Campers ORV CommentsToYNPS Planning:
Submitted by: Yosemite Valley Campers Coalition
Email submitted to: /yose/parkmgmt/mrpdocuments.htm

These are follow-up comments to the ORV workshop that:
Recreational ORV's; Camping along and next to the Merced River is exceptional and specific in the following ways:
a. Summer weather provides a hot and arid climate allowing for bathing suit weather all day long. The sun heats the rock walls, which in turn keep a nice warm temperature in the Valley, making evening temperatures moderate to warm allowing for great family camping. This is differentiated by camping in the "high country" in Yosemite where evening temperatures
can reach freezing or in the 30's while Yosemite Valley lows are in the 50's.
b. Summer showers are fewer in the Valley due to the geographic and climatological conditions. This enhances camping along the Merced River as well.
c. Evening glimpses of the moon's affect on the granite walls as seen from riverside campgrounds offer a unique experience only seen in Yosemite and by Yosemite Valley Campers. This is the same for dark skies with Milky Way views of the skyline against the granite walls.
d. The configuration of the Merced River from Clark's Bridge to
Swinging Bridge affords families to safely float and navagate the river as a family on personal watercraft or rafts. It is mostly shallow, which allows for safety to children and adults alike. This is a unique aspect of this wild and scenic river combined with warm summer days of temperatures in the mid 90's and the cool alpine water of the Merced River. Floaters always feel
"refreshed" after even the briefest dunk, whether by chance or by
intention.
e. The sound of the Merced River affords the riverside camper a sense of calm and oneness with nature as the water tumbles over the river rocks and makes its way along the riverbanks. Few if any National Park offers this sense-cleansing experience.
f. Floaters on personal devices such as inflatable rafts, inner tubes, etc. offer several specific ORV's (specific to the river section from Clark's Bridge to the Swinging Bridge):
1. The scenic view of the wildlife and granite cliffs along the Merced River, while floating, extend a sense of awe to the soul; twirling and floating in the calm sections of the river while looking up and around draw as sense of peace and tranquility unique to this river. This is right from Fredrick Law Olmstead' meaning in his book when he commissioned the State of California to care, custody and control "Mariposa Grove and Yosemite: A Preliminary Report".
2. The rapids during the summer months are easily navigated for families, children and adults alike; sure there are some challenging spots but the depth of them are manageable and the park has a duty to clear the few obstructions such as an occasional fallen tree that creates a safety hazard; to the end of the summer months, the water level is so low that floating down the river reverts to floating in ponds
along the river that do not move fast enough to travel as the river rock-bottom will not allow it as in prior months; the pond floating is unique as the wind twists the floater up, down and around the limits of the pond, providing a panoramic view of the granite
walls, cliffs, cloud formations, wildlife, fona and flora of Park; to say this is surreal would be an understatement.
3. The clean cold water while floating offer a therapeutic relief from the summer heat that is unique to this river; although shrieks of voice due to the cold water, a look at the happy faces in adults and children alike tell the true story; playing and exploring the river for children in quiet ponds along the banks are unique to this river; childhood memories have been made and created in his uniqueness for many generations; it has
become such an important experience that parents and grandparents want to pass on this inheritance to the next generation; the thought of removing this activity stirs the depths of emotions for many.
4. The small personal watercraft are non-invasive to the river; those who bring them to the Park pack out what they brought in; they are responsible for the viability of their own devices with patch kits and precautionary behaviors alike; there is minor impact along the banks as long as there are no split-rail fences (which are currently installed by the YNPS) to concentrate "load" of ingress and egress to specific locations; an example of poor activities is that of the raft concessions whereby huge impact on
riverbanks has obviously done damage to the banks by dragging the huge rafts in and out of the river; such activity has taken away the advantages of free-floating at random locations. The cost of free-floating is not only the unique experience but the cost is affordable to each visitor.
5. On a cultural note, often time a parent and child floating on this river in a quiet, peaceful tranquil and fun environment affords a bond between the parent and child, a boy and a girl, or a man and a woman or two friends that are unique in the development of a relationship; this has to be part of what Fredrick Law Olmstead meant in his book/letter when he commissioned the State of California to care, custody and control "Mariposa Grove and Yosemite, A Preliminary Report". This experience, unique to the Merced River, confirms that a week's camping along with the floating riverside experience
makes for the perfect family fun vacation. Most families would rather have this experience than be in fixed roof lodging; and if they are in fixed roof lodging, chances are they will find a way to bring a small raft or blow-up tube to float down the river.
Pictorial illustrations can be found in the book, "Yosemite" by Vilija and Robert Deutschman, previously submitted to the record during the ORV Workshop.
6. There is no thought more pleasing to the day hiker, backpacker, or climber than the anticipation of swimming and floating in the river after the hike or climb is completed. There is a magnetism or natural draw to be "one with Yosemite" at the conclusion of the event. If it was a mountain top or a big wall, to float in the river and gaze upon the accomplishment is so very fulfilling and rewarding that it is a unique pleasure. Such
accomplishments roll over from year to year. The backpacker, the day hiker, and the climber who revisit the Park later in years have the same sense of accomplishment and appreciation, if not more. When we get older and less capable to backpack or climb, we are renewed in our revisit to Yosemite; we believe are lives have been enriched and blessed by these experiences, all the while floating on our backs down on the beautiful Merced River.

Yosemite Valley Campers Coalition