2014 Spring/Summer Magazine – Yosemite Conservancy

YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY

Commemorating

Q&A with Yosemite’s Iconic Stage Coach Driver

YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY COUNCIL MEMBERS

CHAIR

Philip L. Pillsbury, Jr.*

VICE CHAIR

Bob Bennitt*

COUNCIL

Hollis & Matt Adams

Jeanne & Michael 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

Steve & Diane Ciesinski*

Sandy & Bob Comstock

Marilyn & Don R. Conlan

Hal Cranston* & Joan Francis

Leslie* & John Dorman*

Dave & Dana Dornsife*

Lisa & Craig Elliott

Kathy Fairbanks*

Sandra & Bernard Fischbach

Cynthia & Bill Floyd*

Jim Freedman

Susan & Don Fuhrer*

Bonnie & Rusty Gregory*

Karen & Steve Hanson

Christy & Chuck Holloway

Suzanne & Dan Jensen*

Jennifer & Gregory Johnson*

PRESIDENT & CEO

Mike Tollefson*

VICE PRESIDENT, CFO & COO

Jerry Edelbrock

Jean Lane

Walt Lemmermann*

Melody & Bob Lind*

Sam & Cindy Livermore

Anahita & Jim Lovelace

Lillian Lovelace

Carolyn & Bill Lowman

Sheila Grether-Marion & Mark Marion

Kirsten & Dan Miks

Robyn & Joe Miller

Dick Otter

Sharon & Phil Pillsbury*

Bill Reller

Frankie & Skip Rhodes*

Liz & Royal Robbins

Lennie & Mike Roberts

Dave Rossetti & Jan Avent*

Linda & Steve Sanchez

Lisa & Greg Stanger*

Jennifer & Russ Stanton*

Ann & George Sundby

Susan & Bill Urick

Clifford J. Walker*

Wally Wallner & Jill Appenzeller

Jack Walston & Sue Estes

Phyllis Weber* & Art Baggett

Ward & Polly Wolff

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

Superintendent Don Neubacher

*Indicates Board of Trustees

PRESIDENT’S NOTE MISSION

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.

Yosemite’s 150th Anniversary

hroughout the years, I have been privileged to hear countless stories of Yosemite’s life-changing power. For some, Yosemite provides the backdrop for generations of family memories. For others, that first glimpse of Tunnel View inspired a career devoted to protecting wild places. This year’s celebration of the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Yosemite Grant Act provides an opportunity to reflect on how Yosemite inspires all of us — and how we can protect it for the future.

On June 30, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed a law to forever preserve Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. Throughout this issue, we share the significance of that historic act and honor your role as a Conservancy supporter in carrying on this legacy of preservation. For example, your gifts are making it possible to restore the Sunrise Trailhead at Tenaya Lake and to stage a museum exhibit commemorating our 150th anniversary.

In this issue, renowned documentary filmmakers Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan reflect on the significance of the anniversary as our Expert Insiders. And you can read about how park scientists are mapping the movement of Yosemite’s bears.

Your gifts today are paving the way for the next 150 years of preserving and protecting Yosemite. Thank you for your commitment to the national park idea and to the larger conservation movement it inspires..

See you in the park,

Mike Tollefson,

President

COVER PHOTO Galen Clark, the first Guardian of Yosemite Valley, stands at the Grizzly Giant, circa 1865.

We are now on Pinterest! Follow our Yosemite Conservancy boards, and stay connected to the park.

PHOTO: © Carleton Watkins | Section of the Grizzly Giant with Galen Clark, Mariposa Grove, Yosemite, 1865/66 | Albumen print 51.5 x 38.4 cm | Restricted gift of Edward Byron Smith 1985.208

Art Institute of Chicago.

CONTENTS

SPRING.SUMMER 2014 VOLUME 05.ISSUE 01

ABOVE Spring in Yosemite as observed from Valley View.

IN THIS ISSUE DEPARTMENTS

04 AN ENDURING LEGACY OF PRESERVATION

Honoring the significance of the Yosemite Grant Act and the legacy of preservation that continues to inspire people today.

06 RESTORING A TRAIL & BUILDING A BOARDWALK

Tenaya Lake’s Sunrise Trailhead is undergoing a restoration to provide better habitat and improve your visitor experience.

08 150TH ANNIVERSARY MUSEUM EXHIBIT

Connect to Yosemite’s history through this innovative new exhibit featuring rarely seen artifacts from the park’s early days.

09 EXPERT INSIGHTS

Renowned filmmakers Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan tell the story of Yosemite and the birth of the national park idea.

12 Q&A WITH A YOSEMITE INSIDER

Stage–coach driver and park ranger Burrel “Buckshot” Maier answers questions about his role in helping visitors experience Yosemite’s cultural history.

14

PROJECT UPDATES

Ask a Climber, Historic Preservation, Mariposa Grove Trailhead, Strengthening Youth Stewardship, Mapping Movements of Bears, and Preserving the Thomas Hill Studio.

19 PROGRAM UPDATES

Plan your own Yosemite explorations with Custom Adventures, and attend an anniversary show at the revitalized Yosemite Valley Theater.

