Although snow scarcity marks this as a weird winter, a more pressing issue threatens Yosemite: poten

With the closure dates for a few California state parks looming, a San Diego group has stepped up to raise enough money to keep a nearby park open.

FILE – In this June 30, 2007 file photo, climbers on the cable section of Half Dome negotiate the steep granite pitch in Yosemite National Park, Calif.

There was a time not long ago when a climb to the top of Yosemite National Park's Half Dome was a solitary trek attempted by only the most daring adventurers.

Spending by tourists crept up last year after dips during the economic downturn, according to