Yosemite Conservancy Newsletter | February 2023

Photo © Yosemite Conservancy/Madison Smith

Recent News from Yosemite

Yosemite Conservancy’s roots as the philanthropic partner of Yosemite National Park stretch back to 1923. A century later, we’re as passionate as ever about providing for the future of one of the world’s greatest natural treasures. We are grateful for your support! Here's the latest in Yosemite and Conservancy news:

• New El Capitan webcam: Check it out! We're thrilled to share our first streaming video webcam in the Yosemite high country, which features impressive views not only of El Cap, but also of Half Dome and Yosemite Valley. You can help support our webcams and the park by sharing the link with a friend — or by making a donation to help keep this service up and running!
• Horsetail Fall reservations: This year, a reservation will be required to drive into Yosemite National Park for the Horsetail Fall "firefall" event on the weekends of February 10–12, February 17–19, and February 24–26. Learn more on NPS.gov/yose, and if you plan to visit, please take a few minutes to read our tips for a safe and respectful Horsetail Fall experience.
• Conservancy Lead Naturalist featured in Outside Online: According to one Outside writer, who interviewed staff member Cory Goehring late last month, this is the best winter ever to visit Yosemite National Park. As Cory attests, "Conditions are amazing right now....Yosemite has transformed into a winter wonderland."
• Last week's Tuolumne Meadows Winter Conditions Update: The week started warm and dry and ended cold and wet. A nice little storm over the weekend brought fresh snow, high winds, and cold temperatures. Ski conditions were vastly improved by the new snow. The debris that littered the old snow surface from the two weeks of dry weather and wind is buried for now. The big storms of January have left great snow coverage on all aspects. In fact, according to the February 1 snow survey results, the Tuolumne River drainage is 200% of normal for this time of year... Read more from the Tuolumne Meadows Winter Rangers on NPS.gov/yose.

• Ahwahnee closure: The Ahwahnee closed on January 2, 2023 for a seismic improvement project. The hotel, cottages, grounds, and parking lot are closed to all Yosemite visitors, and there is no shuttle service to the hotel. It is scheduled to re-open on March 3, 2023.

Photo courtesy of NPS 

Announcing Our 2023 Grants

As we reflect on 2022, we are endlessly grateful to our donors, volunteers, staff, National Park Service partners, and everyone who helped make last year's projects and programs in Yosemite a success.

This year, we're thrilled to officially announce that we are providing $17 million in total support to Yosemite in 2023.

We are diving right in to another exciting year of work in the park. We invite you to browse our 2023 grants on our website — with your support, we're funding 50 projects to restore trails and habitat, protect wildlife, offer educational programs, and much more in our centennial year.

Photo and quote © Oliver de los Angeles 

Calling All Yosemite Love Stories!

One of the many ways we're celebrating 100 years of impact in the park is by sharing the stories of people who make our work possible. This Valentine's Day, we're specifically seeking Yosemite love stories! Here's a sweet supporter story to inspire you:

"A week after we met in 2014 we talked about hiking Half Dome and 2 years later we got the opportunity to so I knew at the top I would be asking my best friend to marry me and she said yes! Less than a year later we got married on the lawn of the Majestic!* We absolutely love Yosemite!" — Oliver de los Angeles, depicted above proposing in the park.

Got a Yosemite love story to share? Tell us all about it by filling out our survey form.

*Note: The wedding took place before the name changed back to The Ahwahnee.

Photo © Andrew Collins

Donate Your Vehicle

Vehicle donations are a unique and impactful giving option that helps you support Yosemite. Your unwanted car, truck, boat, motorcycle, SUV, or even plane can be accepted as a donation through our partnership with CARS. Your generosity qualifies for a tax deduction and we’ll do all the heavy lifting. The pick-up is free and you can schedule it during a time that’s convenient for you.

Photo © Yosemite Conservancy

February's Featured Retail Item — Magnets

Remember your Yosemite trip each time you open the fridge with our robust magnet collection. Depicted above, this replica benchmark celebrates the elevation of El Capitan above sea level: 7,569 feet!

Photo © Yosemite Conservancy / Heather van der Grinten

UPCOMING EVENTS IN YOSEMITE

This year's Art Classes and Outdoor Adventures are live on our website and open for registration! All of our March 2023 Outdoor Adventures are full (email our team to join the waitlist), but we still have a few spots in this weekend's Mariposa Grove program:

February 18: Day Hike: Winter Wonder in Mariposa Grove

Our Naturalist Walks will also resume in March, and we have lots of space in these April programs:

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

April 29 – 30: Intro to Birding in Yosemite Valley

Our Art Classes kick off April 10 with Watercolor & Ink with Casey Cheuvront.

Remember, our adventure gift certificates and art center gift cards are the perfect last-minute Valentine’s Day gift for your favorite adventure buddy or artist.

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.