If you have a trip planned to Yosemite National Park this summer, go ahead and leave the bear spray at home. It’s not allowed within park boundaries.

According to Yosemite’s official website: “the possession, use, or discharge of pepper spray (including bear spray), pellet guns, and BB guns in Yosemite National Park is prohibited.”

Rangers from Yosemite say there just isn’t a need for the spray. The park doesn’t have grizzlies (the main reason someone would carry bear spray in the first place), and even though fellow Ursidae family member the black bear does roam through the area, Yosemite has never reported a bear-on-human attack.

When BACKPACKER Magazine posted about Yosemite’s anti-bear spray sentiments on its Facebook page the other day, readers had a wide range of responses. Some, like Tanner Broughton, agree with the regulation, noting that if people “practice proper Bear country etiquette, you won’t need any bear spray.”

Britty Towell-Hughes points out that “If you are doing everything right—proper food storage, staying on trail, camping in the appropriate areas, etc.—you won’t need any of that (bear spray) because you won’t see a bear. Now, if you do come across a bear, chances are it’s human error and not a random bear sighting/attack. We love to blame nature for acting like nature. Smarten up, weapon down, respect wildlife.”

But others, like Erin Schultz worry that their safety could be compromised if they’re forced to hike without bear spray. After describing herself as a “smaller-sized person who hikes alone,” Schultz goes on to say that “Following all the rules doesn’t guarantee one’s safety. Yes, proper food storage is important, but it’s completely possible to surprise a bear and have it attack you.”

Facebook user Chris Winter sums up the decree: “They (the officials at Yosemite) are more concerned about people control, not bears.”

Thanks to Yosemite’s varied elevation and terrain, wildflowers are in bloom somewhere in the park for nearly six months out of the year. In addition to their aesthetic value, wildflowers contribute to the park’s ecology by attracting bees, butterflies and other species that depend on them. To date, botanists have discovered 1,450 distinct species of wildflowers in the park. They generally bloom in and around lush meadows and along trails. Colorful species to keep an eye out for and commonly seen throughout the park include shooting stars, lupine, lilies, monkey flower, paintbrush, poppies and columbine (see below for more on species identification).

Here is where to look and when to catch the show:

Hetch Hetchy Valley 

The lowest elevation region of Yosemite is blooming from March through May.

 >>Wapama Falls

Yosemite Valley and Wawona

May and June

 >>Cook’s Meadow (Yosemite Valley)

 >>Wawona Meadow

 >>Turner Meadows (near Wawona)

Glacier Point and Tioga Road 

June and July

 >>Bridalveil Creek and McGurk Meadow (off Glacier Point Road)

 >>Taft Point and Sentinel Dome Trails (off Glacier Point Road)

 >>Crane Flat Meadows

 >>Harden and Lukens Lake (near White Wolf)

 >>Sunrise Lakes (near Tenaya Lake)

Tuolumne Meadows and the high Sierra  

Late June through August. During high snowpack years, wildflowers can be in bloom through September.

 >>Soda Springs and Parsons Lodge

 >>Elizabeth Lake

 >>Dana Meadows and Gaylor Lakes

 >>Dana Fork on Mono Pass Trail

The view from Olmsted Point includes a slew of glacial erratics. Photo by Grant Ordelheide

Signs of Yosemite’s glacial past are everywhere. Follow these tips on what to look for and where to find them. 

Glacial erratics

Boulders that were once carried by glaciers, then haphazardly deposited across the landscape

Where: Olmsted Point

Chatter marks 

Gouges left on irregular granite surfaces by moving ice or large boulders; usually on the down-canyon side of a dome or slope

Where: Lembert Dome 

Glacial polish 

Patches of shiny surfaces on granite that were wiped clean by moving glaciers; often located on the up-canyon side of a dome or rocky slope

Where: Pothole Dome near Tuolumne Meadowns or along Tioga Road across from Olmsted Point

Subglacial water polish

Glacial polish that appears fluted or sculpted and was formed by water flowing long ago beneath the ice sheet of a glacier

Where: Pothole Dome

Exfoliation 

Eroded landscape characterized by descending layers of rounded cracks; picture a peeled onion

