By Ruth Brown
The National Park Service is under pressure to help protect and restore the Merced River in Yosemite National Park. The catch: those who love it most will be able to use it less. The Park Service wants to remove horse, bicycle, and raft rental facilities, as well as swimming pools… …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Newser – Home
A bus carrying visitors from Yosemite National Park crashed on a main highway south of the park, leaving 16 people injured, the California Highway Patrol said today. The bus was about 40 miles south of the park when it went off Highway 41 and over and embankment about 6pm yesterday….
From: http://www.newser.com/story/166196/yosemite-bus-crash-injures-16.html
A bus carrying visitors from Yosemite National Park crashed on a main highway south of the park, leaving 16 people injured, the California Highway Patrol said Sunday.
The bus was about 40 miles south of the park when it went off Highway 41 and over and embankment about 6 p.m. Saturday.
The patrol’s Merced dispatch office described it as a minor injury crash, and said the 16 people were taken to local hospitals.
The bus was carrying 17 people, including a driver, when the crash occurred near local road 630.
No more police information was immediately available, but the Fresno Bee quoted officers as saying the bus was returning from a visit to the park when the bus driver, who was traveling about 40 mph, lost control of the bus.
Patrol Sgt. Edward Greene said the bus rolled onto an embankment and several passengers were thrown to the driver’s side of the bus. It eventually came to a stop after hitting a tree.
“If the tree wasn’t there to stop the bus, it would have continued down the ravine,” Greene said.
The newspaper said the injured people — the majority of whom were elderly — were taken to three area hospitals with minor to moderate injuries.
The bus driver was the only one who was not hurt.
From: http://feeds.foxnews.com/~r/foxnews/national/~3/5Ax8m8985Kg/
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When one speaks of sporty and fun-to-drive utility vehicles, few would put the Ford Explorer in the same category as the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8, BMW X5 or Porsche Cayenne. Yet, with just a few reservations, I’d toss the new-for-2013 Ford Explorer Sport close to that arena for consideration.
As a recap, the sportiest of Explorers is fitted with Ford’s twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6, making 365 horsepower and 350 pound feet of torque. Acceleration is brisk (figure about 7 seconds to 60 miles per hour), as power goes to all four wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. Contributing to its more athletic demeanor are larger front brakes, a sport-tuned suspension, chassis upgrades, quicker steering ratio and a more aggressive wheel/tire package. Cosmetically, the Sport is distinguished by its blacked-out lights, black trim and noticeable lack of chrome (with the exception of the door handles).
Ford recently handed me the keys to a Ruby Red Metallic Explorer Sport. Rather than mindlessly drive the big seven-passenger all-wheel drive hauler in soccer mom circles around Los Angeles, I loaded up my family and embarked on a long weekend road trip to Yosemite National Park.
Driving Notes
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog
A young girl who recently visited Yosemite National Park in California sent the rangers a surprising delivery: a letter containing two sticks she says she accidentally took from the park.
“Dear Park Rangers,” the letter read. “I am a Yosemite Junior Ranger. I went to Yosemite recently and accidentally brought home two sticks. I know I’m not supposed to take things from the park, so I am sending them back. Please put them in nature.”
The letter was signed “Evie.”
The rangers who work in the park’s public information office said they receive a lot of letters, but this might be one of the best in recent years.
By Jonathan_So
The towering giant sequoias at Yosemite National Park would go unprotected from visitors who might trample their shallow roots. At Cape Cod National Seashore, large sections of the Great Beach would close to keep eggs from being destroyed if natural resource managers are cut.
Gettysburg would decrease by one-fifth the numbers of school children who learn about the historic Pennsylvania battle that was a turning point in the Civil War.
As America’s financial clock ticks toward forced spending cuts to countless government agencies, The Associated Press has obtained a National Park Service memo that compiles a list of potential effects at the nation’s most beautiful and historic places just as spring vacation season begins…
…Even Declaration House in Pennsylvania, the place where Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence, wouldn’t be spared. Nor would comfort stations on the Natchez Trace Parkway in Mississippi…
…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at History News Network – George Mason University
Night sky photographer Scott McGuire snapped this stunning photo of the space station full moon over Half Dome at Yosemite National Park.
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Space.com
A draft plan to limit crowding in Yosemite National Park to protect a river that runs through it would limit the number of daily visitors to roughly current levels.
The long-awaited preferred options for the Merced River Plan were posted Tuesday on the park’s website.
Under the plan, the number of daily visitors would be capped at 19,900. Mule rentals and commercial rafting would be banned.
Visitors would still be allowed to use their own rafts on the Merced River but would be directed to specific areas for access to keep steep banks from being trampled and eroded.
The popular wintertime Curry Village Ice Rink would be eliminated.
Park officials are under a court order to come up with a plan to protect the river.
Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox US News
