YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY
The Hands and Hearts Behind the Park
EVERY DAY in Yosemite National Park, extraordinary people do extraordinary things — often quietly and always with deep commitment. As you flip through the stories in this “Humans of Yosemite” issue, I invite you to see beyond the granite walls and waterfalls, and into the hearts and hands of the folks who make this place run. Yosemite doesn’t run on autopilot. It runs on people. From the rangers stationed throughout the park to the crews keeping trails and restrooms clean to the shuttle drivers, wildlife biologists, maintenance teams, outdoor educators, Tribal stewards, Conservancy staff, and others — you’ll find people who bring their full selves to this work. Every person you’ll meet in this issue plays a role in protecting this incredible park and ensuring it’s welcoming, meaningful, and safe for every visitor.
These are uncertain times for our national parks. Yet the spirit of community in Yosemite endures. Whether it’s delivering firewood on a chilly morning, or leading mindful yoga classes or energetic ultimate frisbee events for all ages, the people here look out for one another. That sense of camaraderie is what keeps this place not just functioning — but thriving.
Behind every visit — every beautiful view and moment of awe — is a team that showed up early, stayed late, or answered the call at an inconvenient hour.
It’s my honor to introduce you to a few of these humans who pour their love and labor into this land. May their stories inspire you, ground you, and remind you that Yosemite’s true magic lies in its people.
With gratitude,
Cassius M. Cash PRESIDENT & CEO
COVER Yosemite horses and mules in action as part of a pack train in Yosemite's high country.
Roped Into Yosemite
30+ years as a climbing guide and beloved community member have anchored Josh Helling in Yosemite. PAGE 12
I Ride for the Brand
For over 40 years, Burrel “Buckshot” Maier has been the only stagecoach driver in the National Park Service.
PAGE 14
A Package Deal
Best friends Nick Aucker and Abby Adams protect Yosemite’s backcountry with the help of their mule coworkers. PAGE 4
We Are Still Here
Park ranger and cultural demonstrator Emily Dayhoff reconnects with her Native culture in Yosemite. PAGE 8
Healing in Nature’s Embrace
Eliza Kerr fosters community wellness through Balanced Rock, philanthropic support, and more. PAGE 16
A Half-Century of Yosemite Hospitality
Martha Miller reflects on more than half a century of service to the park’s hospitality companies. PAGE 19
Nature, the World’s Best Classroom
Quap Moretz’s journey from rebellious Florida teen to beloved Yosemite educator. PAGE 20
A Lifetime on Yosemite’s Trails
Tim Esquivel has worked behind the scenes maintaining the park’s roads and trails for more than three decades. PAGE 22
Meet the Team: Cassius M. Cash
Conservancy President and CEO discusses his tenure with the National Park Service, and his place in Yosemite. PAGE 26
Junior Rangers
People are the heart of this park! Discover the tapestry of human history in Yosemite. PAGE 28
Through Your Lens
Park fans share their photos of Yosemite. PAGE 30
OUR MISSION Yosemite Conservancy inspires people to support projects and programs that preserve Yosemite and enrich the visitor experience for all.
A Package Deal
AN INSEPARABLE PAIR OF MULE
PACKERS PACK OUT HUMAN WASTE
FROM YOSEMITE’S WILDERNESS
BY ZOE DUERKSEN-SALM
ick Aucker and Abby Adams are about as opposite as a pair could be.
They are, as Nick says, “literally the biggest and smallest Yosemite packers” — Nick being over 6'4'' compared with Abby’s 5'3''.
Nick cowboyed his way across the Southwest before settling in California, while Abby found her way from Kentucky through a degree in forestry. Nick is in his 60s and dreams of retiring in Costa Rica, while Abby is in her 30s and still in the early years of her career.
And, unlike Abby, Nick always wears a pink shirt.
“It’s the happiest color,” Nick says. “It makes me happy, and when I see people on the trail, it gives them a smile.”
As cliché as it gets, in this case opposites do attract. Over four summers, Nick and Abby have become best friends working side by side in Yosemite National Park as backcountry packers, trekking across the park’s wilderness with mules in tow to haul human waste out of the park.
“They’re a package deal,” says friend and National Park Service ranger Kate Trust, referring to both their friendship and their work as packers.
PACKING WASTE
In the 1980s, long before Nick and Abby found their way to Yosemite, compost toilets were introduced to the park’s wilderness as increases in visitation began to
overwhelm the landscape. In high-use backcountry areas, even if hikers and backpackers practiced proper wastedisposal techniques — digging a hole of 6'' or deeper and packing out toilet paper — the sheer number of visitors was causing an accumulation of waste and trash.
The introduction of compost toilets to the popular areas of Vernal and Nevada falls, Little Yosemite Valley, and the High Sierra camps drastically reduced waste along some of the park’s most popular trails. But when these remote toilets reach capacity — which happens more often than you might think — park staff must carefully transfer all the toilets’ contents into tightly sealed containers to be processed at larger, off-site facilities.
This is where Nick and Abby come in. It is up to them and their hoofed coworkers to transport the toilets’ contents on multiday mule trips across the backcountry, covering hundreds of miles each summer.
Waste aside, Nick and Abby’s job is an adventure many dream of. They spend their days riding with iconic views of Half Dome, chatting with each other and their mules around evening campfires, and sleeping under the broad Yosemite skies. On days off trail, the journey continues, as Abby and Nick prep for their next outing by shoeing mules and horses, fixing equipment, and building trust with their mules.
“Nick and I spend 90% of our time together,” Abby says, “and every day is full of laughter.”