Where: Along Tioga Road west of Tenaya Lake 

Nunataks 

Mountain peaks that were high enough to escape advancing glaciers, which left their jagged, sawtooth peaks intact

Where: Cathedral Peak and the Clark Range

Kettles 

Small lakes in scooped-out depressions that were left by melting glaciers

Where: Gaylor Lakes and Dana Meadows

Potholes 

Dry, bowl-shaped depressions that were carved into granite slopes when the rock was gouged by  stones swirling around in melting glaciers

Where: Pothole Dome (of course)

Hanging valley 

A tributary of a main river channel or valley that was down-cut faster by glacial activity than the main channel, leaving the tributary glacier higher and “hanging.”

Where: Bridalveil Fall

Rouche moutonnée

An asymmetrical ridge that was smoothed by glaciers. These granite formations are often mistaken as domes.

Where: Lembert Dome

Courtesy Photo

Stay cool in summer at these water hot spots.

1. Swimming
The Merced River through Yosemite Valley has numerous beaches and swimming holes, depending on water levels, including along North Pines Campground (shuttle stops 18 or 19), the west end of Housekeeping Camp (shuttle stop 12), Devil’s Elbow (along Northside Drive) and Cathedral Beach (along Southside Drive). Tenaya Lake has a large sandy beach on the northeast shore and smaller beaches along the southwest shore. Park at the east-end lot or along the north shore of the lake.

2. Tubing
Just plop in the gentle current and cool waters of the Merced River and float through Yosemite Valley when water levels permit.  Bring your own inner tube or rent a raft at Curry Village to drift the stretch between Stoneman Bridge and Sentinel Beach Picnic Area. Rafting is also allowed on the South Fork of the Merced River near Wawona; bring your own raft or tubes as there is no rental. For more information call (209) 372-4386.

3. Whitewater Rafting
Wild and Scenic stretches of the Merced and Tuolumne rivers just outside the park offer thrilling whitewater rides. For rafting daytrips contact oars.com/california.

4. Paddling
Kayakers and canoeists ply the flat water of Tenaya Lake and paddle the Merced River through Yosemite Valley when water levels permit. Bring your boat; there are no rentals in the park.

5. Fishing
With some 58 streams and 700 miles of water, anglers enjoy sport and fly fishing throughout the park, including along the Merced River, South Fork of the Merced River, Merced Lake, Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, Tuolumne River and its Lyell and Dana Forks, Tenaya Lake, and Lake Eleanor. Anyone 16 or older must have a valid California fishing license.

Photo by Grant Ordelheide

Head to these granite gems for big vistas and easy treks across rock that is full of geology lessons. 

Sentinel Dome 
Start at Sentinel Dome trailhead on Glacier Point Road (no shuttle stop). This moderate, 2.2-mile round-trip is an out-and-back that leads to magnificent panoramas of the park, including Yosemite, Vernal and Nevada Falls. Most of the hike is on an established trail, with the last 1/3 mile requiring an off-trail scramble up a moderate granite slope. For a preview of the spectacular view from the top, check out the Sentinel Dome webcam at nps.gov/yose/photosmultimedia/webcams (labeled “Yosemite High Sierra”).

Lembert Dome 
Start at Lembert Dome parking area in Tuolumne Meadows (shuttle stop 4). This 5.2-mile out-and-back offers excellent 360-degree views of Tuolumne Meadows and surrounding peaks. Most of the hike is on the trail, with the last 1/3 mile requiring a moderate scramble up a partially-exposed granite slope.

Dog Dome 
Start at Lembert Dome parking area (shuttle stop 4). Located on the north flank of Lembert Dome, Dog Dome offers nearly identical views as from the top of Lembert, but the 5-mile round-trip hike has far fewer crowds and the climb to the top is 150 feet shorter.

Pothole Dome
Start at the pullout parking area on the western edge of Tuolumne Meadows (shuttle stop 8). This mellow 2.5-mile round-trip hike features spectacular mountain views plus a wildflower-filled meadow. The scramble to the top of Pothole is easier than Lembert or Dog, making it a good hike to do with younger children. The first half mile is on a flat trail skirting a meadow, then it’s a short scramble up a granite slope on the eastern side to the top.

