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diff --git a/40360-8.txt b/40360-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index f9e213f..0000000 --- a/40360-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3580 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Guide to Yosemite, by Ansel Hall - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: Guide to Yosemite - A handbook of the trails and roads of Yosemite valley and - the adjacent region - -Author: Ansel Hall - -Release Date: July 28, 2012 [EBook #40360] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GUIDE TO YOSEMITE *** - - - - -Produced by Joe Longo, R & L. Janssen and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -GUIDE TO YOSEMITE - -A HANDBOOK -OF THE TRAILS AND ROADS OF YOSEMITE -VALLEY AND THE ADJACENT -REGION - -_by_ - -ANSEL F. HALL - -U.S. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE -IN CHARGE OF INFORMATION -YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK - - - - -Transcriber's Note: Words surrounded by the symbol ~ indicate -instances of bold type. - - - - - [Illustration: Aeroplane View of Yosemite Valley and its Adjacent - Region. - - Key To Aeroplane View. - - 1 Artist's Point - 2 Inspiration Point - 3 Old Insp. Point - 4 Stanford Point - 5 Crocker Point - 6 Dewey Point - 7 Bridal Veil Falls - 8 Cathedral Rocks - 9 Cathedral Spires - 10 Taft Point - 11 The Fissures - 12 Sentinel Rock - 13 Union Point - 14 Glacier Point - 15 Sentinel Dome - 16 Illilouette Falls - 17 Panorama Cliff - 18 Vernal Falls - 19 Nevada Falls - 20 Little Yosemite - 21 Liberty Cap - 22 Mt. Broderick - 23 Half Dome - 24 Mt. Watkins - 25 Indian Rock - 26 Basket Dome - 27 North Dome - 28 Washington Column - 29 Royal Arches - 30 Yosemite Point - 31 Lost Arrow - 32 Yosemite Falls - 33 El Capitan - 34 Ribbon Fall - 35 Mirror Lake - 36 Camp Curry - 37 Yosemite Village and Sentinel Hotel - 38 Yosemite Lodge - 39 Three Brothers, (Eagle Peak) - 40 Red Peak. 11,700 Ft. - 41 Mt. Starr King. 9,181 Ft. - 42 Grey Peak. 11,561 Ft. - 43 Mt. Clark. 11,506 Ft. - 44 Foerster Peak. 12,062 Ft. - 45 Electra Peak. 12,462 Ft. - 46 Rodgers Peak. 13,006 Ft. - 47 Mt. Lyell. 13,050 Ft. - 48 Mt. Florence. 12,507 Ft. - 49 Mt. McClure. 12,500 Ft. - 50 Lake Washburn. 7,640 Ft. - 51 Lake Merced. 7,150 Ft. - 52 Cloud's Rest. 9,924 Ft - 53 Sunrise Mt. 9,800 Ft - 54 Mammoth Peak. 12,215 Ft. - 55 Castle in the Air. 10,760 Ft. - 56 Cathedral Peak. 10,433 Ft. - 57 Gibbs Mountain. 12,700 Ft. - 58 Tenaya Peak. 10,200 Ft. - 59 Dana Mountain. 13,050 Ft. - 60 Lake Tenaya. 8,141 Ft. - 61 Fairview Dome. 9,737 Ft. - 62 Tuolumne Meadows. 8,594 Ft.] - - - - -Introduction - - -This Guide and Trail Companion was brought about by thousands of -requests for practical information concerning the many short -excursions from Yosemite. Besides briefly describing Yosemite Valley, -its scenic features, and the immediately adjacent portion of the -Sierra, detailed information has been introduced concerning each trail -and road in the region. These are described just as they are actually -followed, and attention is called to each point of interest just as it -is discovered during the trip itself. As far as possible, complete -data has been introduced on condition of trails, time required to make -the trips, fishing, camp sites, forage conditions, etc., in short all -kinds of information which would be demanded of a hired guide. - -The original draft of this Handbook was prepared in collaboration with -Forest S. Townsley, Chief Ranger of Yosemite National Park. Later, each -of the Park Rangers suggested valuable additions, and several members -of the Sierra Club contributed bits of valuable information. The -author has freely consulted old books and pamphlets in the Bancroft -Historical Library at the University of California and has included -several points of historical interest. - -Acknowledgment is also due to Mr. Herbert Maier for the drawings and -maps here reproduced and to the United States