Yosemite Valley closes due to storm

FRESNO — Photographer and rock climber Josh Hilling who lives in the foothills below Yosemite National Park spent recent days chopping wood and stocking up on groceries, ahead of what’s expected to be the strongest storm to hit Central California in years.

Rangers at Yosemite on Friday closed all roads leading to the park’s valley floor, a major attraction for visitors from around the world eager to view gushing waterfalls and gaze up at towering granite rock formations such as El Capitan and Half Dome.

“If you live long enough in this canyon, you experience lots of natural disasters — floods, fires, rock falls,” said Hilling, from his family’s home in El Portal.

An enormous storm in 1997 flooded Yosemite Valley, closing the park for two months and washing out roads, lodging and campgrounds. This weekend’s storm is not expected to be as severe.

The closure is expected at least through Sunday. Other parts of the park remain open, but rangers caution visitors to be aware of ice and falling debris on the roads.

Early Friday, rangers stood watch for flooding along the Merced River, a major river flowing through the valley, park spokeswoman Jamie Richards said.

“We’re prepared,” she said, adding that they’re accustomed to life in a giant canyon with frequent, rain, snow, ice and rock falls. “We have a lot of things we deal with on a frequent basis.”