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Chicken Skinner
Trad climber
Yosemite
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Topic Author's Original Post - Oct 2, 2006 - 04:30am PT
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I would like to thank everyone that helped make it happen. It was awesome! It was great to see everyone working together and make new friends. It did not matter whether you were young or old, a climber or not. We really accomplished something as a group and should be proud of ourselves. We tackled some tough projects including graffitti removal, power and phone line removal.The worst of all was cigarette filters, toilet paper, baby diapers, and all the micro trash that took forever to cleanup resulting in very little poundage for the effort.
The volunteers were from all countries, all age and user groups. You should all be commended.
I would like to thank you all.
Gracias,
Ken
p.s. We did not weigh the last of the heavy loads and a conservative estimate for the final total would be 25,000 lbs. You all are rad! See you next year.
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David Nelson
climber
San Francisco
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Ken,
Kudos to you and all your elves! I could not join you, so I sent a contribution. All of you out there that did not join in, please send a contribution to:
Yosemite Climbing Association
P.O. Box 89, Yosemite, CA 95389
Ken, I know you are tired out, but when you get a chance, post some pictures and tales. Thanks.
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Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
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Don't forget, The YCA is having an art auction on October 21st at the Ansel Adams gallery. You can get some swag for you bucks if you like.
Peace
karl
Edit: Had the wrong date
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Chicken Skinner
Trad climber
Yosemite
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 2, 2006 - 09:29pm PT
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Karl,
The art auction is October 21st.
Ken
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tew
climber
centex
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> a conservative estimate for the final total would be 25,000 lbs.
Cool. Excellent effort.
I'd love to be there. You should publicize the next one along with a climbers festival to draw lots of people from all over.
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Karl Baba
Trad climber
Yosemite, Ca
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Ken wrote:
'Karl,
The art auction is October 21st.
Ken"
Thanks for the belay Ken. That's good new since I was headed to Red Rocks on the 23rd. I kinda wanted to see my contribution which was shipped right from the printer. It hadn't been printed before, a 15 image composite of the Whitney Crest reflected in newly frozen Iceberg lake.
Thanks for all the care you're taking with the trash and the history. (is there a common thread there? Some of history is trash talk for sure)
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WBraun
climber
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Ken
Our bay number 2 still has all your equipment from the cleanup in it. Sorry I couldn't get over there Sunday with the fork lift as I got dispatched to the Union Point rescue.
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Chicken Skinner
Trad climber
Yosemite
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 2, 2006 - 11:01pm PT
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Werner,
I know you guys were busy that night and it is too bad because it was a heck of a party. Thanks for all your help. I took down two carloads and one truckload today. Also had to clean the auditorium and attend a meeting. I talked with John and he said I could pick up the rest tomorrow which I will do after two other meetings. I am beat.
Ken
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David Nelson
climber
San Francisco
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And remember, if you support climbing in Yosemite but could not make the cleanup and party, be sure to send in a donation, no amount is too small, to the address above. Prove that you love Yosemite! I sent in my $20, so you should, too!
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Lambone
Ice climber
Ashland, Or
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"25,000 lbs"
wow that is alot of cigarrete butts! good on ya guys, thanks!
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jstan
climber
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I can't thank Ken enough times for the experience I had at the Facelift. One of the many non-climbing couples(Gary and Billie from Fresno) who came in response to Ken's notices in local papers were a real kick. Too bad they can't all be honorary members of YCA.
Anyway a couple of minor side observations.
From what I saw it seems trash is five times more likely likely to fall from a parked car than from a moving car. If so, the exit road at El Cap Meadow might be viewed as an opportunity for interpretive intervention. When I was working that line Sunday morning people were picking up other people's trash and chasing me down so they could get it disposed of properly. Very very positive.
I ran into a lot of ST'ers. Would you believe we had to spend the first fifteen minutes puzzling out which real names went with which screen names? Somehow screen names get to be a barrier when we are actually on the ground working together.
Who is the Man? Ken!
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Facelifters can also write to the NPS and thank it for its support of the event and of climbing, and maybe even for the commemoration of Camp 4. I believe the NPS provided a fair amount of personnel and logistical support - on Wednesday there were several rangers about, including the chief ranger and (of course) Jesse McGahey. Certainly the NPS benefits from the work - cleaner park, more people helping, cash supplement. But I suspect they provided a lot of support.
If you want to make nice with the NPS, I'm fairly sure it's:
Superintendent Mike Tollefson
Yosemite National Park
P.O. Box 577
Yosemite, California
U.S.A. 95389
(Don't know the e-mail, but presumably on the NPS/Yosemite website.)
The current issue of National Geographic identifies national parks that are most threatened, particularly in the U.S. Not surprisingly, one of them is Yosemite, the main concern being numbers of human visitors and their impacts. The NPS, and land managers generally, need to see climbers as allies.
