2012 Spring/Summer Magazine – Yosemite Conservancy

YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY

Inspiring the Next Generation of Park Stewards

Youth Share Their Inspirational Stories

Outdoor Adventures with a Conservancy Naturalist

Expert Insights on Protecting Yosemite’s Bears

Q&A With National Park Service Rangers

YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY COUNCIL MEMBERS

CHAIRMAN

John Dorman*

VICE CHAIR

Christy Holloway*

COUNCIL

Michael & Jeanne Adams

Lynda & Scott Adelson

Gretchen Augustyn

Susan & Bill Baribault

Meg & Bob Beck

Suzy & Bob* Bennitt

David Bowman & Gloria Miller

Tori & Bob Brant

Marilyn & Allan Brown

Marilyn & Don R. Conlan

Hal Cranston*

Leslie & John* Dorman

Dave & Dana* Dornsife

Lisa & Craig Elliott

Kathy Fairbanks*

Cynthia & Bill* Floyd

Jim Freedman

Don & Susan Fuhrer

Bonnie & Rusty* Gregory

Christy* & Chuck Holloway

Dan* & Suzanne Jensen

Gregory* & Jennifer Johnson

Jean Lane

Walt Lemmermann*

PRESIDENT & CEO

Mike Tollefson*

VICE PRESIDENT & COO

Jerry Edelbrock

Bob & Melody Lind

Sam & Cindy Livermore

Anahita & Jim Lovelace

Lillian Lovelace

Carolyn & Bill Lowman

Dick Otter

Sharon & Phil* Pillsbury

Bill Reller

Skip* & Frankie Rhodes

Angie Rios & Samuel Norman

Liz & Royal Robbins

Lennie & Mike Roberts

Dave Rossetti & Jan Avent*

Marjorie & Jay Rossi

Linda & Steve* Sanchez

Lisa and Greg* Stanger

Jennifer & Russ Stanton

Ann & George* Sundby

Clifford J. Walker*

Wally Wallner & Jill Appenzeller

Jack Walston

Phyllis* Weber & Art Baggett

Polly & Ward* Wolff

HONORARY TRUSTEES

Thomas Bowman Ed Grubb

Genelle Relfe

Thomas J. Shephard, Sr.

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

Superintendent Don Neubacher

*Indicates Board of Trustees

Providing for Yosemite’s future is our passion. We inspire people to support projects and programs that preserve and protect Yosemite National Park’s resources and enrich the visitor experience.

PRESIDENT’S NOTE

Youth in Yosemite: Changing Lives & Inspiring Stewardship

Do you remember that first moment when you were spellbound by Yosemite?

For me, it was visiting the park with my family when I was five years old. I was mesmerized by the granite walls rising up from the valley floor. Their sheer scale and majesty continues to captivate me each and every time I visit Yosemite.

At the Conservancy we understand the power of interacting with nature to bring about life-altering experiences. That’s why we are providing funding to cultivate the next generation of park stewards. And why we bring you their stories in this issue.

Dan Martinez and Vera Reyes, two of many Youth in Yosemite Program participants, have shared their personal experiences so you will have a first-hand view of how your support is helping empower and change the course of lives. We also talked with Park Rangers Shauna Potocky and Jesse Chakrin about the value of Youth in Yosemite Programs for the thousands of young people that join each year.

If you haven’t visited Yosemite recently, it’s a great time to come back and see your support making an impact. You’ll see habitat restoration projects spanning the park from Tenaya Lake’s East Beach to Mariposa Grove and more in between. This issue covers new ways to make your trip planning easier whether you’re headed to the backcountry or staying in Yosemite Valley.

Your commitment to Yosemite means that thousands of youth will have a lifechanging experience in nature’s greatest classroom. We thank you for your support.

See you in the park,

Mike Tollefson, President

COVER PHOTO Erin (The Hammer) Hammes pauses for a photo while shoveling snow chutes at the top of Four Mile Trail to open the trail for the summer season. Erin, from Florida, is one of the dedicated California Conservation Corps crew members that spend their summer in the park restoring trails and wilderness areas.

Join Yosemite Conservancy on Facebook and Flickr

03.ISSUE 01

04 MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE

Youth in Yosemite Program participants share their inspirational stories after spending a season in the park.

06 TRAILS RECEIVE A MAKEOVER FROM YOUTH CREWS

Youth crews rejuvenate miles of trails, enhancing park visitors’ experiences while protecting wildlife and habitat.

08 PLANNING AN ADVENTURE? DON’T FORGET YOUR NATURALIST.

Discover all the ways you can experience Yosemite’s wonders with a Conservancy expert on hand to share their insider knowledge.

10 EXPERT INSIGHTS

Wildlife biologist Caitlin Lee-Roney describes how electronic monitoring protects both bears and park visitors.

12 Q&A WITH A YOSEMITE INSIDER

Park Rangers Jesse Chakrin and Shauna Potocky reveal the importance of Youth in Yosemite Programs for inspiring the next generation of park stewards.

