Originally Posted By: Harvey Lankford
okay, I will be even more conspiratorial

end of Curry Village as we know it

too much rockfall off of Glacier Point - yes
too many floods - yes, or at least nearby
too many lethal disease mice - apparently, but so does my attic

this may be the way to de-people the Valley as it is a goal of some anyway. I'm not saying that is good or bad, as both sides have good points, but all these rationales are provided by Mother Nature and therefore may be more supportable.

just talkin'



Took my time to comment on this, but:

If you were to draw a 100-year rockfall line on the Valley floor, inside the cliffs, then a 100-year flood line outside the river path, you would end up with an elongated doughnut area where it would be mostly safe for the tourist. Something like a thousand acres. A place for permanent buildings for sleeping/congregation & the like. That would make the lawyers happy. The rest of us, knowing and prepared for the dangers could then happily romp around the real Yosemite.

Now, just for fun, the Empire State Building occupies a pad of around 2 acres (I'm sure the Curry Village stores occupy more space), and is less than half the height of the Valley walls. It hosts 4 million visitors a year, about the same as Yosemite! It's all relative.


Verum audaces non gerunt indusia alba. - Ipsi dixit MCMLXXII