30

READER PHOTOS

Yosemite Conservancy supporters share their special Yosemite memories.

150 Yosemite’s Anniversary

AN ENDURING LEGACY OF PRESERVATION

or many families, annual road trips to America’s national parks are a rite of passage, where memories of a lifetime are woven into the fabric of each generation. The idea of national parks is so entrenched in American culture that it’s difficult to envision a time when our nation’s most magnificent and sacred natural places were in danger of being lost. But that was the essence of the battle being waged 150 years ago. This year, we proudly reflect on, and celebrate the moment when, a group of visionaries fought to protect Yosemite for the American people.

The seed of the national park idea was planted on June 30, 1864, when President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant Act, setting aside Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias “upon the express conditions that the premises shall be held for public use, resort and recreation.” This historic moment marked the first time a government protected land for the public’s use and enjoyment. From President Lincoln’s bold action, the national park movement grew nationally and internationally and, even today, helps define who we are as Americans.

ABOVE The Conservancy was founded in 1923 to support the construction of the Yosemite Museum, the first museum in the national park system.

ABOVE In 2008, Yosemite Conservancy restored Tunnel View, preserving one of the most iconic vistas in Yosemite, as well as surrounding habitat.

Yosemite’s unparalleled grandeur has influenced historic figures ever since. After camping in Yosemite, President Theodore Roosevelt said, “It was like lying in a great solemn cathedral, far vaster and more beautiful than any built by the hand of man.”

John Muir wrote, “Yosemite Park is a place of rest, a refuge from the roar and dust and weary, nervous, wasting work of the lowlands, in which one gains the advantages of both solitude and society.”

Yosemite Conservancy donors are carrying on the legacy of these visionaries by supporting iconic projects and helping to ensure these precious natural resources continue to thrive. Support from generous donors makes a lasting difference in improving people’s experiences and protecting the park for future generations.

Yosemite National Park Superintendent Don Neubacher describes the essential role of donors: “Many areas in the park have been touched by Yosemite Conservancy. Throughout Yosemite, from Tunnel View to Tenaya Lake, there are projects Yosemite Conservancy donors have funded, providing the margin of excellence in perserving the park and enhancing the visitor experience.”

Conservancy donors were behind the successful completion of the campaign to restore Lower Yosemite Fall. “The area was being loved to death,” remembers Lou Summerfield, chief of roads and trails for Yosemite National Park. “Because of the generosity of Conservancy supporters, we were able to protect the area from being degraded, while allowing for visitor enjoyment.” Today, visitors can walk to the base of the fall on a handicappedaccessible path, while observing vibrant natural habitats.

Private philanthropy has also led to major successes in protecting

“It was like lying in a great solemn cathedral, far vaster and more beautiful than any built by the hand of man.”

— THEODORE ROOSEVELT 26th President of the United States

the park’s wildlife. The peregrine falcon was removed from the endangered species list, and the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep has been reintroduced back into its native high country habitat.

“Without Conservancy support, we would not be able to protect these animals,” says Sarah Stock, a wildlife biologist for Yosemite National Park. “Donors are making a long-term difference — not only for these species, but for national parks in general.”

The 150th anniversary provides a welcome opportunity to reflect on the role of Conservancy donors as stewards of Yosemite and the larger national park idea. Your continued support embodies the spirit of the conservation movement initiated by President Lincoln’s bold action 150 years ago. Thank you for playing a central role in one of America’s greatest stories: the protection of public lands for everyone and for all time.

Your gifts continue to make a difference in Yosemite today. Read this issue to see how the legacy of preservation lives on through your support.

ABOVE LEFT The peregrine falcon is on the road to a successful recovery, thanks to Conservancy grants

ABOVE MIDDLE Yosemite Conservancy donors, staff and park rangers gather at a dedication ceremony to celebrate the successful restoration of Glacier Point. ABOVE RIGHT The beauty of the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias and Yosemite Valley inspired President Lincoln to sign the Yosemite Grant Act on June 30, 1864.

RESTORING A TRAIL & BUILDING A BOARDWALK

TENAYA’S SUNRISE TRAIL

ach year, thousands of visitors are drawn to Tenaya Lake in Yosemite’s high country to bask on the glittering lakeshore or embark into the park’s vast wilderness. The Sunrise Trailhead at the western edge of the lake is a perennial favorite for hikers and backpackers, but decades of visitor–use have severely degraded the area’s fragile wetland habitat. This year, Conservancy funding is providing for much-needed habitat restoration, along with other upgrades, to improve the visitor experience at the “jewel of the high country.”

Thanks to donors, visitors arriving at the Sunrise Trailhead area will soon find a more direct and ecologically sensitive trail that spans over the wetland area at the lake’s west end. A causeway blocking the natural water flow through the wetlands will be removed and replaced with a sustainably

constructed, raised boardwalk. Visitors of all ages and abilities will be able to access the lakeshore along a handicapped-accessible trail that originates near the trailhead. Conservancy funding is also providing for new, rustic, steel way-finding and mileage signs, so hikers can easily orient themselves. New vegetation will be planted to cover the confusing patchwork of informal paths, unifying the area’s ecology and establishing a clearly delineated trail.

