High Sierra Topix

Here's an interesting article about all the construction projects going on in Yosemite Park. It raises the question of whether more development is the right way to manage crowding - or more restrictions on use?
https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/yosem ... ction-boom
-Phil

I find the Sierra Club opinions to be pretty terrible. They're anti-development across the board, and their opinion pieces are usually full of hyperbole and light on facts.

I also have to be sceptical about certain aspects of this article, especially when it's final quote is from Chad Hanson.

Thanks for the link Phil.. It is thought-provoking at least. I think most of us will still applaud the choice to concentrate the development, and center the visitor pop. density in the Valley, while leaving a huge backcountry more dedicated to wildlife values and wilderness experiences. I would be far more incensed if Yosemite began to build tramways up the Cathedral Range peaks, concrete paths and bungalows along the Tuolumne River up in the Meadows... and flash huts all along the JMT, a la the Swiss Alps.

LMBSGV wrote: ↑Wed May 03, 2023 12:59 pm I also have to be sceptical about certain aspects of this article, especially when it's final quote is from Chad Hanson.

Just mentioning his name in the article lowers the journalism quality. He is the Alex Jones of the environmental sphere.
And the quote from Mark Rose that implies protection of the park resources should be a higher priority than visitor safety. Yikes!

The club sierra has complained for years about the maintenance backlog of the NPS. Now that the funds are allocated, they are complaining about the work being done.

dave54 wrote: ↑Thu May 04, 2023 9:57 am
... the quote from Mark Rose that implies protection of the park resources should be a higher priority than visitor safety. Yikes!

This is the quote: "Yosemite must put the protection of park resources above that of unfettered access..." which he says in defense of a reservation system. I don't see where he deprioritizes visitor safety.

All of the construction projects I've seen over the past few years are parking related, most of which seems absolutely necessary - it's not like they're adding hotels and swimming pools. Adding parking onto the Tuolumne Visitor Center for Cathedral Trailhead people instead of having a huge line of cars along the highway is a big safety bonus. As someone said, the Valley already is what it is “When you got a whole shopping center and all this stuff, it’s too late for Yosemite Valley”.

The sewer lines from Bridalveil seem a more legitimate concern for discussion, but there's no mention of any concern of leeching from the pit toilet container, or any possible issues from that (obviously sewer lines can be damaged by tree roots).

It'll be interesting to see if the day use reservations come back - they're still going in Arches (and even more restrictive, though that's simpler given Moab as a nearby staging area). While annoying, they do make it more manageable and help space out visitation.

Yosemite has several projects that will upgrade existing sanitation facilities around the park. The South Entrance Station and Mariposa Grove upgraded their systems in the last 5 years and I believe Wawona is just finishing up an upgrade to the WWTF there as well.