Note: The up-canyon sides of glaciated domes are more gently-sloped and easier to climb than the steeper, down-canyon sides. For information on hiking Half Dome and North Dome click here.

Yosemite National Park’s Merced River Plan is raising eyebrows and causing an eruption of public outcry. Totaling 2,500 pages, the document calls for the removal of numerous structures, landmarks and recreational facilities in order for Yosemite to better comply with a section of the Wild and Scenic River Act that calls for the removal or relocation of facilities deemed unnecessary for public use.

Among the many things currently slated for removal are the Ahwahnee Swimming Pool and Tennis Court, Yosemite Lodge Swimming Pool, Art Activity Center, Curry Village Ice Skating Rink, bike rentals and commercial horseback day rides.

While some may be happy about the strict regulations called for in the plan, others feel that the proposal is too harsh. An editorial in the Mercury News certainly falls into the latter camp.

“The park shouldn’t be taking away the fun,” the News printed. “Many of these features are part of park history and have a negligible effect on the land. Generations of families have made memories skating and rafting in the shadow of Half Dome, forging a connection to Yosemite that lasts a lifetime and builds support for parks. The pools keep kids cool on spring days when the river is unsafe for swimming. And it’s ridiculous to get rid of bike rentals. Cycling is an ideal, non-polluting way to see the park.”

The plan also includes the removal of the Sugar Pine Bridge, a structure built in 1928. Although the bridge is recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, its obstruction of water flow has caused conservationists to cry for its demolition.

So what do you think? Read more about the specifics of the Merced River Plan on the nps.gov website. Then, let your voice be heard by submitting your comments to the National Park Service here.

http://goldrushcam.com/sierrasuntimes/index.php/news/mariposa-daily-news-2013/144-march/7857-yosemite-national-park-planners-in-mariposa-for-the-merced-river-plan-public-meeting-with-video

http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_22905913/yosemite-plan-would-take-away-fun

Photo by Grand Ordelheide

Sequoias are a hallmark of the national park and a lesson in survival.

Giant sequoias are not only impressive for their size but also for their ability to endure. This species of the redwood family is seemingly impervious to disease, insects and fire. The giant sequoia is one of the oldest, largest and fastest growing tree species on Earth and lives only on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada at elevations between 4,500 to 7,000 feet.

Yosemite is home to around 550 mature giant sequoias which are found in three different groves. The Tuolumne and Merced groves are both located off CA 120 near Crane Flat, and Mariposa Grove is at the southern end of the park near Wawona. Tuolumne and Merced groves are closed to vehicles and accessible by a steep 2-  and 4-mile round-trip hike, respectively, along paved trails. Interpretive signs in Tuolumne Grove explain the natural history and ecology of giant sequoias. In winter, the trails through Tuolumne and Merced groves are marked for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

The Mariposa Grove near Wawona helped inspire the first protection of Yosemite National Park under the 1864 Yosemite Grant. Mariposa is the largest of the three groves with about 500 mature sequoias. It is also more accessible for visitors who are not game for a steep hike. However, parking near the grove is limited and taking the free park shuttle is recommended. From the parking area, a paved path leads through sequoias to the Grizzly Giant and California Tunnel trees (1.6 miles round-trip). Purchase the 50-cent brochure at the grove visitor center or download it free from the NPS website (nps.gov/yose) to guide your exploration. DNC also offers a 75-minute Mariposa Grove tram tour from May through October ($19-$27; yosemitepark.com; 209-372-4386).  In winter, the two-mile Mariposa Grove access road is closed due to snow, but open to hikers, skiers and snowshoers.

Enjoy the marvels of the national park along with four-star comforts.

From traditional tent cabins to the Four Diamond luxury of a historic hotel, Yosemite DNC offers a variety of overnight options nestled in a valley filled with world-famous sites and attractions.

One minute, you can stand in awe of sky-scraping granite cliffs such as Half Dome and El Capitan, and the next, you can stroll to the base of North America’s tallest waterfall, Yosemite Falls. Biking, hiking and climbing opportunities abound for all fitness levels, with many of the park’s trails tracing the footsteps of legends like naturalist John Muir and photographer Ansel Adams.

