The Pine Cone – Newsletter (July 2022)

Welcome to the Pine Cone Newsletter, where we bring you the latest updates from Bass Lake, Yosemite and surrounding areas.

In this month’s edition we will discuss:

• Fires in Yosemite
• Mariposa Grove History
• 4^th of July recap
• Bass Lake Live
• The Pines Bar
• Business Spotlight – Pedal Forward
• Family and Friends Reunions

FIRES IN YOSEMITE

A firefighter protects a sequoia tree as the Washburn Fire burns in Mariposa Grove in Yosemite National Park, Calif., on Friday, July 8, 2022. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

The Washburn Fire started on July 7^th near Mariposa Grove. It started along the Washburn Trail within the Grove. No major damage to the big trees has been reported. Fire crews worked diligently day and night to help protect these ancient, magnificent trees. Crews are optimistic in regards to containment of the Washburn Fire and a new one called the Oak Fire. Mariposa County Fire, the California Highway Patrol, Bureau of Land Management, Mariposa County Public Works, North Fork Rancheria and the Red Cross are working together and are admirably doing everything they can to handle the fires and keeping the community safe.

As of August 1^st, all entrances to Yosemite National Park are open. Fortunately, everything at Bass Lake is unaffected and the fires haven’t slowed down tourists from wanting to visit. The air is clear and there is no current threat from the fires.

MARIPOSA GROVE HISTORY

Many people don’t realize that Mariposa Grove has historical value. On June 30^th, 1864, in the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant Act. This established Yosemite Valley and Mariposa Grove as the first federally protected wild places in the nation.

It planted the seed of an idea that would spread all over the world, the wonders of nature are not only our inheritance, but they’re also our responsibility. The act was the first of its kind, now you see many national parks that are government protected. Credit goes out to President Lincoln, but also John Muir for this historical moment.

4^th of JULY RECAP

The annual 4^th of July event was another success. Those in attendance at our annual Independence Day event enjoyed barbecue, desserts, drinks, patriotic decorations, music, and dancing all on the lakefront gazebo. Others relaxed at the beach with families enjoying the water or having fun on the boats. The Marie Wilson Band provided the live music and they were back by popular demand.

This is the busiest and most attended event in the area. Cabins, hotel rooms and barbecue seats usually sell out well in advance. Special parking arrangements were being offered to accommodate the amount of traffic in the area that day. Many employees and volunteers work tirelessly for months leading to the event to make sure that everyone has a fun and safe celebration. Last year we had a pretty typical and much busier event.

BASS LAKE LIVE

The Bass Lake Live Summer Concert Series is still going on. We only have three shows left so you better get your tickets fast. Bass Lake Live is a great opportunity to enjoy live music, barbecue buffet, and drinks on the lakefront gazebo. This is the lineup for the upcoming weeks:

• Dakota Crossing – Thursday, August 4^th (profits from this show will go to fire victims)
• Night Heat – Thursday, August 18^th
• QPOP Radio – Season Finale with Fireworks – Saturday, September 3^rd, Memorial Day Weekend

THE PINES BAR

For the adults in the area, The Pines Bar is always a fun place to be. Throughout the month of July and August the bar will be having karaoke every Thursday from 8pm-12pm. On Fridays nights DJ Christina will be providing music from 9pm-1am, with a $5 cover. The bar hosts live bands on the occasional Saturday night, you can check our website or events page for more information.

https://www.basslake.com/

https://www.basslake.com/events

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT – PEDAL FORWARD

Pedal Forward Bikes & Adventure is a bike shop located in Oakhurst. They offer bicycle repair, rentals, bike accessories, and concierge services with detailed recommendations on where to ride, hike, and recreate for your outdoor experience.

Pedal Forward recently teamed up with Yosemite Guided Hikes where they’ll be using their expertise to give guided tours showcasing some of the best trails in the Yosemite area. They offer group tours and private tours. Private tours are customized to you and your party for the group based on your comfort level and interests. Call 559-676-8842 if you have any questions or  email them at ContactUs@pedalforwardbikes.com.

Meeting Time: 7:00 AM at Pedal Forward Bikes & Adventure. We can also meet you at Mariposa Grove if you are staying inside Yosemite National Park.

What to Bring:

• Lunch & Snacks
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• Water: 2-3 liters per person
• Comfortable hiking boots or running/hiking shoes with good grip.

Day Hike

Mariposa Grove is the largest grove of giant redwoods in Yosemite National Park and contains 490 Giant Sequoias. These magnificent and colossal trees are about 3,000 years old and approximately 290 ft (88 Meters) tall! Giant Sequoias are the largest trees on the planet and only grow on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada in California. The guide will lead you on an awe-inspiring 5 1/2 mile interpretive hike full of fascinating facts about this ancient forest’s flora, fauna, and history. The hiking time is approximately 3 1/2 hours. During the hike, you will see the fallen Monarch, Bachelor & Three Graces, The 3,000-year-old Grizzly Giant, Faithful Couple, California Tunnel Tree, Clothespin Tree, Mariposa Grove Cabin, Columbia Tree, and much more.

Cost: $150.00 per person – Gratuities are not included.

Business hours are weekdays from 10am-6pm, weekends from 8am-6pm

FAMILY AND FRIENDS REUNIONS

Based on the market research conducted by the resort we found that family and friend reunions bring the most joyful vacations during the summer months (65 percent), new data from Motel 6 shows. The poll of 2,000 adults traveling this summer revealed a majority (57 percent) plan to attend a family or friend reunion. U.S. travelers will journey nearly 80 miles to reunite with their favorite people and places, while about one-third (32 percent) will venture more than 100 miles.

We all know the weight the pandemic carried, now more than ever people want to get together and make an experience out of it. The resort can provide that for you and your group. We offer a wide range of amenities to cater to reunions ranging from chalets, suites, two restaurants, a market, a bar, gas station, lakefront access, gazebo deck, swimming pool, and the list goes on.

We recently hosted a large family reunion of 162 people. The family reunion enjoyed all resort amenities and activities we have to offer. They soaked up the all the fun that the resort can provide ranging from s’mores at the fire pits, relaxing by the lake, activities near the gazebo deck, a dance, catering, etc. They had an amazing experience.

For more information on what we offer for your reunion:

https://www.basslake.com/