14 PROJECT UPDATES

Enhancements made for visitors planning park trips, habitat restoration projects that improve the natural experience, and protecting Yosemite’s bears with electronic monitoring.

19 PROGRAM UPDATES

Retrace John Muir’s footsteps with Outdoor Adventures, and plan a memorable backcountry trip with help from the Conservancy.

30 READER PHOTOS

Yosemite Conservancy supporters share their special Yosemite memories.

“Helping people like that hiker was a powerful experience.”

— DAN MARTINEZ Yosemite Leadership Program

Dreams MAKING COME TRUE

Youth in Yosemite Participants Share Their Inspirational Stories

It was getting late, almost 11 p.m. The hiker was panicked, having lost contact with his friend on their trek back from Yosemite’s Half Dome a few hours before. The air was growing cold.

Fortunately, he arrived at a backcountry camp staffed by two park rangers and four interns with the Yosemite Leadership Program (YLP). YLP partners University of California, Merced students with National Park Service employees to teach stewardship and leadership skills. Dan Martinez, 25, one of the interns onsite that night, set off with the others on a six-hour search for the missing hiker. “We were the first responders in the area,” shared Dan. “Helping people like that hiker was a powerful experience.”

Vera Reyes, 19, faced a different set of challenges in Yosemite as a participant in Adventure Risk Challenge (ARC), a 40-day

summer immersion program that uses the wilderness experience to improve academics, literacy and other skills. One of her memories was gaining the confidence to teach younger students about the park’s ecology. “Many kids didn’t know what a meadow is,” she said. “To help educate them meant a lot to me.”

Vera’s and Dan’s experiences stem from a common bond: both participated in Youth in Yosemite Programs supported by Yosemite Conservancy. The Conservancy has contributed more than $2.3 million over the last two years to fund a variety of Youth in Yosemite Programs with a goal to provide $1.3 million this year. These programs combine the best in youth development with park preservation, such as restoring trails, teaching children about the wild or working in wilderness areas alongside National Park Service staff.

LEARNING BY DOING

Growing up, a trip Dan took with his uncle hooked him on the outdoors. “We went backpacking in Alaska and my uncle taught me about natural history and animal behavior,” Dan said. “It made me want to try and give back and contribute to the environment.” He seized that opportunity with YLP.

Dan’s summer season was spent working with park rangers in the search and rescue group in Little Yosemite Valley. He advised hikers about tricky spots on the trail, provided basic first aid and once even helped to evacuate a hiker suffering from seizures.

Dan remembers with excitement working with the team to pinpoint the lost hiker’s location. “We finally heard a faint voice in the distance. For

sure, it was him,” Dan recalls. The lost hiker was stranded on a large rock outcropping, too nervous to go up or down. With the dedicated help of the park search and rescue staff and the YLP interns, by 5 a.m. everyone was safely at camp, the hiker reunited with his relieved friend.

Dan explained that these hands-on experiences in Yosemite reinforced his love for the outdoors and that he’d like to eventually work for a nonprofit conservation group. “Your experiences in Yosemite always stay with you,” he shared.

FINDING YOUR DREAM JOB

Vera hadn’t had the chance to visit Yosemite until she was in 11th grade even though she grew up two hours away in Dos Palos, a small town in California’s Central Valley. Her family was busy with agricultural work and did not have time for exploring the outdoors. That changed for Vera when a friend invited her to Yosemite.

“The first thing that caught my eye was El Capitan. I had no idea there was such a granite rock like that,” Vera reminisced. “Just seeing and knowing this place existed gave me an urge to come back.”

By participating in ARC, Vera overcame her fears of public speaking, heights and trust in others. Along the way she developed a newfound confidence and strong leadership skills. By learning to depend on others she found new strength in herself. She also credits the program with improving her writing and presentation skills.

Vera is now a freshman at University of California, Merced. “ARC is the reason I’m here at UC Merced. Back in high school, I underestimated myself, but now I’m aiming higher to achieve more,” she said. Vera is studying biology with the dream of working as a park ranger to inspire and educate children.

Want to read more about Vera and Dan’s experiences in Yosemite?

Visit our website yosemiteconservancy.org/magazine

BOTTOM LEFT Vera conquers her fear of heights while repelling on Yosemite’s granite walls with the ARC team. TOP FROM LEFT TO RIGHT Dan pauses for a photo by the Grizzly Giant in the Mariposa Grove. Dan finds time to reflect while soaking up the view during his YLP experience. Vera and her group joyfully celebrate their wilderness achievements. Vera shows off her newfound confidence in the outdoors.

REJUVENATION Trails Receive a Makeover from Youth Crews

Rejuvenation – this one word was all Lou Summerfield needed to describe the impact made to Yosemite’s natural resources by Conservancy funded Youth in Yosemite Programs.

Summerfield, chief of roads & trails for Yosemite National Park, oversees repair of the park’s 800 miles of trails and 300 miles of road. He explained that the work youth crews are doing to improve trails, campgrounds and meadows is critical to protecting the park’s natural resources. It also frees up park trail crews to focus on work requiring more technical expertise.

