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BASE jumping at Yosemite; a slight return

While surfing the big waves on the World Wide Web, I came across this snippet in the “Cornell Daily Sun.”  

“Can you imagine flying? This year, wingsuit B.A.S.E. (short for Building, Antenna, Span, Earth, the surfaces B.A.S.E. participants jump from) takes on a much larger role than in years past. Advancements in wingsuit technology have pushed glide ratios upwards three-to-one, which equates to longer and more exhilarating flights. Banff’s promotional video shows a base jumping duo launching themselves from the “diving board” on Yosemite’s Half Dome. While BASE jumping is illegal in many places (Yosemite included) due to its danger, B.A.S.E. films usually document what it’s like to skirt the law while jumping off of big things. Smaller HD cameras have allowed for new perspectives on this emergent sport, and hopefully the festival delivers some adrenaline-packed B.A.S.E. action.” 

My 2 cents: BASE jumping at Yosemite is illegal. In the 90′s a group tried to prove how safe it was only to have one woman drill a hole at the bottom of El Capitan. National Geographic’s inclusion of a photo then website video of 4 men doing so was irresponsible. By the way, the area is called the Visor…

Bulletin Bulletin Bulletin

The Big Oak Flat Road into Yosemite Valley will be closed on Feb 29. This is Hwy 120 from Groveland into the Valley. In January, a rockfall near the Foresta Road area (above the Hwy 140 junction) caused road damage that was fixed. However, the Federal Highway Administration has determined that damage was more severe than first thought and major repairs will go on until April.  Access to Yosemite Valley until then is solely via Hwy 140 or 41. They Hwy 120 entrance will remain opened allowing access to areas north of the closure.

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

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome…

YARTS Yosemite to/from Sonora

NOT the YARTS bus

Yosemite National Park announced they plan to spend $158K to support the Yosemite Area Rapid Transit (YARTS) bus between Sonora and Yosemite. Wheels turn in May and will run thru the summer season.  A bus will head to the park in the early morning and leave the park to return in late afternoon. It takes about an hour and half to get to the Valley, so it should be perfect for a short day hike. You could leave your car in Sonora and read enroute. Plans are to have 2 runs on weekends during the summer. Pick up point is nto determined yet.

The Park Planning Group just got in their print run of the Half Dome Stewardship Plan. If you requested a hard copy it will arrive next week. Get ready to mark it up. Comments due March 15.

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “Every day I get in the queue to get on the bus that takes me to you. I’m so nervous, I just sit and smile. Your house is only another mile. Thank you, driver, for getting me here. You’ll be an inspector, have no fear. I don’t want to …

Friends of Half Dome

If you are a friend of Half Dome, then you are a friend of mine.

Today I am launching a special program for my friends. As many of you know, I lecture occasionally on Cruise ships. I get free trips for 2 and a bundle of benefits that make it all VERY worthwhile. I’ve been teaching how to do it at SF Bay Area colleges and am now announcing a webinar based program that took me months to create and refine. Some of you have expressed interest. If you can develop and give 4 talks in one genre, then with my help, we can get you on-board. Everyone is an expert at something. You can talk on your expertise (work or hobby) – be it an enrichment topic or about the destinations. If you’d like to learn more in my informative FREE webinar, click the link. No obligation and no spam.

And now some Yosemite news: If you live in or are going to be near El Portal on Feb 14, you might want to attend the El Portal Town Planning Advisory Committee meeting at 7 PM, at the El Portal Branch Library at Rancheria Flat. Agenda …

Plastic Bottles going away at Yosemite?

National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis has announced that the Grand Canyon will join Zion and Hawaii Volcanoes in a ban of plastic water bottles sold at the park. The idea is to install water machines that visitors can use with their own bottles.

Will this be coming to Yosemite? Well, the current Superintendent at Gran Canyon is Dave Uberaga. You may recall he was the acting Super after Mike Tollefson retired and joined the Yosemite Conservancy. So Mr Uberaga may have some influence over at YNP. The purpose being to reduce waste and mitigate the environmental impacts created by individually packaged water. But soda bottles can still bought and chucked.