PACKING A MULE TRAIN
Spotting a mule string in the backcountry is, itself, an iconic view. In front, you’ll find one packer on horseback Nick or Abby, depending on the day. Tied behind, in a carefully organized line of chaos, you’ll see five mules. On their backs, each mule carries a metal rack holding mainly canisters of human waste, though odds and ends join the load occasionally. At the end, the second packer on horseback ensures the train stays on track.
Mules are charismatic and hardy, perfectly built for carrying loads, but they have minds of their own. Nick and Abby could spend hours telling stories of disobedient mules.
“If we wanted to guide them, we couldn’t,” Abby says. “They’re tied behind us, and they have to go where we go, but …”
“We have no control,” Nick chimes in with a chuckle. “You do the best you can to keep your animals safe. But you can only do so much. Tape a $20 bill to their collar and say, ‘Best of luck.’”
Nick and Abby love to joke about the chaotic and stubborn nature of their mules, but the truth is that these two have spent years building trust with each one of them. This trust is essential when traversing Yosemite’s dynamic landscape. When a fallen tree or harrowing section of trail scares a mule, the trust between packers and mules is what encourages mules to stay calm and continue forward with caution. As a result, the team has had very few incidents the past six years.
Abby and Nick also have full control in the order of mules in their train, a lineup Kate compares to a kindergarten class.
“You wouldn’t just sit everybody willy-nilly; some kids can’t sit by others,” Kate says. “Abby and Nick set up their mules in a specific order, so they can focus and work as a team.”
This is partly because, like kindergarteners, each mule has a unique and fascinating personality. Over the years, Nick and Abby have had their fair share of mule characters.
There was Loco, tougher than nails and able to carry big loads without breaking a sweat, yet terrified of being in the front of the mule train. He once jumped clear over Abby’s head while on trail when put in first position.
There was Hector, who was built like a giant and a bit of a wild child. Abby says Hector got along well with Nick because of their similar natures: “Nick was big enough up next to Hector that he could talk him down.”
There was Josh, a sweet but stubborn and foodmotivated mule who stole a quesadilla right out of someone’s hands and once stopped mid-trail on a trip home, refusing to move for hours until presented with a snack. In the past few years, Josh, along with Loco and Hector, have all retired from Nick and Abby’s team.
“Josh was my hand mule,” Nick says, referring to the first mule in the mule train. “I loved that mule.”
ABBY ADAMS AND NICK AUCKER pose with two of their hoofed colleagues. Don't let the angle fool you, Abby is closer to the photographer, so the height difference between these packers isn't as obvious.
PACKING UP FOR RETIREMENT
Just as cliché as opposites attract, “if you love something let it go” applies in this case too, because, while mules are built for packing, they can’t be expected to trek loads across Yosemite’s mountains for their entire lives.
In this case, letting go means retirement. Since 2015, Conservancy donors have supported the health and wellness of Yosemite’s equines by bringing in new horses and mules. This allows older ones to transition to easier jobs or to be adopted out to carefully selected homes to enjoy a well-earned retirement.
“Our mules have a happier and better retirement because of the Conservancy,” Kate says. “Thanks to donors, we’re able to phase mules and horses into retirement earlier.”
The process begins with a soft retirement: Mules on backcountry teams will move to roles on flatter terrain or roles working in Yosemite Valley. Josh, the hand mule, is the newest soft retiree, transferring from Nick and Abby’s team to Yosemite Search and Rescue (YOSAR).
YOSAR is a team of highly skilled staff and volunteers who respond to park emergencies. In the summer, when incidents are frequent, mules step in to tackle the simpler, nonurgent accidents.
For example, rather than sending a whole team of staff away for a sprained ankle, Josh is sent out with a human guide to stabilize the injury and carry the visitor to safety. In this way, semi-retired mules still support the park through lighter work that is less taxing on their bodies.
Eventually, mules and horses will fully retire to loving homes.
“They tell you when they’re ready,” Kate says. “They take more naps; they move more slowly; and they stop being quite as excited to do the work.”
In their place, the Conservancy funds new mules to take their spots on Nick and Abby’s team.
“It’s a blessin’ getting to work here,” Nick says. “Just getting to work with Abby and being with the mules.”
Abby adds: “They’re just so full of personality, every day is different out here, and the mules make it fun.”
A MULE TRAIN crosses a bridge over the Lyell Fork of Tuolumne River, which is part of the John Muir Trail. PHOTO: © YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY/KEITH WALKLET.
STILL HERE WE ARE
RECONNECTING WITH MY NATIVE CULTURE IN YOSEMITE
BY EMILY DAYHOFF PARK RANGER AND CULTURAL DEMONSTRATOR, SOUTHERN SIERRA MIWUK AND CHUKCHANSI
rowing up in Mariposa, I always knew I was Native. But knowing and living my heritage were two very different things. My family didn’t actively practice in traditional ceremonies, so my connection to my culture was something I had to seek out on my own. That journey ultimately led me here, to Yosemite National Park, where I serve as an interpretive park ranger and a cultural demonstrator, sharing the rich history and traditions of my ancestors.
BRIDGING THE PAST AND PRESENT
My work at the park is both deeply personal and incredibly fulfilling. While I hold the title of park ranger, the heart of my job is cultural demonstration. Every day, I engage visitors in traditional and contemporary Native arts — from basket-weaving and cordage-making to beadwork that incorporates both ancestral materials and modern glass beads. People are often surprised to learn that glass beads, now associated with Native American artistry, were introduced through trade and weren’t always part of our traditions.
Beyond demonstrating crafts, I also work at the Welcome Center, provide interpretive programs on Native and natural history, and even guide the Valley Floor Tour — also known as the “Green Dragon.” It’s a two-hour tour where I get to share the stories of this land and its history, including stories that help visitors see Yosemite through the eyes of the Native people who have lived here for thousands of years.
