I just saw a media report that indicated that the NPS is going to 'make improvements' to the Tunnel View area in Yosemite... including cutting down some of the trees that obstruct the view.
Cutting trees for the view is plain wrong, but then you're talking about a park that used to push burning embers off Glacier Point for entertainment value http://firefall.info/
The park has also been cutting trees from Tuolumne Meadows in recent years, also to preserve the view from Hwy 120. This is plain wrong. Tuolumne Meadows will become a forest with or without the Park Service's aid; they need to get out of the way and quit interfering with natural order.
Posted by Eric A. Rosen on April 28, 2008 at 3:05 PM
Too late.. They have already done the modifications around Tunnel View...
Posted by Nelcha Cross on April 28, 2008 at 4:37 PM
Yes, I even emailed them during the Public comment period...
They the NPS, however, been told to HALT any further plans and construction last month
based on a suit that went to court back in 2000, but another judge has since said they
could proceed with some of it anyway...
Posted by Lon Overacker on April 28, 2008 at 5:58 PM
Yes, some trees and bushes have already been removed, opening up a much broader view. This is just the beginning of what will be a complete makeover of the Tunnel View area. Check out the NPS project page.
Personally, I don't have that much of an issue with it. Consider the alternative... we already know Yosemite gets ~4 million visitors a year and from what I recently read, about 5-7,000 people daily in peak season just at Tunnel View. I would rather have a single, efficient location to run the masses thru than to have those masses trampling the surrounding area to find a "clear" view. As photographer's, we've all tried to find that unique location. For similar reasons, that's why boardwalks have been installed in many of the meadows to keep people from trampling them - it keeps them in confined areas and lets the rest be left for "natural order."
We, as artists also have a dilema photographing the wilds of nature we so love. In our efforts to capture the beauty of nature - we are also advertising it and causing more people to come and ulimately more destruction. Here's an interesting article discussing this.
I dont think the Parks and especially Yosemite have been "managed" very well. But the alternative is no management and the consequences of that would be far more destructive.
Just my .02
Lon
Posted by Nelcha Cross on April 28, 2008 at 11:49 PM
Newsflash..... they have found a way to continue.......an put a good spin on it.
NPS: “The historic Tunnel View Overlook will receive a much-needed makeover thanks to the National Park Service Centennial Initiative and partnership with The Yosemite Fund.
Yosemite National Park Superintendent Mike Tollefson said today, “This is an incredible time for national parks in general and Yosemite in particular. This project, restoring one of the most iconic views in the nation, celebrates both the approaching 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service and the 20th Anniversary of The Yosemite Fund. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to undertake this rehabilitation for the benefit of all park visitors.”
“A signature view is about to get even better. The improvements will reestablish the promise of inspiration to those who visit Tunnel View,” said Bob Hansen, President of the nonprofit Yosemite Fund, whose donors are contributing nearly $1.8 million to the $3.3 million project. “It’s an honor to have this project selected as part of the Centennial Challenge and to partner with the National Park Service to improve this historic site.”
The Tunnel View Overlook Rehabilitation Project is designed to remedy safety issues, to correct drainage problems, to provide clear circulation patterns for pedestrians and vehicles, to enhance and maintain viewing opportunities for visitors, to provide accessibility to viewing areas for visitors with disabilities, to correct safety problems associated with the existing Inspiration Point trailhead, and to address sanitation issues while maintaining vistas and the naturalistic, rustic character and integrity of this historic site.
The Tunnel View Overlook is popular scenic viewpoint located adjacent to Wawona Road at the east portal of the Wawona Tunnel. This overlook affords expansive views of Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, and Half Dome. It was constructed in 1932 during an era that heralded a boom in design and development throughout the National Park Service, and helped initiate the National Park Service’s “rustic” design style. Wawona Tunnel and Tunnel View were determined to be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 because of their exemplary park service rustic design. Very little physical change has occurred to Tunnel View’s physical features (including rockwork, circulation patterns, and configuration) since it was built in 1932. The site remains one of the most popular scenic overlooks in Yosemite National Park. Tour buses, tram tours, and single-family vehicles bring an estimated 5,000-7,000 people to the site per day during the height of the visitor season.
The National Park Centennial Initiative is a 10-year program to reinvigorate America’s national parks and prepare them for a second century. The initiative includes a focus on increased funding for park operations plus a President’s Challenge: up to $100 million a year in federal funds to match $100 million a year in philanthropic donations to the National Park Service.”
