Places I Love: Yosemite

{family portrait}

Yosemite has been a part of my life for quite a long time. Since my Dad is from California, during my childhood, every couple of years we would travel across the country from our home in Ohio to visit his side of the family. Inevitably, these trips involved a visit to Yosemite, where we would gather with the entire family (my grandparents, aunts and uncles, and cousins) for tours around the park, afternoon hikes, and evening campground picnics.

{showing a little 'tude in front of Half Dome}

I think these early trips to Yosemite, and other national parks around the country, can be directly linked to my interest in ecology and the environment, which remains quite strong today. 

While a sophomore in college, I learned about a summer internship program sponsored by the Yosemite Association, which gave college students the chance to work as interpretive rangers in the park. Given my lifelong connection with the park, I jumped at the opportunity and sent in my application. Not long after, I received a phone interview for the position as a park ranger intern at Glacier Point. (Interns were posted throughout the park, including positions in Tuolumne Meadows, Yosemite Valley, Wawona, the Mariposa Grove, the Pioneer History Center, and Glacier Point.) When I was offered the position, I was immediately freaked out by what the job would actually entail -- which would be a lot of public speaking As a relatively introverted individual, the prospect of speaking to crowds that could swell to over 200 people gave me more than a few heart palpitations. However, I knew at the time that if I said no, I would forever rue that decision. So, with a big breath, I accepted the challenge. I would be the only intern posted at Glacier Point (located about midway between Yosemite Valley and Wawona). I would live up at the Point with my fellow rangers Dick Ewart (a Yosemite legend), Dave Balogh (a seasonal interpretive ranger and also a legend in his own right), and Kelly Roche (a seasonal law enforcement ranger at the time).  

My experience that summer in Yosemite was amazing. I found the work to be challenging, but enriching. I made lifelong friends that I still keep in touch with today. I gained quite a bit of confidence in my public speaking, though every night I was scheduled to give a sunset talk (which promised the most crowds), I would stare out the window of my cabin, wishing that the cars driving up to the Point were driving back down to the Valley. 

It was quite interesting seeing the park through the eyes of a park ranger. I enjoyed sharing with visitors my favorite places in the park and connecting with them through my afternoon and evening programs (and additional "roving" at Glacier Point, which basically meant wandering around the Point area and answering questions; I was too much of a wuss to give extemporaneous talks). The three major components of my work included leading visitors on a nature hike to Taft Point, giving an evening sunset talk at the Glacier Point railing, and leading evening campfire programs at the Bridalveil Creek campground. 

{Taft Point}

I gleaned much of my Taft Point hike information by shadowing Dick and Dave as they gave their nature hike programs when I first started working at the Point. I prepped my sunset talks and campfire programs by spending some time conducting research in the park's library located in Yosemite Valley.

{giving a sunset talk}

The main topic of my sunset talk was Half Dome. I spoke about the geology of the area (yay, Glaciers!), the Native American creation story of how Half Dome came to be, and the history of the Half Dome trail.

{sharing a moment after a sunset talk with my grandparents}

{prepping for a campfire program}

My campfire program was about the natural history and conservation of bat species, particularly those found within the park. One of the best pieces of feedback I received about my campfire program was that it inspired a number of attendees to build bat boxes to put up in their backyards once they arrived back home. Hooray!

One of the perks of the job was the ability to spend my days off hiking in the park; I had the opportunity to hike trails that I'd never been to before, including two trips to the top of Half Dome and one epic day that involved hiking down to Yosemite Valley from Glacier Point via the Panorama Trail and then hiking back up the Four Mile Trail to get back to my cabin later that evening. (There may have been some tears along the trail back up to the Point; the many hikers chiding me that I was "going the wrong way!" were not helping.) 

My summer internship at Yosemite National Park was most definitely one of the toughest things I've ever done. I really had to work at gaining confidence in my public speaking skills and become accustomed to greeting and talking to people whom I did not know. But, long story short, it was a challenge I am so happy that I accepted, and it is an experience that I will never forget.