SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST — What began as an exciting post-holiday trip to the mountains turned into quite an ordeal, and ultimately required the services of teams of rescuers this weekend. On Sunday, Nov. 27, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office received a call from some campers requesting assistance. According to the Sheriff’s Office, these campers had neglected to check the weather report ...

The National Weather Service was forecasting storms lining up over the next week or so and I knew that the snow from those storms could shut down Tioga Road for the season. That made me sad, so Sally and I headed up to the Tioga Pass area to check out some of my favorite high lakes in the Tioga Pass ...

Lifestyle changes don’t always require a lifetime, but they do require a commitment, and often that is where people falter in their quest for a healthier body and mind. Often, breaking the inertia is the most difficult part of changing habits—where and when to start, how to identify your big goals rather than the safe goal. For example, a safe ...

It was a warm November day and Tioga Road had just re-opened. We had the trail and amazing views all to ourselves of Half Dome, Clouds Rest, Tenaya Canyon and the snow covered peaks beyond. It was a perfect day in my book! Where: Yosemite National Park Distance: 11.77 Miles Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Elevation Range: 7,437′ – 8,497′ Date: ...

COARSEGOLD — Mitchell Riegelhuth and Lori Brown of  G’ma and Pappas Biker Apparel and Accessories, in cooperation with the American Bikers Association, are playing elves this year and gathering donations from generous businesses and individuals, all in order to purchase toys for local kids in one big holiday giveaway. On Saturday, Dec. 10 at 1 p.m., anyone with children in need who live in ...

O’NEALS — Minarets Volleyball 2016 season came to an end on Wednesday, Nov. 16 when they lost to Ontario Christian High School in the first Round of the CIF Division IV state Championship 3-0. That’s not what this story is about. Andrew Low tells it from the heart in this post he shared with Minarets Foundation, Inc. on social media that night. Click ...

OAKHURST — “Green is the new black,” says Visit Yosemite Madera County, with the goal of “Green Friday” being to get more people outside and moving this week. As families begin to prepare their Thanksgiving meals, and others are developing their holiday shopping list for the sales of Black Friday, Visit Yosemite Madera County is encouraging people to enjoy the outdoors this Friday, ...

Submitted by Wendy Kenison —  OAKHURST — The Yosemite High School Badger Marching Band and Color Guard has had a very successful 2016 competitive marching season. Under the direction of Francisco Marquez, the Student Band Leadership Council elected to concentrate on field shows this year. While successfully marching in the parade portion in years past, this allowed the band to ...

Don’t you love how the universe offers you lessons when you least want to deal with them? This election season has been full of opportunities to examine and reexamine our politics, our beliefs, and our perspectives. In addition to the election craziness, I am in the process of winding down and closing my business, Class, The Body Pastiche. I opened ...

YOSEMITE — Can you ski? Can you snowboard? Cooler temperatures and clouds over the Sierra crest are a reminder that winter is on its way, and with it the 55th year of ski and snowboard programs for our mountain area school students through Mountain Area Ski School (MASS). “MASS needs volunteers for all levels of instruction in order to continue ...