Geological Survey for -permission to reproduce a portion of the "Administrative Map of -Yosemite National Park." - -Suggestions as to additions or corrections which would make this -booklet more useful to the public would be greatly appreciated and -should be addressed to the author, care of United States National Park -Service, Yosemite, California. - -ANSEL F. HALL - -In charge of Information -Yosemite National Park - -Yosemite, California -May 1, 1920 - - - - -COPYRIGHT 1920 -_by_ -ANSEL F. HALL - - - - -CONTENTS - - -~The Yosemite Region~ 1 - -~Yosemite Valley~ 2 - Origin 2 - Early History 2 - General Features of the Valley 3 - The Waterfalls 5 - -~Yosemite Village~ 8 - -~Yosemite Roads~ 13 - I El Portal to Yosemite via El Capitan Road 14 - I-A Pohono Bridge to Yosemite via Bridalveil Road 18 - II-A Tour of the Floor of the Valley 20 - III Yosemite to Glacier Point via Chinquapin Road 26 - IV Yosemite to Tenaya Lake, Tuolumne Meadows, and - Mono Lake via Big Oak Flat and Tioga Roads 30 - V Yosemite to Hetch Hetchy via Big Oak Flat Road - and Hetch Hetchy Railroad 38 - VI Yosemite to El Portal via El Capitan Road 39 - VI-A Yosemite Village to Pohono Bridge via Bridalveil Road 43 - -~Yosemite Trails~ 46 - 1 Yosemite to Glacier Point via Vernal and Nevada Falls and - return via the Short Trail 47 - 2 Yosemite to Glacier Point via the Short Trail and return - via Vernal and Nevada Falls 52 - 3 Yosemite to North Dome via Yosemite Falls and return - via Mirror Lake 56 - 4 Yosemite to North Dome via Mirror Lake and return via - Yosemite Falls 60 - 5 Yosemite to Tenaya Lake via Clouds Rest and Forsyth - Pass and return via Mirror Lake 63 - 6 Yosemite to Tenaya Lake via Mirror Lake and return - via Forsyth Pass and Clouds Rest 67 - 7 Yosemite to Lake Merced 70 - 8 Yosemite to Tuolumne Meadows via Sunrise Trail 72 - 9 Yosemite to Eagle Peak, El Capitan and Gentry 75 - 10 Yosemite to Ten Lakes via Yosemite Creek 76 - 11 Yosemite to Hetch Hetchy via Yosemite Creek, Harden Lake, - and Smith Meadow 79 - 12 Yosemite to Sierra Point 81 - 13 Little Yosemite 81 - 14 Half Dome 83 - 15 Yosemite to Glacier Point via the Ledge Trail 85 - 16 Glacier Point to Sentinel Dome 86 - 17 Glacier Point to Fort Monroe via Pohono Trail 87 - 18 Fort Monroe to Glacier Point via Pohono Trail 88 - 19 Glacier Point to Wawona via Alder Creek Trail 90 - 20 Glacier Point to Ostrander Lake 92 - 21 Glacier Point to Chilnualna Falls or Johnson Lake via - the Buck Camp Trail 93 - 22 Glacier Point to Johnson Lake via Buena Vista Trail 94 - 23 Yosemite or Glacier Point to Moraine Meadows via - Merced Pass Trail 96 - 24 Wawona Road to El Portal via the Sunset Trail 97 - 25 Wawona Road to El Portal via the Hennessy Trail 98 - - - - -THE YOSEMITE REGION - - -"By far the grandest of the western ranges is the Sierra Nevada, a -long and massive uplift lying between the arid deserts of the Great -Basin and the Californian exuberance of grain-fields and orchards; -its eastern slope, a defiant wall of rock plunging abruptly down to -the plain; the western, a long, dry sweep, well watered and overgrown -with cool, stately forests; its crest a line of sharp, snowy peaks -springing into the sky and catching the _alpenglow_ long after the sun -has set for all the rest of America."[1] - - [1] From "Mountaineering in the Sierra Nevada," by Charles - King. - -About midway between the north and south ends of this "Snowy Range" -and extending from the ragged summits of its eastern edge to the -semi-arid foothills at the west, lies Yosemite National Park, 1125 -square miles of incomparable scenic beauty. - -Yosemite Valley, contrary to most peoples' preconceived idea, lies -fully 25 miles west of the Sierra crest. It is countersunk 4000 feet -into the granite of the gently inclined plateau, which above its rim -averages from 7000 to 8000 feet in elevation. The characteristics of -this region immediately adjacent to Yosemite Valley are different from -those of the High Sierra to the past. Very little