The 21 Days of Yosemite: Climbers Scale Cliffs to Help Scientists in Yosemite Valley

September is one of the best months to climb in Yosemite, and in 2008 we enjoyed some free, spacious camping near Sentinel in the heart of Yosemite Valley as volunteers for the Lichen Inventory Project. National Park Service scientist Martin Hutten led this project, which focused on the multi-colored lichen streaks on the Valley's big walls and waterfalls.

Another NPS Ranger who specializes in lichenology, James Watson from Denali National Park, was also on hand to help train us for the project. This project is helping the NPS discover new species of lichen and inventory what types and quantities of lichen currently exist in Yosemite Valley. These lichens will be valuable "early warning" indicators of impacts from air and water pollution and climate changes on Yosemite National Park.

An Associated Press reporter, Tracy Cone, hiked up with our team one day to Vernal Falls to watch Martin rappel off the top of Vernal Fall and down the face to gather samples from the vivid multi-colored streaks of lichen with climber Enga Lokey of Australia. Her story about our project has been published in a number of newspapers. This project was an outstanding climber/ranger volunteer collaboration, and a great example of the long history of climbers helping to protect the places they cherish. More images...

For more information about this project, please contact Linda McMillan: (415) 309-7961