“Everything youth crews do in Yosemite results in a direct improvement to park visitors’ experiences. They build defined pathways to prevent people from wandering on sensitive areas, remove non-native berry bushes to preserve meadows and fix fire rings to improve campsites,” said Summerfield. “All of this work keeps areas of the park accessible and protected.”

In 2011, thirty-six 15-18 year-olds participating in the Youth

Conservation Corps (YCC) program completed 11,000 hours of maintenance on 30 miles of trails, including locations like Tamarack Flat, Glen Aulin, May Lake and Tenaya Lake. They replaced 175 campground fire rings and 125 picnic tables. During eight weeks in 2012, YCC crews will restore more campgrounds, install bear-proof lockers and assist with the construction of a American Indian Round House.

Young people participating in these programs help preserve Yosemite’s special places, yet the greatest benefit often occurs in their own outlook and career aspirations after spending a summer working in the park. Aileen, a 17-year-old from Visalia, CA, reflected on her time with YCC in 2011. “This program has influenced me to major in forestry or environmental engineering. I would love to be a National Park Service employee one day!”

California Conservation Corps (CCC) crews in Yosemite, who range in age from 18-25, repair trails while receiving career development training and support to advance education goals. In 2010-11, they maintained over 110 miles of trails in the

REJUVENATION

park, including 35 miles of trails in Yosemite Valley such as the Yosemite Falls, Four-Mile and John Muir trails.

“Some sections of these legendary trails are well over 100 years old,” said Dave Kari, trails supervisor for Yosemite National Park, who works with the CCCs. “By reconstructing these trails in a similar manner to their original construction, visitors can hike along trails that are strikingly similar to what it was like to visit the park in the early 1900s.”

In 2012, the CCCs will repair 60 miles of trails in the Merced watershed. They will also work on 40 miles of trails in the Tuolumne watershed, an area that includes streams, meadows, granite domes, canyons and the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.

Departing CCC crew members echo sentiments shared by other youth participants on the ability of these programs to profoundly impact their lives. When asked what they would say to our donors, Michael, 24, from Cleveland, OH, shared, “This is a unique opportunity to the young men

and women of this country to step up and learn first-hand the importance of the National Park System. Giving your support enables a new generation to experience, grow and shape the future of Yosemite.”

In many areas of the park, hikers create new trails leading in and out of campgrounds that impact delicate ecosystems. High school students in the Student Conservation Association (SCA) remove these “social” trails. Last year, SCA crews improved areas around 153 campsites stretching from the north rim of Yosemite Valley to the Ten Lakes area in the high country. In 2012, they’ll continue this important work.

Victoria Hartman, wilderness restoration coordinator for Yosemite National Park, said about the SCA’s work, “it improves the sense of wilderness, solitude and natural processes in these areas by reducing human impacts.” Thanks to hundreds of dedicated young people, the pathways that lead hikers through the park are being constantly rejuvenated and keeping the ‘wild’ in wilderness.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT The YCC sign indicates youth crews are hard at work. A YCC crew does some heavy lifting to clear trails of debris. SCA participants work together to remove obstructions from park trails. A YCC participant intently focuses on the job at hand during trail maintenance. A CCC crew puts their newfound skills to work constructing a debris shelter out of found materials in the wilderness.

ABOVE Wildlife biologist Sarah Stock leads an upcoming adventure in Yosemite’s high country to search for birds of prey, including the great gray owl.

BELOW Park Ranger and Interpreter Yenyen Chan shares a historical image with a group of participants during a cultural and natural history walk in Yosemite.

Planning an Adventure? Don’t Forget Your Naturalist.

When hiking in Yosemite you may have pondered questions about the plants and wildlife you’ve encountered, spying a pika and wondering “what does it eat?” or stopped to admire a granite feature and asked “what created these arches or this dome?”

For many visitors these questions simply go unanswered. We believe answering these questions is an essential part of sharing the wonders of Yosemite and understanding how it was formed, the life it sustains, and the means for protecting it. That’s why the Conservancy offers naturalists, guides, and artists to share their knowledge with you through Outdoor Adventures.

PHOTO: © KEITH WALKLET.

PHOTO: © YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY.

ABOVE A jubilant hiker descends Half Dome on an Outdoor Adventure backpacking trip. BELOW Explore Mariposa Grove with your family on a custom adventure and build a deeper understanding of these majestic trees. For example, did you know the small cone (held by the park visitor) is from a sequoia, while the large cone is from a sugar pine?

ABOVE Challenge yourself on a backpacking trip to the remote Lyell Glacier with a knowledgeable guide and experience the thrill of climbing a living glacier. BELOW Celebrated Yosemite photographer Keith Walklet shares special techniques and tips for capturing the perfect Vernal Fall image during a photography workshop.

PHOTO: © YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY.

PHOTO: © KEITH WALKET.

PHOTO: © ANDREW KEE.

PHOTO: © KEITH WALKLET.

