MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES–While we are looking forward to a New Year, we have found ourselves reflecting on the past year. Reporting on the culture, politics, emergencies, milestones, and events of our community is an honor and a privilege for all of us here at Sierra News Online (SNO).  Please read on as we look at some of our most popular stories ...

WAWONA — We are excited to confirm that as of July 28, 2022, visitors of Yosemite National Park are able to stay in their vacation home rental accommodations at The Redwoods In Yosemite. Yosemite National Park day-use reservations are not required for Redwood’s guests. As usual, you can make a cabin or vacation home reservation online at redwoodsinyosemite.com. The wedding ...

Smoke from the Washburn Fire wasn’t going to stop me from having an adventure this week so I closely researched weather and smoke models, finding the perfect day in the Tioga Pass area for those breezy Zephyr winds to keep the skies clear over me. A bounty of colorful wildflowers along the way led me up to Dana Plateau with ...

YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK–Yosemite Fire and Aviation plans to begin ignitions on a 120-acre prescribed burn in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias in Yosemite National Park on Tuesday, June 20th. Two days of live firing operations followed by multiple days of patrol and mop-up for this prescribed burn are planned. UPDATE This burn has been canceled due to predicted winds. ...

NORTH FORK — Due to reduced fire activity throughout the state and across the country, Sierra National Forest fire crews have returned from their fire assignments, becoming available to support and manage local prescribed fire projects. Please see the attached maps for general locations. BASS LAKE PILE BURN VICINITY MAP – MADERA (PDF) BASS LAKE PILE BURN VICINITY MAP – ...

By Michele Nowak-Sharkey, UC Master Gardener, Mariposa County This is the first part of “The Partnership between Humans and Nature during Fire Recovery.” MARIPOSA — Wildfire has entered our common vocabulary over the past 15+ years across California and Mariposa County. From the Telegraph Fire in ’08 to the Washburn, Agua, and Oak Fires, Mariposa County has experienced unpredictable blazes, ...

Sierra National Forest to Reduce the Wildfire Risk to Giant Sequoias in Nelder Grove Historic Area MADERA COUNTY – The Sierra National Forest announces the implementation of emergency USDA Forest Service Giant Sequoia Emergency Response in the Nelder Grove Historic Area. The objective of this emergency response is to reduce the hazardous fuels and the wildlife risk that currently threatens ...

MADERA COUNTY — Please see the attached PDFs from Visit Yosemite – Madera County for the Daily Conditions Report and for current weather conditions. Daily Conditions Report (PDF) Current Weather Conditions (PDF) The Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias will reopen on Wednesday, Aug. 3, at 8 a.m. The Mariposa Grove shuttle will be operating.   Some areas remain closed: ????The Washburn Trail (between ...

Every family who homesteaded the Miami Mills area in the 1880’s has a story to be discovered. This one is about three of them helping their neighbors through some very tough times. I armed myself with a map of early homesteads to better understand where these neighbors were living as I walked through history. This week’s adventure is about Shake ...

My hiking boots took me back through time to property once owned by James McCauley, an immigrant from Ireland seeking his fortune in gold. We remember him best for building the Four Mile Trail, building the two-story hotel at Glacier Point known as the Mountain House, starting the tradition that became known as the “firefall” and so much more. Since ...