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Ansel Adams Belated Birthday

A tip of the cap to Blog Reader, Alan. H. He reminded me that yesterday was Ansel Adams birthday. Ansel was unable to attend. Adams was born in San Francisco on Feb. 20, 1902. He made his first trip to Yosemite in 1916. He was a major photographer of the mid 20^th Century who focused a lot on Yosemite. Adams died in Carmel on April 22, 1984. 110 years old – well, if he was alive.

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “You say it’s your birthday. It’s my birthday too—yeah. They say it’s your birthday, We’re gonna have a good time I’m glad it’s your birthday, Happy birthday to you.” – the Beatles. 

*MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome…

John Muir Geotourism Center

While we are tlaking about John Muir’s walk to Yosemite, to help future generations appreciate the global impact that this conservationist had on the world, the town of Coulterville is building the John Muir Geotourism Center (JMGC). This was one of the places on his historic walk over a century ago. This newly formed non-profit group has seed money from a $75,000 donation. This money will allow admirers of John Muir to seek additional developmental funds for a specialized center built around the genius of John Muir. It will provide learning opportunities for geotourists, students, parents and anyone concerned with environmental issues seeking to enrich their visit to Yosemite National Park and the region.

Robert Hanna, the great, great-grandson of John Muir, is a member of the Advisory Committee along with a dedicated team of local community and Yosemite regional leaders.

JMGC future components will consist of the following:

• Range of Light Outdoors Classroom: A multi-purpose classroom.

• Youth Education Program: A jointly developed program to bring together urban and rural students in a natural setting.

• Bean Creek Preserve Nature Walks: To offer geotourists the opportunity to learn about the historic John Muir Route.

Unrelated thought worth …

Vintage Ansel Adams film

Rare video footage of Ansel Adams at the real Half Dome Diving board…at the far west side of the rock.

Click <HERE>

A tip of the hat to our Hamburg, Germany office for this find.

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “Off we go into the wild blue yonder. Flying high into the clouds. Here we go, making a sound like thunder. Flying high, feeling proud. Down we dive, spouting our flame from under, off with one mighty roar. It’s you and me. We’re flying free. Nothing’ll stop the U.S. Air Force.” – Air Force theme song

*MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome…

Buffalo Soldiers

Last week, the US House passed a proposal to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of alternatives for commemorating and interpreting the role of the Buffalo Soldiers in the early years of the National Parks and for other purposes.  These men were African-Americans in the US Army. Their contributions included service in: the American Indian Wars, Spanish-American War, Philippine-American War and World War I and 2.

Buffalo Soldiers

The name “Buffalo Soldier” was believed to be coined by American Indians who thought their hair resembled the tight black weave found on bison.  In 1899 through 1903, they managed Sequoia and Yosemite parks before the creation of the Park Service.

Editorial note: Be sure to page back for blogs that do not appear on the front page. I will be posting shorter snippets occasionally.

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “Buffalo soldier, dreadlock rasta. There was a buffalo soldier in the heart of America, stolen from Africa, brought to America. Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival.” – Bob Marley

*MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome

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Ansel Adams prints at LA show

In LA, a gallery called “drkrm” .. .as in darkroom, will be showing some very rare Ansel Adams prints. Adams made his name at Yosemite but these are street scenes shot in Los Angeles. He was on assignment in Southern California for Fortune magazine in 1940. This will be the first time that the photos have been on public display. Limited edition prints will also be on sale, with a portion of the proceeds going to the LA Public Library. show runs from February 18 through March 17. If you live there or are heading to the southland, go to 727 S. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014 323.271.5635…

Yo-sem-i-ty

Lafayette Bunnell was the medical man in the Mariposa Batallion that “discovered” Yosemtie Valley. He led the naming of many places in the valley. In his book he states:

“As I did not take a fancy to any of the names proposed, I remarked that “an American name would be the most appropriate;” that “I could not see any necessity for going to a foreign country for a name for American scenery—the grandest that had ever yet been looked upon. That it would be better to give it an Indian name than to import a strange and inexpressive one; that the name of the tribe who had occupied it, would be more appropriate than any I had heard suggested.” I then proposed “that we give the valley the name of Yo-sem-i-ty, as it was suggestive, euphonious, and certainly American; that by so doing, the name of the tribe of Indians which we met leaving their homes in this valley, perhaps never to return, would be perpetuated.”