of it is above the -timber-line, as the dominating summits--Mount Hoffman (10,921) at the -north, Clouds Rest (9924) at the east, Mount Starr King (9179) at the -southeast, and Horse Ridge (9600) at the south--average less than -10,000 feet in altitude. The magnificent forests with which the slopes -are clothed are interspersed with perfectly formed granite domes, with -meadows and wild-flower gardens, with polished granite pavements, and -with innumerable manifestations of Nature which give the trails of the -region an ever-changing charm. - - - - -YOSEMITE VALLEY - - -Bisecting this district from east to west is the great trough of -Yosemite Valley, its bottom gouged down more than half way to sea -level. The same type of geological architecture is exemplified by the -Hetch Hetchy a few miles to the north and by the canyons of the San -Joaquin, Kings and Kern to the south. In none of these however, are -magnitude, beauty and accessibility so ideally combined as in -Yosemite. - - -ORIGIN - -As to the origin of these valleys, and of Yosemite in particular, -there is still some discussion among scientists. Whitney's old theory -of a great cataclysm and the sinking of a small block of the earth's -crust has been entirely displaced, and geologists are now seeking to -determine if glaciers have been solely responsible for the present -landscape or whether ice and water worked hand in hand. A good summary -of the various theories of geological history, as well as a popular -discussion of all the geological phenomena of the region, is contained -in the "Sketch of Yosemite National Park and an Account of the Origin -of Yosemite and Hetch Hetchy Valleys," by Dr. F. E. Matthes of the -U.S. Geological Survey. This government publication may be obtained in -Yosemite at the office of the Superintendent for ten cents. - - -EARLY HISTORY - -Yosemite Valley remained undiscovered by white men until in 1850 -marauding Indian bands from the mountains raided several foothill -trading posts. In retaliation the "Mariposa Battalion" was organized -to subdue these mountain tribes and force them into a large -reservation, the San Joaquin Valley. The last to be conquered and the -most warlike were the Yosemites living in fancied security in their -stronghold, the deep grassy valley of "Awahnee." It was in pursuit of -this tribe that the members of the Mariposa Battalion first entered -Yosemite on March 21, 1851. The story of the one-sided campaigns which -extended over two summers is well told by Dr. W. L. Bunnell, the -surgeon of the party, in his "Discovery of the Yosemite and the Indian -War of 1851" (4th Edition, 1911, G. W. Gerlicher, Los Angeles). - -An excellent summary of the early history of Yosemite Valley has -recently been published as a Park Service bulletin and may be obtained -free at the government information bureau in Yosemite. - - -GENERAL FEATURES OF THE VALLEY - -All points of scenic interest are indicated in the road and trail -trips, but the following brief discussion of the major features of the -valley may serve to orient the new-comer. In this connection the -aeroplane-view frontispiece will be found exceedingly useful. - -First and most impressive are the great rock masses. The square-cut -3200 foot cliff of El Capitan at the Gates of the Valley is regarded -by many as the most awe-inspiring of all great rocks; yet others -affirm that Half Dome, a few miles eastward, is just as mighty and far -more lovable. - -The castellated Cathedral Rocks rising half to two-thirds as high as -El Capitan on the opposite side of the valley are dwarfed in -comparison, but are given an individual personality by their -exceptional outline. Just eastward, the marvelously delicate pinnacles -of the Cathedral Spires, each towering over 500 feet from its base, -stand out from the great south wall. Less interesting but very mighty -are the Three Brothers, rising 3800 feet as a great buttress of the -north wall. Opposite them the Sentinel Rock, a huge obelisk-like