Death Valley Closed for Weeks, Crack in Yosemite, Hiker Found by Webcam, and More

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In this month's national park news round-up, we're covering the disastrous affects of tropical storm Hilary at Death Valley National Park, a 200' crack that has appeared on a popular climbing route in Yosemite, and more.
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[@chrisreinert9981]

In 1967 or 68 five of us 14yo to 16yo teenagers were allowed to use the family station wagon for the summer to drive from Seattle to the family's summer place in Alabama. We were 3 brothers and 2 family friends, one visiting from Norway. Along the way we stopped at Carlsbad Caverns and spent the night there camping. We saw the bats coming out in the evening. The next day we took the group tour into the cavern. A little ways into the tour one of the rangers stopped us five and asked if we wanted to follow a different rout than the normal because he could tell that we could explore a more challenging route. So we got a memorable private tour with our own ranger to guide us.

[@RVMiles]

That sounds awesome! We had a similar experience recently at the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. Secret tours are so cool.

[@AhJodie]

What cool parents you have!

[@kjkayjay]

living in Seattle and going to Alabama in the summer? Weather-wise, I would want to reverse that! lol

[@dananorth895]

​@@kjkayjayI can see what you mean but those western mountain passes and high plains in the winter can be life or death.😮

[@LilyGazou]

Amazing to be so trusted!

[@VermontScaleCustoms]

That's really cool that a rescue was crowdsourced via webcam sighting and an astute viewer. Nicely done.

[@VermontScaleCustoms]

And cheers to Nat'l Park Ranger, Don! 🥂🖖😎

[@MarciaPhillips-mt5td]

I was a seasonal park ranger for 30 years because I just plain loved the job. A salute to Ranger Don!

[@zackdemundo]

Thank you for your service, Marcia.

[@jeffreykalb9752]

Which season?

[@lindas5964]

I was at wind cave National park over 20 years ago. I was a solo traveler there in the off season and was approached by the ranger and welcomed to the park as I was setting up. He was friendly and kind and ask “have you looked up at the sky yet?” (It was twilight at the time). I was shocked at the beautiful sky awash with stars! If this ranger was indeed Don Frankfurt (the one retiring) please know you had made a lasting impression on me as such my husband and I are returning to the west next month because I want to show him the stars as well!

[@cherylmockotr]

When I was a child my life's goal was to be a park ranger and get to wear that cool hat! I haven't reached that goal yet... but this guy motivates me to not give up on it 😊

[@TheBandit7613]

Carefully check to see what roads are closed near Death Valley. Many are closed outside of Death Valley. I live near Death Valley, the rainstorm we got was interested. It was an all-night downpour that didn't let up. Glad my house is on high ground.

[@chrisschiel6741]

If it doesn't break off sooner. When rain , snow and freezing temperatures come it will mostly likely split then.

[@AwesomeShows]

I really enjoyed the story of the retiring park ranger. It's truly heartwarming to encounter such a glimmer of positivity amidst the overwhelming deluge of negative news we're frequently inundated with. Kudos for unearthing this delightful morsel of goodness.

[@vondahartsock-oneil3343]

I studied Forestry and Wildlife Conservation in college. Naturally the Ntl. Forests and Parks were where I wanted to work. When I was around 17, I snuck out of my house, caught a cab to the airport and flew to Alaska lol. Yeah, my parents weren't to happy when I called to inform them of my whereabouts. I am female, was alone in Alaska, and literally backpacked it from Denali to Fairbanks via the woods, staying off the roads. I always thought the police would be looking for me as a "run away". Nope, they weren't lol. Little did I know of any dangers I could have faced. I survived and made it back to Oklahoma after about 3 months. I firmly believe it was that adventure that caused my love of the Ntl. Parks and Forests. My point here I guess, is not about me even tho it reads that way. It's about that man and the webcam rescue story. We didn't have webcams back in the 80s when I took my little adventure. So, IDK what in the hell I would have done if I needed help. I didn't think or plan that far ahead. Gotta love the ignorance of Youth! Today, I'd have a sat. phone, gps, personal locator device etc...lol. Take no chances with you sacred life. You only have one. Stumbled upon this channel. I really like it. Thank You!

[@MarisaBisping]

Omg... YOU should make a video or something.... I want to know so much more about YoUr story 😯

[@theghostlyorb]

3 hours of warning to finding him is incredible! I would have guessed days.

[@njcanuck]

He communicated via a webcam. They know where the webcam is located. Not hard to find him. He was very lucky!!!

[@theghostlyorb]

I understand that they know where the webcam is located, but think about it, it's probably not monitored 24/7. Very lucky indeed.@@njcanuck

[@kden1271]

​@njcanuck sir ma'am please stop rubbing your common sense is everyones face...