“By walking on a boardwalk, you’re not damaging the vegetation or trampling the sensitive habitat,” says Sue Beatty, a restoration ecologist for Yosemite National Park. “You’re able to see a real, healthy, functioning ecosystem.”

When work is complete, visitors will observe a thriving community of plants and animals along the lakeshore, while

ABOVE Conservancy donors are vital to preserving and protecting Tenaya Lake as the “jewel of the high country.”

“My favorite memories — not only of Yosemite, but of my entire life — are right here at Tenaya Lake.”

— DAVID BOWMAN Yosemite Conservancy Donor

admiring the high country scenery on a safe trail around the lake.

This project marks the third consecutive year of restoration work at Tenaya Lake. In 2012, the East Beach area underwent extensive habitat and trail restoration. Fragile wetlands are recovering, while visitors enjoy the new sustainable trail to the beach. In 2013, restoration work continued, as trail crews repaired failing infrastructure on the lakeshore’s southern trail.

“With Conservancy donations, we can preserve wetlands and sensitive habitats throughout the park,” Beatty says. “It’s incredible how successful these projects have been and how important they’ve been to preserving Yosemite’s habitat for future generations.”

This year’s work at Sunrise Trailhead marks the next phase

of a broad plan to restore wetland habitat and improve the visitor experience around the entire Tenaya Lake loop. Tenaya Lake would not be the exceptional visitor destination it is today without the support of Conservancy donors such as David Bowman.

“My favorite memories — not only of Yosemite, but of my entire life — are right here at Tenaya Lake,” Bowman reflects. “Our family made a major commitment to supporting this place because of the impact it has and the deep joy it creates for families such as ours.”

Your support makes it possible for us to provide funding to safeguard Tenaya Lake’s precious natural resources, so future generations can create lasting memories of Yosemite’s beauty.

RIGHT As a child, David Bowman, (pictured here with his father), enjoyed summers at Tenaya Lake with his family.

PHOTO: (LEFT TO RIGHT) © MITHUN. © DAVID BOWMAN.

150th Anniversary Museum Exhibit

A PREVIEW OF SPECIAL ITEMS

he story of Yosemite’s preservation is no less remarkable than its worldfamous natural wonders such as El Capitan and Half Dome. This year, the Conservancy is bringing this story to life by funding a new museum exhibit to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the launch of the national park idea. Through historic writings, photographs, paintings and multimedia presentations, visitors can connect with the history of the land and the conservation ethic of early park visionaries who worked tirelessly to preserve Yosemite. The exhibit will be featured in the Yosemite Museum from June to October 2014.

To learn more about this summer’s Yosemite Museum exhibit , visit yosemiteconservancy.org/150-museum-exhibit

COSMOPOLITAN REGISTER

The “Grand Register of Yo-semite Valley,” also known as the “Cosmopolitan Register,” contains more than 800 pages of guest entries from 1873 to 1884.

1878 YOSEMITE LANDSCAPE PAINTING

Indian Life at Mirror Lake, painted by Constance Gordon-Cumming in 1878, brought the Yosemite landscape to life for the American public.

JOHN MUIR’S TIN CUP

This tin cup was once used by legendary environmentalist John Muir. It provides a tangible link to the park’s past.

STEREOGRAPH OF YOSEMITE FALLS

Early tourists enjoyed the view of Yosemite Falls from horseback.

THE STORY OF YOSEMITE

THE BIRTH OF THE NATIONAL PARK IDEA

BY KEN BURNS AND DAYTON DUNCAN

n June 30, 1864, when Abraham Lincoln signed the law setting aside Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias for “public use, resort and recreation … for all time,” he altered the arc of human progress.

The United States, a relatively young nation that had sprung from an idea that, itself, would alter world history — of the equality of every citizen, with rights that included not just life and liberty, but the “pursuit of happiness” — had come up with its own equally revolutionary and ultimately world-changing idea: that a country’s most magnificent and sacred places should not be the private preserve of nobility or the rich, but preserved for everyone forever.

The national park idea — what historian Wallace Stegner called “America’s best idea” — essentially began in that moment. And as we discovered in making our 12-hour documentary series for PBS and our more recent short film, Yosemite: A Gathering of Spirit, much of what has happened to that idea during the past 150 years can be traced to Yosemite’s DNA.

Yellowstone became the world’s first national park eight years later, in 1872, but Congress was simply following the precedent it had set in Yosemite. The exception was that Yosemite had been initially entrusted to the state

LEFT Thomas Hill’s oil painting on wood, “Wawona Tunnel Tree.”

PHOTO: © COURTESY THE YOSEMITE MUSEUM, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.

that required — and still needs — people from every walk of life to nurture it.

of California for safe keeping; Wyoming was not yet a state, so they simply assigned this new park to federal jurisdiction. Eventually, the wisdom of that arrangement would migrate back to the Sierra Nevada, and in 1890, Yosemite would become a national park, too.

