HETCH HETCHY EVENTS

Join us for the unique opportunity to explore the magnificence of Yosemite Hetch Hetchy Valley, the hidden treasure of Yosemite National Park. The week's events will commence with an introductory interpretive hike through Hetch Hetchy Valley led by two renowned artists/naturalists Christine White Loberg and the group's leader, James McGrew. A week of discovery will follow with instructional photography tours guided by acclaimed photographers, John Senser, Evan Russel, and Loberg. James will be leading a 2 Day Plein Air Painting workshop. Naturalists John DeGrazio, Lindsay Trevino, and Jacob Smith will also be present for the events. Complimentary evening slide show programs will be available throughout the week at The Evergreen Lodge.

Paint Hetch Hetchy en Plein Air

Explore Hetch Hetchy's majestic views, thundering waterfalls and fields of wildflowers in this unique plein air painting workshop by an accomplished artist and expert naturalist. Working on location, you'll discover relationships of plein air techniques/materials, composition, color, value, brushwork, aesthetics, and reference photography with implications for studio work. From beginner to professional, you'll view Hetch Hetchy with a fresh perspective and deeper understanding as you learn about its geology, flora, fauna, atmosphere and light relating to painting. Translate these elements through your brush and create more life-like and interpretive works of art. Includes demonstrations in oils, instruction and critique. James will accommodate most other painting mediums - simply ask if you are unsure about your preferred medium. Recommended materials list provided. Includes friday evening program/meeting and two full days in the field.

You'll need your own materials including: Pochade/easel or sketch box, paints, medium, brushes, paper towels, camera etc. Detailed materials list and info provided to registrants.

Photography in Hetch Hetchy

Over time, the Yosemite Valley has developed into a Mecca for landscape photographers worldwide.  However, it is the lesser known and least visited Hetch Hetchy Valley, dammed in 1923, that still awards its visitors with fresh photographic opportunities.  Roaring waterfalls, granite cliffs, lupine, wildlife and beautiful California Black Oaks are all present above the waterline, and along the valley’s still unspoiled edges, and provide ample photographic opportunities.

Spectacular views unfold as we walk through wildflowers to dramatic waterfalls while exploring aspects of composition, perspective, depth of field, motion, color, lighting, and natural history of your subject. We will discuss the techniques of wide angle photography, macro, and telephoto to isolate and simplify a subject. All the best landscape and nature photographers produce consistently great images because they not only know the technical and aesthetic aspects of their medium, but they also know their subject. Likewise, participants will discover the elements of Hetch Hetchy that make it special from its geology, to the flora and fauna, and history. You'll apply your newfound technical knowledge coupled with your personal emotion/vision to create meaningful interpretations of Hetch Hetchy. Tours last approximately 4 hours and may require up to 5 miles easy walking.

Minimum Requirements: Any camera which offers manual control over the shutter speed and aperture. Digital cameras preferred because they offer instant feedback. An SLR with a pair of lenses (i.e. wide angle zoom and a long telephoto) would be ideal. We frequently encounter wildlife in this area so a long lens is handy to have on hand. A tripod is strongly recommended. Bring lunch, water, sunscreen, rain gear, and sturdy walking shoes. Feel free to ask any questions about the content or requirements.

Naturalist Led Hikes in Hetch Hetchy

Discover scenic beauty while receiving a natural history education from an expert naturalist with a wealth of knowledge of Yosemite National Park and Hetch Hetchy Valley in particular. James McGrew and Christine White Loberg will each lead groups through Hetch Hetch on a tour that reveals the Natural History of Yosemite including its geology, flora, fauna, and the original inhabitants of the park.

Messages About the Week's Events

My parents first took me backpacking when I was just four months old. No, I was not quite yet hiking at that age.  However I rode inside the backpack with my head popping out the top with wide eyes, gazing up at Hetch Hetchy's towering cliffs and the moon over Kolana Rock.   We made many trips to Hetch Hetchy and by the age of 8, I fondly remember frequently drawing the falls, cliffs, newts, lizards and trout.

Even after years of hiking,  painting and photography excursions as well as giving many naturalist presentations, I still find Hetch Hetchy one of my favorite places.  I've always delighted in finding new beauty and discoveries with each trip.  So two years ago when Ron Good contacted me about leading workshops in Hetch Hetchy, I felt honored and excited to share the place I have so loved since childhood.  The purpose of the outings was to help others get out and uniquely experience the wonders of this magnificent part of Yosemite National Park.

During the outings in spring of 2007, we ventured on a nature walk to Wapama Falls, a photography workshop, plein air painting workshop, and numerous interpretive evening presentations by a cozy fireplace at Evergreen Lodge.  Each day brought changing weather ranging from sunny and warm to cool and rainy - casting many moods over Hetch Hetchy.   We explored the area's rich cultural history, geology, flora, fauna and complex ecosystems.  During the days of the workshops, I observed
numerous wildlife including: black bears, mule deer, big brown and rainbow trout, adorable brightly colored California newts, a brilliant ringneck snake, garter snakes, a gopher snake, western whiptails, alligator lizards, skinks, fence lizards (a show-off doing push ups)
wooly bear caterpillars and an array of birds including corvids, wrens, hummers, swifts, and majestic raptors to name just a few.