watch -tower, guards the south ramparts. - -At the upper end of the valley the dome formation is dominant. To the -north are the rounded summits of North Dome, Basket Dome and Mount -Watkins. The granite walls below them have fractured in great -concentric arcs, forming the marvelously symmetrical Royal Arches, -at the east end of which is the striking vertical promontory of -Washington Column. At the edge of the perpendicular cliffs of the -south wall is Glacier Point, the finest lookout point in the valley, -and a short distance back from the rim are the symmetrical curves of -Sentinel Dome. - -Yosemite Valley is formed by the confluence of two great -canyons--Tenaya Canyon from the northeast and the upper Merced Canyon -from the southeast. Between them originates a great backbone ridge -which extends many miles to the northeast and exhibits many examples -of dome structure and glacial sculpture. Lowest of its promontories is -the roughly hewn Grizzly Peak, which is flanked on the east by the -well rounded summits and smoothly planed sides of Mount Broderick and -Liberty Cap. Then, standing in massive isolation 5000 feet above the -valley and 2000 feet above its immediate base is Half Dome. Further to -the northeast along the ridge are the two Quarter Domes, the Pinnacles -and Clouds Rest, the highest summit in the immediate vicinity of -Yosemite. - -Tenaya Canyon, a great glaciated gorge countersunk thousands of feet -into the granite, is practically impassable. The main canyon of the -Merced, however, as it comes from the east, widens to form the Little -Yosemite Valley. With its level meadows and sheer granite walls -flanked by perfectly formed domes, it is marvelously like Yosemite but -smaller. Further eastward is the High Sierra. - - -THE WATERFALLS - -There are five great waterfalls in Yosemite and a number of lesser -ones which would be world-famous were it not for the comparison. -During the flood waters of spring they are at the height of their -beauty, amplifying the living landscape by their many columns and -booming power. Later, as the snow fountains of the high places are -gradually depleted, they take on a more filmy gracefulness but are -lacking in exuberant impressiveness. - -Three of the five falls, the Bridalveil, Yosemite and Illilouette, -leap from hanging valleys into the main canyon. All of the minor falls -are of the same type. Vernal and Nevada Falls, on the other hand, are -formed by the entire Merced River pouring over great steps in the -mighty box canyon at the east end of the valley. - -First seen and most graceful is the ~Bridalveil~, dropping daintily -620 feet at the right portal of the great valley gate. Well may we -wonder how this charming fall with its exquisite rainbows came to be -called Pohono or "spirit of the evil wind" by the Indians. - -Most famous of all, the highest fall in Yosemite and in all the world, -is the ~Yosemite~. Its first sheer plunge of 1430 feet would set it -apart as the greatest of its kind, but by a series of six quick jumps -it descends another 800 feet to the brink of the final precipice, over -which it leaps gracefully 320 feet to the valley floor. Seen from -below, the 2600-foot drop often appears as one fall though in reality -the Upper Fall is fully one third of a mile back of the lower. In -winter a great ice cone, sometimes 500 feet high, forms beneath this -Upper Fall, and its collapse causes riotous ice-floods in early -spring. "Choolook," which in Yosemite dialect meant simply "the fall," -has a most changing personality. In late summer and autumn he loses -much of his springtime power and obeys every whim of the ever-changing -winds. But the most delightful of all his moods may be seen during the -time of the full moon when the foot of the Lower Fall is veiled by the -delicate iridescence of lunar rainbows. - -From the western edge of Panorama Cliff the lace-like ~Illilouette -Falls~ disappears into its box canyon east of Glacier Point. The filmy -character