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Yosemite "Junior Ranger" Test from 1933
#13148 04/22/11 08:13 AM
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I'm betting most would not be able to pass this test. I know I couldn't begin to come close. In fact, I would fail miserably!

CaT


If future generations are to remember us with gratitude rather than contempt, we must leave them more than the miracle of technology. We must leave them a glimpse of the world as it was in the beginning, not just after we got through with it.
- Lyndon Johnson, on signing the Wilderness Act into law (1964)
Re: Yosemite "Junior Ranger" Test from 1933
CaT #13183 04/24/11 07:49 AM
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Imagine being able to pass that test with no Internet, cell-phones, television, etc. Just books and on-site learning.

Re: Yosemite "Junior Ranger" Test from 1933
Bob West #13195 04/24/11 01:24 PM
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Junior ranger? That's great. Most rangers today couldn't pass that. This wasn't a test, but I wrote it for our training session a few years ago. I called it the Sierra Knowledge Battery (because law enforcement rangers have to take the Physical Efficiency Battery):

Sierra Knowledge Battery
1. "Sierra Nevada" means ______________________ and was first named so by ______________ explorers who saw the range from a distance in the year (extra credit!) ____________.
2. The Sierra Nevada range is composed mostly of ______________ (rock type) and is about ______________ miles long.
3. ______________________ is the geologic term used to describe the one big chunk of similar and contiguous rock that forms the entire range.
a. Extra credit: what are the discrete intrusions of rock called that have risen at different times and combined to form the Sierra? ______________________.
4. Mt. Whitney is the highest peak in ___________________.
a. Extra credit: recently proposed geologic theory suggests it is the highest because ____________ (that is, why is this part of the range higher than the rest and likely still rising?):
5. The Sierra formed above two of the earth's tectonic plates. They are the ______________ and the _________________ plates.
6. Name four threatened or endangered species that occur in Sequoia Kings.
7. In the mid-1990s, populations of Bighorn Sheep crashed. What two related factors combined to exacerbate their rapid decline?
8. Name two places in the park where you might see Bighorn Sheep.
9. In the winter of 2003, what animals were found that hadn't wintered in Sequoia Kings since the 1920s? Where were they seen?
10. Populations of two species of frogs have significantly crashed throughout the Sierra.
a. Name them.
b. What are the two major causes of mortality in the higher elevation species?
c. What major effort is currently underway in these parks to restore their habitat?
d. Extra Credit: this frog was once considered one species. How many distinct species is now proposed and what Sierra pass is the dividing line between them?
11. You're at Funston Lake in Sequoia Park and a huge white bird is swooping low over the lake, it skims the water and flies off with a fish in its talons. The bird is likely a __________________ .
12. The ________________ tree is the iconic symbol of These Here Parks.
13. To successfully reproduce, this iconic tree requires ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬_____________ to prepare a suitable seed bed for seedling survival.
14. You're hiking at 12,000 feet and see a flower with a showy blue ball of flowers and an incredibly pleasant scent. You're looking at a _____________________.
15. You're driving up the road from Ash Mountain. You see a 6 foot tall plant with a huge white flower. What is it?
a. What animal is specialized to pollinate this plant?
16. Name two of the three native peoples who frequented what is now Sequoia and Kings Canyon parks?
17. Humans have likely lived in and around Sequoia Kings for as long as _____________ years.
18. Name three major Native American trading routes across the Sierra in Sequoia Kings.
a. Name two major high altitude (> 9,000 ft) camps used by Native Americans in summer.
b. Obsidian found at these camps - or anywhere in the Sierra - is from what general geographic area ______________ .
c. Extra Credit: name the Native American group that used the Kern drainage most extensively.
19. Name two major year-round Native American living sites in These Parks.
20. John Muir famously called the Sierra the "Range of _______________."

Then it seemed to me the Sierra should be called not the Nevada, or Snowy Range, but the Range of_____________. And after ten years spent in the heart of it, rejoicing and wondering, bathing in its glorious floods of __________, seeing the sunbursts of morning among the icy peaks, the noonday radiance on the trees and rocks and snow, the flush of the alpenglow, and a thousand dashing waterfalls with their marvelous abundance of irised spray, it still seems to me above all others the Range of __________, the most divinely beautiful of all the mountain-chains I have ever seen.