That vibrant DNA also exhibits itself in other ways. All the issues that faced the incipient park idea — from who should be in charge to what should be allowed and prohibited in the tug of war between preservation and use — were not only evident in Yosemite from the start, but evident in stark relief. And all the archetypes of people who would be essential to the evolution of the national park idea throughout its history were set first in Yosemite, with people such as Galen Clark, James Mason Hutchings, Frederick Law Olmsted and, of course, John Muir, who would become the nation’s most eloquent and effective voice for conservation. All of them — and many who followed — found a certain sort of redemption in Yosemite’s exquisite valley, its high country air, its monumental trees. And all of them returned that favor by devoting themselves to Yosemite’s redemption.

PHOTOS: (ABOVE MIDDLE) © KEITH WALKLET. (ABOVE FAR RIGHT) © AL GOLUB.

The Story of Yosemite continued

LEFT On June 30, 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant Act, enacting the preservation and protection of Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.

MIDDLE Yosemite Falls in springtime.

RIGHT Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir at Glacier Point in Yosemite, 1903.

That tradition of individual citizens devoting themselves to a special place’s preservation is an integral thread in the park idea’s DNA. We take them for granted now, but our national parks are more the result of individual people’s passions and dedication than of a distant government’s action. The same is true for their continued protection, as Yosemite again has proved with the likes of Ansel Adams, George Melendez Wright, Stephen Mather, Chiura Obata, Mary Curry Tresidder and so many others. The lineage of Yosemite Conservancy flows directly through such giants.

The 150th anniversary of the Yosemite Grant Act provides the nation with a chance to celebrate and contemplate what a significant moment it was when Lincoln took time from the greatest crisis in our history, the Civil War, to plant the seed of an idea that would ultimately grow into a forest of national parks, not only in the nation he was trying to preserve, but now in nations around the globe. It was a seed of hope, a seed of the future. As history shows, it was a seed that required — and still needs — people from every walk of life to nurture it.

All of them — and many who followed — found a certain sort of redemption in Yosemite’s exquisite valley.

KEN BURNS is the director and producer of many acclaimed television documentaries and miniseries, including Baseball, Jazz, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea and The Civil War. He has garnered 12 Emmy Awards and two Oscar nominations, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

DAYTON DUNCAN is the award-winning writer and co-producer of The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, and many other Ken Burns documentaries for PBS. He is the author of 12 books, including, most recently, Seed of the Future: Yosemite and the Evolution of the National Park Idea. He also has been involved with other series directed by Ken Burns, including The Civil War, Horatio’s Drive: America’s First Road Trip, Baseball and Jazz.

YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY partnered with Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan to produce Yosemite: A Gathering of Spirit, a landmark documentary commemorating the Yosemite Grant Act.

Learn about public screenings of the documentary at yosemiteconservancy.org/ film-screenings

“For a visitor, the experience begins when they see the stage coach coming through the covered bridge.”

— BURREL “BUCKSHOT” MAIER

Park Ranger/Stage Coach Driver

Q&A

WITH A YOSEMITE INSIDER

the only stage-coach driver/park ranger employed by the National Park Service, Burrel “Buckshot” Maier transports thousands of park visitors back in time to discover what life was like for the early pioneers of Yosemite National Park. His career began at the age of 15, when he first starting driving the stage coach for Yosemite-area legends such as Wawona Washburn, a descendant of painter Thomas Hill, as well as the Washburn family, which purchased the Wawona Hotel from Galen Clark in 1874. Maier is passionate about working with visitors and sharing with them the sights, smells and thrills of Yosemite’s cultural history, while driving the authentic Yosemite stage coach.

Q :: How did you start working as a stage–coach driver for Yosemite National Park?

A :: I was raised in Wawona and on my father’s ranch, where we lived a cowboy lifestyle. I first came by my nickname “Buckshot” while performing in a Wild West show, so working with horses in Wawona was a natural fit.

Q :: You have a unique job among park rangers. What do you like best about it?

A

:: Kids like to pet the horses and ask questions about the stage coach. I get my picture taken with people from all over the world, which is a very special experience. Buckshot is like Smokey the Bear — it’s a persona I live up to. I get to live my dreams by being a real-life historic figure.

Q :: At the Pioneer Yosemite History Center, you interact with visitors on a daily basis. Why do you think it’s important for visitors to learn about the lives of early pioneers? What do you hope they remember about their visit?

A

:: For a visitor, the experience begins when they see the stage coach coming through the covered bridge, hear the rhythm of the horse’s hooves, and smell the dirt, sawdust and leather. It’s a total experience of being in another time — it’s as exciting as it gets! Here at the Pioneer History Center, visitors get to relive history by learning about the park’s history and then decide for themselves how important it is to preserve Yosemite for the future.

Q :: What role did the Wawona area play in the history of Yosemite?

A

:: So much of Yosemite’s greatest historic events were centered here. Countless visitors have been transported through Wawona on their way into Yosemite Valley. Teddy Roosevelt

ABOVE Burrel “Buckshot” Maier is Yosemite’s only stage-coach driver/park ranger.

began his famous visit to Yosemite here in Wawona, and Galen Clark made his home here to be close to the big trees.