[@sarahcoleman3125]

Such a sweet shout out to Don! ❤😭 This why I always give seemingly random channels a chance. I'm not into parks or hiking, but this was interesting, informative, and heartwarming. 😂

[@RVMiles]

Thanks for giving us a watch!

[@Tr1sh4Lynn]

I know what you mean. This isn’t the kind of video I’d normally watch either, and the thumbnail and title were intriguing enough for me to stop on it. Great work, and the entire video is well-written, -paced, and -narrated.

[@stevearita3267]

Great update as usual. Best part of profiling the ranger at wind cave, all I could think of was "WOW!". I have nothing but utmost respect to the National Park employees, the do a great job protecting our natural cathedrals...amid the crowds and problems people sometimes bring. Great way to recognize thems!

[@lilblackduc7312]

I want to see Death Valley after everything blooms from the rain!💖 🤗

[@Michael_Thomas134]

I was at Yosemite years ago, at the base of lower Yosemite falls and a large rock fall happened above us. It was very loud and a dust cloud engulfed us and small rocks bounced by us.

[@NoNORADon911]

You almost met the Flintstones

[@kimberlyperrotis8962]

I’m not interested in RVs, but I appreciate the news about these parks. My beloved Mom and I used to spend a week around New Year’s every year in Death Valley. She, my best friend and fellow traveler, died last year, so I don’t go anymore. But this year, the storm damage has put it out of the question anyway. It was partly, at least, my Mom teaching me to love the outdoors as a child that led to me becoming a geologist. I wanted to start my career as a USNP Park Ranger, but economic reality led me to a job in engineering to meet the costs of living in the Bay Area. Newly married, my husband wanted a home base there. I often meet couples who work the parks seasonally and live in trailers or RVs, they love the lifestyle.

[@TheEricZ]

It's so hard to get a job in the park service. I've been applying since I graduated with a BS in Biology like 7 years ago.

[@HeatherSZ]

I was lucky to have visited Death Valley 4 days be4 the hurricane mess. I hope it recovers quickly, it was incredible to see!

[@sandramorey2529]

As a regular at Yosemite I am glad to know about Royal Arches. Hopefully with access closed for now the rock fall that is on its way won't hurt anyone.

[@samanthasmile8150]

Thank you for sharing, I’m 55 and live in the UK, i would love to go to America and visit Yosemite, it will never happen unfortunately xxxx

[@dennisquinn8558]

I've lived in SoCal all my life, and have been to a few of the parks in the western US. If you ever do make it out here, I can certainly recommend 2 nearby parks that are (rightly so) often visited: Yosemite Valley and The Grand Canyon. As my reaction, and that of everyone I have talked to who has visited them (from all over the world) is the same: They take your breath away.

[@sherriweber7105]

Boy California looked as bad as Nevada did at the Burning Man thing. That’s sad about Yosemite with the crack and rocks ready to fall. Thank you Jason for this information.

[@will7its]

Sad??? why?

[@72marshflower15]

@@will7its exactly..

[@lindaj5492]

Death Valley NP is “Larger than Rhode Island AND Delaware” 😳

[@TheRangerBob]

Happened across your site and enjoyed your park service report, well done - appreciated. My son and I will be road tripping next month and Yosemite is on the list. We both have a park service background - I'm a retired Park Service Ranger and my son is an ex seasonal ranger. Cheers!

[@RVMiles]

thanks so much!

[@cynthiamaniscalco6972]

Interesting variety of whats going on in the nat'l parks. I knew of the damage in Death Valley, but not to that extent. Thanks for the info. All the best.

[@glennmontjoy221]

Love your stuff, and I'm an RV'r (super small Forest River R-Pod 152) and rock climber, but "expanded by 12 feet and has widened significantly" leads one to think that there is a massive hole on this rock now. May be better to say that it has "lengthened by 12 feet", which is the report by most climbers. It's a small, but substantial difference.

[@RVMiles]

True, that would have been a more accurate word. Thanks for sharing.

[@glennmontjoy221]

@@RVMiles You guys are great. Keep up the good work! Looking forward to hearing about your next adventures!

[@jimburg621]

Death Valley is such a beautiful park. Would have loved to have been there to see this event.