When winter arrives, the park awakens to a whole new personality with new possibilities. The scenery sparkles in a shiny new white coat. Plus there is skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and world-class cross-country skiing at California’s original ski area, Badger Pass at Yosemite.

Then, when it’s time to celebrate, no place does it quite like Yosemite’s Ahwahnee Hotel. For the ultimate epicurean adventure, savor a seven-course meal surrounded by the pageantry of the Bracebridge Dinner, a grand Ahwahnee holiday tradition since 1927. Or immerse yourself in the interactive sessions and gala dinners of the Ahwahnee’s legendary Vintners’ Holidays and Chefs’ Holidays.

For more information:

(801) 559-4917

yosemitepark.com

Follow this multiday plan for premium Yosemite adventure, scenery, and culture.

Day 1: Start at Glacier Point

Catch the DNC Hikers’ Bus for a ride from the Valley up to Glacier Point (departs seasonally from Yosemite Lodge at 8:30 a.m.). Soak in the panorama from the Point that peers 3,000 feet down into Yosemite Valley and encompasses Yosemite Falls, Vernal, and Nevada Falls.

Hike the Four Mile Trail

Leave the cars behind and hike back to the Valley on the Four Mile Trail, a 4.8-mile path that offers a quad-burning workout on a 3,200-foot descent as well as spectacular views at the end of nearly every switchback of Yosemite Falls and El Capitan.

Go for a Dip in the Merced River

The Merced River through Yosemite Valley has numerous beaches and swimming holes, depending on water levels, including along North Pines Campground (shuttle stops 18 or 19), the west end of Housekeeping Camp (shuttle stop 12), Devil’s Elbow (along Northside Drive), and Cathedral Beach (along Southside Drive). Inner tubes can be rented at Curry Village.

Camp at Yosemite Creek

Spend your first night in this secluded (by Yosemite standards) campground, located above the Valley down a bumpy 4-mile dirt track off Tioga Road. All 75 sites are $10 per night and first come, first served, so get there early in summer. Yosemite Creek flows through the campground and is a cool place to swim.

Day 2: Trek to a High Sierra Camp

High Sierra Camps (open only in summer) offer an ideal way to explore the backcountry without roughing it. The camps are comprised of canvas cabins with beds and a dining facility serving hearty meals. Each camp is accessible by day hiking or guided pack horse. Camps are located at Glen Aulin, May Lake, Sunrise, Merced Lake, and Vogelsang, at elevations ranging from 7,150 feet to 10,100 feet. Reservations must be made in advance and are available through a lottery system. Cost is $159 for adults and $99 for children ages 7 to 12 (includes breakfast and dinner). Contact: yosemitepark.com/high-sierra-camps; (801) 559-4909.

Day 3: See Bridalveil Fall 

After hiking out from the High Camp, drive through the Valley on your way to Wawona and witness Bridalveil, one of the park’s most accessible and dramatic waterfalls. Located on Southside Drive on the west end of the Valley, Bridalveil flows year-round and plunges 620 feet over granite cliffs. Park in the roadside lot, walk just 200 yards on a paved path to the base of the falls, and bask in the spray.

Learn About Pioneer History 

Take a trip back to Yosemite’s 19th-century past with a tour of the Pioneer History Center at Wawona. This well preserved village includes a 150-year old covered bridge, blacksmith shop, pioneer cabins, bakery, and jail. Then saddle up for a ride if you have the time. A guided two hour trail ride from Wawona Stable rambles down the wagon road that once ferried park visitors arriving by stagecoach. Contact: yosemitepark.com/wawona-stable; (209) 375-6502 (reservations recommended; closed in winter).

Marvel at Mariposa Grove 

Catch the free park shuttle from the Wawona store to Mariposa Grove, Yosemite’s largest grove of giant sequoias. Located six miles south of the Wawona Hotel, the grove contains some 500 sequoias. A 1.6-mile path leads through the lower grove featuring the Grizzly Giant, a sequoia which is 1,800 years old and 210 feet tall. Continuing uphill another mile takes you to the upper grove and the Mariposa Grove Museum (open only in summer 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)  with sequoia natural history exhibits. Ranger programs tour the lower grove and a DNC open tram tour is available for those who would rather ride.