Ironically, despite working in a place so tied to the outdoors, I joke that I’m a “park ranger allergic to the outside.” Allergies aside, my role gives me the opportunity to immerse myself in the land and history in a way few others experience. The land holds stories — ones I now have the privilege of telling.
TEACHING NATIVE HISTORY OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
My journey to this role wasn’t linear. I originally pursued a degree in history with the intention of becoming a teacher. But midway through my senior year, the requirements shifted, delaying my ability to enter a teaching program. Around the same time, I landed an internship at Yosemite, which was supposed to last only 12 weeks. That internship turned into something much greater: a realization that I could teach, just not in a traditional classroom. Instead of textbooks, I use the park as my teaching tool, sharing Native history in a way that is honest, unfiltered, and deeply impactful. Here in Yosemite, I can share the stories that often go untold.
A common misconception I encounter in my work is the assumption that Native people no longer exist. People will walk into the museum and ask, “Are you a real Indian?” — as if we are relics of the past rather than living, breathing members of modern society. Some visitors even express guilt and offer apologies for historical injustices. While their intentions may be well-meaning, these moments highlight the deep misunderstandings surrounding Native history and contemporary Native identity.
EMILY DAYHOFF holds a recently completed necklace medallion that she made during a demonstration in the Yosemite Museum. PHOTOS: (OPPOSITE PAGE & ABOVE) © DAKOTA SNIDER.
WALKING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF MY ANCESTORS
One of the most profound experiences in reconnecting with my heritage was participating in the Trans-Sierra Walk — a traditional journey from Yosemite Valley to Mono Lake. The first year, I only made it as far as Tenaya Lake, but each summer I returned, completing the full route multiple times. In 2012, I was honored to carry the burden basket — a sacred item with deep ties to our creation stories. The experience was surreal, immersing me in the landscapes and traditions of my ancestors while deepening my understanding of my place within them.
My ties to Yosemite run deeper than my job. I can trace my roots in Yosemite to my great-great-great-great grandmother. My great-grandmother grew up in Wahhoga, an area that was long inhabited by Tribes before they were forced off the land. Here, she was raised by her grandmother, who was one of the last hereditary leaders of the Yosemite Native people.
Despite her deep roots, she rarely spoke about her past. When I once asked about her time in a boarding school, she simply said: “They washed my mouth out,” and the conversation ended there. Now, as she lives with dementia, she exists in another time — one where she is
AS AN INTERPRETIVE park ranger and cultural demonstrator at Yosemite National Park, Emily Dayhoff shares the rich history and traditions of her ancestors.
still a young girl in Yosemite, laughing and sharing stories with her childhood friends.
At the core of my work is a simple yet crucial message: Native people are still here. We are not just a chapter in a history book or names on a plaque. We are business owners, educators, artists, and park rangers. My hope is that every visitor who crosses my path leaves with a greater understanding — not just of Yosemite’s Native past but of its Native present and future.
Expanding Cultural Demonstration
Scan to learn more about Emily.
In 2025, Yosemite Conservancy donors are supporting the Yosemite Indian Cultural Program plans to bring cultural demonstrators from local California Tribes to interpret their own stories at the Yosemite Museum and Indian Village.
Scan the code to learn more about the demonstrations.
PHOTO: © DAKOTA SNIDER.
EMILY DAYHOFF demonstrates how a hoop spoon is used in a cooking basket.
PHOTO: © DAKOTA SNIDER.
Native Artistry in Yosemite
THE TRADITIONS of Yosemite’s Native people live on through the handmade creations of artists such as Nicole, Emily, and Carson (see right). At the Yosemite Museum Store, each artisan piece — whether beadwork earrings, shell necklaces, or traditional tools — carries the stories and heritage of Yosemite’s associated Tribes.
Scan here to find one-of-a-kind pieces like these at the online Yosemite Museum Store
THE ARTISTS
NICOLE , a Southern Sierra Miwuk artist and curator of the Museum Store, learned beadwork from her Shoshone grandmother. Her vibrant designs merge traditional techniques with modern style, often inspired by local flora and fauna.
CARSON , descended from Sierra Mewuk, was taught Tribal fine arts at a young age. His work draws from Tuolumne Miwok traditions and includes pre-contact jewelry, clapstick rattles, games, and charm stones — each rich with cultural meaning.
EM I LY, of Southern Sierra Miwuk and Chukchansi descent, began learning loom beading at 14 from her great-grandmother. She blends traditional and contemporary materials in her work, informed by her heritage and time spent on other Native lands.
Learn more about Emily on page 8.
YOSEMITE into
Yosemite Mountaineering School & Guide Service
Director Josh Helling has spent 35 years living and working in
the
park supporting visitor
“The Yosemite Mountaineering School is so important in connecting people to Yosemite; we’re making such a difference here.”
Josh Helling MOUNTAINEERING SCHOOL & GUIDE SERVICE DIRECTOR
osh Helling is a well-known figure in Yosemite’s climbing community. He’s worked as a climbing guide in the park for more than 25 years, climbed El Cap base to top 29 times, supported dozens of rescue missions in Yosemite (including rescues on Half Dome and El Capitan), filmed a documentary on the park’s search and rescue team, and completed over 75 big wall climbs worldwide.
But 40 years ago — when Josh tied into his first rope ever on the southern edge of Yosemite National Park — he was absolutely terrified of heights.
“We were climbing just beyond the southern boundary of Yosemite,” Josh says, “and suddenly I realized that for some reason, the rope just healed my fear of heights.”