PROTECTING YOSEMITE’S BEARS

ELECTRONIC MONITORING PROTECTS VISITORS & BEARS

BY CAITLIN LEE-RONEY, WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST

Seeing a wild black bear can be the most amazing and memorable part of a trip to Yosemite. Unfortunately, many Yosemite bear encounters happen in developed areas, including campgrounds and parking lots, resulting in property damage or other human-bear conflicts. These types of bear experiences give visitors a distorted impression of these spectacular animals, compared to a visitor who has the opportunity to watch a bear forage naturally in a meadow or forest.

By nature, bears are curious and intelligent animals that learn quickly from experiences and have an amazing sense of smell. These attributes help bears succeed in the wild, but they can also lead to conflicts with people. Bears naturally feed on a wide variety of foods easily found in the park including grasses, berries, insects, and acorns. When bears are exposed, intentionally or by accident, to human foods their behavior may

LEFT A Yosemite black bear is monitored by wildlife management staff so that it continues to eat grass, not human food.

MIDDLE A black bear roams in its natural surroundings near El Capitan. RIGHT

A wildlife management staff member ensures electronic bear monitoring equipment is functioning properly.

quickly adapt. When bears discover these new food sources, they soon become “food conditioned” and may begin entering developed areas in search of human food. This behavior frequently results in damage to vehicles and other property.

When a bear starts exhibiting this new behavior, wildlife management staff trap, tag (for identification purposes), and fit the animal with a radio collar or ear tag that transmits a signal that can be picked up using a hand-held receiver. Each bear wearing a radio collar is monitored and discouraged from moving into developed areas by trained staff.

One of the most useful tools that bear managers in Yosemite currently utilize to keep bears from spending time in developed areas are electronic monitoring systems (referred to as Monitoring Boxes), used to detect radio-collared bears within developed areas in Yosemite Valley.

The Monitoring Boxes log data during peak visitation months and immediately alert bear management staff through park radios when a bear is within a monitored area. These boxes also record bear activity data including the times and dates that particular bears are in each area. This data not only allows wildlife management staff to respond to bear incidents, but will also inform future management strategies.

In 2012, Yosemite Conservancy will provide funding to upgrade old equipment and expand the monitoring area to cover up to 12 campgrounds and developed areas, ultimately reducing the number of bear incidences that occur each year. Valuable tools like these make it possible to maintain a healthier bear population in Yosemite, and help provide visitors with positive experiences of observing bears in their natural habitat.

CAITLIN LEE-RONEY is a Wildlife Biologist at Yosemite National Park overseeing the Bear Management Program. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a B.S. in Ecology and Evolution, and a B.A. in Environmental Studies. Before becoming a permanent Yosemite employee in 2007, Caitlin spent eight summers working for Yosemite’s Bear Program as both a volunteer and a seasonal employee. Having grown up in the park with ranger parents, she has a life-long connection to Yosemite, and is committed to protecting Yosemite’s wildlife.

Want to learn even more about bear monitoring and protecting in Yosemite?

Read more on our website yosemiteconservancy.org/ magazine

PHOTOS:

“These programs change lives. Many find peace and self-confidence.”

— JESSE CHAKRIN National Park Service Ranger

Q&A

WITH A YOSEMITE INSIDER

National Park Service Rangers

Jesse Chakrin and Shauna Potocky inspire young people in Yosemite — many of whom have never known the wonders of a national park — through Youth in Yosemite Programs funded in part by Yosemite Conservancy. They use the magic of Yosemite to expose youth to new ideas, environments and ways of living. In the process, new generations of environmental stewards are born and youth of all ages come into their own.

What makes Yosemite’s youth programs unique?

SHAUNA :: Yosemite is the ultimate classroom. You can teach nearly every subject here as well as connect youth to leadership development and careers in a variety of fields and organizations.

JESSE :: People can have powerful experiences, but if there is not an intentional pathway that links programs for youth development, like we have here, those experiences become discrete memories, not new lifestyles.

How do these programs make a difference for youth?

JESSE :: These programs change lives. Many find peace and self-confidence. Other participants find a passion that focuses their academic career, inspiring them to go to college or helping them to decide on a major. One participant in the Yosemite Leadership Program started as a shy underclassman and now has the confidence to run retreats to Wawona for the University of California, Merced Hmong Student Association. He brought his community to Yosemite and Yosemite to his community.

SHAUNA :: Youth who need to be challenged are given an opportunity to see their potential. With programs like Adventure Risk Challenge, for example, which focus on rigorous academic, literacy and leadership, the transformation for participants is undeniable.

What impact do youth programs have on park habitat and visitor experience?

SHAUNA :: If you’ve hiked in the park—you have benefitted from their efforts. Youth Conservation Corps and the California Conservation Corps programs, for example, preserve park habitat and maintain infrastructure.

JESSE :: Many participants represent the diversity

ABOVE Park Ranger Jesse Chakrin with Youth in Yosemite participants.

of California and are able to provide education and interpretation in a visitor’s native language, a tremendously welcoming experience.

How would you describe the Conservancy’s impact on youth programs?

JESSE :: Many of these programs simply would not exist without the Conservancy. In this time of shrinking federal and state budgets, the support is critical. It is crucial to have a partner that is willing to support the ideas and programs that will carry us into the rapidly changing 21st century. The Conservancy allows us to look beyond what we need to do to protect parks, and realize what we dream to do here.

