Comments on: Despite Hantavirus, Yosemite expects to be full

By: Antinous / Moderator

Antinous / Moderator — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 21:27:00 +0000

In my day, we just swallowed goldfish. I don’t know what’s wrong with these young people and their mouse-licking contests.

By: Antinous / Moderator

Antinous / Moderator — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 20:47:00 +0000

going to invest manpower to build two permanent walls to hang some canvas off, why not go for broke and make it four walls and a roof?

It’s probably against the park’s charter to build any more permanent structures.

By: Robert Baruch

Robert Baruch — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:38:00 +0000

Dear campers: Hantavirus season is upon us. Please remember not to kiss the mice and rats. You must resist their kissy-faces. Thank you, The Management.

By: Ronald Pottol

Ronald Pottol — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:31:00 +0000

Well, there are many tent cabins to stay in, and they have mice…..

It only kills 1/3 of the people who develop any symptoms.

By: xzzy

xzzy — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 15:04:00 +0000

Unrelated to this story, but GTNP has those “tent cabins” too. I’d guess they’re somewhat common at national parks but I haven’t visited them all yet.

At any rate, I could never figure out why anyone thought tent cabins were a good idea. If you’re going to invest manpower to build two permanent walls to hang some canvas off, why not go for broke and make it four walls and a roof?

Or if you’re really determined to make complete shelters, why not put down some gravel and build another traditional tent campground?

By: LaylaSV

LaylaSV — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:54:00 +0000

Sin Nombre is a badass name for a virus. Also for a lucha libre super villain.

By: Paul Renault

Paul Renault — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 11:43:00 +0000

And burn any clothes they run or pee on.

Oh, and bring a few cats mousers… They’re not all good mousers.

By: CH

CH — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 04:23:00 +0000

Hey, interesting! I didn’t realize that your “hanta” was a different “hanta” than what we got. Ours, which is a much milder disease and caused by the Puumala virus, was also called for awhile “hanta” by the news, although now I think all just call it “vole fever” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nephropathia_epidemica

But yes… even with the four cases of SNV it shouldn’t affect anybody that is “just” visiting the park. One might think twice about going into any barns or houses that have been empty (not counting rodents) for awhile, though.

By: CH

CH — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 04:12:00 +0000

Although that is, as usual, a very good idea, with this you have to add in a new rule of “don’t breathe in their shit”. I know… lots of rules to remember!

By: dioptase

dioptase — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 03:49:00 +0000

We shouldn’t be calling it hanta (though it is a hanta virus). Hanta is one class of viruses that cause a form of hemorrhagic disease. Distant relative of marburg and ebola (at least symptom wise). The one here in the US that makes news is called Sin Nombre. It got that name because nobody wanted it named after them.

By: Jason Weisberger

Jason Weisberger — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 02:46:00 +0000

Volkswagen Vanagon GL Westfalia

By: awjt

awjt — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 02:44:00 +0000

Yep. Take a truck with a cap and throw a futon back there. It’s like a driveable full-sized bed. You can even string up some little tiki lights.

By: bkhl

bkhl — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 02:20:00 +0000

Just apply the usual rule of not petting the rats and bears.

By: Gerald Mander

Gerald Mander — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 01:49:00 +0000

All tent campgrounds are full up. Friend of mine has a rez. My car is comfy, though. :)

By: awjt

awjt — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 01:09:00 +0000

Mr. Redistricter, you aorta consider just bringing your own tent instead… I wouldn’t stay in one a doze if my mommy told me to. Heck no. I thought they were skanky in 1983 when I first saw them, and they are still skanky. Bleh.

By: Gerald Mander

Gerald Mander — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 00:51:00 +0000

The hantavirus outbreak has been limited to the enclosed tent/cabins of Curry Village (which is where I’ll be in about 10 days, yeesh) — understandable, as these are perennial structures that attract rodents. Anyone bringing their own tent or vehicle for camping should be fine.