Make your ski hut reservations online at yosemiteconservancy.org or call 209.372.0740.

OUTDOOR CLASSROOM

SHARING THE WONDERS OF YOSEMITE

Education is an important element in the forging of future stewards and preservation of Yosemite National Park. The Conservancy offers educational opportunities through our Outdoor Education program, a series of interpretive courses led by experienced Yosemite naturalists and related experts. Program participants leave with a deepened appreciation for Yosemite’s wildlife, geology and cultural significance.

This year, participants were offered a wide range of educational seminars covering topics including birdlife, wildflowers, photography, backpacking trips, watercolor painting, and family programs. Our expert instructors enjoy sharing their knowledge and passion for Yosemite. A recent Outdoor Adventure participant, Nancy Lacher said of her experience, “Our instructor was a great storyteller. He made a point to spend individual time with each participant.”

Families large and small can select their own subject matter and create a unique experience in Yosemite by planning a custom adventure with an expert naturalist or guide.

Planning your next visit to Yosemite? Visit our website, yosemiteconservany.org, and review the list of Outdoor Adventure classes offered. Join your favorite activity or plan your own custom trip.

TOP Join our instructors on a snow shoe adventure in Yosemite.

MIDDLE Photographers of all skill levels join an autumn photography class in Yosemite.

BOTTOM Participants scale Half Dome cables.

arlier this year we received a note from a very special friend of Yosemite, Owen, age 7, of Los Altos, California. He has been visiting Yosemite with his family since he was five, and has discovered what a precious place it is.

TAILS FROM OUR MAILBOX

Thank you Owen – we love Yosemite too, and want to keep it special.

Owen shared some of his favorite memories of Yosemite with us

FAVORITE PLACE

Half Dome. I like being able to find it when I’m in the park. Someday I want to climb it.

FAVORITE ACTIVITIES

Climbing on boulders near the waterfalls, going for night hikes during a full moon and sledding down the hills.

FAVORITE ACTIVITIES

Black bears! I saw one once, but I was on a bus.

The Yosemite license plate features the world famous image of the valley from Tunnel View. Californians who purchase this specialty plate for their vehicles help provide funding to many diverse projects within Yosemite National Park.

It’s a great way to show your love of Yosemite and brighten the commute for other drivers.

Owen, age 7, a Junior Ranger and steward of Yosemite National Park.

MY SUMMER IN YOSEMITE

Yolanda “Lannie” Kochs of Folsom, California, has volunteered with the Yosemite Conservancy for two years. This past summer she spent a month as a visitor information volunteer. We asked her to share some of her favorite experiences in the Valley.

WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE VOLUNTEER LOCATION?

A favorite? I enjoy them all. The Nature Center at Happy Isles is exciting because children are looking for rangers, bears, and waterfalls. They become wide-eyed when you talk about the Granite Staircase where John Muir once walked.

WHAT QUESTION DO YOU HEAR THE MOST?

‘Where can I see a bear?’, immediately followed by ‘What do I do if I see a bear?’

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BECOME A YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY VOLUNTEER?

Volunteering in Yosemite National Park is a privilege. It has always been my desire to share my passion for the outdoors, respect for water, land, and living things. Each day in the park allows me that opportunity.

Thank you Lannie, and all our dedicated volunteers!

Volunteer Program

by Yosemite

Your support allows Conservancy volunteers to devote their time enhancing Yosemite and improving visitor services. Our programs were recently awarded the very first Yosemite Volunteer Award for Program of the Year, and will be eligible for the national George and Helen Hartzog Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service.

Additionally, Volunteer Program Manager Suzy Hasty was recognized as Volunteer Supervisor of the Year. National Park Service representative Heather Boothe said of the program Suzy leads, “as the primary nonprofit partner to the park, the Conservancy’s volunteer program is integral to park operations.

We want you…to Volunteer in Yosemite

Volunteers are vital to the work of Yosemite Conservancy. This past season saw the arrival of over 400 volunteers, joining either as individuals or with their corporate work teams. This enthusiastic group helped provide information to park visitors, restored trails, rehabilitated wilderness areas, and more. Our volunteers help provide personal connections with Yosemite for over 250,000 visitors each year. These dedicated individuals are people like you–they love Yosemite and want to do even more to protect it. Without their efforts, many projects would simply not happen.

HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED BECOMING A YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY VOLUNTEER? There are a variety of volunteer opportunities that suit all interests and abilities. Whether greeting visitors and answering their questions or restoring meadows and eradicating invasive species, Yosemite Conservancy volunteers make a difference in the park.

Learn more at yosemiteconservancy.org

PHOTO: © VIRGINIA SHANNON

YOSEMITE CONSERVANY

Magazine of Yosemite Conservancy, published twice a year

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Jennifer Miller

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Pete Bartelme

Schuyler Greenleaf

Christy Holloway

Don Neubacher

DESIGN

Plumbline Studios

PRINT PRODUCTION

Noel Morrison

Sarah Stock Mike Tollefson

TradeMark Graphics, Inc.

STAFF

SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE

Mike Tollefson, President

Jerry Edelbrock, Vice President

Darlene Bellucci, Annual & Planned Giving Manager

Edin Draper-Beard, Executive Affairs Manager

Schuyler Greenleaf, Project Director

Greg Immel, Data Services Manager

Jennifer Miller, Communications Manager

Adriana Pannick, Development Associate

Kit Thomas, Accounting & Operations Manager

Christina Yu, Data & Donor Services Assistant

Kristine Zeigler, Development Director

YOSEMITE OFFICE

Tom Arfsten, Sales Station Supervisor

Nicole Brocchini, Museum Store Supervisor

Pete Devine, Resident Naturalist

Carolyn King, Office Manager

Todd King, Sales Director

Holly Kuehn, Registrar

Suzy Hasty, Volunteer Program Manager

Denise Ludington, Accounting Coordinator

Noel Morrison, Marketing Manager

Angie Sberna, Accounting Director

John Samples, Warehouse Assistant

Shelly Stephens, Inventory Manager

Laurie Stowe, Wilderness Center Manager

Cindy Wohler, Valley Sales Supervisor

© November 2010

Volume 1, Issue 1

Federal Tax Identification

#94-3058041

It’s Easy to Connect with Yosemite Conservancy

CONTACT US

Donor Services

Yosemite Conservancy 155 Montgomery Street, Suite 1104

San Francisco, CA 94104

800.469.7275 or 415.434.1782

Fax: 415.434.0745

info@yosemiteconservancy.org

STAY CONNECTED

Learn how your gifts have supported Yosemite. Visit our website and sign-up to receive our monthly e-newsletter.

Visit yosemiteconservancy.org

WAYS TO SUPPORT

Friends of Yosemite

Protecting the beauty and wonder of Yosemite for future generations. Visit yosemiteconservancy.org/ friends-yosemite

Sequoia Society

Making a monthly donation is an easy way to make a lasting difference. Visit yosemiteconservancy.org/ sequoia-society

John Muir Heritage Society

Investing in Yosemite’s future with generous gifts of $1,000 or more annually.

Visit yosemiteconservancy.org/johnmuir-heritage-society

Gifts of Stock

Significant contribution to protect and preserve Yosemite. We want to thank you for your gift. Please contact Darlene Bellucci at 800.469.7275 x318 or dbellucci@yosemiteconservancy.org to notify us of your gift.

Joseph Le Conte Legacy Society

Leave a legacy to Yosemite. For more information about making a legacy gift, contact Darlene Bellucci at 800.469.7275 x318 or dbellucci@yosemiteconservancy.org.

Gifts in Honor

Distinctive and inspirational gifts that help provide for Yosemite’s future. Visit yosemiteconservancy.org/giftshonor or for more information, call 800.469.7275, or email us info@yosemitefund.org.

Gifts in Memory

Recognize a loved one with a special gift that protects and preserves Yosemite.

Visit yosemiteconservancy.org/giftsmemory or for more information, call 800.469.7275, or email us info@yosemitefund.org.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Greet park visitors, restore meadows or repair trails.

Visit yosemiteconservancy.org/ volunteer, or call 209.379.2317

Add them to your library or give them as gifts for the Yosemite fans in your life.