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| Rangers Run to Benefit YA! |
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Incorrigible Yosemite enthusiasts, running and multi-
tasking Interpretive Park Rangers Adrienne Freeman
and Marea Ortiz have decided to run (or stroll) the
six-mile Wharf-to-Wharf Race in Santa Cruz on July
25th as a fundraiser for the Yosemite Association.
With an aim to benefit education programs in Yosemite
National Park, Adrienne and Marea are asking for
pledges from Yosemite Association members,
National Park Service staff, and anyone else who wants
to contribute.
They also encourage other Yosemite-lovers to join
them in the Santa Cruz run (billed as "The Best Little
Road Race in California") to support YA. For more
information about the event, click here.
To talk with Adrienne or Marea and to make a pledge,
contact them at (209) 372-0338. You can also sponsor
these running rangers on-line through our secure
donations page by using the link below. We wish
Adrienne, Marea, and all other run participants a great
race, and thank them for their support.
To sponsor Marea and Adrienne with an on-line donation... »
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| A Guide for Enjoying the Sierra's East Side |
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Now that Tioga Pass is open, it's prime time to spend a
few days on the spectacular east side of the Sierra.
One of our favorite books about that region is
California's Eastern Sierra - A Visitor's
Guide, a well-designed and illustrated volume
by Sue Irwin.
Featuring over 100 scenic and historic destinations, the
guide describes both renowned and lesser-known
landmarks and natural wonders, from Mount Whitney
and Devils Postpile to the Alabama Hills and Hot Creek.
This is a book that not only opens up the Eastern Sierra
for the tourist, but also provides a wealth of
information about the history, geology, flora and fauna
of the area. We highly recommend this useful guide
that was updated in 2002.
The volume retails for $18.95, but with their 15%
discount YA members can buy it now for only
$16.11. Purchase a copy today for your next trip
to the East Side!
For more about the book and to purchase... »
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| Shrimp in Tuolumne Meadows? Really? |
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A versatile fairy shrimp was recently found at 8,600
feet in Yosemite! It was the first known record of the
species at Tuolumne Meadows. The fairy shrimp
typically live in ephemeral ponds and pools, and thus
have eggs or cysts that are very resistant to
desiccation and freezing. They don't really look like
their oceanic relatives in the photo above.
This species (Branchinecta lindahli) may have
long-term management importance because it may be a
good indicator of change in native ecosystems. Since
they rely on shallow ponds in wetlands, fairy shrimp
may be sensitive to the warming and drying conditions
that are one of the predicted climate change scenarios
for the Sierra Nevada.
Invertebrates are
also sensitive to disturbance, especially fragmentation
of habitat created by roads, trails and development.
With basic data on species presence and distribution,
park managers can develop better strategies to
preserve and protect park resources and assess
impacts of management actions and
visitor use.
For more about the fairy shrimp and their significance... »
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| Want Help Identifying Yosemite Wildflowers? |
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Summer's here and that means that the park is ablaze
with the colors of thousands of wildflowers. From
shooting stars to scarlet gentian to old-reliable Indian
paintbrush, there is a wide array of species in bloom
now.
If you're looking for help in identifying the wildflowers,
we suggest you consider a user-friendly and colorful
guide to the species one would encounter in Yosemite
and the areas around the park. It's called
Wildflowers of the Sierra Nevada and the Central
Sierra and was written by Laird R. Blackwell.
This guide covers 320 different species that are
illustrated in full-color photographs. Seventeen different
families of plants are color-coded for easy
identification, and the book is organized by elevation
from the Central Valley up to the alpine high Sierra.
There's a Quick Key that sorts the flowers by elevation,
color, and petal number, and a discussion of the
elevation zones, description of the flower parts, a
glossary, references, and an index to both common and
scientific names.
The book is bound in a water and tear-resistant
material that makes it great for use in the field.
Regularly retailing for $15.95, the 288-page book is
available to YA members at a 15% discount for only
$13.56!
To purchase this handy wildflower guide... »
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| The Perfect (and Easy) Yosemite Family Vacation! |
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Bring your family to Yosemite for YA's upcoming
Family Camping Jamboree in Tuolumne
Meadows. Forget the hassle of planning a
vacation - we'll provide all the meals and activities
while you and your family enjoy a relaxing long
weekend (August 12-15).
You'll stay at the Tuolumne Meadows Campground in
comfortable, reserved campsites. Join in an optional
day hike, look for deer and shy black bears, sniff the
wildflowers or just relax back in camp. Optional
activities will include meadow walks and hikes up
Lembert Dome and to Elizabeth Lake.
It's a great opportunity to spend some time with your
family, compare notes with other moms and dads,
and let the adults relax while the kids make new friends.
Yosemite Association members can enroll in the Family
Camping Jamboree for only $191 per adult and $106
per child. (The non-member fees are $225 per
adult and $125 per child). The fees includes camping, a
park pass, all of your meals for three days and a variety
of fun activities. If you sign-up before June
30th, you'll receive a free Yosemite stuffed
bear for each child you enroll!
For more about the Family Camping Jamboree and to sign up...
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