SHAUNA :: The park would lose its ability to connect youth to the legacy of Yosemite and to foster the care and passion it takes to love and care for this special place.

Read more from Jesse Chakrin and Shauna Potocky at yosemiteconservancy.org/magazine

“If you’ve hiked in the park — you have benefitted from their efforts.”

—

SHAUNA

POTOCKY

National Park Service Ranger

Youth Participants In Their Own Words

“I’ve blossomed out of the ground and into the world.”

— EMILY, CCC Participant

“YCC is enriching and fun, but it’s not just a summer camp; enrollees do hard manual labor and complete projects that the park needs done. It is worthy of support because through YCC, future rangers, firemen, trail workers and its other park staff are trained. It is not only an investment in Yosemite’s present, but in its future.”

— NICK, YCC Participant

“My life has changed since I’ve been here at ARC. The 40-day course has led me to make good choices in life. The people in ARC care about me and about my education…The ARC course is pretty hard because you have to commit to facing a lot of challenges. Facing those challenges actually makes you a better person.”

— CHARLY, ARC Participant

“This is a unique opportunity for the young men and women of this country to step up and learn firsthand the importance of the National Park System. Giving them your support enables a new generation to experience, grow, and shape the future of Yosemite.”

— MICHAEL, CCC Participant

ABOVE Park Ranger Shauna Potocky with Yosemite Leadership Program (YLP) interns in the Yosemite Wilderness Center.

New Projects for 2012 *

CULTURAL & HISTORIC PRESERVATION

Historic Sachse Springs Cabin Restoration

$64,464

Sharing Traditions Exhibit: History of Cultural Demonstrators in Yosemite $65,000

HABITAT RESTORATION

Mariposa Grove Restoration

Removing Invasive Plants from Yosemite

$1,000,000

$79,838

Tenaya Lake Restoration: East Beach $800,000

Wilderness Restoration with SCA Crews $199,699

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Protecting Songbirds & Inspiring Visitors

TRAIL REPAIR & ACCESS

Improved Trails & Wetland Restoration: Lembert Dome Loop Trail

Legendary Valley Trails Restoration

$37,233

$193,596

$390,050

Restoring Popular Climbing Trails $57,000

Tuolumne & Merced Watershed Trails

Rehabilitation by CCC Crews

$429,305

Tuolumne Grove Trailhead Rehabilitation $120,428

Yosemite Trails Campaign

$233,000

Youth Crews (YCC) Restore Campgrounds, Trails & Habitat $351,908

VISITOR SERVICES & EDUCATION

Adventure to Leadership: Youth Development Program with ARC

$93,120

Junior Ranger Program $96,000

New Trail Information Panels: Yosemite Valley Visitor Center

$28,880 Parks in Focus:

Youth Photography Program

$8,500

Parsons Memorial Lodge Summer Series $25,000

Teens Connect to Yosemite through WildLink

WildLink Alumni Explore Careers in Yosemite

Yosemite Guide for Visitors with Language Disabilities

$14,500

$13,700

$28,160

Yosemite Leadership Program Summer Internship $102,465

Yosemite Nature Notes Web Video Series $38,000

Yosemite Trip Planning Podcasts $29,000

Yosemite’s 150th Year Celebration $57,000

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

Protecting Yosemite’s Bears Through Electronic Monitoring $117,700

TOTAL $4,692,210

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

Color Represents 2012 Youth in Yosemite Programs

HABITAT RESTORATION

HABITAT PROJECTS BENEFIT NATURE AND VISITORS

Conservancy support for habitat restoration projects will make future visits to the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Tenaya Lake and the park’s many meadows a more natural experience. At the same time, visitor access will be improved. The restorations are part of Yosemite’s neverending balancing act between ecological and visitor needs.

With Conservancy aid, a multi-year improvement effort is underway in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. Roads, trails, parking areas and other facilities, many of which were built before Giant Sequoia ecology was understood, have caused changes in water flow that sustains these majestic trees. The first phase of this effort involves scientific data collection and conceptual design development of plans to better protect the trees. Subsequent enhancements will improve access and protect what are the biggest living things on earth.

Park meadows and wildlife are getting a helping hand too. In the first comprehensive mapping of invasive species in the park, scientists have identified 200-300 species in just the past three years. This important work will help park staff and volunteers to identify

and remove invasive species that jeopardize native wildflowers and plants that wildlife depend on for food. To help prevent invasive species from entering the park, podcasts will teach visitors about the consequences of bringing outside firewood that carries the seeds of weeds.

In Yosemite’s high country, initial improvements to paths and restoration of Tenaya Lake’s East Beach were completed so that trails no longer bisect sensitive areas. This year’s work involves planting native willows and sedges along the heavily eroded shoreline.

With your help, park managers will strike the perfect balance between environmental protection and visitor use so Yosemite can be enjoyed as nature intended, unspoiled.

LEFT Visitors admire the majestic Giant Sequoias in Mariposa Grove. ABOVE Restoration efforts to protect fragile habitat are underway at Tenaya Lake’s East Beach.