That trip also roped Josh into his lifelong passion for climbing and Yosemite. Two years later, Josh secured his first summer job in the park as a housekeeper for Curry Company. While not the forestry or trail crew gig he’d hoped for, that summer gave Josh the opportunity to get to know the cliffs of Yosemite Valley, the windswept peaks of Tuolumne, the remote grandeur of Yosemite’s two remaining glaciers, and so much more.
Thirty-five years later — after a brief stint away for college — Josh is still living and working in Yosemite, and he is now director of the Yosemite Mountaineering School and Guide Service.
In 1969, the Yosemite Mountaineering School was established as the first formal climbing and mountaineering guide service in Yosemite National Park. To this day, the Yosemite Mountaineering School continues to provide fun, memorable, and safe outdoor experiences — rock climbing, backpacking, cross-country skiing, snow-camping clinics, and more — for beginners and experts alike.
As park stewards, Yosemite Mountaineering School staff prioritize teaching safety and responsible climbing practices to the clients and visitors they meet in the park. Their outdoor education curriculum includes environmental conservation combined with visitor well-being.
“Yosemite Mountaineering School and Guide Service has a long history of being a park partner and influencer of safety in Yosemite,” Josh says. “Our climbing guides are on the walls every day and they consistently step in to help other visiting climbers with information or injuries.”
In the early 1970s, the National Park Service (NPS) began relying on the school’s climbing guides for big wall rescues, which inspired Yosemite Mountaineering School founder Wayne Merry to help the park establish Yosemite Search and Rescue (YOSAR), the first organized team of climbers responsible for responding to park emergencies and injuries.
The deep ties to park operations and safety protocols are the reason the Yosemite Mountaineering School remains the only group authorized to lead guided climbing in the park. These days, the school and the NPS still interact closely: NPS staff provide important big wall updates and closure information to the school’s guides, while many of the school staff — Josh included — still volunteer with YOSAR in their spare time.
In 2020, after 25 years working as a climbing and cross-country ski guide, and 27 years volunteering for YOSAR rescues, Josh stepped into the role of director for the Yosemite Mountaineering School. While he misses workdays spent on Yosemite’s walls, he now gets to help visitors plan their fun (and safe!) Yosemite
adventures and collaborate with park staff to protect visitors and sensitive habitat.
In his personal time, he continues to climb, hike, cross-country ski, capture the park through photography, and support Yosemite’s off-the-wall community.
“Josh would literally do anything to help a fellow community member,” says Schuyler Greenleaf, Josh's El Portal neighbor and the Conservancys’ chief of projects. “His passion for Yosemite comes out in so many ways: leading climbing expeditions, paying off someone’s tab, delivering food and firewood to people, and so much more.”
Half a lifetime in Yosemite has physically and emotionally anchored Josh into the Yosemite community, and he thanks the Yosemite Mountaineering School for being an important piece in that connection.
“The Yosemite Mountaineering School is so important in connecting people to Yosemite; we’re making such a difference here,” Josh says. “And I’m just grateful to still be out here doing the things I love most, the things that brought me to Yosemite in the first place.”
BIG WALL CLIMBING requires specialized gear. From helmets and harnesses to carabiners and camming devices, the Yosemite Mountaineering School has what is needed for your rock climbing adventures.
I RIDE FOR THE BRAND
BY BURREL “BUCKSHOT” MAIER YOSEMITE STAGECOACH DRIVER
m a cowboy, and my real name is Rambo. I was raised on a ranch and named after an all-around cowboy named Gene Rambo. My father was a rodeo cowboy, and my brother, Clay, was named after another all-around cowboy, Clay Carr. It’s in our DNA. We are not horselovers; we are horsemen.
My father was in a car accident coming home from a rodeo in Salinas, Calif. He couldn’t do what he was doing, so he opened up a place for kids to learn how to ride horses. That’s where Clay and I both learned how to drive horses. My brother and I were always entrepreneuring. At one point, we had a little stagecoach and a team of horses, and we would go to these school carnivals, and that was our little business.
Clay went to work for a man in Oakhurst who had a wagon and horses, and they did stagecoach rides. A Yosemite ranger named Norm Messinger came down and hired them to give rides in Wawona, when the cabins were just being put in there. Everything was fine until one of the wheels fell off one of the wagons, and the Oakhurst man got real panicky. So my dad donated his horses to use in Yosemite, because he knew it was a good job for Clay, and he worked a good deal with the National Park Service. After the first year, I started driving a second wagon.
How cool could this be to get to do this in Yosemite? All the cabins were open, and things were just so ShangriLa. Clay left to do rodeo when I was around 16. I wasn’t a ranger yet, but I’d go to the ranger meetings, and we’d be
out on the lawn. A ranger named Bill Dengler — I always called him Mr. Dengler — ran the meetings, and the last thing he always said to all of us was, “It’s a privilege for you to be here, so act like it.”
To this day, I still remember that.
One of the proudest things in my life was when my job was changed from seasonal to “permanent subject to furlough.” I came on as part of the park service in 1989, and I ride for the brand. I really like being a park service employee. The Yosemite Association and the Yosemite Fund that became Yosemite Conservancy helped keep the stagecoach running, and we had so many volunteers that came out and helped us over the years.
Every year, we’d have a party. Just because I liked it.
I’d invite everybody. It didn’t matter if you’re park service or company or volunteers or whoever — everybody was welcome. I would do it at the corral. Coming up to my 50th year in 2023, I ended up having to have it at the community center, and I was afraid nobody would come. It was a potluck. It was just word of mouth, and I was real worried nobody would show up.
We wound up having 375 people.
I’m really proud to ride for the brand. I’ve seen a lot of changes in Yosemite, and it’s almost two years now without the horses, and I do miss them. But I still get to visit with people in the barn, and I like doing that. I just get excited that I get to be up there. It’s a privilege. This is not a job. It’s a lifestyle.
