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| Limited Edition Book Almost Sold Out! |
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Last fall, the Yosemite Association published Caroline
Van der Burgh's account of her trip (shortly after 1900)
from the east coast entitled "A Trip to the Yosemite" in
a limited, letter press edition. Since then, the book has
been honored by the Rounce & Coffin Club as a
selection for its "Best Western Books"
exhibition, and it has sold briskly.
Besides a terrifying accident in which the stage
overturned and the driver suffered broken ribs, the
book describes the frightening efforts of the
inexperienced "geologist" who took over for the injured
driver, clouds of choking dust, the unending
protestations of a hysterical woman passenger, and a
terrorizing twenty-one-mile ride on the back of a pony
named Snowball to visit Glacier Point.
For this finely printed version, an introduction was
prepared by the author's granddaughter, Carolyn
Lansden Whittle, and a series of striking line
drawings by acclaimed Yosemite artist Jane Gyer
was commissioned. Twenty of the drawings are
included in the book.
The edition was limited to 250 numbered copies, each
signed by the illustrator, and fewer than 15 copies
are still available for sale. The 40 pages of text
were designed by Michael Osborne Design and printed
letterpress on Mohawk Superfine text at One Heart
Press in San Francisco. The book measures 6 x 9 inches
and was hand bound into Teton cover using a Japanese-
style stab sewing. The regular price for the volume
is $75, but Y.A. members can purchase it now for
$60!
For more information and to purchase "A Trip to the Yosemite"... »
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| What's a Fen, and What's It Got to do with Yosemite? |
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Fen, a name derived from the Old English word "fenn,"
meaning a flat, marshy area, connotes images
of the English countryside, where fens cover vast
areas.
But Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada, with their long,
dry summers, haven't been viewed as regions capable
of supporting many peat-forming wetlands. Fens, by
definition, are peat-forming wetlands fed by moving
groundwater.
The Yosemite fen is one of the state's best known, but
even it has escaped the notice of tourists and
naturalists. The Yosemite fen -- 2 acres of which was
left untouched by development -- is barely visible from
the road between Curry Village and Happy Isles, the
busy trailhead for the popular hike to Vernal and
Nevada falls.
In 1994, a park employee discovered that part of
Yosemite's fen had been buried for many years. When
he was digging a posthole in the filled area, he spaded
up rich organic, saturated soil and realized this area
was likely an extension of the nearby untouched fen. A
look at an old park service map confirmed his
suspicions. To read more about the "rediscovered"
fen and its fascinating attributes, click on the link to
our newsroom below.
To read more about the Happy Isles fen... »
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| Our New Logo T-Shirts Look Good on Everybody |
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The colorful new t-shirts that we developed to
celebrate the Yosemite Association's 80th anniversary
are a big hit. We see them on members and supporters
everywhere.
Available in three colors, natural, blue, and green, the
shirt is screen printed in four colors. The Hanes Beefy-T
brand shirts are 100% cotton and available in five
different sizes: S, M, L, XL, and XXL.
Wearing one of these stylish shirts you can show your
support of the work of the Yosemite Association and
look good at the same time!
The logo t-shirts retail for $16, but with their 15%
discount, YA members pay only $13.60! Pick up
one today.
To purchase a new YA 80th anniversary logo t-shirt... »
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| Mora Yosemite Valley Puzzles Make Great Gifts |
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A favorite gift of many Yosemite lovers is this 500-
piece jigsaw puzzle made using the cartoon-style map
of Yosemite Valley painted by Jo Mora in 1931.
Not only does it feature many humorous elements, it
pictures many features in Yosemite Valley that are no
longer to be found. They include the Old Village, the
petting zoo at the Yosemite Museum, the Firefall, the
bear feeding platform, and the Glacier Point Hotel.
For those who remember when the campgrounds had
numbers instead of names, those designations are
included, too. Probably the best feature of the puzzle,
however, is that it's not impossible to complete! Its
multiple colors and lots of characters make it relatively
easy to find and match pieces.
The puzzle is a gift that can be enjoyed over and over,
and it's a great bit of Yosemite nostalgia. As always,
Y.A. members receive a 15% discount and can
purchase this $12.95 jigsaw puzzle for only
$11.01.
To purchase a Mora Yosemite Valley jigsaw puzzle... »
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| Harlequin Ducks in Yosemite Valley? |
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Harlequin Ducks were recorded in Yosemite Valley way
back in 1922. For 80 years, the birds were absent from
the valley, and only rarely seen in the park.
In June of 2002, however, a female Harlequin Duck and
four ducklings were spotted on the Merced River in
Yosemite Valley by three park employees. Four juvenile
or female Harlequins were seen again in August at the
upstream end of Bridalveil Meadow along the south
bank of the Merced River.
The California Department of Fish and Game considers
the Harlequin Duck to be a Species of Special
Concern (First Priority). Despite its rarity and
declining status, this species has not been listed as
either Threatened or Endangered--mostly because
Harlequins are seen so infrequently and so little is
known about their occurrence in the Sierra.
You can read about the Harlequin Duck in the Sierra
Nevada (including description, natural history,
distribution and habitat, and conservation status) in
the Sierra Nature Notes section of our web site. The
entry is part of the Sierra Nevada Bird Project
being sponsored by Y.A. that will result in a new
field guide to the birds of the Sierra Nevada.
To read further about Harlequin Ducks in the Sierra...
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