NPS: Fire officials are continuing to monitor several lightening-caused fires in Yosemite National Park. Approximately nine fires are currently considered active in areas around the park, consisting of about 100 total acres. These fires are currently being allowed to spread naturally, although selected fires are being confined using natural barriers and minimum impact fireline construction.…

Thunderstorms are a part of daily life in the Sierra especially as you make your way to higher elevations or the east side. It wasn’t but just a few years ago a group was struck on Half Dome with several members of the party being killed (read the book Shattered Air for more on this…

Here’s the most recent Bear Activity Report from the NPS. Once again please keep an eye on your food at all times and store it properly. Though bears may be the most visible (due to size) there are many other animals who would more than happily make themselves at home with your food including: ravens,…

Watch your food when hiking the Mist Trail. There’s a bear that is coming very close to humans seeking handouts. NPS: “There is a bear that continues to frequent the Mist trail. It has been observed with in a few feet of visitors! This is not o.k.! Please be sure to keep your food with…

Dane sent me this great video he found over at Google Video. Here’s the synopsis. Imagine facing a granite wall 2,500 feet straight up with only five strangers to help you climb to the top. Imagine traversing a … all » two-thousand feet deep canyon on a rope, pulling yourself all the way. Imagine camping…

Seattlepi: Sunlight streams through a dense canopy, casting a shimmering glow on a stream that dips under a well-traveled park road. “I call this the kill zone,” said Moose Mutlow, a contractor with the Yosemite Institute. “Animals crossing here just don’t stand a chance.” Mutlow has studied the park’s roadkill and found that hundreds of…

Here’s the weekly bear report from the National Park Service. NPS: Bears have been active in almost all developed areas of the Valley. Parking lot incidents this week are all from Camp 4 where a bear is easily finding the vehicles with food in them. There is a bear that continues to frequent the Mist…

Tom has a little insider info he posted over at his site. Looke like they’re working their butts off to get 140 open. Yosemite Explorer: This is just the first word from Kenny Karst, the DNC public relations guy, after a conference call with CalTrans and others involved. CalTrans has announced that they HOPE to…

NPS: The search for a missing California Conservation Corps (CCC) trail crew member working in the park ended on Friday, July 14th, when his body was located half-way down the Royal Arches wall north of the Ahwahnee Hotel. Michael Gresham, 24, stationed at the CCC’s San Luis Obispo Center, was reported missing by members of…

If you’ve got a tent and are looking to get a little off the beaten track then this one is for you. The Yosemite Creek and Porcupine Flat campground, accessible to tent campers only, are now open for the season. There’s some pretty awesome sites in both campgrounds and they’re just minutes from the Valley.