Healing Nature’sinEmbrace
ELIZA KERR’S DEEP-ROOTED COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY WELLNESS AND CONNECTIONS IN YOSEMITE
BY ZOE DUERKSEN-SALM
liza Kerr has called Yosemite home for more than 30 years. In this time, her commitment to the park and its people has never wavered, though her role in Yosemite has changed — from visitor to teacher to mother to friend to donor and more.
Eliza found her way to California from Illinois through a degree in conservation and resource studies at the University of California, Berkeley. But it was her love of climbing that led her to the heart of Yosemite. After graduating from college in the early '90s, Eliza made her final climbing trip to Yosemite as a visitor. Instead of heading home, she took a job teaching with Yosemite Institute — now NatureBridge — where she worked for nearly 10 years connecting local students to the natural wonders of Yosemite.
“I have always felt that my dharma, my place in the world, is helping others connect with their best selves through nature,” she says.
It was this sense of purpose that led Eliza and NatureBridge colleague Heather Sullivan to co-found Balanced Rock, a community-focused organization dedicated to promoting health, wellness, and connections
to the land. For 25 years, Balanced Rock, which began as a small group offering yoga to women in the aftermath of a tragic death in the Yosemite community, has become a cornerstone of wellness in Yosemite.
Balanced Rock provides a variety of free programs each year, including mindfulness sessions, yoga, and outdoor adventures. These programs have proved essential for the mental and physical well-being of visitors, students, community members, and park rangers.
Eliza notes that now, more than ever, employee wellness and mental health programs are essential to the longevity of Yosemite National Park.
“Working in the park is challenging because of the tenuous nature of funding and employment,” she says. “And Balanced Rock has been a leader for the park in prioritizing health and wellness for its employees so they can continue to be park stewards.”
Eliza’s passion for community well-being has also led her to her role as a Yosemite Conservancy donor. Her contributions have supported various programs that directly affect the well-being of both locals and visitors. She is a proud supporter of inclusive and
sustainable Conservancy initiatives, including the Parsons Lodge Summer Series and eco-friendly transportation alternatives. Eliza is also not the only Conservancy donor in the family; her mother has been a Yosemite supporter since the late 1990s.
Eliza’s support is rooted in her belief that the park should be stewarded in a way that reflects its grandeur. She points to the Conservancy’s comprehensive renovation of the Yosemite Falls area as an example of the caliber of work made possible by donor support.
“Yosemite deserves the highest level of beauty, and I have a lot of confidence in what the Conservancy gives to the park,” Eliza says. “It’s a gift to be able to donate to an organization that uses those dollars so effectively.”
It’s not just Eliza’s career and philanthropy that are rooted in Yosemite; her personal life has also become deeply intertwined with the park. She attributes raising two daughters in the area, and the close-knit community
Learn. Connect. Give Back.
Every Outdoor Adventure and Art Program you join supports the park you love. From stargazing programs and guided hikes to watercolor workshops, Yosemite Conservancy offers expert-led experiences that deepen your connection to the park — and help preserve it for future generations.
100% of participant fees support Yosemite Conservancy’s work in the park. And most programs come with a reservation for entry.
To learn more scan here or visit yosemite.org/experience.
of fellow parents and kids who would spend weekends exploring and creating memories in the park, as formative influences in her understanding of the power of nature in wellness and empowerment.
As her connection to the park continues to evolve, Eliza remains a vital part of the Yosemite community, through her work as an ayurvedic practitioner and yoga teacher, her Yosemite Moonstone retreat center, her place on Balanced Rock’s emerita board, and her ongoing support of the Conservancy.
“Yosemite is more than just a place; it’s a community,” she says. “I feel incredibly fortunate to have found my purpose here, and I hope to continue giving back for years to come.”
Learn more about Eliza at elizakerr.com and the Yosemite Moonstone retreat at yosemitemoonstone.com.
orn and raised in Santa Barbara County, Martha Miller first came to Yosemite at age 5 in the 1930s. That trip launched a lifelong love of the park, as well as a career spanning more than half a century in service to the park’s hospitality companies. Among Martha’s many jobs were ski instructor, restaurant server, and — as many can attest — coordinator of the Ahwahnee Hotel’s annual Christmas Bracebridge Dinner.
What is your first memory of Yosemite?
My very first experience in Yosemite was with my family. I was a farmer’s daughter. We came in on the Old Big Oak Flat Road — the one that no longer exists — at midnight. I remember that exactly. We had to sleep at the gate because it was locked, and we couldn’t go in until morning. It would have been the late ’30s.
Did you come every year with your family?
We visited every summer. My parents loved Yosemite, and I was able to just go out and hike and frolic with the rangers when I was young. The ranger-naturalists were my idols.
A HalfCentury of Yosemite Hospitality
From childhood memories to lifelong service, Martha Miller reflects on her connection to Yosemite HUMANS
BY LAUREN HAUPTMAN
Why do you love Yosemite?
It’s contradictory: It’s very peaceful, and it’s very busy. I was always drawn to the nature. And, of course, the people.
If you had to pick one spot in the park, where would you pick?
Tuolumne Meadows. I worked in the lodge as a young person, then eventually came back as a manager. I worked my entire life in Yosemite.
What do you wish people knew about Yosemite that they might not know?
When you live here, it becomes part of your soul. They have to spend time. They can’t just come in and look at a rock. Spend as much time as you can, and get to the backcountry. And try to marvel at how it all happened.
Learn all about Martha’s amazing life in Yosemite in the short film, Martha Miller: Honoring a Yosemite Icon, created by the Foothill Village senior living center.