Q :: Yosemite Conservancy is supporting the replacement of the historic Yosemite stage coach in 2014. Why is this important?

A :: The current stage coach is 27 years old and is used every day. The old wagon is starting to show its age, especially with signs of dry rot. The new stage coach will be built as a totally authentic replica — except with an upgraded braking system for visitor safety.

Q :: How important is the Conservancy’s role in supporting your work?

A :: If it weren’t for the Conservancy, we would not be able to replace the stage coach, but we also wouldn’t have the money to reroof the historic buildings, provide new harnesses and stock, and more. The Pioneer Yosemite History Center simply would not be in shape to welcome visitors. To have this resource, you have to maintain it, and we are so grateful the Conservancy helps us do that.

“I get to live my dreams by being a real-life historic figure.”

ABOVE Since its construction, the stage coach has become a cornerstone of historic interpretation within the park. The sound and sight of the stage rumbling through the Pioneer Yosemite History Center has become an iconic symbol of Yosemite’s past.

New Projects for 2014*

CULTURAL & HISTORIC PRESERVATION

Preserve Thomas Hill’s Studio

Replace the Historic Wawona Stage Coach

HABITAT RESTORATION

Remove Invasive Plants from Yosemite

Restore Mariposa Grove

Restore Tenaya Lake’s Sunrise Trail & Build Boardwalk

Restore Wilderness with SCA Crews

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Monitor Yosemite’s Snowpack & Water Resources

Protect Songbirds & Inspire Visitors

Protect the American Pika

$21,542

$43,500

$83,292

$1,965,226

$560,000

$182,970

$83,917

$40,540

$38,000

TRAIL REHABILITATION & ACCESS

Improve John Muir Trail & Habitat in Lyell Canyon

Restore Legendary Valley Trails

Restore Popular Climbing Trails

Trail Rehabilitation by CCC Crews: Echo Valley & Kerrick Canyon

ASK A CLIMBER

ROCK-CLIMBING QUESTIONS ANSWERED

$224,950

$393,104

$84,390

$558,404

VISITOR SERVICES & EDUCATION

Ask A Climber

Engage the Class of 2016 in Park Stewardship

Erase Eco-Graffiti in the Valley

Improve Access to Yosemite’s Iconic Scenic Vistas: Tuolumne Meadows

Improve Tuolumne Grove Trailhead & Access Area

Junior Ranger Program

Leadership through Adventure: Youth Development with ARC

$38,000

$37,331

$15,000

$82,419

$317,520

$152,735

$95,000 Parks in Focus:

Youth Photography Program

Parsons Memorial Lodge Summer Series

Range of Light Film Festival

Rehabilitate Swinging Bridge Picnic Area

Revitalize Yosemite Valley Theater

SCA Interns Digitize Museum Archives

Teens Connect to Yosemite through WildLink

Wilderness Education Center at UC Merced

WildLink Alumni Explore Yosemite Careers

Yosemite Grant 150th Anniversary Museum Exhibit

Yosemite Leadership Program Summer Internship

Yosemite Nature Notes Videos

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

Protect Yosemite’s Great Gray Owls

Restore Endangered-Frog Habitat

Track Movements of Bears in Yosemite

TOTAL

$18,000

$35,000

$15,000

$138,068

$189,749

$22,132

$30,000

$34,500

$15,484

$75,000

$119,204

$52,500

$67,300

$30,000

$69,000

$5,928,777

*Color represents 2014 Youth in Yosemite Programs.

he sport of rock-climbing remains a mystery to many visitors, despite Yosemite’s reputation as an international climbing mecca. Thanks to Conservancy donors, the Ask a Climber program will continue this summer near the base of El Capitan, where visitors can participate in an interactive Q&A with climbing experts and use telescopes to watch climbers scale the Valley’s massive granite walls.

For many visitors, this is their first introduction to the sport of rock-climbing and to the park’s rich climbing history. Through firsthand exposure, visitors come away with a deeper connection to the role of climbing in Yosemite. This year, for the first time, interns are educating climbers about Leave No Trace practices and collecting data about climber use patterns.

Climbing interpreters and telescopes are located at El Capitan Bridge every day between 10 am and 2 pm, beginning in May. Join us to learn more about one of Yosemite’s most fascinating sports!

ABOVE Visitors gather at the base of El Capitan to observe climbers and hear real-time commentary from climbing experts.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION

PROTECTING THE LEGACY OF THE THOMAS HILL STUDIO

hile many visitors are drawn to the southern portion of Yosemite to see the iconic Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, this area also contains some of the park’s most culturally significant resources. The Thomas Hill Studio, located within the Wawona Hotel complex, is a designated historic landmark that acquaints visitors with the contributions of landscape artist Thomas Hill in protecting Yosemite and the giant sequoias. The studio also houses a visitor center, which experiences high foot traffic every day.

The studio’s interior Douglas fir wood floors have become thoroughly worn in many places and are in need of refinishing to preserve the site’s historic character and ensure visitor safety. A Conservancy grant is preserving this cultural resource by providing funds to sand and refinish the floors.

