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Yosemite Conservancy Newsletter | June 2022
Photo © Yosemite Conservancy/NPS
Recent News from Yosemite
This season is going to be another busy one, and numerous key visitor attractions will be closed for critical infrastructure repairs. So our National Park Service partners have instituted a peak-hours reservation system from May 20 through September 30, 2022. Keep in mind:
- The new system ensures that the park is never “closed” and those without reservations can still access the park if they enter before 6 am or after 4 pm. It will also help manage congestion; ensure the safety of visitors, staff, and residents; and promote an enjoyable park experience.
- A reservation will be required to drive into or through Yosemite National Park from 6 am to 4 pm every day.
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The Yosemite Bike Share will be returning to the Valley in mid-June! This completely free program is made possible by generous donors including Peet’s Coffee.
Please note that we *strongly recommend* downloading the app to your phone before you leave for the park. The app is needed to access a Yosemite Bike Share bike. Each rider needs their own smartphone with the app to unlock a bicycle. Learn more about the Yosemite Bike Share — including step-by-step instructions to get and use the mobile app — on our website.
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The Spring/Summer 2022 donor magazine has been printed and mailed! Our generous donors will receive their printed magazine in the mail soon. If you haven't made your gift yet, join us now to receive a copy in the mail with this special offer. Check out some of the stories featured on our blog:
- Mapping Technologies: How Lidar Supports Research in Yosemite
- Saving Species Through GPS Tracking
- Project Update: Welcome Center
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- The park’s latest Accessibility Guide
- Construction updates throughout the park
- Changes to traffic patterns and shuttle routes in Yosemite Valley
- Our pro tips for parking your vehicle based on your itinerary.
Photo © Craig Schoenbaum
OpenRoad Episode #78: Restoring Bridalveil Fall
Check out OpenRoad with Doug McConnell for a behind-the-scenes look at the ongoing restoration of trails and facilities at iconic Bridalveil Fall. Conservancy President Frank Dean joins McConnell in Yosemite Valley for a walk-through of the nearly complete, years-long project, made possible by our dedicated supporters! This feature will give you a sneak peek of the new visitor experience at Bridalveil, which is expected to open to the public in early 2023.
The video premieres on Sunday, June 19 at 6:30 PM — if you're in the Bay area, watch it on NBC! Everyone else can watch virtually at this link.
Photo © Yosemite Conservancy
With Your Support, Mariposa Grove Has Fully Reopened!
We are thrilled to share that, thanks to the support of Conservancy donors, Yosemite’s Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is welcoming and serving visitors at full capacity for the first time since the January 2021 storm that forced the area to close for several months. See several recent photos of the restored Grove — and learn more about how your generosity will protect this Yosemite treasure into the future — in our latest blog post.
Photo © Yosemite Conservancy/Jon Paul Salonen
Shop for Yosemite
We are so grateful to the many corporate partners who make it easy and fun to support the Conservancy and preserve and protect Yosemite. As you stock up for your summer adventures, check out a few brands we love:
Don’t miss the new collection of Marmot gear and equipment, featuring Pendleton’s classic Yosemite print.
Grab a bag of Peet’s Coffee’s Yosemite Dos Sierras blend — treat yourself to organic coffee beans for those slow vacation mornings.
With cute and comfy clothes, home décor, and gifts galore, Parks Project has it all — and they’ve donated over $2 million to support Yosemite and other parks!
From camping gear, to candles, to coffee, thank you for shopping with brands who give back to Yosemite!
Photo © Yosemite Conservancy
Celebrate Chinese History With Children's Book Mountain Chef
Tioga Road is officially open for another summer in Yosemite’s High Sierra!
If your high country adventures involve hiking to the High Sierra Camps, imagine the Chinese chef Tie Sing cooking up a storm for Stephen Mather’s mountain parties. Sing’s feasts were part of Mather’s creative campaign to influence 20th century politicians into forming the National Park Service in 1916.
Excited to share Chinese History in Yosemite with future generations? Check out the children's book Mountain Chef by Annette Bay Pimentel, inspired by the true story of Tie Sing.
UPCOMING EVENTS IN YOSEMITE
Ongoing: Naturalist Walks (Stargazing programs, sunset walks, & Wawona history walks), Kids’ Art Classes (every Mon-Thurs beginning June 1), Nature Journaling Walks (every Thurs from June-August), Crafting Classes (every Mon-Wed beginning June 6), and Daily Art Classes (every Mon-Fri) which feature a new artist every week —
June 13-17: Charcoal Drawing with Jeff Hemming
June 27-July 1: Painting and Poetry
July 4-8: Watercolor with Shelly Perkins
July 18-22: Pastel Landscapes with Tsungwei Moo
July 25-29: Watercolor with Michael Friedland
Check out these trips to some of Yosemite's most iconic and inspiring destinations —
June 25: Day Hike: North Dome
July 7-10: Backpack: Glen Aulin
July 14: Adventure Combo: Hike and Stargaze #2
July 15-17: Backpack: Clouds Rest Through-Hike
July 23: Day Hike: Little Devils Postpile
School's IN for the summer — these Yosemite Field School programs, along with our Art Retreats and overnight astronomy trips, are designed for curious minds —
June 17-18: Yosemite Field School: Zero Waste Backpack and Leave No Trace Trainer
June 28-29: Overnight Under the Milky Way: May Lake #1
June 30-July 3: Art Retreat: Backpack and Paint with Nikki Frumkin
July 21-24: Yosemite Field School: Life in the Alpine Backpack
July 28-29: Overnight Under the Milky Way: Murphy Creek
July 29-30: Overnight Under the Milky Way: May Lake #2
July 30-31: Overnight Under the Milky Way: May Lake #3
Keep in mind that your registration for a Conservancy outdoor adventure, custom adventure, or art program (excluding our one- to two-hour Naturalist Walks) includes a peak-hours reservation. You’ll have park access for the duration of your program.
Photo of the Month
Valley view from Four Mile Trail
George Landis
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