of its 370-foot foam-curtain is almost never appreciated -because of the lack of a proper view-point. The old Indian name -Too-tool-a-we-ack sought to reproduce the sound of gurgling and -falling water. - -~Vernal~ and ~Nevada~ pour over the rims of two successive glacial -amphitheatres in the main canyon of the Merced. Both carry a great -volume of water and are much less variable than the mural falls. - -~Vernal~, dropping 317 feet in a wide and unbroken sheet, has often -been pronounced the symmetrically perfect of all falls. Its foot is -always bathed in blowing mists which give rise to most exquisite -circular rainbows. Referring to the spray, the Yosemites called the -fall Yan-o-pah or "little water cloud." - -~Nevada~, widely tossing out its spray-rockets, gives a vast -impression of power which is probably nowhere equaled except in the -Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne. In its descent of 594 feet it strikes a -projecting ledge, which caused the Indians to name it Yo-wy-we or -"twisting rock." - -There is yet another great fall in the Yosemite region, but concerning -it little is known. It is so inaccessible in the mighty Tenaya Canyon -that it is even nameless, and no one has ever reached its base. Seen -from afar pouring over a rounded precipice in the canyon bottom it -appears to be between 600 and 1000 feet in height. - -The ~minor falls~ are very beautiful in early spring but all are -ephemeral, blooming delightfully with the melting of snows, but dying -in summer. Largest and best known are the Cascade Falls, which drop -594 feet over the north wall of the lower Merced Canyon and form one -of the chief objects of interest in the ride from El Portal to -Yosemite. Ribbon Fall, highest of all, descends delicately in one -1612-foot leap into a recess just west of El Capitan. From the rugged -south wall Widow's Tears pours 1170 feet to the rock talus. Just west -of Sentinel Rock is a series of picturesque cascades which, in spring, -are dignified by the name of Sentinel Falls. Royal Arch Fall is one of -the most beautiful but most ephemeral of the small falls. During -sudden rainstorms or usually rapid thaws, supplementary falls pour -into the valley over many of its ramparts. John Muir describes the -storm of 1871 in which fifty-six such cataracts appeared in the upper -end of Yosemite Valley. - - - - -YOSEMITE VILLAGE - - -On the banks of the Merced where once stood Haw-kaw-koo´-e-tah, the -home of the Yo-ham´-i-te tribe, is Yosemite Village. The accompanying -map, drawn May 1, 1920, indicates all places of public interest, but -on account of contemplated building activities several changes may be -expected within the next few seasons. Yosemite has recently been -granted a second-class postoffice with branches at Camp Curry and -Yosemite Lodge and with free delivery service to camps on the valley -floor. - -At the U.S. National Park Service Administrative Building are the -offices of the Park Superintendent, Chief Ranger and other executive -officers. In front of the building is a free information bureau with a -park ranger in charge. Government maps and bulletins may here be -obtained free or at a very nominal cost. Adjacent is a motorists' -information bureau maintained by the California State Automobile -Association. At the left entrance is the telegraph and telephone -office maintained by the government. The Yosemite Museum, which -contains many excellent exhibits of the flora and fauna of the region -is temporarily housed in this building. - -Hotel accommodations in Yosemite Valley are limited to one hotel and -two large hotel-camps. The Sentinel Hotel in Yosemite Village, though -offering good service and a splendid cuisine, has been outgrown and -will soon be superseded by a very much larger and more modern -building. - -Camp Curry, a large hotel-camp about one mile east of the village on -the road to Happy Isles, is delightfully situated beneath Glacier -Point, an ideal spot from which to