Written by Dave Hubbard – Yosemite painter Thomas Hill lived in Wawona just outside of Yosemite Valley. Yosemite was a favorite subject, and over time he became known as “Yosemite’s Painter.” Hill was born in Birmingham, England, in 1829, and moved to the United States at the age of 15. During his early travels in his new home he became ...

Written by Laura and Rob Pilewski – Spring has arrived in Tuolumne Meadows. This week, the weather held (in chronological order):  rain, heavy snow, thundersnow, southwest wind, northeast wind and, now, sun. The low-density snow that fell at the end of the storm made for some fine, but ephemeral, powder ski conditions. The last two days, a significant upslope wind ...

YOSEMITE – Yosemite Conservancy is providing $12.5 million in support to Yosemite National Park to improve the Bridalveil Fall visitor experience, rebuild a section of the trail around Tenaya Lake and collect data using 3-D aerial mapping to improve resource management parkwide, and 34 other projects funded in 2018. “We want everyone’s visit to Yosemite to be inspiring, just like ...

FISH CAMP — Springtime has never been more of a larger-than-life experience at Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite. The season promises the long-awaited re-opening of the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, fun new open-air adventure tours by jeep, luxury buses and motorcycles, and the opportunity to savor the flavors of the High Sierra at a special craft beer event. What’s more, ...

YOSEMITE — The El Portal Road (Highway 140) inside Yosemite National Park will Reopen at 10 a.m. today to all vehicular traffic. The road was closed overnight due to rocks, dirt and debris that had fallen into the road due to heavy precipitation. The Wawona Road (Highway 41) and Big Oak Flat Road (Highway 120 West) inside Yosemite National Park ...

YOSEMITE – Highway 140 (El Portal Road) inside Yosemite National Park is closed at the park line and the El Portal Road/ Big Oak Flat Road Junction due to a rockfall. Heavy precipitation has caused rocks, dirt and debris to fall in the roadway approximately 1/4 mile east of the park boundary in El Portal. El Portal Road will remain ...

YOSEMITE — Tuolumne Winter Rangers Laura and Rob Pilewski’s latest blog from Yosemite National Park, for Mar. 21, 2018 — the first report of spring. New snow:  33 inches Total settled snow depth: 38 inches (at 8,600 feet) High temperature: 37°F (March 19) Low temperature:  -9°F (March 18) Ski Conditions and Weather  Although the calendar stated that spring had sprung, Mother Nature realized ...

MOUNTAIN AREA – Communities are on alert this afternoon as rain continues to bear down on the foothills, and the possibility of flash floods remain present, particularly in areas with burn scars. The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office has issued the following alert: The National Weather Service is forecasting significant weather between 1 and 6 p.m. this afternoon, with current models ...

MOUNTAIN AREA — The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning in effect from 5 p.m. Tuesday, Mar. 20 through 11 p.m. Thursday. The Storm Warning is for the Sierra Nevada from Yosemite to Kings Canyon and Tulare County Mountains above 8,000-feet, and takes the place of a previously issued Storm Watch. The Flash Flood warning remains in ...

OAKHURST — The Workforce Development Board of Madera County invites individuals to participate in the upcoming Eastern Madera County Job Fair. The job fair is on Thursday, Mar. 22, from 2 – 5 p.m. at the Oakhurst Community Center, located at 39800 Road 425B. This event is open to all job-seekers. Those interested in going through the process will want to: ...