Anders
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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I forgot to ask. 25,000 pounds is a lot of kilos. If it is typical tourist garbage, that's an awful lot of bottles, cans, toilet paper, butts, etc. I wonder if the total includes a lot of other stuff, not really tourist related, but perhaps remnants from development and such.
Does anyone keep track of what is collected, by location, by source, or by what it is?
Anders
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Lambone
Ice climber
Ashland, Or
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Probly the Power and Phone lines Chicken Skinner descibes above.
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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There must be a historic backlog of industrial and commercial garbage in the park, some substantial. Hopefully modern standards don't allow this to happen, and contractors and operators are held to high standards on cleaning up.
The foundations and plumbing from the old toilets in Camp 4 could be considered in this category. Would be a lot of work to remove them, and not really do much but disrupt Camp 4. Heavy equipment would probably be needed. Maybe a target for the facelift and YCA when easier pickings dwindle. (Not!) I wonder how much else is buried here and there in the Valley?
Anders
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Chicken Skinner
Trad climber
Yosemite
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 3, 2006 - 08:37pm PT
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Anders,
There is a lot more out there than you would think. I purposely save the heavier projects for the weekend because it creates more visual impact and boosts morale creating momentum.
Ken
p.s. NPS is extremely happy with our efforts. Thanks for showing up Anders. Jstan, it was a pleasure to meet you.
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Mighty Hiker
Social climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Durn! I always miss the good stuff. :-)
Anders
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JesseM
Social climber
Yosemite
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Awesome...in less than a week we accomplished more than many Parks accomplish in a whole year! This event is a testament to the power of community and working together on common goals.
The whole park here is buzzing over the success of the Facelift...and now Ken Yager winning the Yosemite Award is just the icing on the cake. This morning I saw Ken on his way to another congratulations for a job well done...he said "The award really should have been presented to everyone involved." Ken has to be one of the most humble and genuine people I have ever met or worked with.
I already have had all kinds of people/sponsors/NPS personnel asking about how they can be more involved next year. Incredible! Thank you everyone for the participation. Elsewhere on this site people are still complaining/slandering Rangers and other elements of the NPS. Here we are talking about what happens when we all work together...
Ken and I have been talking about some cool volunteer opportunities throughout the season next year. This would provide climbers with legitimate (and free) camping in the Park while having a chance to be directly involved with different areas of interest. Of course you would have plenty of free time to work on your off-width and hooking techniques.
Keep the channels wide open!
Peace,
Jesse M.
Climbing Ranger
(209) 372-0354
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Chicken Skinner
Trad climber
Yosemite
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 5, 2006 - 05:06pm PT
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Some final figures for the cleanup.
77 miles of roadway were cleaned up along with about 15 miles of river corridor. North Pines, Upper Pines, Lower Pines, Camp IV, Crane Flat, and Bridalveil Campgrounds were hit. All Valley Lodging and Housing areas were scoured. About ten power and phone poles with wire were taken down at the old Cascade Housing area. Graffiti was removed from the Gunsight and Lower Falls Amphitheater.
Over 25,000 pounds of trash were cleaned up and everything that could be recycled was.
1,157 volunteers participated totalling 9256 hours. The Yosemite Facelift generated $166,978 in revenue for the Park. Not bad for five days work.
Thanks to everyone that helped and I hope to see you next year.
Ken
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wildone
climber
Isolated in El Portal and loving it
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It was great.
ONE THING:
Whomever of my friends who grabbed whatever I won at the raffle, find me you jerk! It's been like a week! And nobody remembers what I won, or who took it to give to me. The anticipation is killing me!
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jdub
Trad climber
Atascadero
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I did a little work that weekend as well. Mostly because of talking to and meeting Ken. He is the man, and yes very humble.
Ken take the complements, YOU deserve them.
I look forward to getting much more involved next year.
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john hansen
climber
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My brother and I were in the vally during the facelift. Day one we got a bag and scoured the base of cathedral and the trail heading to Bridelvale falls and some of the river trails. Walked about 3 miles and only got 3 pounds, mostly ciggarette butts and alot of old tape. The next two days we found a couple 'Lunkers', an old tire by the river around sentinal beach and one of those fold out traffic barriers that had been washed downstream into one of the meadows. 12 pounds apiece.
Every one we met thought it was great and I was amazed at how many people were were involved. When the groups of kids were weighing thier stuff they were really exited. We watched the guys come in with a truck full of 400 pounds of cable. Wish I could have made the party but after 5 days of hiking all over the most bueatiful place I know of, this old dude was beat . Maybe next year. Just posting now cause I just got home. Great job Ken.
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little-bigwall woman
Sport climber
Orange County, CA
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Oct 12, 2006 - 08:38pm PT
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Ken & company! Great work once again. We missed this year but we are booking it for next. Thanks for keeping Yosemite the utopia it is.
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