U.S. Forest Service-Stanislaus National Forest

Join us for one of our in-person recruitment events to hire permanent and permanent seasonal wildland fire positions across various forests in California.

Stanislaus National Forest representatives will be at recruiting events in Reedley and Sacramento where you will be able to meet with regional fire staff, get application help, and learn about the benefits of working with the Forest Service.

The U.S. Forest Service is recruiting passionate individuals to join our elite wildland firefighting team. If you have a strong commitment to safety, physical fitness, and a desire to protect our natural resources, we want you!

APPLY NOW!
Applications will be accepted on
USAJOBS.gov Jan. 2nd-24th, 2024.
Event attendance not required.

Join us at:

Reedley College
995 N. Reed Ave.,
Reedley, CA 93654

Friday, 12th
10 am–6 pm PST
Saturday, 13th
10 am–4 pm PST

and

Sacramento
(McClellan Park)
3237 Peacekeeper
Way, McClellan
Park, CA 95652

Friday, 19th
10 am–6 pm PST
Saturday, 20th
10 am–4pm PST
WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER BENEFITS

• Comradery, career advancement
• Federal employee health
benefits
• Entry-level positions with paid
training and travel
• Overtime, and hazard pay

Start your story and build a legacy of service while working
in the great outdoors, join us at a recruiting event soon, near you.

Caltrans has closed State Route 89 (Monitor Pass), State Route 4 (Ebbetts Pass), & State Route 108 (Sonora Pass) to traffic for the winter as of 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.

There is no current ETO. Once Caltrans closes a mountain pass for the winter it is not re-opened until conditions warrant and the highway is deemed safe for motorists.

For more information on Caltrans winter pass closures click on the link below:

https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-10/district-10-news/winter-closures

For current road closure & traffic conditions visit: http://Quickmap.dot.ca.gov.

Caltrans HQ Caltrans District 9 CHP - San Andreas Alpine County California Kirkwood Mountain Resort US National Weather Service Reno Nevada U.S. Forest Service - Eldorado National Forest U.S. Forest Service-Stanislaus National Forest Tuolumne County, CA - County Government The Union Democrat

❄️❄️❄️ SNOW!! ❄️❄️❄️
Well, on Highway 4 anyway. Boy-howdy have some of you noticed, filling the parking lots at the Lake Alpine and Round Valley SnoParks beyond capacity! There's just one problem, loads of folks out there are parking without a permit.

YIKES! That's a 🚨 citation 🚨 just waiting to happen!

So, do everyone a favor and stop in and get your SnoPark permit before venturing up the hill.

➡️ Find out information from the California State website www.ohv.parks.ca.gov/snoparks.

➡️ Day permits are $15.00, Season Pass Permits are $40.00

‼️ SnoPark Permits are NOT sold at the SnoPark parking lots.

➡️Permits can be purchased locally on the Hwy 4 corridor at the following locations:

➡️ Sierra Nevada Adventure Company SNAC 2293 Hwy 4, Arnold, CA 95223 209-795-9310.

➡️ Ebbetts Pass Sporting Goods 925 Hwy 4, Arnold, CA 95223 209-795-1686.

➡️Bear Valley Adventure Company 1 Bear Valley Road, Bear Valley, CA 95223 209-753-2834.

Stay safe out there!

The draft comment period for the Community Wildfire Protection plan is now available. Use the QR code or visit the link on the flyer to submit your comment before January 23.

Wishing everyone who celebrates a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May next year bring more happy memories in the forest!

Reminder, all Stanislaus National Forest office will be closed Christmas Day in observance of the holiday. 🎄⛄

A couple of weeks ago we posted a photo of the 1919 City of San Francisco Municipal Christmas Tree before it was cut down on the Stanislaus National Forest and we also promised that we would share another photo of that tree if everyone managed to stay off Santa’s naughty list…

Except for a specific incident that you might have read about, most folks behaved pretty well during the last two weeks! Today’s photo takes us back to that same year, but now that tree is decorated and shining bright in its full glory in San Francisco. That star on top must have been HUGE!

We hope you all have a happy holiday season! 🎄

The caption reads: “City of San Francisco Municipal Christmas Tree 1919 cut from the Stanislaus National Forest”.

Today marks the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year! Well, at least for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. This annual event marks the beginning of astronomical winter and occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn. After tonight days will continue to grow longer until it reaches the peak during the Summer Solstice in June.

Deck the halls safely with your Christmas Tree!

CHRISTMAS TREE SAFETY

The holiday ornaments are back in stock! You can pick yours up at the Supervisor's office, or at the Summit Ranger Station! While supplies last, one per family.

The Supervisor's office is located at 19777 Greenley Road, Sonora, and hours are Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm.

The Summit Ranger Station is located at #1 Pinecrest Lake Road, Pinecrest, and hours are Monday - Saturday, 8:30 am - 4:00 pm.

Both facilities are closed on federal holidays (December 25 and January 1).

Questions? Call us at the Summit Ranger Station, 209-965-3434.

Happy Holidays!