21. An NPS program has been set up by Congress to assess natural resources that exist in Sequoia Kings and other parks and to create strategies to follow and track changes. This is called the _______________________ Program.
22. Sequoia Kings has chosen 13 Vital Signs that indicate the relative health of the Sierra ecosystems. Name 4 of these Vital Signs.
23. Air pollution on the west slope of Sequoia Kings parks is especially bad because of an atmospheric phenomenon that occurs in the Central Valley called the ________________.
24. Although a major source of air pollution that effects the parks is from the Central Valley, much of it also comes from _________________ .
a. Heavy metals at places like Pear Lake may come from as far away as __________.
25. Glaciers present in the Sierra today are approximately how old: _______? This period of glacier formation was called ____________________ .
26. Name 2 glaciers in Sequoia Kings parks.
27. Some Foxtail pine are estimated to be as old as ___________________ . Tree ring cores that combine living and dead foxtail wood have created a contiguous-year record going back _____________ years.
a. Why are we still allowing this ancient wood to be burned?
28. Global Climate Change (aka global warming) is likely responsible for significantly (> 1,000 vertical feet since the 1920s) narrowing the elevational habitat range of what adorable critter ?
a. What behavioral factor is likely the cause of this?
29. The Whitney Survey of California explored and mapped the Sierra in the ______ (years) .
a. Name 3 of the members of the party.
b. Who said: "To coolly seat oneself at death's door waiting only for the fatal summons takes as sublime a type of courage as I know"
i. Where did he say it?
ii. What inspired him to so name the peak?
c. Which one was a draft dodger?
30. Which of the following animals hibernate: Belding's ground squirrel; California black bear; marmot; pika?
31. What spot in Sequoia Kings is the spiritual nexus of the entire universe?
32. The best way to prevent giardia infection is to __________________ .
33. Extra, extra credit: An 1890s equipment list in the Sierra Club Bulletin recommended taking lemons on a trip. Why?
34. What legendary Sierra mountaineer was rumored to carry a small anvil in his huge pack to repair shoes with on trips?
35. Who likely was the first person to climb Mt. Darwin? (Also the first person to climb Mt. Whitney by the Mountaineer's Route).
36. You're skiing along at about 8,000 feet in fresh powder. Underneath a large tree, you come upon a hole in the snow, a short set of tracks leads from the hole, then the tracks disappear. What's happening here?
37. "As I carefully and deliberately made my way down toward the notch, I scanned and re-scanned the northwestern face. Much of it was concealed by irregularities. Suddenly a fly droned past, then another, and another.

"The quest is nearing an end," I reflected.""

Who said that? Who was he searching for?

38. Final Question: There is only one real test to being a backcountry ranger: repeat the phrase "Wow, you're going to Mt. Whitney?!?" about 3,000 times where #1 and #3,000 are said with the same surprise, awe and deep respect that any person would attempt such a manly challenge.


None of the views expressed here in any way represent those of the unidentified agency that I work for or, often, reality. It's just me, fired up by coffee and powerful prose.
Re: Yosemite "Junior Ranger" Test from 1933
George #13266 04/25/11 10:52 PM
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Very interesting questions George. Any chance you could post the answers? It would be a benefit to everyone!

...or maybe we should have a contest.

BTW, #38 is a killer. Is it really like that?

Last edited by Steve C; 04/25/11 10:59 PM.
Re: Yosemite "Junior Ranger" Test from 1933
Steve C #13281 04/26/11 05:25 AM
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Too late! I know all the answers!








Yeah, then I woke up...


Journey well...
Re: Yosemite "Junior Ranger" Test from 1933
Steve C #13287 04/26/11 06:38 AM
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I had fun writing it. Maybe I'll let it bubble for a few days, then post the answers -- though I would expect the regulars to know the answers!! (OK. Maybe there's a few obscure ones there).

The last one is kinda true, though maybe not 3,000 per season -- but 1,000 would be conservative. The point is that, as rangers, it's part of the job to encourage people. However many times we've heard the same thing, it's the first time for them and you don't want to take anything away from their personal challenge.

That's why we're so highly paid! And it beats working for a living... .

g.


None of the views expressed here in any way represent those of the unidentified agency that I work for or, often, reality. It's just me, fired up by coffee and powerful prose.
Re: Answers to Sierra Knowledge Battery
George #13592 05/04/11 09:58 AM
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Is this fun, or what?? Note answer to #33.

George

*******************

Sierra Knowledge Battery
1. "Sierra Nevada" means ___SNOWY MOUNTAINS___________________ and was first named so by __SPANISH____________ explorers who saw the range from a distance in the year (extra credit!) _____1776_______.

