Yosemite Winter Rangers are Back!

[Paul Wagner]

Each year an intrepid couple of NPS rangers spend the winter at Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite National Park. Their posts are charming, informative, and, at times, almost poetic.

Here’s their first post from this year: https://www.nps.gov/yose/blogs/update-for-december-20-2023.htm

[Kevin Babione]

Thank you – I looked on Tuesday and there wasn’t anything.  Their first post in 2022 was December 16th so I knew it would be soon.  As we were snowless in my part of PA last year, I really enjoyed their reports and photos.

[jscott]

Yay! I love their page. I’ve spent a lot of time in Tuolumne Meadows hiking to various destinations that the rangers visit on skis. Great to see this beloved country in winter!

[d k]

I wonder if anyone ever dog-sleds in to Tuolomne Meadows?

[David Thomas]

d k: There are dog-mushing rangers in Denali, NP (who also do summer-time demos for the visitors, but I’d guess YNP leans towards keeping all canines out of the backcountry.  And there’s not the historic tradition of dog mushing in Yosemite the way there is in Denali.  Ah, found a citation, “Denali kennels manager David Tomeo noted theirs is the only sled dog kennel in the entire federal government.”

I’m pretty sure a guided or private party couldn’t take their own dog teams through there like they can in Denali.  That’s a pity, because heading over Hwy 120 or the unplowed portion past Badger Pass towards Glacier Point would be a really cool dog mushing trip although I can imagine conflicts with our trail users (sled dogs are quiet when running but yap a lot when in camp).

There are other unplowed, mountain-pass state highways in California that I assume would be open to dog mushing in winter.

[Jerry Adams]

McKenzie Pass highway 242 is closed for miles in the winter.  Another great place for a dog team.  Or skis,…

The Dee Wright Observatory would be a great destination.  Stone structure.  You could probably sleep in it.

 

[Paul Wagner]

Dogs are not allowed in any area of Yosemite National Park that is not paved.  Not on trails, not off trails, not in the back country.

[d k]

Ah – thanks, Dave and Paul; I am enlightened.  Not being a dog owner (love them, but allergic) I don’t pay particular attention to the regulations on them.  Though I have seen them rarely on trails in the valley, tourists being what they are.

[Paul Wagner]

In the Valley is fine, as long as they are on a leash, and on a paved road or trail.

[Paul Wagner]

The last report of the season.

Those snow rangers in Tuolumne Meadows are on their way down, but have posted one last report from the High Sierra. As usual, it’s a great read, with both info and photos. Check it out–and be happy that spring is on its way!

https://www.nps.gov/yose/blogs/update-for-april-17-2024.htm

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