YOSEMITE — Yosemite National Park and the Yosemite Climbing Association invite the public to participate in the 14th Annual Yosemite Facelift, an event held each fall to clean up trash and debris from around the park after the busy summer season. Volunteers are needed to help pick up litter at various locations in the park, including roadways, in the river ...

FISH CAMP – After more than three weeks without the sounds of the steam locomotive whistles in the forest south of Fish Camp, the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad will open the gates this Saturday, Sept. 23. When the Railroad Fire started on Aug. 29., just across the road from the popular destination, everyone was forced to evacuate with just ...

If you’re a thrift store junkie like I am, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the various shops we have here in the Yosemite area. I’ve gotten so many deals at the thrift stores here in town, half my house is decorated with my fun finds. I mean, why pay retail if you can recycle? And when you’re ready for a ...

The Conness Lakes are glacial lakes, fed by the largest glacier in the Sierra Nevada north of Tioga Pass. Their colors change with the sun and clouds from a greenish turquoise to grey to blue and when those clouds reflect in the waters of the high lakes and tarns, it is very special! Where: Harvey Monroe Hall Research Natural Area, ...

From the tippy top of Dana Plateau, we were looking straight down at Mono Lake and the Tioga Road. Beautiful wildflowers lined the trail on the way up and we even saw a pika! Where: Ansel Adams Wilderness Area, Inyo National Forest Distance: 5.69 Miles Difficulty: Strenuous Elevation Range: 9,654′ – 11,651′ Date: August 28, 2017 Maps: Falls Ridge and ...

On the Jan. 15, 1939, Southern Pacific Railroad Schedule there is a stop between Knowles and Knowles Junction off the Raymond train called Hillside, not Hills Pride, like the bar in Knowles, Hillside. In several references, including a 1934 Madera County map, Hillside is listed in an article about Alexander McGilvray, who ran the McGilvray Quarry until 1928 when the ...

We headed off trail to check out the country above the Mono Pass Trail. We never know what we will find and that is part of the excitement. The wildflowers were going crazy up there! Those beautiful high lakes were mighty pretty also. Where: Yosemite National Park Distance: About 10 Miles Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous Elevation Range: 9,596′ – 11,328′ ...

Six days of camping at beautiful Saddlebag Lake gave Sally and myself plenty of time to wander by the high lakes in the area and get some fishing in! Where: Hoover Wilderness, Inyo National Forest Distance: About 10 Miles Difficulty: Moderate Elevation Range: 10,090′ – 10,359′ Date: August 17, 2017 Maps: Falls Ridge and June Lake Topogs Dog Hike? Yes ...

It is hard to believe that it is the middle of August and the snow up at the higher elevations is really hanging in there. Sally and I wandered our way through that snow in the Twenty Lakes Basin by beautiful lakes in the Hoover Wilderness. Where: Hoover Wilderness Distance: 10 Miles Difficulty: Moderate Elevation Range: 10,108′ – 10,342′ Date: ...

One of the reasons that I love hiking in this country is because of the rich mining history that occurred in these parts and when I am up here, I cannot stop thinking of the characters that braved this tough country to pursue their dreams of finding gold and silver. “The Great Silver Belt,” which runs from Tioga Hill to ...