Stanislaus National Forest Looks to Partner with Tesla Motors
Release Date: Dec 14, 2023

SONORA, Calif. (December 14, 2023) – For car enthusiasts, the recent sightings of Tesla’s Cybertruck vehicle across National Forest Lands in California is exciting. However, with the increasing number of incidents involving the immediately recognizable vehicle, Forest Managers are eager for the opportunity to partner with Tesla Motor Corporation on an education campaign regarding off-road vehicle use on public lands.

“We are always thrilled when new opportunities to explore our public lands become available,” said Stanislaus National Forest Supervisor Jason Kuiken. “But feel there may be work to be done in educating users about our Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM).”

Kuiken was responding to a recent incident on the Stanislaus National Forest involving a Tesla Cybertruck that apparently lost traction and slid down an embankment on a well-known Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) area on the Forest’s Calaveras Ranger District while harvesting a Christmas tree in a moment that has since gone viral on social media.

“We feel confident that had the driver of the Cybertruck had a better understanding of the topographical feature indicated on our maps, practiced Leave No Trace principles, and generally been more prepared, this whole incident could have been not only avoided, but also provided much-needed education to many new off-road users.”

Across the U.S. Forest Service’s Region 5 (encompassing all of California, Hawaii, and other Pacific Island Partners) there are more than 15,867.8 miles of trails of which more than 5,000 are motorized.

“This number does not include our vast road system,” noted Christina Henderson, Region 5 Acting Public Services Director.

To that end, Kuiken is proposing a new, educational partnership between the Stanislaus National Forest and Tesla Motors.

“You never have to worry about a software update at an incredibly awkward moment with one of our MVUM maps,” Kuiken said. “We would invite executives of Tesla Motors to sit down at the table with us and develop an educational experience for new Cybertruck owners. We expect we could see this excited new user base joining our well-established OHV community and want to ensure we’ve done everything to create a positive user experience.”

California National Forests U.S. Forest Service

We know it seems like the roads were just opened for the season, but can you believe it’s already almost time for the Stanislaus National Forest’s seasonal road closures to go into effect? Today’s takes us way out to Eagle Meadow back in 1970 to a scene that won’t be seen until next summer.

This week’s photo shows some hunters using trail bikes to go back and forth between their hunting spots and their camps. Just think, this would be a totally different picture if this was taken during the winter. Instead of trail bikes, the hunters would likely be on snowmobiles, and it certainly wouldn’t be as dusty. On top of that, I highly doubt they would be wearing short-sleeve shirts.

While many trails and roads, including Eagle Meadow Road, will be closed to wheeled motorized use between December 15th and April 15th, this is a great time to learn how to snowmobile or cross-country ski! Or if you’re like me, you might already be counting down the days until April 15th when the seasonal road closures will end (122 days to go!).

Caption reads: “Hunters at Eagle Meadow using trail bikes.”

Did you catch Smokey Bear at the Tuolumne City Christmas Parade? Smokey and crew from the Forest were on hand to help ring in the holidays!!

Are you heading up to the Stanislaus National Forest to get your Christmas tree? Stop by the Summit Ranger Station to pick up a free Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl Holiday Ornament*!

You can also pick up a map and tree guide before you head out into the woods to pick your tree!

Happy Holidays!

Questions? Call the Summit Ranger Station, 209-965-3434

*One ornament per family - while supplies last. Only available at the Summit Ranger Station.
UPDATE: We are all out! We are working on acquiring more! We will keep you posted. 🙂

There’s been quite a bit of talk about Christmas trees lately, and why not? It is the holiday season after all.

Today’s takes us back to the holiday season of 1919 at the very moment when this tree went from being a typical tree in the forest to becoming the City of San Francisco’s Municipal Christmas Tree. The caption doesn’t give any details about the members of the Christmas tree cutting party or who was holding the axe, but it must have taken quite a few swings for that tree to come down. It must have been pretty cold as well, given the amount of snow on the ground and the snow in the tree.

The caption is simple and reads “City of San Francisco Municipal Christmas Tree 1919, cut from the Stanislaus National Forest, snapshot of the original print/negative.” Seeing how this is a snapshot, please excuse the phantom picture frame floating in the sky that must have appeared when the photo was processed.

If you all manage to stay off of Santa’s naughty list for the next few weeks, maybe we’ll share another picture of this same tree all decked out with lights and decorations.

The past few weeks we have given guidance on the Dos and Don'ts of Christmas Tree harvesting.

Unfortunately, that message has been lost on some folks while harvesting. Remember:

DO take the whole tree.
DON'T remove only the top of the tree and leave the rest.

It only takes a few to ruin this for the community. Let's be better together!

It's World Soil Day today!

Did you know that healthy soils act as a carbon sink, by sequestering carbon from the atmosphere, thus contributing to both climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts.

For World Wildlife Conservation Day, we wanted to highlight two of our most beloved and at-risk species in the Stanislaus: The Yosemite Toad, a threatened species and the Great Gray Owl, which is endangered in California.

The Yosemite Toad is a threatened species that was first discovered in? You guessed it, Yosemite National Park. Found in the Sierra Nevada from Alpine County to Fresno County, this toad is a stocky guy whose bumpy skin can be yellowish green to olive green. They move by walking instead of hopping!

