Yosemite Conservancy Newsletter | March 2023

Photo © Yosemite Conservancy/Madison Smith

Recent News from Yosemite

With back-to-back recent storms, Yosemite National Park has received significant snowfall over the last several weeks. The park remains closed to the public through at least March 16 — possibly longer.

As crews continue snow removal operations, employee safety remains the park's top priority. Please keep in mind that this work is more than just plowing roads, parking lots, and pullouts; park reopening efforts also include:

• Restoring power where outages persist
• Removing snow from rooftops to prevent collapse and danger to bystanders
• Digging out fire hydrants and propane tanks
• Performing damage assessments on park buildings
• Evaluating snow loads on trees near roads and facilities (which could cause additional trees to fall)
• Resupplying retail stores

Thank you for your patience — the National Park Service and its partners are working hard to reopen Yosemite as soon as it's safe to do so.

In other Yosemite and Conservancy news:

• New El Capitan webcam in the news: In response to our latest press release, the new streaming video webcam was recently featured in The San Francisco Standard and highlighted by KCBS Radio. As always, we're grateful for the donor support that helps make these kinds of upgrades possible. See the webcam for yourself on yosemite.org.
• Snow surveys: Despite challenging conditions, National Park Service staff and others have completed snow surveys for March 2023. Amidst the incredible storms, not all sites could be surveyed this month. The Tuolumne Drainage was measured at an estimated 186% of average, and Merced Drainage was measured at an estimated 160% of average. Learn more via the California Data Exchange Center.

Photo © Yosemite Conservancy

You're Invited: San Francisco Reception at Salesforce Tower

We’re excited to invite you to an evening reception in San Francisco featuring Frank Dean, Yosemite Conservancy President, and Garrett Dickman, Yosemite National Park Forest Ecologist, as well as a screening of the 10-minute film Last of the Monarchs, a story about Giant Sequoia preservation.

Join us for hors d’oeuvres, stunning views, drinks, and Yosemite camaraderie on Thursday, April 20 from 6:00 – 8:00pm on the top floor of Salesforce Tower (‘Ohana Floor) at 415 Mission Street in San Francisco.

Please note that this event is first come, first served and registration fees apply. Space is limited, and we expect it to sell out quickly. Tickets are non-transferable. Attendees must present a valid government-issued photo ID. Registration is required by April 13.

Photo © No Limits Yosemite

March is National Disability Awareness Month

One of the many ways we're celebrating Yosemite Conservancy's 100th birthday is by sharing the stories of people who love the park — the people who make our work possible.

This National Disability Awareness Month, we're inviting visitors with disabilities and their friends, family, caregivers, and travel partners to submit Yosemite stories.

The photo above shows visitors using handcycles to explore the park; it was taken during the 2018 donor-funded No Limits program in Yosemite Valley. We recognize that some disabilities are visible and others are not, and we welcome participation from anyone who identifies as living with a disability.

Yosemite Half Marathon

This year's Yosemite Half Marathon will be held on May 6, 2023. The race is already sold out, but you can still participate by registering a Charity Bib.

We've partnered with Wander Project, a nonprofit organization affiliated with Vacation Races, to participate in the Charity Bib Program. Signing up for a Charity Bib gets you free entry into the race in exchange for raising funds for Yosemite Conservancy. Once you register, Wander Project will provide tools and resources to help you successfully meet your $1,000 fundraising commitment.

Thank you for supporting the Conservancy, and we look forward to seeing you at the next Yosemite Half Marathon!

Photo © Yosemite Conservancy / Ashley McComb

UPCOMING EVENTS IN YOSEMITE

Snowed in? What better time to make your summer travel plans! Don't forget to browse our 2023 Art Classes and Outdoor Adventures. All of our March events are full (email our team to join the waitlist), but we still have space in these April events: 

April 8 – 9: Yosemite Field School: Teach the Teachers

April 10 – 21: Watercolor & Ink with Casey Cheuvront

April 24 – 28: Watercolor Journaling with Elizabeth Butterfield

April 29 – 30: Intro to Birding in Yosemite Valley

Our Naturalist Walks are also scheduled to resume in March, weather permitting.

Want the chance to see your shots featured here?

It’s easy! Share Yosemite photos with us on social media and tag your best shot with #yosemiteconnect. Winners will be featured online and in our monthly newsletter.