PLANNING & VISITING YOSEMITE

GUIDING YOSEMITE VISITORS, AT HOME AND IN THE PARK

“I’m here for the day — what should I do?”

People from around the world are increasingly searching about “Yosemite” online in preparation for their visit. This year, Yosemite Conservancy is supporting the production of podcasts and videos to better inform virtual visitors planning a trip or serving as inspiration for future trips.

Podcasts guide people on sightseeing, camping and day hikes, about how to stay safe and how to protect park resources. They are a great resource for knowing what to expect during peak season and about the joys of off-peak winter camping. They help manage expectations about parking and camping accommodations, and let people know what their needs and options are when making plans to explore Yosemite.

High-quality online videos from the Yosemite Nature Notes series inform and inspire. They provide dramatic visual presentations of the history and wilderness ecology of the park. Park rangers, resource experts and fellow visitors explore and explain sites like Yosemite Falls or Half Dome. Experts introduce frazil ice and moonbows, as well as insights on the living glaciers that continue to shape Yosemite today and more.

The best place to explore Yosemite is, of course, the park itself. At the Yosemite Valley Visitor Center, thanks to the Conservancy, this year there will be new trail panels — large, comprehensive and three-dimensional – that provide

answers to the questions park rangers and volunteers are asked most frequently. They free up interpreters to help visitors with personal guidance beyond the basics. Easy on the eyes, accessible, and in place 24 hours a day, the panels address details like the length and difficulty of trails, points of interest, and important safety and environmental protection information. And they answer the simplest and most common question of all: “I’m here for the day — what should I do?”

Planning your next adventure?

Check out Yosemite Conservancy webcams for up-to-the-minute conditions in the park.

Visit yosemiteconservancy.org/webcams

LEFT Podcasts make it easy to plan a trip to the park. MIDDLE New trail panels are slated for installation at the Valley Visitor Center. RIGHT Yosemite Nature Notes cover a broad range of the park’s cultural and natural features.

PHOTOS: (LEFT TO RIGHT) © YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY.

ELECTRONIC MONITORING

PROTECTING YOSEMITE’S BEARS WITH MONITORS

“Somewhere a black bear has just risen from sleep and is staring down the mountain.”

— MARY OLIVER American Poet

Seeing a black bear in the wild is profoundly inspiring. But when bears enter campgrounds or parking lots, there can be trouble – for park visitors and their property, and for Yosemite’s bears.

With support from the Conservancy, Yosemite’s Bear Management Program is expanding its successful electronic monitoring to cover up to 12 campgrounds and developed areas. Using radio collars and transmitter tags, wildlife biologists will receive immediate alerts any time a bear wanders into monitored spots. With this information, bear managers will be able to respond before any incident occurs and can chart and manage bear activity.

Want to learn even more about bear monitoring and protecting in

Read more on our website yosemiteconservancy.org/ magazine

“With better monitoring and faster response, bears will spend more time in their natural habitat, eating their natural foods, and visitors will less often have to deal with bears damaging property or eating their food,” says Caitlin Lee-Roney, wildlife biologist at Yosemite National Park overseeing the Bear Management Program. “Visitors and bears alike will be protected.”

RIGHT A tagged black bear is spotted in a tree, part of its natural habitat. LEFT A bear manager prepares electronic monitoring equipment in the field.

Yosemite?

PLANNING A BACKCOUNTRY TRIP

THE CONSERVANCY MAKES IT EASY

“Wildness is a necessity.”

— JOHN MUIR Naturalist, Writer & Conservationist

There’s nothing like getting away from it all. Even in 1898, John Muir emphasized the therapeutic lure of the backcountry. “Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity,” he said.

The Conservancy, in partnership with the National Park Service, makes it easy for visitors to plan backcountry trips in Yosemite. Conservancy team members at the Yosemite Valley Wilderness Center manage advance permit reservations, which are required for overnight trips. And, our website has helpful information about all wilderness permits, trailhead quotas, reservations and advice on where to go.

Planning a wilderness trip in Yosemite? Rent a bear canister at one of the five Wilderness Permit Stations located within Yosemite. Visit yosemiteconservancy.org to learn more.

For overnight trips in Yosemite, backpackers need a bear-proof canister which the Conservancy rents at several locations in the park. Bear canisters, an essential element for overnight backcountry hikes, keep human food away from Yosemite’s bears to improve their health, and food in your stomach when you’re miles away from civilization. Even better, the reservation and canister fees are put to work in the park on projects from wildlife protection to education.

Thanks to our donors, these backcountry services make it easier to plan ahead and enjoy a backcountry experience that will help you find your “wildness.”

RIGHT Backpackers enjoying Yosemite’s stunning backcountry.

LEFT A Conservancy staff member shows a park visitor how a bearproof canister works.

ADVENTURES OF A LIFETIME

COME JOIN US FOR YOURS

The Conservancy’s Outdoor Adventures provide an easy, unique and memorable way to experience Yosemite — all with a naturalist, artist or adventurer by your side.

