Yosemite Nature Notes (Episodes 1-15)

Yosemite Nature Notes is a video podcast series that tells unique stories about the natural and human history of Yosemite National Park. Produced by the National Park Service, this series features park rangers, scientists, historians and park visitors as they discuss the diverse plants and animals that make Yosemite their home, as well as the towering cliffs, giant waterfalls and mountain peaks that are known throughout the world.

You can also subscribe to Yosemite Nature Notes on iTunes or on YouTube (in high definition).

 

• 

  Yosemite Nature Notes 15: Moonbows

  From the Milky Way to the moon, the beauty of Yosemite is on display 24 hours a day. During the full moon of the the spring and early summer, lunar rainbows, also known as moonbows, can be seen on many park waterfalls

  Duration:

  6 minutes, 58 seconds

 

• 

  Yosemite Nature Notes 14: Horsetail Fall

  Horsetail Fall is a small, ephemeral waterfall that flows over the eastern edge of El Capitan in Yosemite Valley. For two weeks in February, the setting sun striking the waterfall creates a deep orange glow.

  Duration:

  8 minutes, 12 seconds

 

Additional Information:

• Horsetail Fall

---

 

• 

  Yosemite Nature Notes 13: Rangers' Club

  While Yosemite National Park is known for its towering cliffs and giant waterfalls, the National Park Service also protects significant cultural resources. The Rangers' Club is one of five buildings in Yosemite with National Historic Landmark status.

  Duration:

  7 minutes, 18 seconds

 

Additional Information:

• Rangers' Club History

• "Parkitecture" and Yosemite's National Historic Landmarks

---

 

• 

  Yosemite Nature Notes 12: Glaciers

  Yosemite National Park is famous for its spectacular glacially carved landscape. Although glaciers have come and gone many times in the past, there are still two active glaciers near Yosemite's highest peaks.

  Duration:

  8 minutes, 34 seconds

 

Additional Information:

• Yosemite's geology

---

 

• 

  Yosemite Nature Notes 11: Big Trees

  Most of Yosemite National Park is blanketed with vast forests, and with abundant precipitation and warm temperatures, these mountains are home to the largest trees in the world.

  Duration:

  8 minutes, 9 seconds

 

Additional Information:

• Giant sequoias groves in Yosemite

• Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias

• Giant sequoia research

---

 

• 

  Yosemite Nature Notes 10: Rock Fall

  Since the glaciers retreated around 15,000 years ago, rock fall has been the major force of change in Yosemite Valley. Geologists work to understand this force of nature in order to protect the millions of visitors who come here each year.

  Duration:

  8 minutes, 30 seconds

 

Additional Information:

• Rockfall in Yosemite

• Yosemite's geology

---

 

• 

  Yosemite Nature Notes 9: Frazil Ice

  Summertime visitors to Yosemite National Park miss many of the unique events of winter and early spring. Frazil ice flows are dramatic natural events that occur in the waterfalls of Yosemite Valley during March and April.

  Duration:

  7 minutes, 39 seconds

 

Additional Information:

• Frazil ice in Yosemite

---

 

• 

  Yosemite Nature Notes 8: Snow Line

  Throughout the winter, the elevation where rain turns to snow changes with each new storm. Join a meteorologist and park scientists as we chase the snow line in Yosemite.

  Duration:

  8 minutes, 44 seconds

 

Additional Information:

• Videos of Yosemite 1996 and 1997 flood

• Yosemite's hydrology

---

 

• 

  Yosemite Nature Notes 7: Tuolumne River

  Explore the Tuolumne River from its glacial headwaters at 13,000 feet down through Tuolumne Meadows and into the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne. Scientists and rangers describe the power this river has on the landscape and on the people who visit it.

  Duration:

  8 minutes, 18 seconds

 

Additional Information:

• Planning for the Tuolumne Wild and Scenic River

• What is Wilderness?

• Yosemite Nature Notes: Wilderness

• Backpacking

---

 

• 

  Yosemite Nature Notes 6: Maps

  When Joseph Walker passed through in 1833, there were none, but today, thousands of maps portray Yosemite National Park. From a land grant created during the Civil War, to modern computer mapping, these maps also tell the story of the protection of Yosemite.

  Duration:

  9 minutes, 29 seconds

 

Additional Information:

• Current Yosemite maps

• Digital map files

---

 

• 

  Yosemite Nature Notes 5: Snow

  Snow plays an important role in Yosemite's ecology while providing water for cities and farms. Winter visitors to the park experience a landscape transformed by snow.

  Duration:

  8 minutes, 34 seconds

 

Additional Information:

• Visiting in Winter

• Winter Sports

• Plowing of the Tioga Road

---

 

• 

  Yosemite Nature Notes 4: Half Dome

  The granite monolith of Half Dome is recognized throughout the world as an icon of Yosemite National Park. Thousands of visitors hike to the summit each year, rewarded with spectacular views and an experience that is not easily forgotten.

  Duration:

  9 minutes, 35 seconds

 

Additional Information:

• Day hiking Half Dome

• Backpacking to Half Dome

---

 

• 

  Yosemite Nature Notes 3: Wilderness

  Although most visitors are familiar with Yosemite Valley, 95 percent of Yosemite National Park is designated Wilderness. Free from roads and cars, this vast wilderness offers spectacular scenery, natural quiet, and the opportunity for solitude and reflection.

  Duration:

  8 minutes, 56 seconds

 

Additional Information:

• Backpacking in Yosemite

• Day hiking in Yosemite

• Rock climbing in Yosemite

---

 

• 

  Yosemite Nature Notes 2: Yosemite Falls

  Yosemite Falls is the tallest waterfall in North America, and is a powerful presence in Yosemite Valley. From winter ice to spring flood to autumn dryness, this magnificent waterfall is a dynamic force of nature.

  Duration:

  9 minutes, 32 seconds

 

Additional Information:

• Waterfalls in Yosemite

---

 

• 

  Yosemite Nature Notes 1: Wildflowers

  From foothill elevations to high mountain peaks, hundreds of flower species are found throughout Yosemite National Park. Rangers and scientists describe the rich botanical history and some of the rare plants found here.

  Duration:

  9 minutes, 23 seconds

 

Additional Information:

• Common wildflowers in Yosemite

• Plants in Yosemite

---

 

More Yosemite Nature Notes

• Episodes 30–

• Episodes 16–30

• Special episodes