2. The Sierra Nevada range is composed mostly of ___GRANITE___________ (rock type) and is about ____400__________ miles long.
3. ____BATHOLITH__________________ is the geologic term used to describe the one big chunk of similar and contiguous rock that forms the entire range.
a. Extra credit: what are the discrete intrusions of rock called that have risen at different times and combined to form the Sierra? ____PLUTONS__________________.

4. Mt. Whitney is the highest peak in ___THE LOWER 48 STATES________________.
a. Extra credit: recently proposed geologic theory suggests it is the highest because ____________ (that is, why is this part of the range higher than the rest and likely still rising?):
RECENT THEORY: A huge chunk of the batholith below Mt. Whitney broke free. The range there became lighter and 'buoyed' up faster on top of the earth's magma layer.

5. The Sierra formed above two of the earth's tectonic plates. They are the __PACIFIC____________ and the ____NORTH AMERICAN_____________ plates.

6. Name four threatened or endangered species that occur in Sequoia Kings.
Mountain yellow legged frog; bighorn sheep; Bald Eagle; Kern Slender Salamander; Great Gray Owl; Wolverine (State Threatened); Pacific fisher (threatened candidate for endangered); Sierra Nevada Red Fox (threatened - though for full details, ask Graber. There have been sightings in Rock Creek, but forgot details - maybe gray fox...); Little Kern Golden Trout (though technically not Sequoia Kings); Willow flycatcher (just looked this one up - who knew?).

7. In the mid-1990s, populations of Bighorn Sheep crashed. What two related factors combined to exacerbate their rapid decline? DEER HERD POPULATION IN ROUND VALLEY CRASHED; MOUNTAIN LIONS BEGAN ROAMING FARTHER FOR FOOD AND BEGAN PREDATING BIGHORN SHEEP

8. Name two places in the park where you might see Bighorn Sheep. RAE LAKES,

9. In the winter of 2003, what animals were found that hadn't wintered in Sequoia Kings since the 1920s? Where were they seen? BIGHORN SHEEP; WEST OF GARDINER PASS.

10. Populations of two species of frogs have significantly crashed throughout the Sierra.
a. Name them. MOUNTAIN YELLOW LEGGED FROG; FOOTHILL YELLOW LEGGED FROG.
b. What are the two major causes of mortality in the higher elevation species? FISH AND Chytridiomycosis FUNGUS (aka Bd or Chytrid).
c. What major effort is currently underway in these parks to restore their habitat? NETTING FISH OUT OF LAKES THAT ONCE HAD FROGS IN THEM
d. Extra Credit: this frog was once considered one species. How many distinct species is now proposed and what Sierra pass is the dividing line between them? THREE PROPOSED SPECIES; MATHER PASS.

11. You're at Funston Lake in Sequoia Park and a huge white bird is swooping low over the lake, it skims the water and flies off with a fish in its talons. The bird is likely a __________________ . Osprey!

12. The __GIANT SEQUOIA______________ tree is the iconic symbol of These Here Parks.

13. To successfully reproduce, this iconic tree requires ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬___FIRE__________ to prepare a suitable seed bed for seedling survival.

14. You're hiking at 12,000 feet and see a flower with a showy blue ball of flowers and an incredibly pleasant scent. You're looking at a ___SKY PILOT (POLEMONIUM)__________________.

15. You're driving up the road from Ash Mountain. You see a 6 foot tall plant with a huge white flower. What is it? YUCCA
a. What animal is specialized to pollinate this plant? YUCCA MOTH

16. Name two of the three native peoples who frequented what is now Sequoia and Kings Canyon parks? YOKUTS (CENTRAL VALLEY, FOOTHILLS); WESTERN MONO (FROM THE EAST SIDE), PITANISHA (KERN RIVER)

17. Humans have likely lived in and around Sequoia Kings for as long as ___>5,000__________ years.

18. Name three major Native American trading routes across the Sierra in Sequoia Kings.
a. Name two major high altitude (> 9,000 ft) camps used by Native Americans in summer. KEARSARGE PASS; TABOOSE PASS
b. Obsidian found at these camps - or anywhere in the Sierra - is from what general geographic area ____EAST SIDE SIERRA__________ .
c. Extra Credit: name the Native American group that used the Kern drainage most extensively. PITANISHA OR TUBATULABAL

19. Name two major year-round Native American living sites in These Parks. POTWISHA, CEDAR GROVE

20. John Muir famously called the Sierra the "Range of ___LIGHT____________."

Then it seemed to me the Sierra should be called not the Nevada, or Snowy Range, but the Range of_____LIGHT________. And after ten years spent in the heart of it, rejoicing and wondering, bathing in its glorious floods of _LIGHT_________, seeing the sunbursts of morning among the icy peaks, the noonday radiance on the trees and rocks and snow, the flush of the alpenglow, and a thousand dashing waterfalls with their marvelous abundance of irised spray, it still seems to me above all others the Range of __LIGHT________, the most divinely beautiful of all the mountain-chains I have ever seen.