One of this year’s exclusive Outdoor Adventures included a four-mile hike retracing John Muir’s steps with his great-great-grandson Robert Hanna and Muir Actor Frank Helling. Participants learned about Muir’s first impressions of Yosemite, explored where he lived and worked in Yosemite Valley, and his favorite spots and discoveries.

“The whole wilderness seems to be alive and familiar,” Muir’s storyteller shared while walking along Yosemite Creek. “The very stones seem talkative, sympathetic, brotherly.”

Want an even greater challenge? Retrace some of Muir’s expedition in 1871 to the alpine slopes of the Clark Range where he discovered the first living glacier in Yosemite, the “Black Mountain Glacier.”

Expert guides on this multi-day expedition will focus on the impact of climate change and the fascinating history of Sierra glaciers.

“The very stones seem talkative, sympathetic, brotherly.”

— JOHN MUIR Naturalist, Writer & Conservationist

OPPOSITE PAGE Backpackers explore the remote Lyell Glacier with an experienced guide.

ABOVE John Muir enjoys the serenity of nature circa 1902.

“Our Outdoor Adventures provide expert guides to create memorable experiences that inspire, educate and engage. They offer opportunities to enjoy the park in unique ways,” says Mike Tollefson, president of Yosemite Conservancy.

Forty Outdoor Adventures are available to hike, observe, experience and explore Yosemite’s wildlife, geology, cultural history and more. Our guides have decades of experience in the park. Other programs include learning to weave a Miwok-Paiute Indian basket with Yosemite legend Julia Parker or a guided two-day backpacking trek to the top of Half Dome with outdoor author Suzanne Swedo. Photographing Yosemite Valley’s waterfalls, stargazing in Tuolumne Meadows or exploring the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias are other possible thrills.

Groups and families can customize adventures in Yosemite with naturalists and guides to discover Yosemite wildlife or explore a remote glacier.

Connect with Yosemite. Sign up today for your adventure at yosemiteconservancy.org/outdoor-adventures

ABOVE Muir Actor Frank Helling shares the captivating story of the life and legacy of John Muir.

IN MEMORIAM

With the loss of friends in the Yosemite family, there is a measure of comfort in recalling each person’s unique fascination, passion and love for the park. It gives us a connection we share that will foster enduring memories for these special individuals.

COUNCIL MEMBERS

JON LOVELACE 1927–2011

A brilliant and exceptionally generous humanitarian, Jon was known for his modesty, integrity and vision. Professionally, he was conscience-in-action guiding the successful financial institution, Capital Group. Jon devoted his energies to many organizations to support the arts, the environment, health, science and education. He loved the mountains and rivers, and camped throughout the backcountry with his family. There were so many places and ideas in the world that captured his imagination, Jon’s legacy will continue to touch many lives and the world is better for it.

SIBYL ANN OTTER 1935–2011

All who knew her will remember Ann’s magnanimous smile. Dedicated wife and mother, legendary fundraiser, backcountry hiker, civic leader and indefatigable champion of worthy causes, Ann was called ‘a force of nature.’ Her happiest moments were with her family in Yosemite Valley, and hiking the High Sierra Loop with friends. Together with husband Dick Otter, she helped create the Yosemite Fund and forge Yosemite Conservancy, serving in many important roles with wit and wisdom. We miss her.

From waterfalls and rivers to soaring granite and Giant Sequoias, from pristine wilderness and irreplaceable wildlife, Yosemite is unforgettable. Become a member of the Joseph Le Conte Legacy Society and join other thoughtful donors whose gifts ensure Yosemite remains a glorious treasure.

For more information, contact Darlene Bellucci: 800.469.7275 DBellucci@yosemiteconservancy.org

JON LOVELACE

SIBYL ANN OTTER

Anyone Can Leave a Legacy

Including Yosemite Conservancy as the beneficiary to your retirement or insurance plan are simple ways for anyone to make a lasting difference to Yosemite.

If you have already named us in your plans, please let us know. We would like to thank you and welcome you into the Joseph Le Conte Legacy Society.

To let us know of your current plans or for more information, contact Darlene Bellucci: 800.469.7275 or email DBellucci@yosemiteconservancy.org

From Boy Scouting to Volunteering: A Lifetime of Yosemite Experiences

As a Boy Scout, Vahl Clemensen began his first backpacking trip with an overnight at North Pines campground. After 50 years and countless trips to Yosemite, he spent eight seasons as a volunteer ranger staying at Lower Pines campground looking across Tenaya Creek to that same North Pines site. Connections like these motivated his decision to join the Conservancy´s Joseph Le Conte Legacy Society. “Our planned gift is a meager attempt to repay Yosemite for a lifetime of wonderful experiences and even more wonderful memories,” says Vahl.

In 1957, Vahl joined the Yosemite Association to purchase texts about Yosemite history that he used to inform his college studies, and later to create lesson plans as a new high school teacher. He continues his support now because, “I can see where our money goes and the impact it is having that we know will last 100 years or more. With our current and future gifts, we are helping thousands discover as well as enjoy the most beautiful place on the earth.”