Kick Back at the Wawona Hotel 

One of the manmade gems of Yosemite is the Wawona Hotel, a national historic landmark built in 1876 that features deep verandas and Victorian interiors. Rooms are retro with no televisions ($130 to $195 per night). Relax in Adirondack chairs on the lawn and sip lemonade just as hotel guests did 150 years ago. In the evening, tap your toes to pianist/singer Tom Bopp’s “Vintage Music of Yosemite” performance in the Wawona Hotel Lounge. Contact: yosemitepark.com; (801) 559-4884.

Rock and Ice

The dramatic landscape of Yosemite began forming about 65 million years ago, when molten, igneous rock solidified into granite deep within the Earth and was pushed up under pressure to the surface. The granite was shaped into domes (Yosemite has more than any other place on the planet) as the uplifted, curved layers of rock cleaved off. This process of progressive rounding, called exfoliation, continues today. These domes and their cousins, roches moutonnée (meaning “sheep-back rocks”) are visible throughout Yosemite, but most obviously in Yosemite Valley and Tuolumne Meadows.

As the Ice Age ramped up some two million years ago, the Yosemite region was covered by glaciers that inched down river courses and carved U-shaped gorges. But much of the underlying granite resisted glacial erosion, and formations like El Capitan, Royal Arches and Half Dome were left standing in bold relief to the river valleys.

The glaciers that sculpted Yosemite peaked an estimated 20,000 years ago, which is fairly recent in geologic time.  When the last of these glaciers melted in the Sierra high country, they left behind dozens of basins and lakes. Some of these lakes remain today (such as Dog, Gaylor and Elizabeth) while others have filled in with sediment and transformed into meadows or forests. Tuolumne Meadows, for example, was once a glacial lake. While high-country lake levels generally remain consistent, meadow areas may still be flooded during periods of spring snowmelt.

Despite global warming, a few small glaciers remain in Yosemite just below the crest of the Sierra. Scientists call them “living” glaciers because they continue to creep downhill. The ice sheets are products of the Little Ice Age, a period of mild, worldwide cooling that occurred from the 16th to 19th centuries.

Lyell Glacier, first climbed by John Muir in 1871, lies on the north facing slopes of Mount Lyell, the highest peak in national park at 13,114 feet. Lyell is the second largest glacier in the Sierra Nevada and the largest in Yosemite. Maclure, the second largest glacier in the park, is sliding down Mount Maclure at 20 feet per year and has an ice cave that allows intrepid hikers to glimpse underneath the glacier, where its assault on the bedrock is exposed.

Both glaciers have receded by approximately 70 percent in the past century, and glaciologists expect them to disappear completely within a few decades as the result of natural melting and human-caused climate change.

Peaks and Valleys

As ice chiseled Yosemite’s landmarks, the repeated episodes of glaciations also removed soil, scraped the bedrock underneath, and carried away tons of debris. When the larger glaciers disappeared, rockfalls continued to transform the cliffs, as did the more subtle erosional forces of rivers and creeks.

Meanwhile, the remarkably level and lush bottom of Yosemite Valley was created when the last glacier retreated some 10,000 years ago and left behind a pile of rocks, called a moraine, that formed a dam. A lake emerged that slowly filled in with sand and gravel and leveled out the Valley floor. Meadows, forests and the current Merced River channel eventually replaced Yosemite Lake, which diminished with the end of the Ice Age.

Half Dome’s “missing” half

Despite its misleading name, Half Dome was never whole. Millions of years ago, Half Dome was larger than it is today, but it never sported a matching half in front of the sheer cliff face. Deep inside the great hunk of rock, a broad vertical crack was exposed when glaciers flowed by and undercut Half Dome’s base. The glaciers carried away about 20 percent of the formation (geology buffs like to joke that it was originally an 80-percent dome); more blocks of rocks cleaved away from the crack over time, leaving the sheer face that park visitors see today.