Your gifts are not only improving the visitor experience in Wawona, but are helping to preserve historically significant park structures.

TOP Renowned Yosemite artist and park protector Thomas Hill built his studio in Wawona, seen here circa 1893.

BOTTOM The historic Douglas fir wood floors at the Thomas Hill Studio are relics of Yosemite’s pioneer past.

TRAILHEAD RENOVATION

A WELCOMING EXPERIENCE AT TUOLUMNE GROVE

Your dedication to Yosemite means all who visit can better appreciate and more deeply care for this beautiful grove.

he Tuolumne Grove of Giant Sequoias is the park’s second-largest sequoia grove. Due to its location off popular Tioga Road, it sees a large influx of visitors drawn by the allure of the big trees. The trailhead infrastructure has been in dire need of upgrades to provide a more welcoming and accessible entrance to the Grove.

This year, Conservancy donors are funding several improvements to the trailhead, including renovating the picnic area, replanting vegetation in highly trafficked areas, and updating way-finding and interpretive signage. Sustainable designs and materials are being used to ensure all visitors can experience the giant sequoias in an environmentally responsible setting.

Your dedication to Yosemite means all who visit can better appreciate and more deeply care for this beautiful Grove.

PHOTO: © SAM FEINSILVER.

ABOVE A giant sequoia in Tuolumne Grove.

ADVENTURE TO LEADERSHIP

he celebration of the park’s 150th anniversary provides an important opportunity to look to the future of national parks, especially for the next generation that will be responsible for protecting them. As a Conservancy donor, your support provides for a range of vital youth-stewardship programs, including the Yosemite Leadership Program (YLP).

Through this program, undergraduate college students have the opportunity to spend 12 weeks working alongside park rangers and other park professionals, receiving an insider’s perspective into career opportunities in national parks. Participants learn about environmental leadership both in the classroom and the field, while completing an intensive stewardship project that benefits the park. The experience culminates in a symposium where students present their projects to park leaders and the visiting public.

Young people from all walks of life are experiencing firsthand the tangible benefits of environmental stewardship, ensuring Yosemite’s precious resources will be cared for by the next generation.

ABOVE YLP intern Shaqeal Alkebu-Ian meets Yosemite National Park Superintendent Don Neubacher.

ABOVE YLP wilderness intern Aricia Martinez helps a hiker identify a tree species on the trail to Cathedral Lakes.

TOP GPS technology allows park scientists to track black bears throughout Yosemite.

BOTTOM Conservancy grants make it possible to tag and track black bears in Yosemite, ensuring this iconic species remains protected.

TRACKING YOSEMITE’S BEARS

GPS TECHNOLOGY MAPS BEARS IN THE WILDERNESS

he excitement of seeing a black bear in the wild is a memorable moment for any park visitor. Although Yosemite’s black bears are iconic park symbols, wildlife managers have not been able to track bear movements when an animal enters the park’s vast wilderness. A Conservancy grant is making it possible to use GPS technology to monitor bears beyond developed areas throughout the park.

Using this technology, scientists are creating detailed maps of bear locations, which can be shared with park visitors. With proper education and outreach tools, more is being done to ensure black bears stay wild, while visitors stay safe.

This project builds on work funded by the Conservancy in 2012 that expanded the bear-monitoring system using radio telemetry in campgrounds and parking lots. Thanks to your dedicated support, we are continuing to protect Yosemite’s bears.

REVITALIZING THE YOSEMITE THEATER

TOP This summer, visitors can enjoy films and live performances at the renovated Yosemite Theater.

BOTTOM A new film by Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan will be shown at the newly renovated Yosemite Theater to honor the park’s 150th anniversary.

Join us this summer for an unforgettable live performance.

Learn more at yosemiteconservancy.org/ yosemite-theater

s the park celebrates its 150th anniversary, the Yosemite Theater in Yosemite Valley provides a central gathering place where visitors can watch films and live theater that commemorate this historic milestone. This year, Conservancy donors are funding upgrades to aging equipment and renovations to the theater entrance to complement the high quality of the performances and films.

Once again, this summer’s exciting theater lineup will include a portrayal of John Muir by veteran Yosemite actor Lee Stetson. Shining a spotlight on the sesquicentennial anniversary are a new live show featuring actors portraying Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir, and Yosemite: A Gathering of Spirit, a special documentary by renowned filmmakers Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan.

This summer, come visit Yosemite Theater, and watch as the park’s cultural and natural history comes to life before your eyes, seven nights a week from April to early November.

YOUR YOSEMITE, YOUR WAY

AN INSIDER’S VIEW OF YOSEMITE

“We learned so much more than if we had done the hikes on our own.”

— PAUL WAHRMAN Outdoor Adventures Participant

t is, by far, the grandest of all the special temples of Nature I was ever permitted to enter,” John Muir said about Yosemite. The park holds a special allure for visitors who come to find inspiration from the granite walls, towering peaks and flowing waterfalls. Yosemite Conservancy helps you explore your passion in your own special way. This summer, create one-of-a-kind memories with Yosemite Conservancy’s Custom Adventures, where you will experience the park as a true insider.

