Robert Fore Excellence in Teaching Science Retreat

  • Happy Halloween from the bear tracker that was mauled - and his wife.
  • Jim Roche, Yosemite Park hydrologist shows the group some great hydrographs of wet and dry years along the Merced River at Happy Isles. This map shows precipitation events vs stream flow.
  • What a difference a year makes. Jim Roche, Yosemite NP Hydrologist.
  • The new gauging station in Wawona along the South Fork Merced River. This station is run by the Merced Irrigation District to help them better gauge incoming water to McClure reservoir.
  • Mom-to-be shows she loves the gauging station.
  • River stage measuring bars.
  • The Sierra Nevada Research Institute - Principly run by UC Merced. One of the nation's top notch research stations for mountain hydrology and climate change studies.
  • Me and Butch Farabee - author of "Off the Wall: Death in Yosemite". He was a former Law enforcement and Search and Rescue ranger in Yosemite and recounted many dumb ways people have met their demise in the park. It is a truly fascinating read.
  • Oak tree near Pioneer History Center in Wawona & the South Fork Merced River.
  • One couldn't ask for a lovlier November day.
  • Wawona covered bridge gets some unexpected good lighting.
  • Along the banks of the South Fork Merced River.
  • Joy & Brian play kitchen in an awesome house.
  • Interesting light and lines.
  • Maynard Medefind - our host and organizer. And perhaps niceset man in the world.
  • Maynard threatens to break-out his "Three-Fingered Jack" impression.
  • Behind the scenes tour of the Wells Fargo building.
  • Inside the Wells Fargo Building.
  • Early electric light in Wells Fargo Building.
  • iPhone 5 panoramic fun test-shot in the Mariposa Grove.
  • Joy & sequoia.
  • That's a lot of wood.
  • Near the Mariposa Grove parking lot.
  • Ryan J Hollister
  • The student rangers from UC Merced gather the troops to share their great knowledge of the Mariposa Grove's giants.
  • I tried getting a group shot by lifting the camera on a tripod.
  • Our Student-Rangers in the act of great teaching.
  • Ryan J Hollister
  • Ryan J Hollister
  • Ryan J Hollister
  • Ryan J Hollister
  • Ryan J Hollister
  • The Pitman science crew... meh.
  • Ryan J Hollister
  • THS ALWAYS RULES!!
  • OK, I guess I look a little crazy there. It's the Grizzly Giant's fault.
  • Everyone had fun trying to feel --- Zephyr??
  • iPhone shot of Michelle Workman's presentation (US Fish & Wildlife Fisheries Biologist).
  • Near Chinquapin in Yosemite.
  • Mrs H sure looks pretty in the forest.
  • Ryan J Hollister
  • Near Chinquapin in Yosemite.
  • Near Chinquapin in Yosemite.
  • Near Chinquapin in Yosemite.
  • Near Chinquapin in Yosemite.
  • Near Chinquapin in Yosemite.
  • Near Chinquapin in Yosemite.
  • Near Chinquapin in Yosemite.
  • Near Chinquapin in Yosemite.
  • This was our special treat of the day - Laura and I hiked up the first few hundred meters of the Pohono Trail near Tunnel View and came across this very young bear gorging on manzanita berries.
  • Bear 81 on Pohono Trail.
  • Ryan J Hollister
  • Find the bear in the Manzanita.
  • Cute and determined.
  • Ryan J Hollister
  • The view from a few hundred feet above Tunnel View.
  • The view from a few hundred feet above Tunnel View.
  • Ryan J Hollister
  • Laura poses in the perfect light of El Capitan Meadow.
  • Christmans card?
  • El Capitan Meadow
  • El Capitan Meadow
  • El Capitan Meadow - iPhone5 pano.
  • El Cap is a huge rock!
  • Ryan J Hollister
  • Merced River at 12cfs flow.
  • Ryan J Hollister
  • Merced River near El Capitan Meadow.
  • Merced River near El Capitan Meadow.
  • Merced River near El Capitan Meadow.
  • Ryan J Hollister
  • Ryan J Hollister
  • Merced River near El Capitan Meadow.
  • This is how our night ended - we came upon a head-on collision involving a very nice family of South Korean expats now living in Arizona. The father walked-away as did his 5-year old son. The wife and 3-year old son had to be helicoptered to hospitals. Laura and I did our best to stabalize the 3-year-old's neck and calm him down while EMT's helped the mother. We came upon the wreck just outisde of Planada at about 6:50 pm. Our night of adventure was just about to get started...
  • Helicopter leaving with youngest son. So what is a father and son to do with no car, no relatives in the states, his youngest son transported to Modesto and his wife was transported to Fresno and he's in Planada? What would I need in a situation like that? Friendly folks to reunite my family, of course. .. Laura and I took Mr. Choi and son to Modesto to be with his youngest son first. When we got to Modesto at about 9:30 or 10 the son was fine-enough to be discharged! What a relief. Just a bloody nose and air-bag stippling marks on his face. Poor guy! Laura did a great job along the way calling hospitals and allowing Mr. Choi to concentrate on comforting his sons in the car. So at 10:30 or so we were back on the road (now with three passengers) to Fresno to find out how the mom was doing... we arrived at the regional Fresno Hospital at about midnight.
  • Waiting in the Fresno ER for mom & dad after midnight... these guys were the bravest, smartest boys I've ever met. So how does the story end??????
  • HAPPILY EVER AFTER. Mrs. Choi also had no major injuries!! Here's the happy (AND HEALTHY!) Choi Family in front of their replacement car after spending the night in Fresno. Talk about a happy ending! This was a bonding experience between complete strangers that seemed to be guided by universal influence. Serendipitous, surely. Although it would have sounded unbelievable just twelve hours earlier with two members being flown to seperate hospitals, the extremely grateful family was able to return on their way to Yosemite and visit the grandeur of a special place that I'm sure will always hold a special and amazing place in their hearts. Laura and I will forever remember this experience and tell the world how wonderful the Choi family is. We hope to remain in close contact with the family and wish them safe travels in the rest of their journey home.
  • A little help with the tripod collapse.
  • Way to go brave little man! Your family will always have a special place in our hearts.