NATURE, THE WORLD’S BEST CLASSROOM
Quap Moretz’s journey from a rebellious teen in Florida to a beloved environmental science educator in Yosemite
uap Moretz has spent 15 years — nearly half his life — supporting youth through environmental education. Yet if you’d told a teenage Quap that one day he’d be teaching in Yosemite, he would’ve likely shrugged, turned up his Blink-182 CD, and gone back to skipping school so he could hang out at the beach.
Growing up in Florida, Quap’s high school days were filled with beats (he studied electronic music), waves (he was a casual surfer), and not a lot of school.
“I wasn’t a great student,” Quap says with a laugh. “I was talented, but I was probably the poorest kid at school, and I didn’t feel at home.”
By 11th grade, Quap had skipped enough school that he was truant, so his father enrolled him in a month-long National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) course to teach him leadership and life skills through immersive outdoor expeditions.
It felt like a punishment to Quap, but he picked the most hardcore-sounding option he could find — a climbing program in Washington’s North Cascades — and it completely changed his life.
“I was really struggling physically and mentally,” Quap says. “But one night, we were hiking up this peak in the dark, and I just remember thinking, ‘I love this,’ and something awakened in me.”
Quap came home from that grueling month in the mountains and got serious about not skipping school. He also embraced his new interest in outdoor education, studying recreation management in college. He eventually landed a job with Outward Bound, supporting at-risk students through immersive outdoor experiences just like the one he’d had.
“I’m a fish out of water in the outdoors,” Quap says. “I like basketball, rap, and punk; I don’t really like rock climbing, bluegrass music, or wearing Chacos. I think the kids can see that in me and maybe see themselves in the outdoors, too.”
Quap spent three and a half years teaching with Outward Bound before a friend suggested he apply for a similar job in Yosemite with NatureBridge.
“I said, ‘Well that sounds cool. I’ve never been to
Yosemite before,’” he recalls. “I was at the point in my career where I was either going to stay in the field or move into the office, and I didn’t want to move into the office.”
Nine years later, Quap is still out in the field teaching young people … and doesn’t think he’ll ever stop.
“Kids need good teachers,” he says. “I don’t think I’m a great teacher, but I think I’m a good one. I like working with kids, and this park is the best classroom.”
Outside of work, Quap’s passion for transformative experiences manifests in community building. Over the last five years, Quap has become Yosemite’s go-to ultimate frisbee event planner. He explains that, while he’s always loved playing basketball, he couldn’t get anyone to play with him for his first four years, because most people just rock climbed.
So, he Googled the most popular sport at liberal colleges — “because that’s where a lot of the community went to school” — and went out to buy a frisbee that day. Only three people showed up to the first game. But five years later, the community loves Quap’s frisbee gettogethers — with folks ages 7 to 55 joining in the fun.
Quap has also become Yosemite’s resident DJ. He’s been a lifelong musician, but he never imagined he’d be spinning funk, indie pop, and high-energy dance sets at local events.
“I volunteered as a DJ at an event and it went well, so I’ve continued to do it for … I guess nine years,” Quap says. “It’s really cool to share something with the community ... I feel confident in my purpose here. Hopefully, I’ll be a part of this community for a long time.”
Quap’s synth-pop tunes can be found on Spotify under the name “Quap Cousteau,” like Jacques Cousteau, and his music videos and short films are on YouTube under the same name.
“Check it out if you want to,” he says. “Even if no one was watching, I’d probably still do it.”
Yosemite Conservancy
Senior Naturalist Cory Goehring sat down with Quap to get his full story.
PHOTO: © QUAP MORETZ.
Scan to watch the conversation.
Q&A with Tim Esquivel
A LIFETIME ON YOSEMITE’S TRAILS
BY KIMIKO MARTINEZ
im Esquivel has worked behind the scenes in Yosemite National Park for more than 30 years. With a passion for hands-on problem-solving and a deep love for Yosemite, Tim’s journey on the Roads and Trails team — from a one-season gig to a long-term career with the National Park Service — has made a lasting impact on park infrastructure and visitor experiences.
You started working in Yosemite in 1991. What was it like starting out?
Originally, I planned to spend just one season in Yosemite, then move on to Yellowstone and other parks. But I loved it so much that I never left. I began with conservation work: rolling rocks, clearing trails, managing rock falls. It was fun, and I loved the physical nature of the job. Later, I worked on a wilderness crew, spending 10 days at a time in the backcountry clearing fallen trees off trails with horses and mules (read more on page 4 about the park’s packers, who work with horse and mule teams to minimize human impacts in the backcountry). Eventually, I found my way into bridge construction and maintenance. Now, if you walk over almost any footbridge in Yosemite, chances are I’ve built or repaired it. People even call me the “bridge guy.”
TIM ESQUIVEL has worked on Yosemite National Park's Roads and Trails team for more than 30 years, ensuring safe and enjoyable park access for visitors. PHOTO: © DAKOTA SNIDER.
It sounds like your work requires a diverse skill set. What does a typical day look like?
We’re short-staffed, so we do a bit of everything — clearing brush, removing fallen trees, drilling, using explosives for rockfalls, and maintaining bridges and trails. A lot of people don’t realize we also work to prevent avalanches and ensure road crews are safe when opening Tioga Road. It’s a physically demanding job, but it keeps things interesting.
Were you always drawn to this type of hands-on work?
I studied to be an engineer but didn’t want to be stuck indoors. I took careerplacement tests when I was younger, and they suggested I become a gunsmith or outboard motor mechanic! That wasn’t quite right for me, but trail work ended up being a perfect fit — using my hands, problem-solving, and being outside. I guess MacGyver is an inspiration for me. He comes up with great solutions with the materials on hand!
