Yosemite is a beautiful place but by the end of summer it can be a little messy from the millions of visitor feet tromping up and down trails bringing with them thousands of pounds of garbage and debris. That’s why every year the Yosemite Climbing Association organizes a park-wide cleanup to help restore the park to its natural beauty after all the visitors have left. Kind of like cleaning up after the party.
Last year 1,157 volunteers of all ages participated in the five-day cleanup for a total of 9,256 volunteer hours. The National Park Service valued the work completed by volunteers at $166,978.00.
During last years event approximately 25,000 lbs. of trash were collected by volunteers along the 77 miles of roadway, 40 miles of trails and 15 miles of river corridor targeted for cleanup. Volunteers also worked to clean up campgrounds and lodging areas, they removed 10 power and phone poles at the old Cascade Housing area, picked up trash and cable route poles below the South Face of Half Dome, and removed graffiti at the Gunsight and Lower Falls Amphitheaters.
That’s a lot of work for 5 days but don’t think they didn’t do their fair share of relaxing and having a good time. Each day of cleanup is followed by event and a gathering with food at the end.
This years cleanup is scheduled to kick-off Wednesday September 26th with Tom Frost and Royal Robbins co-hosting a showing of the historical climbing film from the 1960’s Sentinel West Face in the Yosemite Lodge Ampitheatre. Clean-up will begin on the 26th and run through the 30th. Participants are encouraged to meet in front of the Valley Visitor Center between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm to pick up route assignments, trash bags and litter sticks. Don’t forget to weigh in your trash at the end of each day.
Each participant will receive a raffle ticket for each day they participate. Hundreds of prizes from sponsors will be raffled off at a special reception for all participants on Sunday September 30th.
Schedule of Events
- Wednesday, September 26 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM: Tom Frost and Royal Robbins will co-host a showing of the movie Sentinel West Face, an historical climbing film from the 1960’s. Yosemite Lodge Ampitheatre
- Thursday, September 27 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM: Chris Sharma’s King Lines, the groundbreaking new movie from Sender Films and Big Up Productions. Yosemite Lodge Ampitheatre
- Friday, September 28 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM: Tim O’Neill Presentation. Climbing’s King of Comedy. Suggested donation of $10.00 benefits YCA. East Auditorium behind the Valley Visitor Center.
- Saturday, September 29 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM: Tommy Caldwell Presentation. Tommy has free climbed more El Capitan routes than anyone in the world. Suggested donation of $10.00 benefits YCA. East Auditorium behind the Valley Visitor Center.
- 5:00 PM – 11:00 PM: Annual YEA Oktoberfest Food, live music, and plenty of beer will be available. El Portal Community Hall.
- Sunday, September 30 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM: Yosemite Facelift Reception and Raffle Featuring live music from the Joe Paquin Band. Celebrate your success with free food, beer, and wine for cleanup participants. Please bring a valid ID. East Auditorium behind the Visitor Center.
For more information contact Ken Yager at yager@inreach.com or by visiting www.yosemiteclimbing.org