WawonaNews.com - June 2016
Yosemite National Park Anticipates Extremely Busy Memorial Day Weekend - News Release
Visitors are advised that severe traffic congestion is expected and will result in delays getting into and moving about the park
Yosemite National Park anticipates an extremely busy Memorial Day Weekend. Visitors in personal vehicles arriving late morning through mid-day should expect extensive delays getting into and moving about the park, particularly in Yosemite Valley and Glacier Point. Visitors are urged to enter the park before 9:00 a.m. or after 6:00 p.m. in order to avoid traffic congestion and difficulty finding parking. The park also asks visitors to consider using alternative transportation, such as the Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System (YARTS) buses, which serve the park from several gateway communities.
“The park has made improvements to parking, revamped entrance stations, added internal shuttle service, and additional YARTS bus service to alleviate congestion over the last few years, “ stated Don Neubacher, Park Superintendent. “However, we’ve been experiencing very high visitation and we wanted to ensure that visitors are informed and able to trip-plan accordingly during this very popular holiday weekend.”
So far this calendar year, visitation to the park has increased by over 20%. Last year, the park had severe traffic congestion, delays up to two hours, on major holidays and weekends like Memorial Day.
Yosemite National Park encourages visitors to enjoy our gateways communities and other Sierra public lands and sites during this holiday weekend. Adjacent areas such as Groveland, Eastern Sierra/Mammoth (Mono County), Oakhurst, Mariposa, and other public lands are major scenic areas adjacent to the park that are available for public recreation and sightseeing.
Tioga Road and Glacier Point Roads have both opened for the season. When the parking lot becomes full at Glacier Point, visitors will need to take a free shuttle bus from the Yosemite Ski and Snowboard area, formerly Badger Pass. The shuttle bus is expected to run during peak hours, 10 AM to 6 PM. The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias remains closed for restoration.
Traffic becomes congested when parking spaces fill in Yosemite Valley. To preserve emergency and shuttle bus access, the park designates a single lane on the southside drive for bus and emergency vehicle access only. This lane enables buses to shuttle park visitors to popular sites, and also allows for emergency response to incidents which are ongoing despite traffic congestion. The bus and emergency vehicle lane is expected to be in use during the busy parts of the Memorial Day Weekend.
All campgrounds within Yosemite National Park on the reservation system are sold out through the Memorial Day weekend. There are a very limited number of first-come, first-served campsites within the park and those are expected to fill early. For 24 hour road and weather information, call 209-372-0200. (S. Gediman)
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Tioga Road In Yosemite Set To Reopen For Season
Gina Clugston
May 17, 2016
YOSEMITE — The Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park will open for all vehicular traffic tomorrow, Wednesday, May 18, at noon. The Tioga Road, bounded on both sides by State Highway 120, is the popular east-west crossing of the Sierra Nevada.
“We would like to thank all of our road crews, as well as our partners in Mono County and Caltrans, for all of their hard work in clearing the road for the opening tomorrow,” said Don Neubacher, Superintendent.” Visitors are urged to travel with caution, as there will be ongoing roadwork and the possibility of ice in some places, especially in the early morning hours.”
Snow and icy conditions may still exist on hiking trails at the higher elevations. Visitors are urged to be prepared for snowy conditions and possible treacherous stream crossings while hiking the backcountry in the early season.
Vault toilets are available in several locations along the road. Limited visitor services will be available over the next several weeks. Additionally, late spring storms may change the status of the road and cause temporary closures. For updated, 24-hour road conditions, please call 209-372-0200 and follow the prompts.
All campgrounds along the Tioga Road remain closed. All commercial services, including the Tuolumne Store and Village Grill, are also closed. There are no anticipated opening dates for any of these facilities at this time. The gas station in Tuolumne Meadows is permanently closed and the nearest gas stations are Crane Flat to the west and Lee Vining to the east.
May 17, 2016
YOSEMITE — The Tioga Road in Yosemite National Park will open for all vehicular traffic tomorrow, Wednesday, May 18, at noon. The Tioga Road, bounded on both sides by State Highway 120, is the popular east-west crossing of the Sierra Nevada.
“We would like to thank all of our road crews, as well as our partners in Mono County and Caltrans, for all of their hard work in clearing the road for the opening tomorrow,” said Don Neubacher, Superintendent.” Visitors are urged to travel with caution, as there will be ongoing roadwork and the possibility of ice in some places, especially in the early morning hours.”
Snow and icy conditions may still exist on hiking trails at the higher elevations. Visitors are urged to be prepared for snowy conditions and possible treacherous stream crossings while hiking the backcountry in the early season.
Vault toilets are available in several locations along the road. Limited visitor services will be available over the next several weeks. Additionally, late spring storms may change the status of the road and cause temporary closures. For updated, 24-hour road conditions, please call 209-372-0200 and follow the prompts.
All campgrounds along the Tioga Road remain closed. All commercial services, including the Tuolumne Store and Village Grill, are also closed. There are no anticipated opening dates for any of these facilities at this time. The gas station in Tuolumne Meadows is permanently closed and the nearest gas stations are Crane Flat to the west and Lee Vining to the east.
Mariposa County Tests Emergency Alerts
MARIPOSA COUNTY — If you have yet to sign up for emergency alerts from the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office, now is the time to do so.
On Monday, May 16, the Sheriff’s Office will conduct several tests of the Emergency Notification System, NIXLE.
The series of tests will allow residents to verify they are signed up properly and what methods of delivery they have requested. The Sheriff’s Office asks that residents please encourage their family, friends and neighbors to sign up for this important service.
The emergency notification system has multiple options you can choose to receive notifications:
1. Landline Phones – This method, previously known as “Reverse 911” allows the S.O. to make landline calls based on a single address assigned to a single landline phone number. This method does NOT require residents to sign up. This information comes directly from the phone company providers, however it does require that the resident be home in order to receive the emergency notification.
2. Cell Phone Voice, Cell Phone Text & Email Address – This method allows residents to be notified of emergencies no matter where they are. The resident is given the opportunity to register for any or all of the following:
Cell Phone Voice- A voice call to a cell phone, residents can register for multiple address locations, i.e. home, work, school, vacation home, rental property, etc. There is no limit to the amount of addresses you can register.
Cell Phone Text- A brief text to a cell phone typically containing a hyperlink residents can click on for more information, directions or photos. Residents can register for multiple address locations, i.e. home, work, school, vacation home, rental property, etc. There is no limit to the amount of addresses you can register.
Email – An email message that can be retrieved from both, home computers and mobile devices. Emails can be brief or contain detailed information, directions or photos. Residents can register for multiple address locations, i.e. home, work, school, vacation home, rental property, etc. There is no limit to the amount of addresses you can register.
This test of the Mariposa County emergency notification system is also an attempt to encourage residents to prepare for real life emergencies by registering their cell phone numbers and e-mail address at www.nixle.com. By signing up for this system, residents will receive important information in the case of an emergency.
If you wish to register by mail, visit http://www.mariposacounty.org/DocumentCenter/View/35668, fill out and print the form and mail to P.O. Box 276, Mariposa, California, 95338.
Test Details
When: Monday, May 16, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
What: The S.O. will test all phone and electronic emergency notification methods.
What do you need to do:
If you receive all the messages you believe you want / need, you do not need to do anything.
If you do not receive cell phone voice, text or email, or a voice call on your landline phone, please contact Kristie Mitchell, Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer at 209-966-3615.
www.mariposacounty.org/sheriff