21. An NPS program has been set up by Congress to assess natural resources that exist in Sequoia Kings and other parks and to create strategies to follow and track changes. This is called the _INVENTORY AND MONITORING______________________ Program.

22. Sequoia Kings has chosen 13 Vital Signs that indicate the relative health of the Sierra ecosystems. Name 4 of these Vital Signs. WEATHER & CLIMATE; LAKES; RIVERS & STREAMS; BIRDS; WETLANDS; HIGH ELEVATION FORESTS; LANDSCAPE DYNAMICS.

23. Air pollution on the west slope of Sequoia Kings parks is especially bad because of an atmospheric phenomenon that occurs in the Central Valley called the __FRESNO EDDY______________.

24. Although a major source of air pollution that effects the parks is from the Central Valley, much of it also comes from __SF BAY AREA_______________ .
a. Heavy metals at places like Pear Lake may come from as far away as __CHINA________.

25. Glaciers present in the Sierra today are approximately how old: _400 YEARS______? This period of glacier formation was called __LITTLE ICE AGE__________________ .

26. Name 2 glaciers in Sequoia Kings parks. DARWIN; LAMARCK; GODDARD (??)

27. Some Foxtail pine are estimated to be as old as ___2,500________________ . Tree ring cores that combine living and dead foxtail wood have created a contiguous-year record going back ___10,000__________ years.
a. Why are we still allowing this ancient wood to be burned? TIMID BUREACRATS.

28. Global Climate Change (aka global warming) is likely responsible for significantly (> 1,000 vertical feet since the 1920s) narrowing the elevational habitat range of what adorable critter ? PIKA
a. What behavioral factor is likely the cause of this? FEEDS ONLY DURING A NARROW TEMPERATURE RANGE. TOO HOT AND THEY WON'T FORAGE.

29. The Whitney Survey of California explored and mapped the Sierra in the _1860's_____ (years) .
a. Name 3 of the members of the party. BREWER, KING, COTTER, GARDINER, HOFFMAN
b. Who said: "To coolly seat oneself at death's door waiting only for the fatal summons takes as sublime a type of courage as I know" CLARANCE KING
i. Where did he say it? FIRST ASCENT MT. TYNDALL
ii. What inspired him to so name the peak? JOHN TYNDALL DID EARLY ATMOSPHERIC WORK AND EXPLAINED WHY SKY WAS BLUE (THOUGH LATER SUPERCED BY EINSTEIN'S WORK ON THE SAME PROBLEM).
c. Which one was a draft dodger? KING (ALSO MUIR, THOUGH HE WASN'T ON THE SURVEY PARTY)
30. Which of the following animals hibernate: Belding's ground squirrel; California black bear; marmot; pika? BELDING'S GROUND SQUIRREL; MARMOT

31. What spot in Sequoia Kings is the spiritual nexus of the entire universe? HA! YOU FIGURE IT OUT.

32. The best way to prevent giardia infection is to __MAKE SURE EVERYONE IN YOUR PART WASHES THEIR HANDS OFTEN________________ .

33. Extra, extra credit: An 1890s equipment list in the Sierra Club Bulletin recommended taking lemons on a trip. Why?
RECOMMENED TO SQUEEZE LEMONS INTO WATER TO COVER THE TASTE OF SHEEP PISS THEN IN MANY ALPINE STREAMS AND LAKES.

34. What legendary Sierra mountaineer was rumored to carry a small anvil in his huge pack to repair shoes with on trips? NORMAN CLYDE

35. Who likely was the first person to climb Mt. Darwin? (Also the first person to climb Mt. Whitney by the Mountaineer's Route). JOHN MUIR

36. You're skiing along at about 8,000 feet in fresh powder. Underneath a large tree, you come upon a hole in the snow, a short set of tracks leads from the hole, then the tracks disappear. What's happening here?
This one was pretty fun, eh?? It was a Blue Grouse. They dive under the snow during severe winter storms then come out when the storm is over, take a few steps, then fly away. They've been known to kill themselves when they try to dive into hard crust snow.

