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John Muir, c1902. The last 25 years of Muir’s life were consumed with constant travel, writing, and oversight of the Sierra Club—for which he served as president from its creation in 1892. He lobbied successfully for the creation of Yosemite Park in 1890 and then asked for additional protections when he toured President Theodore Roosevelt in the park in 1903. Muir’s persuasive words to Roosevelt and state authorities led to the return of Yosemite Grant to the federal government in 1906. His published writings were also instrumental in the creation of Grand Canyon and Sequoia national parks. Photo from the Library Of Congress

A thirty-three foot wide tree known as the 'Grizzly Giant' in the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias, Yosemite National Park, California, circa 1870. (Photo by Carleton E Watkins/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) ( J85780403 )

Yosemite National Park is still beautiful but hardly untrodden: the John Muir trail, for example, near the Nevada Falls, left, bears the imprints of thousands of hikers boots on Sept. 6, 1972. In 1894, the naturalist-mountaineer, John Muir, wrote about "Sierra solitude." (AP Photo/William Straeter) ( Yosemite )

Camping and outdoor cooking at the Yosemite National Park in California, 1972. (AP Photo/Walt Zeboski) ( Yosemite National Park )

In 1965 a Yosemite Peak was declared "perfectly inaccessible" shown Oct. 22, 1968. (AP Photo) ( Yosemite )

Bridal Veil Falls in Yosemite Valley, California, Nov. 8, 1930. (AP Photo) ( National Parks Yosemite 1930 )

El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, California is shown, April 1935. (AP Photo) ( National Parks Yosemite 1935 )

One of the most famed vistas of Yosemite National Park on June 9, 1950 is from Glacier Point (3,000 feet above the valley) of the upper Yosemite Valley with half dome on the right and Mirror Lake central in the valley blow. Mirror Lake is the upper terminus of the Yosemite Valley highway. In the background Tenaya Creek and canyon winds its way off around Basket Dome to the upper reaches of the Park. AP Photo/Ernest Bennett) ( Yosemite )

Some of the patients of the Yosemite National Park Naval Convalescent Hospital try their hand at trout fishing in the Merced River which runs through Yosemite Valley, Calif., August 12, 1943. Seated on bank, left, is Joseph P. Clements, PFC in the marines. At right is George Whisman, ship's cook 2nd class of Portland, Ore. In left background the North Dome rises 7,531 feet. At right, Half Dome rises 8,852 feet. (AP Photo/Ernest King) ( WWII USA Yosemite Naval Hospital )

High above the floor of Yosemite Valley on the ledge climb to Glacier Point, in Yosemite National Park in California, July 8, 1952 are Robin Yelland, left, of Berkeley, Calif., and Reed Campbell, of Taft, Calif. The sheer rock wall behind them is a vertical quarter-of-a-mile. Climbers are permitted to travel upwards only because of the steepness of the trail. In distant background can be seen the high Sierra. (AP Photo/Ernest Bennett) ( Yosemite Valley )

A group of sailors admire the beautiful valley of the Yosemite in the Yosemite National Park in California, Feb. 13, 1945. The Navy men are sent to the U.S. Naval Convalescent Hospital in the Park to get well and strong in one of the world's most beautiful and peaceful spots. Before the war the hospital was the Apwahnee Hotel, a tourist resort operated by the Interior Department. (AP Photo) ( Yosemite National Park )

A rocky stream in Yosemite Valley, California, circa 1870. (Photo by Carleton E Watkins/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) ( J85780404 )

Horseback riders and cyclists ride amid the spacious beauty of Yosemite National Park in California, June 4, 1944. (AP Photo) ( National Parks Yosemite 1944 )

Three hikers pause to rest near firefall ledge on the ledge climb to Glacier Point from Yosemite Valley in Yosemite National Park in California, July 8, 1952. In background is famed Half Dome, chief landmark of the Valley. Left to right: Reed Campbell, of Taft, Calif.; Robin Yelland, of Berkley, Calif., and her cousin, Gwen Yelland, of Clarksburg, Calif. (AP Photo/Ernest K. Bennett) ( National Parks Yosemite 1952 )

1931: Lionel Barrymore and Norma Shearer in the Yosemite camp scene in the Metro Goldwyn Mayer film 'A Free Soul'. (Photo by General Photographic Agency/Getty Images) ( 97n/21/huty/7124/01 )

President John Kennedy's helicopter is dwarfed by the granite immensity of the face of Yosemite Falls, California on August 17, 1962. Upper Yosemite falls is at upper right and lower Yosemite Falls is below helicopter. The President was in Yosemite for an overnight stay before proceeding to Los Angeles, Calif., and ground breaking ceremonies for the San Luis Dam project tomorrow. (AP Photo) ( John F. Kennedy about )