Due to last year's drought conditions, waterfalls flowed with the volume typical of mid summer and flowers already progressed beyond their normal mid spring displays.  Never the less we found many flowers
from the fragrant mock orange shrubs to fields of mixed color and on our hands we found inconspicuous flowers a quarter  inch wide and scarcely an inch tall.  We took in the fragrant scents of California laurel and the sweet terpenes of three needle pines.   So far, this year's average snow pack should result in completely different wildflower displays and peak waterfalls in mid May.

Its often exciting to cover ground rapidly and see as much of a place as possible.  On the other hand, a great way to experience nature is to force oneself to slow down and really observe the landscape and its inhabitants.  The process of seeing a place in a manner required to
paint a painting invariably opens the eyes of the artist and enables them to truly see a place with a unique perspective.

The vast majority of visitors to Yosemite rarely stay much more than a few hours and hardly leave their vehicles, let alone make the trip to Hetch Hetchy.   When visitors do actually take a walk, or simply look through their viewfinder to take a quick snapshot, they often rush too quickly to really see and experience nature.   In contrast, when an artist decides to paint a painting, they must go through a process that results in a unique understanding and relationship with a place. First, the painter must find a view that strikes them as something
inspirational.  Then, they compose the scene, paying attention to elements of subject matter and meaning as well as reduction of the scene to a harmonic combination of basic shapes colors and values. During the process, an artist often discovers things they might not otherwise observe.  A good artist then considers elements most
important to the scene and what to leave out or de-emphasize. Finally, throughout the time of a painting (anywhere from 20 min to 2 hrs per painting),  while looking back and forth between the canvas and
actual scene, constantly comparing visualizing and thinking, the painter usually finds new revelations from the landscape.  Perhaps its just the realization of how visual elements rapidly change with the sun moving across the sky.  Light changes as it is absorbed, reflected,
scattered by atmosphere, water, clouds, trees and granite, changing winds and weather patterns. An artist finds shapes in the cliffs to discover geologic processes, rock falls or recognize the character of a tree species previously overlooked.

Often, while sitting still in one place for a period of time, the artist receives visits from wildlife.  While working on paintings in Hetch Hetchy, I watched various animals pass by, hardly noting my presence.  These include: bears, deer, a bald eagle (only about 20 feet away), peregrine falcons, swifts and swallows, many smaller mammals, bats, lizards, snakes, frogs, newts, salamanders, interesting insects and big trout.  Had I simply moved along, I would likely have missed many of these special encounters.  Moreover, I observed their natural behavior in a manner not possible when hiking and encounter an animal that's suddenly keenly aware of my presence.  Under such conditions, observation usually only involves watching the animal retreat to privacy.

Although I have taught to mostly professional artists, I have also taught workshops for many children and adults without much previous painting experience. Regardless of the background, anyone can learn to slow down to see the landscape, quickly convey its essence with pigment, and with enough practice use art as a language to speak to the audience.

Last year, at the closing critique and wrap up following three days of discovery in Hetch Hetchy, one participant fondly expressed her newfound discoveries and appreciations while tears began trickling down her smiling face as she gazed up at the massive granite walls and clouds overhead.  For me, moments like that are what make my career as an artist and interpreter so fulfilling.

I am once again grateful to Ron Good, Restore Hetch Hetchy and John DeGrazio of Y-Explore for their continued efforts of making these workshops possible as well as Evergreen lodge as a fine host for evening programs, dining and lodging.  I'm looking forward to this year's outings and finding new discoveries in Hetch Hetchy, meeting new people, old friends and working alongside some outstanding fellow photographers, artists and naturalists.

James McGrew
Group Leader

John Muir recognized that the best way to preserve Nature's wild places was to have people experience those places first-hand. He camped out in Yosemite with President Theodore Roosevelt, and hiked in Yosemite with President William Howard Taft. All the while, he was twisting their arms and whispering in their ears about the challenges facing Yosemite -- including the proposal to build a dam and reservoir in Yosemite's Hetch Hetchy Valley. Following Muir's example, environmental leaders have taken thousands of people to America's wild places to enlist those people in efforts to preserve -- and restore -- those places.

The paintings of artist Albert Bierstadt and the photographs of Carlton Watkins likely influenced President Lincoln to sign a bill setting aside Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias for special protection. And, the photographs of Ansel Adams have been instrumental in preserving America's wild places. These paintings and photographs "took" people to those wild places, even though they couldn't experience them first-hand.

By participating in these outings to Hetch Hetchy Valley, you will have the opportunity to have a first-hand experience of that great place. You'll see its great granite walls, wildflowers, and booming waterfalls (Tueeulala and Wapama). You'll be able to learn about its natural history, and to paint and photograph its wonderful scenery -- all under the guidance of experienced and knowledgeable leaders.

And, you'll have the opportunity to learn about the Native American presence in Hetch Hetchy Valley, John Muir's effort to preserve Hetch Hetchy from having a dam and reservoir built there, the great debate through three presidential administrations (Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, and Woodrow Wilson) about whether or not to grant San Francisco's wish to build a dam and reservoir, President Reagan's Interior Secretary Donald Hodel's proposal to restore the Valley, Governor Schwarzenegger's study of restoration options, President Bush's recent budget proposal to include $7 million to study Hetch Hetchy's restoration, and the modern-day movement to restore the Valley.

I hope you will participate in all these opportunities.

Ron Good
Executive Director
RESTORE HETCH HETCHY