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “Let me tell you how it will be. There’s one for you, 19 for me. Should 5% appear too small, be thankful I don’t Take it all. Cause I’m the taxman.” – The Beatles 

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

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome…

Chinese Camp fire

If you drive to Yosemite from the SF Bay area, you probably go via  Hwy 120 out of Oakdale. After Hwy 108 splits off and goes to Sonora  at the hard right turn, you will be on 120 for another couple hours. Stopping for 10 minutes at the old Chinese Camp settlement  takes you back in time. There are some REALLY old buildings there.

Well, yesterday one burned bad. The fire was first reported in the wee hours of the morning. A travel trailer ignited and it engulfed a residence. From the map you can see the location on Red Hills Road.

It was all out by about 5 am. The cause is not known but often propane tanks are involved. Also, home-made wiring often goes flakey.  This settlement was home to over 4,000 Chinese “in the day,” and the whole place could have gone up. Whew.

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “I am the god of hell-fire. And I bring you F I R E.” – The Crazy World of Arthur Brown.  

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

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome…

HD – QR code

Got a smart phone? Snap this and let me know what you think.

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “Western Union man, bad news in his hand. Knocking at my door. Selling me the score. Fifteen cents a word to read a telegram I didn’t need.  Says she doesn’t care no more. Think I’ll throw it on the floor. Got your cable just today. Killed my groove, I’ve got to say.” – Western Union, The Five Americans

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

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome

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Sale at Yosemite Valley Bookstore

If you are heading up to the park, the Valley Visitor Center Bookstore is holding a “Worn and Damaged Goods Sale.”  Discounts up to 75%. I guess all those sticky tourist fingers paging through the books means they have to get rid of them any way they can. Good deal. By the way, I highly suggest you join the Yosemite Conservancy. A great organization. If you join you will always get a 15% discount on their products – even on-line.

The YC Spring Forum is being held March 31. Get a room now. I plan to stay at the Yosemite Bug’s dorm … pretty darn cheap! The agenda for the Forum and sign ups will be out soon.

Warm weather is remaining at the park … not even below freezing in the valley at night. Badger has a whopping 18 inch base. Watch for rocks.  I heard the Glacier Point road is open. Darn Global Warming.

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “My pappy said “Son your gonna drive me to drinkin’ If you don’t stop driving that hot rod Lincoln.” – Johnny Bond 

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

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome…

Big Oak Flat Road opens at Yosemite

The Big Oak Flat Road near the junction of 140 close to the valley will reopen Saturday morning, January 28, at 8:00 a.m. All is well, keep moving – there’s nothing to see here. Good job Road Crew. But I’d still put on a helmet!

Ah, summer is on the way. I was at Costco and they have the swimsuits, sunscreen and goggles out. YES!  Have you noticed that the days are getting longer. March 11 is daylight savings change over.

Just FYI – Survivor’s next season begins Feb 15. That’s the only show I watch on TV. I’ve seen every episode since the first.

Temps in the high 60’s in the SF Bay area this weekend– get out and hike!

Unrelated thought worth quoting: “Wake up, little Susie, wake up. Wake up, little Susie, wake up. We’ve both been sound asleep, wake up, little Susie, and weep. The movie’s over, it’s four o’clock, and we’re in trouble deep. Wake up little Susie.” – The Everly Brothers 

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

One Best Hike: Yosemite’s Half Dome…

Commercial Message

Blog Readers: Many of you know I get to travel for free on cruise ships. I just got back from the Panama Canal. If you can put together 4 talks on 1 genre – you may be able to get a free cruise for 2.

I teach how to do it at local colleges near San Jose. I am creating a webinar based program that I will launch soon and let you know. On Tuesday I’ll be at Foothill College in Los Altos.  6:30 – 8:30. Sign up for $39 with DeAnza College – call them at 408-864-8817

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