The Conservancy’s expert leaders include naturalists, biologists, artists and photographers — all of whom have been in Yosemite for decades and love sharing their knowledge.

ABOVE Plan a custom day hike, and create memories of a lifetime with your friends and family.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES

Explore the best of Yosemite with a park insider on one of this year’s popular Outdoor Adventures.

2014 OUTDOOR ADVENTURES HIGHLIGHTS

JUNE 14–15

Exploring the Rim Fire with Michael Ross

JUNE 20–21

Solstice Backpack to Devil’s

Dancefloor with Heather Sullivan & Pete Devine

JUNE 27–29

Beginner Backpack Trek to May Lake with Allison Baggett

JULY 11–13

Mountain Wildflowers for the Relaxed Botanist with Michael Ross

JULY 18–20

Sierra Nevada Natural History with David Lukas

JULY 19–20

Casual Birding at White Wolf with Michael Ross

JULY 24–27

Family Camping Jamboree No. 2 with Dave Wyman

JULY 26–27

“For more than 30 years, I’ve led hundreds of groups in Yosemite, and I love taking people to the park’s lesser-known locations, where they can enjoy a more peaceful experience,” says expert naturalist Michael Ross. From snowshoe walks to private art workshops and multiday backpacking trips, our experts will help you create your best Yosemite adventure. Proceeds from these programs fund essential trail repair and access, habitat restoration, and wildlife protection in Yosemite.

Yosemite Conservancy also invites you to explore our unique selection of yearround Outdoor Adventures with our knowledgeable leaders. Register early to ensure space for this summer’s popular excursions.

See our full listing of Outdoor Adventures at yosemiteconservancy.org/calendar

Tuolumne Alpine Insider: Life at the Top with Michael Ross

AUGUST 7–10

Hike Half Dome: The Easy Way with Suzanne Swedo

AUGUST 16–17

Yosemite Photography: High Country Workshop with Peter Hemming

AUGUST 24

Go Climb a Peak: Summit Mt. Hoffmann with Michael Ross

SEPTEMBER 4–7

Vogelsang Backpack with Suzanne Swedo

PHOTOS: © NANCY ROBBINS.

LEFT Our expert leaders have been in the park for decades and will give your group an insider’s perspective on Yosemite.

From Boy Scout to Park Guardian: Giving Back to Yosemite

shish Mehta first fell in love with the outdoors while backpacking in the Sierra Nevada as a Boy Scout. The beauty of Yosemite captivated him from an early age, and his commitment to protecting wild places continues to grow.

“Yosemite’s grandeur makes you realize there’s something bigger than you,” he says. “I think it’s very important to preserve that for future generations.”

While attending medical school in San Francisco, Ashish and his wife, Asha, would visit Yosemite whenever they could. They shared their love of the outdoors with their daughters, Karina and Shaina, and throughout the years, they’ve built wonderful family memories of hiking to Yosemite Falls and riding bikes around the Valley. They’ve even seen a bear!

A donor since the 1990s, Ashish realizes the importance of giving what you can. “It’s better to give a minute of your time or a dollar of your money,” he says. “It’s just as important as those million-dollar gifts.”

Ashish and Asha recently decided to join the John Muir Heritage Society after learning more about the projects and programs the Conservancy supports. “[The Conservancy] is something I want to be a part of and support in any fashion I can,” Ashish says. “I’m happy I can give back a little bit.”

During this 150th anniversary year, we celebrate individual donors, such as Ashish, who make it possible to preserve and protect Yosemite. “There are just some places you just have to leave untouched and protected,” he says. “I feel very strongly that we all have a role to play.”

PHOTOS: © ASHISH MEHTA.

ABOVE Ashish shows off the separated soles of his hiking boots. He used duct tape to make it back to the trailhead — 15 miles away. LEFT Ashish, Asha and Karina on the hike to Upper Yosemite Fall in 2004.

Corporate Volunteers Take Pride in Restoring Yosemite

apital Group, an investment-management organization based in Los Angeles, is one of Yosemite Conservancy’s dedicated corporate volunteers.

For 22 years, Capital Group’s employees have spent weekends restoring habitat and building stronger ties to Yosemite — and each other. We interviewed Liz Kernion, Capital Group’s senior contributions associate, to find out why this group gives back to Yosemite through volunteering.

WHAT INSPIRED CAPITAL GROUP TO BECOME A CONSERVANCY CORPORATE VOLUNTEER?

Longtime Chairman Jon Lovelace was a dedicated environmentalist whose interest in Yosemite spurred others to get involved. When given the opportunity to introduce Capital associates to the park through weekend restoration projects, we jumped at the chance.

WHAT COMPELS YOUR EMPLOYEES TO RETURN EACH YEAR?

The weekends provide a unique opportunity to see firsthand the beauty we wish to preserve through supporting the Conservancy. Capital Group associates are very eager to

volunteer — every year we hold a lottery, because so many people sign up!

