Founded by Ken Yager in 2004, Facelift®, a registered trademark of the Yosemite Climbing Association, is an annual event dedicated to the stewardship of Yosemite National Park.
Over the years, tens of thousands of volunteers have removed over 1,200,000 pounds of trash and debris from Yosemite and other public land areas, as well as undertaken hundreds of special resource and high angle cleanup projects.
This year volunteers will be removing conifers from a meadow to enhance its health and sustainability. This project is part of a broader effort to prepare for prescribed burns, safeguard structures from wildfires, and preserve the open, vibrant meadows that support keystone species like Giant Sequoias and Black Oaks. Additionally, it will help maintain historic viewsheds.
Volunteers will use loppers and handsaws to assist in this vital work, which is crucial for protecting the wetland ecosystem from the adverse effects of climate change. While meadow succession is a natural process, the recent increase in hot and dry weather has accelerated it, making conifer removal essential. By acting now, we can improve water availability and ensure the meadow’s continued vitality. Alternative projects could include: invasive plant removal by hand or with tools, planting, seed collection, seed cleaning (indoor project), or informal trail removal.