You’ve had some close calls on the job. Can you share one?
There was a time when I stopped to help a coworker load water into a truck. Usually I stay in the truck, but on this particular day, I decided to get out and help. Just as we stepped away, we heard a big pop and looked right, looked left, and looked up just in time to see a tree falling straight at us. We jumped out of the way, and the tree crushed the truck. If I’d stayed in the car, I wouldn’t be here today. I’ve also had horses nearly roll over me and seen colleagues injured by rolling rocks. It’s a dangerous job, but we do our best to stay safe.
What do you love most about this work?
I enjoy problem-solving and making things safer for others. We maintain trails and structures that will be here long after we’re gone. I love being outdoors,
PROJECTS
T im HAS WORKED ON THROUGH THE YEARS
• Bridalveil Fall*
• Tenaya Lake Loop Trail *
• Mariposa Grove*
• Glen Aulin Bridge
• Wapama Falls Bridge
• Washburn Trail*
• Mist Trail
• John Muir Trail
*Conservancy-funded projects
working with a great team, and knowing that what we do makes Yosemite better for visitors and staff, alike.
What’s your favorite part of Yosemite?
I have a soft spot for the Triple Divide Peak area in the southern part of the park. It’s beautiful, remote, and where I met my wife. I also love Tenaya Lake and Tuolumne Meadows — places where my family and I spend time together.
You’ve been doing this for more than three decades. Would you want your kids to follow in your footsteps?
I’d be fine if they did it for a few seasons to build a strong work ethic, but I wouldn’t want them to do it for a career. It’s hard on the body. I’d rather they find something they
love that won’t wear them down physically over time.
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about Yosemite?
I wish visitors would explore beyond the Valley. Yosemite has so much more to offer than the main tourist spots. I also wish people understood how much work goes into maintaining the trails and infrastructure. Our crew is small, but we do a lot to keep the park running.
After all these years, do you still love it here?
Absolutely. There are days when I don’t want to get up, especially when it’s cold and wet, but then I remember — I get to work in one of the most beautiful places in the world. That makes it all worth it.
THE RENOVATED trails and bridges in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias is one of the many Conservancy-funded projects that Tim Esquivel has worked through the years. PHOTOS: (OPPOSITE PAGE)
DAKOTA SNIDER. (ABOVE) © COURTESY OF NPS/AL GOLUB.
MEET THE TEAM:
CASSIUS M.CASH
CASSIUS M. CASH joined the Yosemite Conservancy team as President & CEO in early 2025.
PHOTOS: © BLAKE JOHNSTON.
Learn more in this 8-minute conversation between President & CEO Cassius M. Cash and his predecessor Frank Dean.
YOU COULD SAY service is in Cassius M. Cash’s blood. He grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, the son of a police officer and a hair stylist who made hair pieces for cancer patients. Originally, he thought he’d become a doctor but fell in love with the outdoors as a Boy Scout. He traded the dream of a white physician’s coat to become a wildlife biologist in the Pacific Northwest, putting on the green coats of the U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service. There, he served for more than 30 years, most recently as the superintendent of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, before deciding to don a new coat — a business coat — as Yosemite Conservancy’s new President and CEO.
In his new role, Cash is eager to continue his work in advocating for the protection of public lands and inspiring the next generation of outdoor stewards.
If I had to explain my job to a stranger:
I’d say my job is to inspire the thousands of outdoor enthusiasts (and future ones) to be part of something that is bigger than themselves — to protect Yosemite for generations to come. Investing our resources — regardless of the amount — in this magnificent place not only shows that we love it while we are here, but it sends a message of love for this land long after we are gone.
My favorite part about my job:
I don’t have to convince people about why Yosemite is important to protect; I just have to inspire. And hopefully by sharing what has inspired me — a city boy from Memphis, who is now part of a wonderful nonprofit organization that facilitates protecting a major National Park such as Yosemite — will serve as an “on ramp” for others to join us.
Something people are surprised to learn about me:
I played trumpet for more than 15 years and went to college on a full-ride music scholarship. I also played trumpet in the State of Tennessee Governor’s Orchestra. But when it comes to what I listen to around the house — smooth jazz is my favorite!
Where I spend my days:
After I get settled into San Francisco, I look forward to spending a lot of my time in Yosemite. I feel that it is important for me to deepen my relationship through my own individual experiences. I am of the belief that hiking throughout national parks is not only good for you physically, but it is also good for the soul! I always tell people that when I hike, I always come out better than when I went in.
I’m inspired by:
Having the privilege to utilize my own inspiration to create a wider coalition of diverse stakeholders, businesses, and corporations that have a relationship
with Yosemite National Park! When you have a relationship with something, that creates an emotional connection. Once you have an emotional connection, that turns into your values. And our values, well, that is what we all protect. And to have the job of supporting the National Park Service to protect Yosemite National Park — if that does not inspire you, I do not know what would.
“I don’t have to convince people about why Yosemite is important to protect: I just have to inspire.”
Tapestry of Human Talents
When you picture a national park, you might imagine towering trees, amazing wildlife, or stunning mountains. And while Yosemite has all that, it's also home to people who work hard every day! From hotel staff helping you have a comfy spot to rest, to rangers keeping visitors safe, to chefs making tasty food for adventures, and artists that help us see this place in a new way — dedicated people make Yosemite possible for everyone to enjoy. Have you ever thought about working in a place as wonderful as Yosemite?
In Search of Yosemite History!
Use the word search on the opposite page to guess what jobs each person worked in the park.
Lynn Hill
A who set new records and defied expectations on El Capitan and beyond.
George Melendez Wright Passionate about wildlife, George Melendeze Wright started his career in Yosemite.
