Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Badger Pass ski conditions

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK’S BADGER PASS SKI AREA – BEST SKIING CONDITIONS IN 19 YEARS!

The popular family ski resort has received more than five feet of new snow in the last two weeks, creating fantastic skiing and riding conditions.

“We are experiencing the best conditions I have seen in the last 19 years, and we are excited about the opportunity to open early with great snow,” said Colin Baldock, General Manager of Recreation for Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, the authorized concessioner. “New snow in addition to the hard work of our mountain operations and grooming teams allows us to open earlier than planned.”

Pre-season pass deals are available now through December 19. For the full 2010-11 season pass and lift ticket rate schedule, please visit www.YosemitePark.com

Pre-Season Pass Rates:

•Adult - $319.00 ($492 starting 12/20)
•Youth/Senior - $279.00 ($492 starting 12/20)
•Child (7-12 years of age) - $179.00 ($192 starting 12/20)

Courtesy shuttle buses from Oakhurst to Badger Pass Ski Area are available on the weekends to make it convenient for guests to relax and enjoy a day of fun in the snow. The complete shuttle schedule is available by phoning A Bed of Roses Bed and Breakfast at (559)642-6975.

Wilderness permits at Badger Pass will be available beginning December 11 at the Badger Pass Ranger Station. Glacier Point Road is groomed and available for cross-country skiing. All other wilderness trails remain unbroken.

Starting December 2, the Snow Report will be updated daily and is available by calling 209-372-1000. For road and weather information, call 209-372-0200.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Half Dome Cable Update

Yosemite National Park Announces Changes to the Interim Program for Half Dome Cables Day Use Permits. Permits to Ascend Cables will be Required Seven Days Per Week

Yosemite National Park announces that Day Use Permits to climb the Half Dome cables will be required seven days per week for the 2011 summer season to increase visitor safety on the cables.

Over the past several years, the popularity of the hike has resulted in large numbers of people using the Half Dome cables, particularly on weekends and holidays. Saturdays and holidays averaged 840 visitors per day, while peak days saw up to 1200 people using the cables. These large numbers of hikers generated significant safety concerns and there was a fatality and serious injuries sustained by park visitors due to these crowded conditions.

The park instituted an interim program for climbing the Half Dome cables in 2010 to address these serious safety concerns. Day Use Permits were required to use the cables on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays during the 2010 season. Although the interim program worked well on the permit days, visitor use on the cables during days in which permits were not required reached peak weekend levels, analogous to peak days before permits were required.

Therefore, to address the consistent crowded conditions on the Half Dome cables, Day Use Permits will be required seven days per week for the 2011 summer season. The Half Dome cables are generally in place from mid-May through mid-October, depending on snowpack and weather conditions.

The Half Dome Day Use Permits will be available starting March 1, 2011 for climbing the cables in May and June, 2011. Subsequent permits will be available at the beginning of each month for permits three months in advance. Reservations for a permit can be made through www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Each person climbing the Half Dome cables will be required to have their own permit. Up to four permits may be obtained under one reservation. The permits are free, however, there is a non-refundable $1.50 service charge for each permit obtained.

During this interim program, visitor use and impacts are being monitored.
Yosemite National Park Rangers are studying visitor use and safety, assessing the visitor experience, and compiling data that will be analyzed by park managers. An Environmental Assessment process for a long-term plan for the Half Dome cables began public scoping in spring 2010.

A visitor use study on the 2010 Half Dome Cables Day Use Permit is available at http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/half-dome-cables.htm.
To learn more about the Half Dome hike please visit http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/halfdome.htm