YOSEMITE CONSERVATION HERITAGE CENTER FINAL REPORT 2017 SUBMITTED BY BONNIE J. GISEL, CURATOR TOTAL DAY VISITATION May 2557 1754 2143 1586 1060 2010 2443 2555 1845 June 2210 1943 1910 1491 1590 2306 1797 2707 1819 July 2106 1611 1733 1364 1334 1715 2340 2209 2062 August 2156 2213 1732 1899` 1268 1613 2347 2209 2062 September 2937 *1046 1821 1787 1842 1444 2075 1586 1898 (*10 days) TOTAL 11,966 8567 9339 8127 7094 9088 11,402 9480 8987 TOTAL DAY VISITATION 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 May 2903 2121 2896 2610 2543 June 2836 2195 2624 2336 2343 July 3086 1863 2535 2392 2887 August 1756 2673 2522 *1728 (*20 days) 2363 September 2495 *1693 2084 *1988 (*19 days) 2680 (*17 days) TOTAL 13,076 10,545 12,661 11,054 12,816 TOTAL DAY VISITATION 2016 2017 May 2391 2992 June 2411 2683 July 2612 2381 August 2723 2101 September 3277 1861 TOTAL 13,414 12,018! 1
TOTAL EVENING PROGRAM VISITATION 2002 2002 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 May 534 533 565 633 542 672 813 992 634 June 605 582 525 639 531 667 605 726 492 July 605 689 451 678 565 710 455 936 524 August 560 548 466 646 758 700 668 728 895 September 421 *240 351 512 659 601 477 573 314 ( (*6 programs) TOTAL 2725 2592 2358 3108 3055 3350 3018 3955 2859 2011 2012 2013 May 686 514 275 (8 programs) June 647 501 327 (14 programs) July 702 323 296 (8 programs) August 600 522 359 (9 programs) (1 cancelled) September 553 *474 (2 programs cancelled) 260 (6 programs) TOTAL 3188 2334 1517 2014 2015 May 375 (9 programs) 384 (9 programs) June 271 (7 programs) 341 (8 programs) July 366 (7 programs) 216 (6 programs) August 169 (5 programs (2 cancelled: El Portal fire) 342 (9 programs) September 549 (11 programs) 296 (7 programs) TOTAL 1730 1579 (39 programs) 2016 2017 May 344 (7 programs) 340 (8 programs) June 235 (7 programs) 282 (7 programs) July 214 (7 programs) 229 (5 programs) August 246 (6 programs 1 cancellation) 266 (7 programs) September 221 (6 programs) 241 (8 programs) TOTAL 1260 (33 programs) 1358 (35 programs)! 2
TOTAL DAY VISITATION & PROGRAM ATTENDANCE 14,691 11,159 11,697 11,235 10,149 12,438 14,420 13,435 11,846 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 16,264 12,879 14,178 12,784 14,395 14,674 2017 13,376 TOTAL PROGRAMS May 13 14 19 14 17 18 20 19 13 June 15 13 16 16 15 24 23 26 23 July 19 19 12 22 15 21 18 29 24 August 13 17 11 18 20 14 24 25 35 September 11 6 11 16 16 18 18 22 16 TOTAL 71 69 69 86 83 95 103 121 111 2011 2012 2013 May 14 11 8 June 15 16 14 July 16 17 8 August 12 14 9 (1 program cancelled) September 14 12 (2 programs cancelled) 6 TOTAL 71 70 45 2014 2015 2016 May 9 9 7! 3
June 7 8 7 July 7 6 7 August 5 (2 cancelled due to El Portal fire) 9 6 (1 cancelled0 September 11 (including 3 hikes) 6 TOTAL 39 39 33 2017 May 8 June 7 July 5 August 7 September 8 TOTAL 35 TOTAL PROGRAM HOURS: May/June/July/August/September: 105 TOTAL VOLUNTEERS May 20 18 9 6 9 18 14 9 4 June 19 20 14 13 14 15 16 9 8 July 20 21 15 11 12 22 12 9 4 August 17 16 13 22 14 18 18 8 5 September 20 12 18 12 11 19 12 7 8 October 4 TOTAL 96 87 69 72 60 92 72 42 29 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 May 16 14 23 24 18 14 17 June 19 22 17 21 19 16 27 July 20 18 18 19 21 14 20 August 17 19 13 16 17 15 22 September 10 14 12 (7 clean-up) 23 16 12 16 TOTAL 82 94 90 103 91 71 102! 4
TOTAL NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER HOURS 2002` 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 May 500 450 198 140 200 342 159 85 June 475 500 308 360 280 285 160 165 July 500 525 330 230 240 402 106 152 August 425 400 286 460 280 320 131 214 September 525 300 396 256 220 354 119 209 October 92 TOTAL 2425 2175 1518 1538 1220 1703 1265 675 825 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 May 411 280 460 572 644 322 June 475 440 340 552 588 414 July 500 360 360 475 588 299 August 425 380 260 420 504 368 September 250 280 302 825 (Muir Tribute) 556 299 October 96 TOTAL 2061 1836 1722 2844 2880 1702 2017 May 405 June 640 July 484 August 535 September 403 TOTAL 2467 NEW VOLUNTEERS May 3 June 3 July 7 August 9 September 1 TOTAL 23! 5
