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| 2004 Outdoor Adventures Catalog Available |
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YA is pleased to announce that the schedule of
2004 Yosemite Outdoor Adventures courses
has been completed and prospective participants can
now begin enrolling. The catalog of offerings has been
posted on our website and will be mailed to all members
this week. Watch for your copy included in the fall
issue of the members' journal soon.
We invite you to explore Yosemite National Park
through one of these fun, educational courses taught
by experienced naturalists and park rangers. New
offerings include the Yosemite Birding Festival,
Junior Ranger Adventures, Family Camping
Jamboree, and Yosemite en Espaņol.
Proceeds from the program directly benefit Yosemite
National Park!
We've posted lots of information to make it easy for
you to plan a Yosemite adventure in 2004. There's a
calendar of courses arranged month by month, the
option to download the entire 2004 catalog in a PDF
format, biographical information about our talented
instructors, and the option to enroll online through our
secure web store.
Remember that Yosemite Association members
receive a 15% discount from course fees for every
class we offer! Take advantage of this valuable benefit
of Yosemite Association membership and sign up for a
Yosemite Outdoor Adventure today.
To learn more about 2004 Outdoor Adventures or to enroll... »
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| Hydroelectric Dam on Merced River Being Removed |
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Eighty-five years ago, the National Park Service
dammed the Merced River in Yosemite Valley with
timbers, boulders, and debris for a hydroelectric project
that brought hot water and lights at the touch of a
switch.
Earlier this month, heavy equipment began pounding
the small hydro dam to pieces. The only dam
between the Sierra crest and foothills on the
Merced should be gone by December, officials said.
Yosemite visitors may not even know Cascades
Diversion Dam and Hydroelectric Powerhouse exists.
The low-profile dam can be seen in the river next to
the junction of Highway 140 and Big Oak Flat Road on
the far west end of Yosemite Valley.
Though the dam will be gone next month, crews will
work through April to complete restoration and roadside
work on the $2.8 million project. The work is part of the
$150 million of Yosemite Valley Plan projects
scheduled for the next three years.
To read more about the dam removal in Yosemite... »
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| Yosemite Markers Now Available as Pins & Pulls |
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Yosemite fans will be pleased to learn that new pins
and zipper pulls have been produced to represent the
summits of some of Yosemite's well-known features (El
Capitan and Half Dome) and the actual U.S Geological
Survey bench mark on Glacier Point. Bearing location
names and geographic information, they are artfully
rendered in brushed pewter - beautifully cast and finely
detailed.
Earlier, heavy pewter paperweights were created from
the same designs, but these smaller, lighter versions
can be used to adorn day packs, parkas, three-piece
suits, speedos, and just about any other item made of
cloth!
The markers are one inch in diameter; the pins come
with removable backing clasps, and the zipper pulls with
attaching clips. They are manufactured in the United
States by Geo-Situ.
The sharp-looking pins and zipper pulls retail for $9
each, but with their 15% discount, YA members pay
only $7.65 for each! Order these terrific Yosemite
gift items soon. To order the zipper pulls, click here. To order the pins,
click below.
To purchase a SummitMark Yosemite Pin... »
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| Are Pikas Sentinels of Global Climate Change? |
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In a recent paper published in the Journal of
Mammalogy, Erik A. Beever, Peter F. Brussard, and
Joel Bergera presented disturbing evidence that
suggests pikas may be among the first mammal species
for which scientists have empirical data that
demonstrate rapidly altered distributional patterns
across a bioregion during the current period of global
climate change.
Dr. Beever discusses the matter in an article posted in
the Sierra Nature Notes section of the
Yosemite Association web site. In it, he notes that
pikas may be early sentinels of biological response
to global climate change such as increased
temperatures, although to date little fieldwork has been
done on response of terrestrial vertebrates to climatic
changes.
Beever discusses the findings of his study of pikas
(Ochotona princeps) in the western United
States, and suggests that pikas may help ecologists to
understand the effect that past disturbances,
influences from adjacent lands, and climate change, in
addition to the isolation and relatively small size of park
units may have on the persistence of species within
parks.
To read the pika article at Sierra Nature Notes... »
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| Nevada Barr to Unveil New Yosemite Mystery in the Park! |
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Acclaimed national park mystery writer Nevada Barr has
finally written a novel based in Yosemite. Entitled
High Country, the new book is
scheduled for release in February, 2004.
We at the Yosemite Association are pleased to
announce that Ms. Barr has agreed to come to
Yosemite to celebrate the publication of this, her
twelfth book featuring ranger Anna Pigeon. Her
appearance is billed as "A Weekend with Nevada
Barr" and will take place from February 27 through
29 in Yosemite Valley (much of it at The Ahwahnee) as
part of our 2004 Outdoor Adventures program.
Friday night will feature an intimate reception with the
author, and Saturday will include an afternoon lecture
and an evening reading. Opportunities for having your
books signed should be plentiful. During the weekend,
participants will be able to enjoy programs by Tom
Bopp, musician and Yosemite historian, and an
assortment of interpretive walks in the Yosemite Valley
and Badger Pass areas.
The publisher of High
Country notes that "Nevada Barr reveals the
beauty of nature and the cruelty of humans in her
stunning new Anna Pigeon mystery." Here's your
chance to hear all about it from the author while you
enjoy a beautiful winter weekend in Yosemite. The
course fee for the "Weekend with Nevada Barr" is $180
(including the opening reception). As always, YA
members receive a 15%
discount, and can enroll for only $153!
To sign up for the weekend with Nevada Barr...
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