The Army in Yosemite dates back to October 1, 1890 when Yosemite National Park was established. The Secretary of the Interior asked that Army troops be made available, (as they had been in Yel­lowstone), and begin patrols protecting the park. Cavalry scouting parties were to be sent out to “prevent timber cutting, sheep herding, trespassing or spoliation in particular.” On ...

Written by Dave Hubbard — Doug Hubbard prided himself above all else in being an Idea Man. His long list of career accomplishments attest to his skill not only at conceptualizing his ideas, but of then implementing a plan that would bring those ideas to fruition. His specialty was Interpretation — a communication-based teaching art form manifested through writing, photographs, ...

Written by Dave Hubbard — Tioga road lawsuits would smolder in court actions over many years before the issue of how this important route through Yosemite would be kept open. Traveling the road was definitely not for the faint of heart! An early traveler on the Old Tioga Road would remark… “The road is very rough in places, but is ...

Written by Dave Hubbard — Yosemite Comes Of Age The “Mather Tioga Road” is a story of inspiration and perseverance! Mather recognized  early on that the popularity of the automobile would be the key to bringing future visitors to the National Parks. In Yosemite, he quickly identified the  derelict Old Tioga Road as the perfect solution to his dilemma. As ...

Written by Dave Hubbard — Sierra silver mines required the building of wagon routes for the delivery of food and supplies. One of these would become the Tioga Road. The Tioga Road has been called “the road to broken dreams”…and perhaps it was true. One thing is certain…over the years its many miles of unexcelled scenic grandeur have fulfilled a ...

Written by Dave Hubbard — Tioga road history is fascinating! First established by the animals of the region, Indians soon followed the animal trails and eventually established “trade paths” of their own over the difficult terrain. The Sierran range provided an effective natural barrier rising to over 13,000 feet and challenging both animal and human travelers with dangerous obstacles and ...

“Yosemite’s Cowboys, Indians and The Old West” book is back in print! The Mysterious Rattlesnake Tree?? How did the Yosemite Firefall begin? Were there stagecoach hold-ups on the roads to Yosemite? Who better to tell these stories than the Old Stagecoach drivers who lived through the early days of Yosemite National Park history. Who was the first to climb Half ...

Growing up in Yosemite Valley, I was surrounded every day by incredible natural wonders like Yosemite Falls and El Capitan. These prominent and overpowering features of Yosemite simply cannot be missed, even by the casual visitor who is just passing through. Every rock formation that we see today exists because of its unique granite structure. As glaciers ground their way ...

Written by Dave Hubbard — As the sun rose higher in the sky and the days warmed after the long winter freeze, a transformation took place in Yosemite Valley. Meadows began to “green” and the newest batches of animal babies started to appear. Mother bears with their cubs and the raccoons with their little ones were soon looking for an ...