WHAT DO YOUR EMPLOYEES SAY ABOUT VOLUNTEERING?

Associate Holly Bower says, “I’ve worked on all types of projects throughout the years, and each time it’s a privilege to do my small part in helping protect something so grand and yet so precious.”

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL ANOTHER ORGANIZATION THAT IS INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING IN YOSEMITE?

Go for it! These volunteer weekends are a time to both restore the park and get to know your colleagues. Nothing brings a group closer together than camping and working together for a great cause!

Thank you to Capital Group and all the dedicated Yosemite Conservancy corporate volunteers who give their time to care for Yosemite National Park.

Learn more about volunteering with Yosemite Conservancy at our website: yosemiteconservancy.org/volunteer

ABOVE Capital Group volunteers pitch in to restore lakeshore habitat at Tenaya Lake’s East Beach.

YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY

Magazine of Yosemite Conservancy, published twice a year.

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Jennifer Miller

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Noel Morrison

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Ken Burns

Dayton Duncan

Burrel Maier

Michelle Slocombe Mike Tollefson

STAFF :: San Francisco

Mike Tollefson, President & CEO

Jerry Edelbrock, Vice President, CFO & COO

Darlene Bellucci, Associate Director of Major & Planned Gifts

Sarah Campbell, Events Manager

Kim Coull, Development Director

Edin Draper-Beard, Executive Affairs Manager

Patrick Heryford, Institutional Giving Officer

Debra Holcomb, Associate Director of Annual Giving & Development Operations

Sara Jones, Data Entry Assistant

Holly Kuehn, Development & Donor Services Assistant

Isabelle Luebbers, Campaign & Development

Projects Manager

Jennifer Miller, Marketing & Communications Director

Michelle Slocombe, Communications & Social Media Manager

Claudia Spain, Annual Giving & Stewardship Manager

Kit Thomas, Controller

Christina Yu, Donor & Data Services Assistant

STAFF :: Yosemite

Adonia Ripple, General Manager Yosemite Operations

Aline Allen, Art Center Coordinator

Nicole Brocchini, Museum Store Supervisor

Kylie Chappell, Outdoor Adventures Coordinator

Pete Devine, Resident Naturalist

Teresa Ellis, Sales Information Assistant

Rachel Gibbons, Retail Operations Manager

Schuyler Greenleaf, Projects Director

Suzy Hasty, Volunteer Program Manager

Cory Jacobs, Warehouse Assistant

Michelle Kuchta, Accounting Assistant

Olotumi Laizer, Sales Information Assistant

Belinda Lantz, Retail & Publishing Director

Denise Ludington, Accounting Supervisor

Katie Manion, Valley Complex Supervisor

Noel Morrison, Communications Manager & Webmaster

Michael Ross, Naturalist

John Samples,Warehouse Coordinator

Angie Sberna, Accounting Director

Shelly Stephens, Inventory Manager

Laurie Stowe, Wilderness Programs Manager

Melinda Thomas, Sales Information Assistant

STAFF :: Southern California

Patti Johns Eisenberg, Major Gifts Officer

Spring.Summer 2014 :: Volume 05 Issue 01 ©2014

Federal Tax Identification No. 94-3058041

Ways to Give

THERE ARE MANY WAYS you and your organization can support the meaningful work of Yosemite Conservancy. We look forward to exploring these philanthropic opportunities with you.

CONTACT US

Visit yosemiteconservancy.org

Email info@yosemiteconservancy.org

Phone 800-469-7275 or 415-434-0745

INDIVIDUAL GIVING

Development Director

Kim Coull kcoull@yosemiteconservancy.org

800-469-7275 x324

Annual Giving

Debra Holcomb dholcomb@yosemiteconservancy.org 800-469-7275 x319

Major Gifts – Northern California

Darlene Bellucci dbellucci@yosemiteconservancy.org 800-469-7275 x318

Major Gifts – Southern California Patti Johns Eisenberg peisenberg@yosemiteconservancy.org 626-792-9626

GIFTS OF STOCK

Isabelle Luebbers

iluebbers@yosemiteconservancy.org 800-469-7275 x313

SEQUOIA SOCIETY MONTHLY GIVING

Debra Holcomb dholcomb@yosemiteconservancy.org 800-469-7275 x319

Mail

Yosemite Conservancy 101 Montgomery Street, Suite 1700 San Francisco, CA 94104 Fax 415-434-0745

HONOR & MEMORIAL GIFTS

Debra Holcomb dholcomb@yosemiteconservancy.org 800-469-7275 x319

FOUNDATIONS & CORPORATIONS

Patrick Heryford pheryford@yosemiteconservancy.org 800-469-7275 x328

PLANNED GIVING & BEQUESTS

Darlene Bellucci dbellucci@yosemiteconservancy.org 800-469-7275 x318

MATCHING GIFTS

Debra Holcomb dholcomb@yosemiteconservancy.org 800-469-7275 x319

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Suzy Hasty shasty@yosemiteconservancy.org 209-379-2317 yosemiteconservancy.org/volunteer

101 Montgomery Street, Suite 1700

San Francisco, CA 94104