[@dsbmwhacker]

I worked in over 50 National Parks around the Country as a private Contractor. Park Service personnel are no different than all walks of society....some great folks and a few not so great...the great majority were wonderful to work with. I did notice a bit of "entitlement" in some locations...where maintenance workers had a somewhat "Fantasy" job: Show up at 8:00...discuss todays tasks for 30 - 40 minutes...set up some scaffold...break for a 20-30 minute mid morning break....work for an hour completing the scaffold assembly...then a one hour + lunch break. After lunch finally get an hour or so of actual work progress...another 25 minute "mid afternoon" break...then time to disassemble the scaffolding and go home... Actual "work" done in an 8 hour period, maybe 2 hours.😊 In the "Contractors" world the work in question would take 2 days...as a Park Service project they spent over a week. Definitely not a scenario in all Parks, but appeared to be a pretty awesome "Gravy Train" job...😂

[@duckduckgoismuchbetter]

I think I went into the wrong field of work. 😂

[@wellsonwheels457]

It amazes me how water shapes our landscapes.

[@carolinematusevich889]

Sounds like a huge rock face will be coming down within a few months. If it went from a couple inches to 20 within a couple of weeks, it could fall before winter.

[@luminousveiws]

I think we had had Don for a tour a couple of years ago. He was the best tour guide of any sort we've ever had. All other cave guides get told to go watch the man in action! I'll have to stop doing that 😢

[@mandarue5104]

Kings Canyon National Park has been closed even before the summer months but only now has the Park Service updated their website telling the public it is closed. I work in the little camp/town of Hume and we've had a lot of tourists come by who were unaware the park was closed. We told them its closed due to numerous parts of the roads being washed away by last winters snow melt. Rumor has it the park won't reopen for at least a year.

[@robertawhite6761]

? I went with my daughter and grandson in June, and it was open. We drove through Kings Canyon and into Sequoia National Park. It was wonderful. There was even a Christian Youth Camp open that we stopped at.

[@judyclark8653]

Thank you - good to know

[@turkfiles]

Thank you. So glad I found your channel.

[@gordbaker896]

That rain was 3/4" at Burning Man.

[@TheProfessorandHerPassport]

We camped at Wind Cave last year. Great park. Amazing caves and wildlife everywhere.

[@justsmy5677]

Happy Retirement Don!!!

[@terrybarber2059]

Same thing happened at Volcanos National Park in 2018. Highways around and roads in the park were destroyed. They had to wait for the end of the eruption to begin repairs and some could not be repaired. People need to be patient. Nature has natural disasters and people need to remember that

[@carmenvazquez512]

Al fin un video sin violencia sin politica sin drogas sin cosas que nos toban la calma. Gratcias

[@GK49245]

Thanks. Good update.

[@freyafoxmusic]

The ad worked I bought subscriptions 😂

[@thomaswayneward]

When the roads are closed the Park service gets to rest more than normal. Three guesses on how long it will take to repair the roads. I guess three years, at least. Some may be closed forever; that is what they do.

[@holly1391]

So cool about Ranger Don! Congratulations 🎉

[@Wanna.Wander]

Nice channel💜 This really got devastated! Crazy crack! Alaska is so beautiful but that’s some rugged outback! Cheers to 55 years 🎉💜 Love this video, subbed

[@RVMiles]

Thanks for the sub!

[@0HARE]

Pretty fascinating about that lost hiker and the bear camera. Landscape undergoing natural changes in Death Valley and Yosemite. Good Vibrations!

[@laurieromano7986]

Just found this video. Love your delivery and content. Keep it up

[@NarrativeOfficial]

Love the story of the hiker saved

[@sebastiansimpson596]

They should put a live stream to watch the rock slide cause I’ll be really cool

[@WolfRoss]

We just got a lot rain here in Northeastern Arizona.

[@tracymeskel2839]

Well I guess we won’t be going thru Death Valley, in our way south, from Oregon. We were going to go 395, and cut over to Nevada at Death Valley. Oh well back to the drawing board.

[@bob_frazier]

Guessing you either you cut east at Big Pine or you go on down to I-40. Where you headed?

[@janmoline]

Continue on the 395 past the 190 intersection and when the 395 branches left take it all the way to the intersection with the 58 (4 corners). Left there toward Barstow and then take the 15 to Las Vegas. Long way around but it works.

[@sandraburke1258]

Thank You Don for the years of protecting our wonderful Yosemite

[@thomaswayneward]

I am sure he is a good guy, but how did he protect Yosemite? It is a fact that privately owned land is managed much better than government land.

[@HiPumpkin50leslie]

Happy Retirement, Don!! And I enjoyed this video!! Thanks!

[@advancetotabletop5328]

Thanks for the video! And, remember, just because you‘re an American, doesn’t mean you‘re immune to mother nature, dry, wet, or dry then suddenly really really wet. Safety first.

[@stephendriscoll9240]

Explain where are all the missing people?