view the famous "Fire Fall," a -beautiful cataract of fire which is nightly pushed from the cliff 3000 -feet above. The camp has a wide reputation for its democratic -atmosphere. - - [Illustration: Map of Yosemite Village. - - LEGEND - - = Road === Sec. Road --- Footpath - - 1. P.O. and General Store - 2. Boyson Studio - 3. Foley Studio - 4. N.P.S. Office - 5. Best Studio - 6. Government Pavilion - 7. Y.N.P. Co. Office - 8. Ivy Cottage - 9. Sentinel Hotel - 10. Cedar Cottage - 11. River Cottage - 12. Rock Cottage - 13. Native Son Sequoia - 14. Fiske House - 15. Bakery and Creamery - 16. Butcher Shop - 17. Pillsbury Studio - 18. Chapel - 19. Garage - 20. Foot Bridge - 21. Sentinel Bridge - 22. Old Jorgensen Studio - 23. Grizzly Hotel Site - 24. New Administration Bldg. Site - 25. Ranger's Clubhouse - 26. Government Barns & Shops - 27. Zoo - 28. Government Cottages - 29. Old Camp Lost Arrow - 30. School House - 31. Camp Yosemite - 32. Camp Yos. Swimming Pool - 33. Government Cottages - 34. Superintendent's House - 35. Yosemite Hospital] - -Yosemite Lodge, formerly called Yosemite Camp, is the other large -hotel-camp, and is located one-half mile north of Yosemite Village -near the azalia-bordered Yosemite Creek. It offers most attractive -views of Yosemite Falls and is well maintained by the Yosemite -National Park Company. - -At the rim of the valley is Glacier Point Hotel with every modern -convenience, and an unsurpassable view of Yosemite and the High -Sierra. - -Lodges are maintained at the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees and at Lake -Tenaya and Merced Lake in the High Sierra. - -The general store is adequately stocked to supply the tourist and -camper with all his needs--supplies, clothing, sporting goods, drugs, -etc. The Housekeeping Camps Department supplies all kinds of camping -or outing equipment at very reasonable rates. Opposite the store is -the bakery and creamery, and the meat market. - -During the season of 1920 the general garage will be moved from its -location near Yosemite Lodge to a point just southeast of the new -Rangers' Club House. A large free storage garage is maintained by Camp -Curry. Gasoline and oils may be obtained at several service stations -on the floor of the valley and at a few outposts on the park roads. - -The Government Pavilion, on the banks of the Merced near the center of -the village, is a social center for dances, lectures, moving pictures, -etc. There is also an excellent entertainment and dance hall at Camp -Curry. - -Religious services are held in Yosemite Chapel which faces the -postoffice. - -In the village are four studios, two of them doing photographic work -exclusively, and the other two specializing in oils and water-colors. -Studios are also maintained at Yosemite Lodge and Camp Curry. - -There are two large swimming tanks, one at Yosemite Lodge and one at -Camp Curry. Both are open to the general public. - -Between the village and Camp Curry is the picturesque Le Conte -Memorial Lodge, which is sustained by the Sierra Club. The Yosemite -Library is housed here and hundreds of photographs, flower specimens, -maps, etc., make the building a favorite of the thousands of visitors. -Each year the Extension Division of the University of California -arranges a series of "Le Conte Memorial Lectures," which are here -delivered. They are exceptionally interesting and all well attended, -for in them the most eminent scientific authorities interpret the -natural history, folklore, geology and other subjects exemplified by -the Yosemite region. - -North of the Merced and about a third of a mile from the center of the -village is the schoolhouse and a group of other government buildings. -One of these is the menagerie and contains several wild animals -captured in the region. The chief exhibits are a pair of California -mountain lions, and a number of bear. In this vicinity is also the -quaint old Yosemite Cemetery, where rest many of the pioneers of the -early days. - -Near