*************************************************************************
The alternative is not "no" management, but "wise" management....
some remember when there was no tunnel...
Nelcha
Posted by David Senesac on April 29, 2008 at 2:27 PM
I've made a number of posts on other forums including the local Yosemite park forum suggesting they remove some trees blocking views at popular viewpoints. The one I argued primarily for is at Valley View. After the 1998 flood they totally rebuilt that parking area. However some fast growing alder began growing out of the lower bank in front of the paved walkway. By about 2004 those alder were becoming a serious block at one of the park's most visited viewpoints. I posted some threads arguing why near trees growing up AFTER such viewpoints have been created ought to be maintained for those views. Not surprisingly of course a number of people in knee-jerk style immediately condemned that attitude but enough others with pragmatic attitudes like mine may have encouraged the park people responsible to do something. And interestingly they offered the Tunnel View project shortly afterward. And I have read the EIR for that as it is online.
The usual arguments offered by those opposing doing anything immediately generalize the action to all manner of ridiculous manipulation of features in parks. They present scenarios like trams to the top of Half Dome and damming up Mirror Lake etc. A bunch of nutzo things that indeed might have occured several decades ago. As though any such action sets a bad precident they fear is likely to expand. That is where their black and white logic collapses because such would be impossible in this day and age of open public comment and input and considerable environmental organizations keenly tracking any development in our parks. Consider how people from A to Z visit our few highly developed viewpoints including some that are too old and feeble to hike down trails and some that only can view from wheelchair seats. They cannot enjoy many of the sights the rest of us can. We ought to at least be somewhat pragmatic in not inhibiting their experience any more for marginal ideals in the few places they can visit.
...David
"Wise management" is the key. With so many people visiting the park, and never getting out of their cars, being able to "see" the views may actually be a safety issue. Let hope they don't cut down too many trees.
I think I need to go and see this with my own eyes, anyway, I wonder if the NPS will do stuff like this in other parks. Snake River overlook in the Grand Teton NP comes to mind, it is another Ansel view with seriously overgrown trees.
Posted by Lon Overacker on April 30, 2008 at 4:24 PM
Isn't "wise management" an oxymoron? Kinda like "military intelligence," etc....
And "wise" is completely subjective as well. Wise could mean, let nature "manage" it; as the NPS did and is doing with the river and meadows in Yosemite (ie. not removing the huge log in front of Valley View.) Wise could also mean management for public access and safety. It's all a matter of who's defining what "wise" is. Wise to one person or agency could be stupid for someone else.
You bring up a good example Enrique. Although I've only been to the Snake River overlook once, I recall quite a bit of forest and distance and not something practical or "wise" to cut down. There may be large trees adjacent to the parking lot, but there's a whole lot of forest between there and the river. In addition, the other factors plaguing Tunnel View is traffic, congestion, pedestrians and trail access I don't think are an issue at Snake River overlook.
I suspect each park and specific locations will be evaluated individually and not painted with a broad brush - at least I hope not.
Discussion
9 repliesI'm not sure how I feel about that.
The park has also been cutting trees from Tuolumne Meadows in recent years, also to preserve the view from Hwy 120. This is plain wrong. Tuolumne Meadows will become a forest with or without the Park Service's aid; they need to get out of the way and quit interfering with natural order.
They the NPS, however, been told to HALT any further plans and construction last month
based on a suit that went to court back in 2000, but another judge has since said they
could proceed with some of it anyway...
...to cover part of their guilt they also took "down" the big "restoration" sign
with images they have near the tunnel parking lot.
a friend that lives there caught this image before the took it down.
http://flickr.com/photos/ambitious_wench/2332717496/in/set-72157604112148378/
still sad...
Nelcha
Personally, I don't have that much of an issue with it. Consider the alternative... we already know Yosemite gets ~4 million visitors a year and from what I recently read, about 5-7,000 people daily in peak season just at Tunnel View. I would rather have a single, efficient location to run the masses thru than to have those masses trampling the surrounding area to find a "clear" view. As photographer's, we've all tried to find that unique location. For similar reasons, that's why boardwalks have been installed in many of the meadows to keep people from trampling them - it keeps them in confined areas and lets the rest be left for "natural order."