[@misterbonesontour4640]

THANKS 👍

[@RVMiles]

Welcome 👍

[@screwplanplaybook7121]

Happy retirement Don, neat story and thank you for the news.

[@RVMiles]

Thanks for watching!

[@mariapierce2707]

Happy Retirement Don ❤

[@kayregulski6828]

Enjoyed this very much

[@timaz1066]

Thanks for the info Jason

[@tomstetson8053]

My complements; Good video, audio, and content. Keep up the good work. Tom

[@paulsmodels]

Oh golly, that pesky weather thing we have on this planet sure does put a damper on our plans don't it.

[@kelleycoon2070]

I used to work in Yosemite. At the Yosemite Lodge somewhere around 93 to 96. I was there for 2 1/2 years.

[@taztaztaz]

carnival works trying to drive on a park road.. uggh, what a bunch of clowns!

[@janmoline]

😂

[@fabulouspinkmk10]

🔥🔥🔥Your report and updates were so well done. I found them to very informative and insightful. I would have never known this, whether I was planning to travel or not. The 🔥🔥🔥is a compliment, thanks and now subscribe😊

[@RVMiles]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@stefanfrankel8157]

Google Maps is showing 190 closed until October 31.

[@zackdemundo]

Let’s get serious about the storm damage at Death Valley - is the bar still open at Panamint Springs?

[@sharksport01]

Yes! And now there is a dance floor!

[@rd4660]

Concerning commercial vehicles on the Natchez Trace Parkway....in California every pickup truck must be registered as a commercial vehicle and pay weight fees even though it's owned by an individual. If they're going to stop ALL commercially licensed vehicles the USPS is going to be really busy.

[@frankmacleod2565]

Um, that is incorrect. I drive a pickup truck in California, for about 30 years now

[@jamielynnlano]

They said vehicles with commercial markings. So someone advertising their business on their car would be prohibited, but my skoolie which doesn’t have markings, would be fine.

[@anthonyhitchings1051]

its not a disaster as of October 25th - the new lake looked great from Dantes View, so we drove down to Badwater and walked out on the salt crystals to the lake's edge.

[@RyanLunaPhotography]

holy crap! look at those mud cracks at @1:08. Where's the location of that toilet...gotta go photograph the mud cracks. LOL

[@marianfrances4959]

Thats interesting! Im wondering if the increased spending includes increased prices??

[@AhJodie]

Thank you so much!

[@nicolenotizieeamici]

How interesting thanks

[@furyofbongos]

1:52 "A guide from Yosemite Mountain School reported seeing [the crack] on August 6th but by August 20th it was visible." Not sure I understand this sentence.

[@deandupont5503]

@ 7:17 Hey, that's not Mr. Frankfort! That's Red Green in disguise! (And far from home, too.)

[@BMags1]

Fantastic content, thanks very much. Subscribed! 🎉

[@RVMiles]

Welcome aboard!

[@DavidJones-me7yr]

I think Death Valley had a similar rain earlier this year or last fall because I remember seeing a story about a Jeep trying to get through the roads. And that mountain in Yosemite,, if I'm not mistaken there is a big geological story about that mountain how it's actually part of Another Mountain that was pulled away from continental drift or something? The type of the Rock identifies it and that mountain has been shedding Rock for many many years!

[@gmc9753]

Too bad the Parkwolf app isn't available for Android.

[@heatherbeane3234]

Wow so crazy and so sad

[@Mark-qv4bn]

Somebody told me it was closed, i live in Arizona. I've never been there, it gets up to 113° here.

[@judyclark8653]

I’m afraid you’re going to be announcing the closure of all 2:19 National parks soon…🤨 I was hoping to get to Joshua Tree and/or Big Bend this winter.

[@johnarizona3820]

It would be nice to see the crack on a photo that shows where it is other than a pic of a rock with a crack in it without any relative perspective.

[@karyndewit193]

Five feet deep is crazy!

[@seanmunoz3273]

I need to find a seasonal winter park job

[@timf6916]

Good information

[@davidwilliams9963]

Have driven Natchez Trace and there is little cell service so calling the NPS is difficult

[@RayLars-xt3pm]

Cool site

[@matthewkeating-od6rl]

great vid

[@RVMiles]

Thanks!

[@cbdane]

Subscribed!

[@RVMiles]

Welcome!

[@Sleep-xz7xn]

Not the first time Death Valley has been closed from flash floods

[@lagwall]

Cool Channel, Thx!

[@kissingthedirt]

😮happy he was saved but interesting....spying in national parks?