Yosemite Lodge is the Yosemite Hospital with a competent -physician and surgeon in charge. During part of the season a dentist -is also in attendance. - -About twenty camp grounds have been prepared for the free use of the -public by the Park Service. Water is piped to these localities and a -sanitation system provided for. Applications for camp sites should be -made at the National Park Service office in Yosemite Village. Those -without outfits, who desire to establish camps, may arrange at the -Housekeeping Camps Department of the Yosemite National Park Company -(at Camp 17, a quarter mile east of Sentinel Bridge and north of the -river) to rent all necessary equipment. This will be delivered and set -up ready for occupancy. It is advisable to arrange in advance for the -outfit desired. - -An auto-bus service (fare 10c and 25c) to all points on the valley -floor provides a quick and convenient means of transportation. All -main roads are paralleled by trails for the use of pedestrians. - -Information as to the hiring of horses and automobiles, arrangements -for camping tours, and about many other items of general interest, is -contained in the "Circular of General Information regarding Yosemite -National Park," which may be obtained free at any of the government -information bureaus. - - - - -YOSEMITE ROADS - - -The roads of Yosemite have just passed their initial stage of -development. Most of the 138 miles of road in the park were built -for old-time stage coaches and for horse travel. With the advent -of the motor has come a second period--that of reconstruction and -improvement. The highway from El Portal to Yosemite and the roads on -the floor of the valley illustrate the type of present-day -construction; but it must be remembered with indulgence that such -roads are just beginning to be, and that most of the park routes, -although not at all bad, are yet mountain roads. - -Let us assume that the motorist is now in Yosemite. Besides the routes -to the low country, the following scenic trips may be taken within the -park: - - 1. A Tour of the Valley. - 2. El Portal and return. - 3. Glacier Point. - 4. The Mariposa Big Trees. - 5. Tuolumne Big Trees. - 6. Hetch Hetchy. - 7. Lake Tenaya and the High Sierra route to Mono Lake and Tahoe. - -Each of these (except number four) is described -in the following road trips. - - -ROAD TRIP I - -EL PORTAL TO YOSEMITE _via_ EL CAPITAN ROAD - -(15 miles--1-1/4 hours by stage) - -Most charming because of the climax of ever-increasing scenic beauty -and grandeur, is the fifteen-mile ride from El Portal up the gorge of -the Merced to Yosemite. It is rather to be regretted that modern -auto-busses hurry us over the new highway in less than an hour and a -half, giving us scarce time to appreciate the majesty and beauty of -the ever-changing panorama. - -Leaving ~El Portal~, the road parallels the north bank of the Merced, -passing beneath gnarled oaks and silver-gray digger pines. In the high -water of early spring, Indian Creek, across the canyon, descends over -the picturesque ~Chinquapin Falls~. Entering the gateway of Yosemite -National Park, we follow up the riotous Merced River, noting here and -there a hardy yellow pine or an incense cedar venturing down to the -canyon bottom. About two miles inside the park is ~Avalanche Falls~ -across the river. The trail bridge below is the crossing of the Sunset -Trail, which ascends past the foot of the fall and climbs 2500 feet to -the Wawona Road. A short distance up the canyon the road passes -beneath ~Arch Rock~, a natural tunnel formed by huge blocks of -granite. Just beyond, Grouse Creek descends the south canyon wall by a -series of cascades. - -We have now entered the true mountain forest, and ride beneath yellow -pines, incense cedars, Douglas firs and now and then a true fir. -~Elephant Rock~ towers above and to the right. Just below it is -~Battleship Harbor~, a placid stretch of the Merced in which fancied -granite dreadnaughts ride