High Country Notebook
About This BlogNOTE: This blog has been discontinued, however, future posts similar to these will appear in Yosemite Ranger Notes. Ranger-naturalists have been interpreting Yosemite and its natural and cultural treasures for visitors since its early days as a park. In this blog, some of Yosemite's High Country Naturalists share recent observations from areas north of Yosemite Valley. Topics focused on in the blog are: In Yosemite, especially in the high country, we have a unique opportunity to step beyond our cars and the chatter of our daily lives into the realm of the other than human world. The wilder life of animals, plants, fungi, rocks, and even air and water, is ever-changing and fascinating to pay closer attention to. With over 100 miles of paved roads within Yosemite National Park's boundaries, visitors can spend a great deal of time in their cars traveling around the park. Amid all of the grand scenery there are smaller natural wonders to appreciate as well. With a good eye and a few hints from us you can spot these things along the roadside, even while driving the speed limit. If you wish to stop, please do so only where parking is provided off the roadway. Yosemite National Park provides essential habitat for over 165 species of migrating, wintering, and breeding birds, in addition to nearly 100 species recorded as transient or vagrant. For nearly two decades, the breeding populations of songbirds in Yosemite have been studied in one of the longest continuous research projects in the Park. Each summer, from late May to early August, researchers work at bird banding stations throughout Yosemite. They collect valuable information about bird populations in Yosemite by capturing, banding, and then releasing birds following a strict scientific protocol. This year, this important work is being funded by the Yosemite Conservancy. The White Wolf area is a botanically-diverse and simultaneously accessible part of the park. We'll give you a taste of what we see blooming throughout the summer. Please help protect the flowers and plants by not picking flowers and staying on trails to observe them. The Mather District of Yosemite National Park includes such diverse areas as White Wolf, Hetch Hetchy, Crane Flat, May Lake, North Dome and Hodgdon Meadow. Here you'll find some collected thoughts of Ranger Naturalists working throughout this unique district. Mather Musings: Rockpiles
September 15, 2012
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Millions are drawn to Yosemite each year to enjoy stunning views of natural scenery. Some visitors create unnatural additions by stacking piles of small granite rocks. Mather Musings: Life and Death in the MountainsA battle involving a wasp, a bee, and an ant....a grisly tug-o-war. Mather Musings: Illegal Fire Rings and CampsitesVolunteers were busy in the high country this week on a wilderness restoration project near Tuolumne Meadows. The small crew was looking for illegal fire rings and campsites. Mather Musings: Wolf Lichen and SnowLearn more about these ornate, chartreuse, fuzzy-from-a-distance growths on branches and trunks of trees. Mather Musings: Stop Looking At Your Feet – Lessons from the Alpine Mammal Survey, Part TwoHiking in Yosemite is a great way to see the park. More than 94% of this park is designated wilderness and there are many adventures and great views to be had. Hiking will take you off the road, but you still won’t see much of Yosemite if you are staring at your feet. Mather Musings: Lessons from the Alpine Mammal Study, Part OneAs we travel through Yosemite National Park, most of us will be trying to fit in as much as we can. In a park the size of Yosemite, it can be overwhelming to try to see it all. Just the same, we will be rushing from one scenic vista to another in an effort to make our limited vacation time go further. There is another way to experience Yosemite, but you have to slow down. Mather Musings: Horsetail or Scouring RushYou might be familiar with Yosemite’s Sequoia’s having a fossil lineage that goes back to the dinosaurs (80 million years ago), but there is a plant in Yosemite that has a lineage that goes back even further to the time when vertebrates were just starting to move onto land (300 million years ago!). Mather Musings: "Snow Knee" TreeCheck out this unique tree along the trail to North Dome from Porcupine Creek. |
Did You Know?
Yosemite Conservancy’s signature project in 2013 is Youth In Yosemite. This project encompasses 12 individual youth programs that focus on education, mentoring, and wilderness exploration. One of the programs funded by Yosemite Conservancy is the Junior Ranger program, a program that benefits over 27,000 children annually. More...