Park superintendent Bob Binnewies points out highlights from Inspiration Point to Queen Elizabeth II during her visit on Saturday, March 5, 1983 in Yosemite National Park, in California. (AP Photo/Walt Zeboski) ( Queen Elizabeth II )

A backpacker views Half Dome, the 8,842-foot symbol of Yosemite National Park, May 30, 2004. A popular trail to the summit of Half Dome approaches from the ridgeline at top left. Cables assist hikers on the final 400-feet, over the steep section in shadow just left of the peak. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) ( TRAVEL HALF DOME )

The Yosemite Valley floor from the Merced River with El Capitan, left, and Glacier Point at right, is shown Jan. 31, 2001, in Yosemite, Calif. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma) ( YOSEMITE PARKING )

A bear and cub cross a road near the Rim Fire on August 24, 2013 in Yosemite National Park, California. T (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) ( 76033720 )

Visitors to Yosemite National Park in California paddle down the Merced River June 19, 2000. (Photo by David McNew /Newsmakers) ( 37102117park_20010628_03635.jpg )

A young park visitor stands in the sunroof of an SUV to get a better view of deer in a parking lot in the Yosemite Valley on August 28, 2013 in Yosemite National Park, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) ( 76081813 )

Rock climber Ron Kauk scales Killer Pillar in Yosemite National Park on August 6, 1998 in Yosemite, California. (Photo by Mike Powell/Getty Images) ( 1641713MP_DCR011348012 )

A pack horse in Yosemite Valley appears to be laughing, June 19, 2000 in Yosemite National Park, California. (Photo by David McNew /Newsmakers) ( 37102118park_20010628_03636.jpg )

In this photo taken Thursday, May 26, 2011, Bridalveil Falls is seen in Yosemite National park. (AP Photos/Tracie Cone) ( Yosemite Waterfalls )

n this June 6, 2004 photo, hikers descend the cable route after climbing to the summit of Half Dome, in Yosemite National Park. The trail of dirt and hundreds of feet of twisted metal cables might not immediately conjure an image of something worthy of historical preservation. But when the trail leads to the iconic Half Dome in Yosemite National Park and the cables allow armchair wilderness lovers to ascend the once-inaccessible granite monolith, the significance becomes enough for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) ( Yosemite Historic Cables )

In this July 20, 2011 photo, Hikers walk on the Mist Trail to Vernal Fall in Yosemite, Calif. (AP Photo/Gosia Wozniacka) ( National Parks Sequestration )

Susan Ford, daughter of President Gerald Ford, learns photography from Ansel Adams at his gallery near Yosemite National Park, June 1975. (AP Photo) ( ANSEL ADAMS TEACHING 1975 )

As mounted rangers present colors Park Superintendent Michael Finley and other dignitaries kick off Yosemite National Park's Centennial observe in Sentinel Meadow on Monday, Oct. 1, 1990. In the background is Yosemite Point. More than 1,000 attended the meadow ceremonies. (AP Photo/Sal Veder) ( Yosemite )

Dust rises off Glacier Point in the aftermath of a small rock slide Thursday, July 11, 1996, in Yosemite National Park, Calif. A rockslide in the same area killed one person and injured six when the Happy Isles Nature Center was crushed by falling rocks. (AP Photo/Thor Swift) ( YOSEMITE ROCKSLIDE )

A protestor holds a sign in front of El Capitan in Yosemite, Calif., National Park before skydiver Jan Davis, 60, died after attempting to parachute Friday, Oct. 22, 1999. The skydivers jumped in a protest against the policy of skydiving in Yosemite. The organization "It's Our Park Too!" and the National Park Service worked out an agreement for several skydivers to jump. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma) ( YOSEMITE PARACHUTE DEATH )

Kristin Ramsey, a videographer for the National Park Service, holds her face after witnessing skydiver Jan Davis die after jumping from El Capitan in Yosemite, Calif., National Park, Friday, Oct. 22, 1999. Davis was one of five parachutists taking part in a protest of park rules banning such jumps. Davis, of Santa Barbara, Calif., plunged to her death after her chute failed to open. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma) ( PARACHUTIST DEATH )

One of the last autumn sunsets drapes El Capitan and the Yosemite valley with warm light Tuesday, Oct. 21, 1997, in Yosemite National Park. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) ( YOSEMITE SUNSET )

In this Dec. 2,1980 photo showing late photographer, Ansel Adams posing in front of his photograph of one the views of Yosemite National Park titled "Monolith: The Face of Half Dome, 1927," in his home in Carmel Highlands, Calif. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma,File) ( Ansel Adams Photos )