We, as artists also have a dilema photographing the wilds of nature we so love. In our efforts to capture the beauty of nature - we are also advertising it and causing more people to come and ulimately more destruction. Here's an interesting article discussing this.
I dont think the Parks and especially Yosemite have been "managed" very well. But the alternative is no management and the consequences of that would be far more destructive.
Just my .02
Lon
NPS: “The historic Tunnel View Overlook will receive a much-needed makeover thanks to the National Park Service Centennial Initiative and partnership with The Yosemite Fund.
Yosemite National Park Superintendent Mike Tollefson said today, “This is an incredible time for national parks in general and Yosemite in particular. This project, restoring one of the most iconic views in the nation, celebrates both the approaching 100th Anniversary of the National Park Service and the 20th Anniversary of The Yosemite Fund. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to undertake this rehabilitation for the benefit of all park visitors.”
“A signature view is about to get even better. The improvements will reestablish the promise of inspiration to those who visit Tunnel View,” said Bob Hansen, President of the nonprofit Yosemite Fund, whose donors are contributing nearly $1.8 million to the $3.3 million project. “It’s an honor to have this project selected as part of the Centennial Challenge and to partner with the National Park Service to improve this historic site.”
The Tunnel View Overlook Rehabilitation Project is designed to remedy safety issues, to correct drainage problems, to provide clear circulation patterns for pedestrians and vehicles, to enhance and maintain viewing opportunities for visitors, to provide accessibility to viewing areas for visitors with disabilities, to correct safety problems associated with the existing Inspiration Point trailhead, and to address sanitation issues while maintaining vistas and the naturalistic, rustic character and integrity of this historic site.
The Tunnel View Overlook is popular scenic viewpoint located adjacent to Wawona Road at the east portal of the Wawona Tunnel. This overlook affords expansive views of Yosemite Valley, El Capitan, Bridalveil Fall, and Half Dome. It was constructed in 1932 during an era that heralded a boom in design and development throughout the National Park Service, and helped initiate the National Park Service’s “rustic” design style. Wawona Tunnel and Tunnel View were determined to be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 because of their exemplary park service rustic design. Very little physical change has occurred to Tunnel View’s physical features (including rockwork, circulation patterns, and configuration) since it was built in 1932. The site remains one of the most popular scenic overlooks in Yosemite National Park. Tour buses, tram tours, and single-family vehicles bring an estimated 5,000-7,000 people to the site per day during the height of the visitor season.
The National Park Centennial Initiative is a 10-year program to reinvigorate America’s national parks and prepare them for a second century. The initiative includes a focus on increased funding for park operations plus a President’s Challenge: up to $100 million a year in federal funds to match $100 million a year in philanthropic donations to the National Park Service.”
*************************************************************************
The alternative is not "no" management, but "wise" management....
some remember when there was no tunnel...
Nelcha
The usual arguments offered by those opposing doing anything immediately generalize the action to all manner of ridiculous manipulation of features in parks. They present scenarios like trams to the top of Half Dome and damming up Mirror Lake etc. A bunch of nutzo things that indeed might have occured several decades ago. As though any such action sets a bad precident they fear is likely to expand. That is where their black and white logic collapses because such would be impossible in this day and age of open public comment and input and considerable environmental organizations keenly tracking any development in our parks. Consider how people from A to Z visit our few highly developed viewpoints including some that are too old and feeble to hike down trails and some that only can view from wheelchair seats. They cannot enjoy many of the sights the rest of us can. We ought to at least be somewhat pragmatic in not inhibiting their experience any more for marginal ideals in the few places they can visit.
...David
And "wise" is completely subjective as well. Wise could mean, let nature "manage" it; as the NPS did and is doing with the river and meadows in Yosemite (ie. not removing the huge log in front of Valley View.) Wise could also mean management for public access and safety. It's all a matter of who's defining what "wise" is. Wise to one person or agency could be stupid for someone else.
You bring up a good example Enrique. Although I've only been to the Snake River overlook once, I recall quite a bit of forest and distance and not something practical or "wise" to cut down. There may be large trees adjacent to the parking lot, but there's a whole lot of forest between there and the river. In addition, the other factors plaguing Tunnel View is traffic, congestion, pedestrians and trail access I don't think are an issue at Snake River overlook.
I suspect each park and specific locations will be evaluated individually and not painted with a broad brush - at least I hope not.
Lon