37. "As I carefully and deliberately made my way down toward the notch, I scanned and re-scanned the northwestern face. Much of it was concealed by irregularities. Suddenly a fly droned past, then another, and another.

"The quest is nearing an end," I reflected.""

Who said that? Who was he searching for?
NORMAN CLYDE; THE SEARCH FOR WALTER STARR, JR. ("STARR'S GUIDE").

38. Final Question: There is only one real test to being a backcountry ranger: repeat the phrase "Wow, you're going to Mt. Whitney?!?" about 3,000 times where #1 and #3,000 are said with the same surprise, awe and deep respect that any person would attempt such a manly challenge.



None of the views expressed here in any way represent those of the unidentified agency that I work for or, often, reality. It's just me, fired up by coffee and powerful prose.
Re: Answers to Sierra Knowledge Battery
George #13608 05/04/11 01:29 PM
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Pretty impressive.

I have one question: you must have a unique subspecies of Osprey in California. Nowhere I have seen them would they be described as a white bird (white markings, maybe) and never skimming the water (that's bald eagle behavior). The osprey I know plunges with feet extended forward, often completely submerging, then exploding back into the air with the fish. Pretty spectacular.

]

For extra credit, describe how it holds the fish . . .

And there has GOT to be a club act by the name of Fresno Eddy

Last edited by saltydog; 05/04/11 01:38 PM.

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Re: Answers to Sierra Knowledge Battery
saltydog #13610 05/04/11 02:14 PM
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Fresno Eddy... He's a friend of mine. grin

Two years ago, I saw an Osprey over Florence Lake with a trout in its talons. Landed on a high branch in a dead pine. After a while, it took off with the fish, flying up and away as far as I could see.

Here are the pics:
   



Looks like it isn't a white bird. Odd, though, because I recall thinking of it white with a little bit of dark marking. I guess the white reflects more and stands out.

Looking at the flying picture... how DOES it carry its fish? I can't quite make it out.


Last edited by Steve C; 05/04/11 02:31 PM.
Re: Answers to Sierra Knowledge Battery
saltydog #13611 05/04/11 02:17 PM
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Originally Posted By: saltydog
For extra credit, describe how it holds the fish . . .
It grasps the fish with its talons, with the fish's head forward, in the direction of travel.

Last edited by KevinR; 05/04/11 02:26 PM.
Re: Answers to Sierra Knowledge Battery
Steve C #13612 05/04/11 02:29 PM
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Originally Posted By: Steve C
Fresno Eddy... He's a friend of mine. grin

Last year, I saw an Osprey over Florence Lake with a trout in its talons. Landed on a high branch in a dead pine. After a while, it took off with the fish, flying up and away as far as I could see.

...looking for the pictures...


I once saw an osprey pluck a big trout from a river. Two crows were observing it, and heckled the osprey until it dropped it about 200' feet above the river. Somehow the osprey dove down, and caught it before it hit the water. Wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.

Re: Answers to Sierra Knowledge Battery
KevinR #13613 05/04/11 02:34 PM
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Found the pics. See above. And "fish forward" makes sense looking at the flying picture!

Re: Answers to Sierra Knowledge Battery
Steve C #13645 05/05/11 05:22 AM
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Steve:

Great shots! Yep, the one in flight clearly shows the aerodynamic position of the prey. Seeing the bird over the lake then perching momentarily indicates you missed the splash-and-grab by seconds. He was resting before flying off to the nest to feed the family.


Wherever you go, there you are.
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Re: Answers to Sierra Knowledge Battery
saltydog #13714 05/06/11 06:41 AM
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Great Osprey photos. I guess when I see them, I key in on the bright white underside. You're right, they're darker than I remember though maybe the Sierra species is a little lighter -- don't know.

One time I was with friends fishing in the very southern part of Sequoia and we saw an Osprey fishing. About an hour later, my friend caught a 20" Golden with fresh talon marks on its back.

g.


None of the views expressed here in any way represent those of the unidentified agency that I work for or, often, reality. It's just me, fired up by coffee and powerful prose.
Re: Answers to Sierra Knowledge Battery
George #13996 05/13/11 07:45 AM
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George, thanks for posting your quiz. I just read through the entire thing. Very informative. I'd recommend it to everyone.

But I'm still searching for the answer to #31...

Re: Yosemite "Junior Ranger" Test from 1933
CaT #14001 05/13/11 09:27 AM
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This reminds me of some comparison tests I saw from public schools between the 40's and now. You might be amazed just how dumbed down it is.


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