Yosemite Conservancy Newsletter | December 2022

Photo courtesy of @TravelsWithCarolyn

Recent News from Yosemite

• Yosemite National Park will require reservations for the last three weekends of February 2023: The increasingly popular Horsetail Fall event has resulted in a surge in visitation in recent years. This has led to full parking lots, parking overflowing into traffic lanes, pedestrian-vehicle conflicts causing safety issues, and damage to natural and cultural resources. In order to manage this event, the National Park Service announced last Friday that a reservation will be required to drive into Yosemite National Park on the weekends of February 10–12, February 17–19, and February 24–26, 2023. Reservations will go on sale for that event at Recreation.gov on January 13, 2023 at 8 am PST. Each reservation will be valid for seven days. Learn more on NPS.gov/yose.
• Next year's in-park programs are live on our website: Check out our 2023 events in Yosemite! Keep in mind that all of our Outdoor Adventures and Art Retreats include an in-park camping reservation, with the option to upgrade to a tent cabin or hotel room for an additional fee.
• 2022 Gift Guide: In case you missed it — our holiday gift guide offers ideas for the national park fans in your life. Orders placed today may not make it to your house by December 25, but a gift card for an Outdoor Adventure or Art Program arrives in your inbox instantaneously. Your purchases help contribute to important work in Yosemite, including restoration, research, and educational programs. We are grateful for your support!

• Ahwahnee closure: The Ahwahnee will close on January 2, 2023 and re-open on March 3, 2023 to facilitate a seismic improvement project. During this time, the hotel, cottages, grounds, and parking lot will be closed to all Yosemite visitors, and there will be no shuttle service to the hotel.

Photo courtesy of NPS

Saving the Historic Snow Creek Cabin

Read this captivating story about the history and preservation of a winter wilderness treasure in Yosemite, the Snow Creek Cabin. We are grateful to Christopher Carr and his family for their efforts to protect the cabin and record and share this history. Thanks in large part to their efforts, the Snow Creek Cabin was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. It will celebrate its centennial in 2029.

Please note that this is a very unique, first-person account. It describes dangerous activities, which could not be replicated today. Snow Creek Cabin is deep in Yosemite Wilderness. Those wishing to visit require a Wilderness permit, proper planning, appropriate gear, and winter experience.

Photo courtesy of Kristin Silver

Getting Around, Greener

This blog features an extended edition of Getting Around, Greener, a project update about the Yosemite Bike Share that first featured in print in our Autumn/Winter donor magazine. As in the magazine, we also offer tips for getting to, from, and around the park without a car.

Thank you for choosing to walk, bike, or take public transit during your trip to Yosemite — you are supporting sustainability in the park!

Photo © Parks Project

Partner Spotlight: Parks Project

"Leave it better than you found it" is an unexpected slogan for an apparel company, but that's part of what makes us proud and grateful partners of Parks Project. They've contributed over $2,500,000 to help fund vital projects in national parks around the United States, including Yosemite, and offer great gifts including unisex apparel, park-inspired home goods, camping gear, and more. Place your order as soon as possible to take advantage of our first-come, first-served discount code, which expires at the end of the year: YOSEMITE22.

Photo © Yosemite Conservancy

Junior Ranger Field Guide Pack

Still holiday shopping for the curious kids in your life? Our Junior Ranger field guides were recently featured in the San Francisco Chronicle's gift guide for outdoor lovers. Featuring wildlife, waterfalls, plants, and geology, these guides help tell the story of the park — you can purchase the full set, or start with one and collect them all.

Photo © Heather van der Grinten / Yosemite Conservancy

UPCOMING EVENTS IN YOSEMITE

Next year's Outdoor Adventure programs are live on our website and open for registration! Here's what's coming up this winter:

January 28: Day Hike: Winter Wonder in Yosemite Valley

February 18: Day Hike: Winter Wonder in Mariposa Grove

March 4: Day Hike: Dewey Point Snowshoe

March 24: Yosemite Field School: Yosemite Valley Geology

March 26: Day Hike: Wildflowers on the Merced

Naturalist Walks will resume in March, and Art Classes and Art Retreats kick off in April.

Remember, our adventure gift certificates and art center gift cards are the perfect solution if you know you want to join us for a program in Yosemite next year, but aren't yet sure of your schedule.

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.