Sing
Tie Sing used his culinary talents as a backcountry _________________________ to help birth the National Park Service.
Muir
Shelton Johnson
Shelton Johnson tells the story of Buffalo Soldiers in Yosemite to inspire future generations of stewards.
A passionate for national parks, John Muir spent his life supporting conservation.
Julia Parker
Creating masterpieces in the Yosemite Museum, Julia Parker won many awards as a renowned .
Tie
John
Word Search Clues
• Basket Weaver
• Rock Climber
• Chef
• Park Ranger
• Lobbyist
• Naturalist
Find the official Yosemite Junior Ranger products at shop.yosemite.org.
Stay Curious!
Yosemite's story is like a beautiful, ever-growing tapestry — woven by many different hands over time — the associated Tribes of Yosemite, rangers, rock climbers, conservationists, and artists. Everyone adds their own unique thread! And guess what? Each new generation gets to add their own colors and patterns! What do you want your Yosemite story to look like? Write or draw your idea!
YOSEMITE THROUGH YOUR LENS
Park fans share their photos of Yosemite!
River float
© ELISSA FRIEDMAN.
Wapama Falls Trail
© STEPHANIE L. GRACE.
Thanks for sharing your shots, Yosemite fans! To see more photos of the park, and share your own, follow @yosemiteconservancy on social media:
YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY
COUNCIL MEMBERS
CHAIR
Steve Ciesinski*
VICE CHAIR
Ryan Myers*
SECRETARY
Robyn Miller*
TREASURER
Jewell Engstrom*
PRESIDENT & CEO
Cassius M. Cash*
COUNCIL
Hollis & Matt* Adams
Matthew Adams
Sarah Adams
Susanah Aguilera & Bob Kiesling
Blerina Aliaj & Alain Rodriguez*
Gretchen Augustyn
David & Amelia Cameron
Jessica* & Darwin Chen
Diane & Steve* Ciesinski
Kira & Craig Cooper
Hal Cranston & Vicki Baker
John & Meredith Cranston
Carol DeVol & Katy Fox
Carol* & Manny Diaz
Leslie & John Dorman
Dana & Dave Dornsife
Jewell* & Bob Engstrom
Kathy Fairbanks
Bill & Cynthia Floyd
Bonnie Gregory
Rusty Gregory
Laura Hattendorf & Andy Kau
Christina Hurn
Mitsu Iwasaki
Erin & Jeffrey* Lager
Patsy & Tim Marshall
Kirsten & Dan Miks
Robyn* & Joe Miller
Kate & Ryan* Myers
Daniel Paramés
Sharon & Phil Pillsbury
Gisele & Lawson* Rankin
Skip Rhodes
Dave Rossetti* & Jan Avent
Greg & Lisa Stanger
Pranav Sudesh
Ann* & George Sundby
Clifford J. Walker
Wally Wallner & Jill Appenzeller
Ryan & Susan Wiley
Helen & Scott* Witter
*Indicates Board of Trustees
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
Acting Superintendent Ray McPadden
Ways to Give
There are many ways you and your organization can support the meaningful work of Yosemite Conservancy. We look forward to exploring these philanthropic opportunities with you.
CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
Marion Ingersoll mingersoll@yosemite.org 415-362-1464
LEADERSHIP GIFTS – NORTHERN CALIFORNIA & NATIONAL Caitlin Allard callard@yosemite.org 415-989-2848
LEADERSHIP GIFTS –SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Julia Hejl jhejl@yosemite.org 323-217-4780
PLANNED GIVING & BEQUESTS Catelyn Spencer cspencer@yosemite.org 415-891-1039
Contact Us
VISIT yosemite.org
EMAIL info@yosemite.org
YOSEMITE CONSERVANCY
ANNUAL, HONOR, & MEMORIAL GIVING Isabelle Luebbers iluebbers@yosemite.org 415-891-2216
MONTHLY GIVING Cailan Ackerman sequoia@yosemite.org 415-966-5252
GIFTS OF STOCK Eryn Roberts stock@yosemite.org 415-891-1383
FOUNDATIONS & CORPORATIONS Laurie Peterson lpeterson@yosemite.org 415-906-1016
Yosemite Conservancy 101 Montgomery Street, Suite 2450 San Francisco, CA 94104
Magazine of Yosemite Conservancy, published twice a year.
MANAGING EDITOR
Zoe Duerksen-Salm
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Josh Byrd
DESIGN
Eric Ball Design
Spring Summer 2025
Volume 16 Issue 01 ©2025
Federal Tax Identification No. 94-3058041
LEADERSHIP
PHONE
415-434-1782
Cassius M. Cash, President & CEO
Kevin Gay, Chief Financial Officer
Marion Ingersoll, Chief Development Officer
Kimiko Martinez, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
Adonia Ripple, Chief of Yosemite Operations
Schuyler Greenleaf, Chief of Projects
For a full list of staff, visit yosemite.org/staff.
For a full list of our 2025 grants, visit yosemite.org/impact.
Yosemite Conservancy
101 Montgomery Street, Suite 2450
San Francisco, CA 94104
YOUR Yosemite Legacy
YOU CAN PROTECT Yosemite National Park for generations to come and sustain programs that are special to you by including Yosemite Conservancy as a charitable beneficiary in your will, trust, or retirement account.
Legacy gifts are a powerful way to make meaningful work possible. They help Yosemite Conservancy study and protect wildlife, maintain trails, restore wetlands and wilderness, and inspire the next generation of park champions.
To learn more about a legacy gift for Yosemite, please contact Catelyn Spencer at cspencer@yosemite.org or 415.891.1039.
yosemite.org/legacy