RETURNING VOLUNTEERS May 14 June 24 July 13 August 13 September 15 TOTAL 79 OPERATIONS 1.The center table project during 2017 focused on Love Your Nature, an extension of the Sierra Club, Equity, Inclusion, Justice program. This environmental project was an opportunity to give thought to share our differences, similarities, stories, and justice for all, and embrace the protection of the natural world. By the end of September, 1451 hands of visitors to the YCHC from across the United States and around the world were traced and strung across the Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center mantel. 2.The curator was interviewed in September, at the request of the NPS, by the BBC for a television show based on historic train travel into Yosemite National Park. The interview focused on the history and present-day campaigns of the Sierra Club. WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS, FIRE, ROCKSLIDES, AND TRAFFIC The season began with extensive snow in the high country, which kept Highway 120 East (Tioga Pass) closed until early July. In addition, 120 West was closed due to a sinkhole that developed on the road and remained closed until repairs could be made in early May. Through April, May, and June concern for possible extreme flooding kept the NPS and all Park Partners vigilant. Temperatures in Yosemite Valley were high throughout July and August (and into September). In July, August, and early September, three extreme fires compromised both air quality and traffic into and out of Yosemite National Park. These fires included a fire in the Mariposa region (Highway 140); the Wawona area of YNP; and the Railroad fire, outside YNP, to the south (Highway 41). At various times 140 and 41 were closed and remained closed for extended periods of time. In addition, several rock falls on Highway 140 closed 140 for several days, until the rocks were removed. On September 27 and 28, two significant rock falls on El Capitan, compromised traffic, due to road closure. During 2017, Yosemite National Park experienced an influx of unprecedented numbers of visitors and their vehicles due in part to the high level of water activity and a growing! 6
interest in National Parks. The amount of traffic made it impossible for visitors to park there are simply not enough parking spaces therefore visitors were not able to get out of their vehicles. This and all of the conditions described above are cause for decreased daytime visitation at the Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center. YCHC VOLUNTEERS During 2017, the Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center Volunteers continued to make full-use of YNP to better serve visitors to the YCHC. The YCHC volunteers did an excellent job representing the Sierra Club during the 2017 season. A special thank you to George Pettit, who, over the years, has been a cornerstone of the spirit of all things YCHC. Without George, the YCHC would not be what it has become and is today. Thank you to Michael Bryant for taking on the name tag and flyer design and preparation for 2017. YCHC 2018 The YCHC has been invited to participate in the 2018 Yosemite National Park Earth Day Celebration under the direction of the NPS. A call for approximately 15 new volunteers will be directed to Sierra Club Chapters in November 2017. * In closing, at the Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center, the volunteers and the curator continue to share with our many visitors from across America and around the world and all walks of life, the ideal of inclusiveness engendered by the Sierra Club and its goals for the future, that bring forth the best in all of us to care for each other, seek justice for all, and preserve and conserve cities, suburbs, rural areas and wilderness. END OF REPORT Bonnie J. Gisel, Ph.D., Curator, For the Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center and the Sierra Club October 9, 2017! 7