“I can see where our money goes and the impact it is having that we know will last 100 years or more.”

— VAHL CLEMENSEN Yosemite Conservancy Donor & Volunteer

ABOVE As a volunteer ranger, Vahl Clemensen stands ready to assist visitors at the Wilderness Center.

License to HUGYNP

Gary Baier of Big Bear Lake, CA has many ways of expressing his support for Yosemite. Not only has Gary volunteered for Yosemite Conservancy since 2001, but he and his wife Jeannie have also supported the park through the Yosemite license plate program. Visiting the park for over 40 years, they are inspired to share their knowledge and love of the park with others.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT BEING A YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY VOLUNTEER?

Becoming a Yosemite Conservancy volunteer has always been high on my bucket list. To help visitors enjoy the park and to actually live in the park (even if only for a month) was always

a dream. As a volunteer I can help others see the awesome beauty, learn about the fragile environment, and just have fun.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURCHASE A YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY LICENSE PLATE?

I’ve volunteered for a work week in Tuolumne Meadows and also as an information volunteer in the Valley. But since I can’t volunteer every year the license plate program gives me another opportunity to support Yosemite Conservancy programs. I’m proud of my Yosemite license plate and know the money is going to a good cause. I enjoy seeing other Yosemite license plates when I travel and feel a comradeship when I see them.

Thank you Gary and Jeannie, for all the ways to show your support for Yosemite.

Volunteer Impact

Last season, Yosemite Conservancy’s volunteers assisted over 400,000 visitors and dedicated over 13,000 hours in service to Yosemite National Park. Greeting visitors, restoring trails or wilderness areas, Conservancy volunteers make a difference in Yosemite.

Learn more about volunteer opportunities at yosemiteconservancy.org/volunteer

LEFT Gary and Jeannie Baier share a passion for Yosemite National Park. MIDDLE Gary poses with his unique Yosemite License plate. RIGHT The license plate on Jeannie’s car reveals her love for Yosemite wherever she goes.

YOSEMITE THROUGH YOUR LENS

YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY

Magazine of Yosemite Conservancy, published twice a year.

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Jennifer Miller

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Amy Arends

Peter Bartelme

Jesse Chakrin

Noel Morrison

Shauna Potocky

Caitlin Lee-Roney

Michelle Slocombe

Mike Tollefson

STAFF :: San Francisco Office

Mike Tollefson, President & CEO

Jerry Edelbrock, Vice President & COO

Darlene Bellucci, Annual & Planned Giving Manager

Edin Draper-Beard, Executive Affairs Manager

Debra Holcomb, Data Services Manager

David Jaeger, Donor Relations & Development Projects Manager

Sara Jones, Data Entry Assistant

Holly Kuehn, Development & Donor Services Assistant

Jennifer Miller, Marketing & Communications Director

Adriana Pannick, Development Associate

Michelle Slocombe, Marketing & Communications Associate

Kit Thomas, Controller

Christina Yu, Data & Donor Services Assistant

Kristine Zeigler, Development Director

STAFF :: Yosemite Office

Aline Allen, Yosemite Art Center Coordinator

Tom Arfsten, Valley Complex Supervisor

Nicole Brocchini, Museum Store Supervisor

Pete Devine, Resident Naturalist

Teresa Ellis, Sales Information Assistant

Rachel Gibbons, Sales Information Assistant

Schuyler Greenleaf, Project Director

Michelle Hansen, Inventory Coordinator

Suzy Hasty, Volunteer Program Manager

Ruth Heine, Volunteer Program Assistant

Carolyn King, Office Manager

Todd King, Retail and Publishing Director, Deputy GM

Michelle Kuchta, Accounting Assistant

Olotumi Laizer, Sales Information Assistant

Denise Ludington, Accounting Supervisor

Roger Miller, General Manager

Noel Morrison, Communications Manager

Martijn Ouborg, Wilderness Reservation Assistant

Collette Pilon, Wilderness Reservation Assistant

Elvira Popken, Valley Sales Supervisor

Angie Sberna, Accounting Director

John Samples, Warehouse Coordinator

Shelly Stephens, Inventory Manager

Laurie Stowe, Wilderness Programs Manager

Spring.Summer 2012 :: Volume 03.Issue 01

© 2012

Federal Tax Identification #94-3058041

It’s Easy to Connect with Yosemite Conservancy

CONTACT US

Donor Services

Yosemite Conservancy

101 Montgomery Street, Suite 1700 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 lasting 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

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@yosemiteconservancy.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@yosemiteconservancy.org.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Greet park visitors, restore meadows or repair trails.

Visit yosemiteconservancy.org/ volunteer, or call 209.379.2317

Yosemite Conservancy

101 Montgomery Street, Suite 1700

San Francisco, CA 94104

Between these pages lie the memoirs, secrets, and stories of Yosemite National Park.

From historical accounts to handy field guides you’ll find books that inform and inspire.

Every purchase from a Yosemite Conservancy store provides for the future of Yosemite.

Add these treasures to your library today. Shop Now at yosemiteconservancy.org