There population is in decline due to habitat loss, climate change and disease.

The Great Gray Owl is the largest owl in North America and one of the largest in the world. Endangered in California, there are only 100-300 breeding pairs estimated to call the state home. This reclusive bird primarily hunts at dawn and dusk, with a diet consisting of mainly voles.

During breeding season, they are chattier and vocalize more, while adults defending their territory will let out evenly spaced hoos.

Are you heading out to the Stanislaus National Forest tomorrow, Saturday, December 2nd, to cut a Christmas tree?

Stop by the Summit Ranger Station to warm up with a cup of hot cocoa or coffee, make an ornament, and do your holiday shopping!

You can also take a family picture at our photo booth and make a pinecone bird feeder to feed the birds at home!

Three Forests Interpretive Association is offering a 10% discount on all purchases from the store on Saturday only!

The Summit Ranger Station is open on Saturday's from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm. The discount is available all day, the activities will be available from 10:00 am - 3:30 pm.

Summit Ranger Station, #1 Pinecrest Lake Road, Pinecrest, CA, 95364
Questions? Call 209-965-3434

Today’s takes us back to Camp Relief in 1909 during the construction of the Relief Reservoir Dam!

Despite the miles and miles of railroad tracks in the Stanislaus National Forest, the train could only take you so far. When it was time to go beyond the rails, other methods of transportation had to be utilized. One of those ‘other methods’ may have been a team of mules.

This image, taken by a photographer from Sonora named Gross, shows the amount of effort needed to move equipment from one place to the next while crews were building the dam that would become Relief Reservoir.

This was a team of sixteen mules, and even though we can’t see what they were going to pull, it was likely either rock for the dam or parts for the valve and pipe assemblies that were installed at the bottom of the reservoir.

Caption reads: “Method of Teaming. Buildings of Camp Relief perched on a rocky slope; laundry hanging out to dry from a porch. Team with at least 16 mules and 2 wheelhorses, and handlers waiting on road below, hitched to wagon alongside small locomotive; small handcar also on narrow gauge rails; wagon parts and other debris alongside rails. Photographer signature in lower right-hand corner of image: 34 Gross, Sonora.”

Are you heading out to the Stanislaus National Forest on Saturday, December 2nd, to cut a Christmas tree?

Stop by the Summit Ranger Station to warm up with a cup of hot cocoa or coffee, make an ornament, and do your holiday shopping!

You can also take a family picture at our photo booth and make a pinecone bird feeder to feed the birds at home!

Three Forests Interpretive Association is offering a 10% discount on all purchases from the store on Saturday only!

The Summit Ranger Station is open on Saturday's from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm. The discount is available all day, the activities will be available from 10:00 am - 3:30 pm.

Summit Ranger Station, #1 Pinecrest Lake Road, Pinecrest, CA, 95364

Questions? Call 209-965-3434

Not sure on what tree to get and where to find it in the forest this weekend? check out this handy guide on what trees make the best Christmas trees and where to find them!

Embrace the chill this winter and head into the for *snow* many ! ❄️

But before you start chasing snowflakes, remember to to stay safe outside and protect the places where you play! ☃️

✅ Always Know Before You Go - check mountain passes and forecasts before you set out for a destination, as winter weather can change quickly
✅ Plan Ahead – pack extra layers, waterproof clothing, and avalanche safety gear for the backcountry
✅ Explore Locally – consider exploring spots in your naturehood as driving and parking can be more challenging in the winter

Find a at a near you and this winter with Recreation.gov! ❤️

https://www.recreation.gov/

📍 Inyo National Forest, California
Photo: Peter Scifres (Share the Experience)

Happy Thanksgiving!🍂🦃🍁🥧

With today being Thanksgiving, we really wanted to serve up something that would be just as fruity as your great-aunt’s ambrosia for this week’s . We had to reach really deep into our ‘pantry’ of photos, but we found something everybody can enjoy!

The next time you find yourself running out of room at your table (likely later today), consider this ingenious, table-top shelf design that a camper came up with back in 1939.

If there isn’t room for your side dishes on the table, just stick them on the shelf in the middle of the table! Another interesting design we want to stir in is this fire pit that allowed campers to cook four different things at once! These were taken in 1939 at the Pinecrest Public Camp, but only the picnic table photo has a caption which reads “Standard table and stove at Pinecrest Public Camp, 1939”.

You won’t see these kinds of amenities at Forest Service-managed campgrounds nowadays, but they sure look like they were useful!

We hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! Wishing everyone a safe and bountiful harvest this year. If you celebrate, we hope you can take the day to reflect on the past year, eat some good food and spend time with those you love. 🦃🍂🍁

Caltrans will re-open State Route 4 (Ebbetts Pass) to traffic as of 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 22, 2023.

Motorists are urged to continue to use caution and watch for icy areas, especially in the overnight and early morning hours.

For current road closure and traffic info. always turn to http://Quickmap.dot.ca.gov.

Caltrans HQ Caltrans District 9