With hot, summer weather finally arriving, thousands of tourists and residents are expected to flock to the mountains for this year's Fourth of July weekend celebration.
    The California Highway Patrol is expecting record traffic, and cautions both visitors and those who live here to drive carefully on our mountain roads.
    The CHP asks that drivers remain patient because of the large crowds and because people will be staying later to see the fireworks. Come early and plan to stay late, people are advised.
    Of primary concern are drivers who have been drinking.
     In a combined effort, the CHP and the sheriff's department will be patroling early for drivers who may be under the influence, says Larry Walton, CHP officer.
    Also, with the mixture of dry, hot weather, barbecues, picnics and camping, the danger of fire is especially high. Special precautions should be taken to eliminate the chance of a fire outside of restricted areas.
    The Mountain Area is offering many and varied events during the two-day Independence Day celebration.

    YOSEMITE LAKE PARKS - Since the June 12 fire in the area of North Dome and Sentinel Drives in Yosemite Lakes Park, where 50 acres burned, other fires have erupted in the same general area.
    On Father's Day, a large brush pile caught fire on Ranger Circle Drive, scorching about one-quarter acre.
    The following Tuesday morning on North Dome, approximately three acres burned.
    Another vegetation fire in the area of Ranger Circle Drive and North Dome occurred at 9:08 a.m. Monday, June 28.
    "The Tuesday morning fire on North Dome is definitely an arson-set fire, says Captain Kenneth Harrington of the Yosemite Lakes Volunteer Fire Station. He says the one on Father's Day is suspected of being arson-set.
    One more vegetation fire erupted Wednesday at 3:25 p.m. across from Ranger Circle Drive.

    COARSEGOLD - Filmmakers Greg and Jeff Aiello, brothers and Mountain Area residents, have made a half-hour nature documentary entitled "Yosemite Beyond the Valley.
    The documentary, shot entirely on location in the most remote regions of the park, will be broadcast on Saturday [July 3] at 8 p.m. on KJEO-TV Channel 47.
    The film captures the images of Yosemite most visitors have never seen.
     Greg Aiello, executive producer, says, "When most people think of Yosemite, they see Half Dome, the waterfalls and El Capitan.
    The whole concept here was to take people beyond the valley and introduce them to a side of Yosemite they've probably never known.
    The program features never-before-seen aerial footage of Yosemite filmed from a helicopter rigged with a computer stabilized camera.