[@dustytables3638]

As someone who has been there once, and only once, I would like to pose a question: Since when has Death Valley, in the recorded history of it, never been a 'Disaster'? There is nothing there but a sharthole of a landscape, by it's name alone you have been warned what to expect. I went there back around '81 or so. I actually grew to enjoy the desert during my tour in the AF. But this place? No. There is nothing there to draw you except for dreams of getting out alive!! If you don't boil your brain the mere effort of breathing in that alkaline dust will do it's best to choke the life out of you. Just avoid this place. Go to Yosemite, go to Mt. Shasta, go to Zion Park. Stay away from this place!! You just saw with your own eyes! It's a God Forbidden desert!! It hates you so much it conjured up a flood to try to take out those who didn't just curl up and die from the heat! Here's an idea: Come to the East, enjoy the Smokey Mountains. We got trees, woods, grassy fields. And most importantly....Water!! You can actually enjoy yourself here. Not saying that you can't find a way to k*ll yerself, you can, but you'll have to work at it a lot harder rather than just showing up!

[@kjkayjay]

lol

[@NickWainwright6970]

I visit family in Cal every year, and I love the place!

[@robertawhite6761]

The landscapes and sunsets are breathtaking. Just don't visit in the summer months!

[@Xsaraize]

And then there's the whole Missing 411 thing... Yuck

[@brianmartin1139]

Those spending numbers assume the people wouldn't spend the money elsewhere. That is fuzzy accounting.

[@JimCab22]

I have a upcoming trip to Yellowstone Oct 1st - 5th. If the government shuts down, how will it affect the park?

[@normanmcneal3605]

Did you know the founding fathers empowered the federal gvt to only procure land from the public for military installations only? They were accorded the District of Columbia for seat of the country’s central gvt to house gvt employees and buildings to conduct our federal gvt’s business solely? Many “ educated” citizens have never read our constitution for themselves. That’s how we have devolved into believing central gvt is our mom and dad. Free public indoctrination has taught us that we should pay whatever tax the government needs, without question. Sadly

[@LilyGazou]

It will all collapse.

[@kitbotbot4778]

LOL I LIVE NEXT TO YOSEMITE. I WANT NOTIFICATIONS. LOL

[@lunzie01]

Wait: at 1:40, you said that a crack appeared and then folks climbed up to see it?? Then at 1:50 you said a climber saw the crack and *then* it became visible?? That doesn't make any sense. If the crack has "expanded", that means it has widened. I think you mean to say that it lengthened. Please choose your words more carefully.

[@Strykenine]

If I am not mistaken, something very similar happened in Death Valley last year didn't it?

[@jimcollins8097]

I dont find the parkwolf app in the android play store. Is it only available for apple?

[@RVMiles]

Yes it’s Apple only

[@j0hnbr0ck]

Always bad news coming out of here. They should name it something that sounds like it's a dangerous place.

[@MissLibertarian]

Taxes are a cost and reduction on economic activity, so the park spending should subtract the taxes paid on the economic activity before bragging about the number stimulated. And, of course, not everyone goes to a national park because it’s a national park: some people go for the scenery and for activities like hiking, all of which might be available if the park service hadn’t spent so many billions. If only the parks budget meant we couldn’t afford to start new wars, it would be worth the expense.

[@galardmills5306]

Of course it’s a fallacy to claim that one dollar of tax money produces ten dollars of activity in a town some undefined number of miles away. It is not cause/effect. Activity in a town is totally unrelated to new outhouses in a park. However, if the Interior’s objective is to take more of your tax money, then they will try any propaganda.

[@MissLibertarian]

@@galardmills5306 I wonder, too, why they chose 60 mile radii to reach their number, and I wonder if they use the same 60 every time they justify the expense, or if it varies. I imagine the traffic also puts wear and tear on the roads and other locally provided infrastructure, and I'm sure local towns want to claim credit for the same economic outcomes. Success has many fathers, they say.

[@ThatOpalGuy]

Ha ha ha

[@frankmacleod2565]

Let me guess, you don't go to many parks, national or otherwise

[@dogsense3773]

Park service is 0.3 of the federal government buget always has been

[@marksr8784]

Happy Retirement Ron😂🎉

[@woody5109]

Let’s be clear, it’s the most rain in one day, “in recorded history”. Let’s not cry wolf by calling it a weather crisis.

[@RVMiles]

Let's be clear, I said "ever recorded" and reporting on this incredibly wild event that destroyed tons of infrastructure isn't colored with some opinionated undertone that you are trying to paint it with.

[@will7its]

@@RVMiles I thought it sounded funny too. Maybe say last 100 years or so. Lots of people hear that and want to ban your car or something. Or god forbid those gas/diesel guzzling Motor homes.