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “The name game” – Shirley Ellis 

*MrHalfDome™ – Rick Deutsch – www.HikeHalfDome.com

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome…

Italian stonemasons

Look at this section of the Upper Mist trail before Nevada Fall. Check out the fine stonework.

Much of the stone retaining walls were put up by immigrant Italian stonecutters. They were expert. Almost like the Pyramids, where it is hard to stick a razor blade between the stones. A tip of the hat to our Italian friends!

Last week I  met with Domer and blog reader, Maureen L. of Oakland for lunch. We had a nice chat. She’s an avid  hiker and VERY knowledgeable of Yosemite.  Holler if you’d like to link up with me, myself and I for chow one day.  Reminder – I’m speaking on a cruise ship Jan 6-20 so the blog may be late. Very expensive to use internet at sea.

Notice the days getting longer? Sunset January 1 at Yosemite was 4:50 pm. By Thursday it will be 4:53. I love it. On March 12 we go back to daylight savings! Yes! Just about 2 months away. Summer is coming!

The drought continues at the park. No snow in sight. Bad times for Badger pass.

California residents – 750 news laws go into effect this year. Here’s a loop hole in the cell …

Savage’s Trading Post

In follow-up to yesterday’s tale of the Mariposa Battalion, I wanted to let you know that the site of Savage’s Trading Post is easy to visit. It lies on Highway 140, 26-miles from Mariposa. The South Fork merges in from the east and the site is now a motel. Nothing of the original exists, but it is fun to imagine the early days. Prior to the opening of the Yosemite Railroad in 1905 and the state highway in 1926, it was virtually impossible to travel north along the Merced towards today’s Yosemite since the mountain sloped steeply into the river. Travel in the 1850’s was therefore via trails towards Wawona then north.

Adjacent to Savage’s is a trail to Hite’s Cove. In the 1860’s John Hite’s Indian wife led him to a spot where he mined out about $3 million in gold. Today the trail is managed by the U.S. Forest Service and you can take the easy hike from Highway 140 to see the Cove.

Wednesday I’m going up to Yosemite to join the OCCUPY AHWAHNEE group. I plan to sit in the Comfy Chair until I get whatever it is I want. I’m just saying.

Unrelated …

The First Whites into Yosemite Valley

During the Gold Rush, tensions escalated between the whites and the local Indians. In retaliation for grievances against them, the Indians began stealing horses and then they did a series of attacks on trading posts. The raid of James Savage’s trading post at the confluence of the Merced and the South Fork of the Merced spurred the locals to petition John McDougal, the governor of the new state, for help. In a letter dated January 13, 1851 from Maj. James Burney, Sheriff of Mariposa County to the Governor, they described the Indian situation as:
“They have invariably murdered and robbed all the small parties they fell in with between here and the San Joaquin. News came here last night that seventy-two men were killed on Rattlesnake Creek; several men have been killed in Bear Valley. The Fine Gold Gulch has been deserted, and the men came in here yesterday. Nearly all the mules and horses in this part of the State have been stolen, both from the mines and the ranches. And I now in the name of the people of this part of the State, and for the good of our country, appeal to Your Excellency for assistance.”…

Legends – Dynamite on Half Dome

In 1904, the degraded rope system on Half Dome’s backside had pretty well stopped any ascents but Mack Kelsey, Milton Main and Lester Whittier arrived with a 4th of July plan. They carried about 125 pounds in all, including food, blankets, 190 feet of rope, Roman candles, sky rockets and twenty-one sticks of dynamite. They arrived at the rock carrying their load and scrambled up the slope as best they could. They went barefoot and found that they made better progress going up backwards. Kelsey was quoted later:

“We slipped back at every trial. A slope defied our methods and we had to resort to an acrobatic performance. Main got a firm foothold and lay face to the rock; Jordan worked his way up and stood on Main’s shoulders. Getting on Jordan, after half an hour, I lassoed an iron peg at least twenty-five feet above, and, pulling the noose tight, this last obstacle vanished into a proposition of sliding up hand over hand. When up to the peg we gasped in amazement to find that it was only loosely set in the hole. Down below bits of rock which we had loosened bounded and rebounded for minutes, it …