RAY HARWOOD'S JOURNAL: 2011

Photos by: Ray Harwood

FROM GLACIER POINT
Half Dome is a granite dome in Yosemite National Park, located in northeastern Mariposa County, California, at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley — possibly Yosemite's most familiar rock formation. The granite crest rises more than 4,737 ft (1,444 m) above the valley floor.

The geology of the Yosemite area is characterized by granitic rocks and remnants of older rock. About 10 million years ago, the Sierra Nevada was uplifted and then tilted to form its relatively gentle western slopes and the more dramatic eastern slopes. The uplift increased the steepness of stream and river beds, resulting in formation of deep, narrow canyons. About 1 million years ago, snow and ice accumulated, forming glaciers at the higher alpine meadows that moved down the river valleys. Ice thickness in Yosemite Valley may have reached 4,000 feet (1,200 m) during the early glacial episode. The downslope movement of the ice masses cut and sculpted the U-shaped valley that attracts so many visitors to its scenic vistas today.[5]

The bears in Yosemite are all black bears, even if they are brown or blonde.
The bears feed on plants in the meadows in the moring and afternoon. The bears
do try and eat your camp food.

Ray Harwood knapped these obsidian items. These were viewed by thousands of
interested visitors during the Yosemite knap-in.

The Yosemite shuttle goes all through the park for free! starts at 7:30 A.M.

Half Dome is a granite dome in Yosemite National Park, located in northeastern Mariposa County, California, at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley — possibly Yosemite's most familiar rock formation. The granite crest rises more than 4,737 ft (1,444 m) above the valley floor.

You can see Yosemite Falls from numerous places around Yosemite Valley, especially around Yosemite Village and Yosemite Lodge. A one-mile loop trail leads to the base of Lower Yosemite Fall (the eastern side of the loop, from the shuttle stop to the base of the waterfall, is wheelchair accessible).

Ben_Cunningham was the host of the knapin. Ben works hard there at the museum and indian village.

Ken Kehoe

Knappers Unite!

At the 2011, 18th Annual Coyote Hills Knap-In!

Aug. 27th and 28th (Sat. & Sun.) from 10:00 to 4:00

at

Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont, CA.

http://www.ebparks.org/parks/coyote_hills

Camping available for Sat. night.

For more details call Ken Peek at:

(510) 537-1215.

Hope to see you there
Ken Kehoe

Ken Peek

Jeannie Binning. California State University Riverside PhD in Archaeology . Flintknapping since the 1970s.
Archaeologist, Flintknapper, Primitive Technologist.

Here is Jeannie's School:

LITHIC TECHNOLOGY FIELD SCHOOLField School Dates: Saturday, June 11 to Friday, June 24, 2011
Field School Location: California Desert Studies Center, ZZYZX, California
Desert Studies Center Information: http://biology.fullerton.edu/dsc/school/about.html
Registration Instructions: Complete this Registration Form and return it to the address below with a refundable deposit ($450) or payment in full. Upon receipt of your completed Registration Form, you will be sent a confirmation letter and additional information. Please note that the remaining payment is due two weeks before the Field School begins (May 27th). Checks or money orders only.

Class of 2000 · PhD · Archaeology
Website http://www.obsidiandesigns.com
About Susan: Archaeologist, Flintknapper, Primitive Technologist, Science Fiction Fan
Susan Gleason.Owner at Phoenix Obsidian Designs. Studied Archaeology at University of California, Riverside. Lives in Grass Valley, California. It's complicated...From Grass Valley, California. Born on October 27, 1970. Susan said she sold a very large quantity of lithic art at the Yosemite knap-in.

Yosemite, Flintknapping. .Knap In, Ray Harwood. obsidian, Bakersfield Arrowheads, Hank Ray, Jeannie Binning, Ben_Cunningham, Susan Gleason,Bears, Deer, Half Dome.

Link to Merkle's 'Finegold knap in". Merkle and Patric Aims are long time flint knappers, Pat is a member of the "Bakersfield knappers".http://paleoplanet69529.yuku.com/topic/44156/Finegold-knap-in-photos-and-article

Above Ray Harwood shows how to spall obsidian. Below RAy sits in a native bark dwelling with his "Moby Dick" arrowhead.

Ray started flintknapping in 1969. He got his Archaeology degree in 1984, Studied with lithics expert Clay Singer. Ray often plays country blues guitar or banjo at
knap ins. Ray has a black belt in Karate and was a tanker (armor) in the Army.
Ray is an avid mountain biker, scuba diver and other stuff.

THE YOSEMITE KNAP IN AUGUST 6TH AND 7TH, 2011

The above is the T shirt Ray designed, and wore at the knap in.

"Chip" the flintknapping bear

Forwarded Message ----
From: "Ben_Cunningham-Summerfield@nps.gov"
Sent: Wed, June 29, 2011 4:39:19 PM
Subject: Yosemite Valley Knap-In

Good Afternoon Fellow/ess Knappers -
I am dashing this note off to get an idea of how many of you might be
interested in attending a knap-in here in Yosemite National Park. In case
you are wondering Dave Sunderland sent me your e-mail addresses. If you
are interested please send me your mailing address and telephone number(s)
and the best to reach you at. This is simply exploratory and I am looking
at August 6 and 7 for the actual knap in with arrival possible on the 5th.
I have some details to wrap up with camping arrangements and such, but
please let me know one way or the other.

Thanks
Ben
209-372-0303 - office
209-352-4086 - cell

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Mariposa Grove
Some of the most remarkable natural resources to be found in Yosemite National Park are the giant sequoia trees. In the park these trees are found in three separate groves. The largest group of these trees is located in the Mariposa Grove.

Perhaps the most remarkable sequoia in the grove, and indeed the park, is the Grizzly Giant, originally known as the "Grizzled Giant." This enormous tree is believed to be 2700 years old, the oldest known sequoia tree. Sequoias are among the oldest know organisms on earth, surpassed only by the venerable bristlecone pines.