anchor. At the left the old ~Coulterville -Road~ steeply descends the canyon wall and joins the main highway. -This first road to Yosemite was opened in 1874 and was for years the -main stage route from Merced. For the benefit of those who require -entertainment the chauffeur often points out the image of a white -Persian cat on the rock wall to the left. A short distance beyond and -on the same side of the road are ~Wildcat Falls~. - -Crossing two small bridges we obtain the best view of Elephant Rock -down the canyon. At the left are the ~Cascade Falls~, during the flood -waters of early spring one of Yosemite's most beautiful cataracts. The -top of the cascade is 594 feet above the road. About a half mile -further is ~Pulpit Rock~, on the south side of the river. It is best -viewed by driving beyond and then looking back down the canyon. Below -the road and at the right is the government power plant, where the -water from the Merced drives two thousand-kilowatt electric -generators. The intake and dam are passed further up the canyon. - -Three thousand feet above, the ephemeral ~Widow's Tears Fall~ drops -1170 feet from the rugged ramparts of the south wall. Another mile -takes us past the site of the old Indian village Ah-wah-ma to ~Pohono -Bridge~. From this point two roads ascend the valley, one on either -side of the river. The more picturesque Pohono Road runs up the south -side of the canyon. This is described in Road Trip I-A. The ~El -Capitan Road~, following up the north side of the valley will first be -traced. - -A short distance from the bridge we are treated to a most impressive -view of the ~Gates of the Valley~. At the left the sheer 3300-foot -precipice of ~El Capitan~ dominates the entire landscape. Its majesty -is matched by the beauty of the ~Bridalveil Fall~ and ~Cathedral -Rocks~ opposite. Between them is Nature's threshold, the brilliantly -verdant ~Bridalveil Meadows~, dotted with dark green pines and oaks. -Beyond, ~Half Dome~ is partly hidden by the projecting cliff of -~Glacier Point~ at the right. The summit of the lofty bare granite -ridge in the distance is ~Clouds Rest~, the highest point on the -Yosemite walls. If the winter snows be still melting above the rim we -will see at the left the ~Ribbon Fall~ dropping delicately over its -1612-foot precipice into a recess just west of El Capitan. Its Indian -name was Lung-oo-too-koo-ya, or "pigeon fall." Near its base the ~Big -Oak Flat Road~ branches to the left and ascends thru the piles of -shattered granite talus of the north wall. At this point was the -Indian village, Hep-hep´-oo-ma. The road to the right leads past the -El Capitan Checking Station and across ~El Capitan Bridge~ to the -Bridalveil Road (Road Trip ~I-A~) south of the river. - -Continuing up the north road we pass thru ~El Capitan Meadows~, where -were the Indian villages of Aw´-o-koi-e, He-le´-jah, Ha-eng´-ah and -Yu-a´-chah. As we skirt the base of the almost vertical wall, the -stage driver will generally point out more or less interesting images. -Chief among these is Tote-ack-ah-noo-la, the "Rock Chief" of the -Indians, whose title was translated into Spanish to make the present -name. In a shallow niche 1189 feet above the road stands a hardy -Jeffrey pine 82.4 feet in height and two feet in diameter. Across the -river are the massive ~Cathedral Rocks~ and the delicately pinnacled -~Cathedral Spires~. Further up the canyon the massively sculptured -pyramids, the ~Three Brothers~, rise abruptly to the north. Opposite -them the road to the ~Bear Pits~ turns into the woods. Turning -northeast, our road passes ~Rocky Point~ at their base. This is -We-äck, the place where Chief Tenaya's three sons were captured in -1851. - -One mile beyond is ~Yosemite Lodge~, one of the two large hotel-camps -of the valley. The main buildings occupy the site of Koom-i´-ne, the -largest and most important of the old Indian villages. Just northward -the ~Yosemite Fall~ makes its triple plunge of 2600 feet, the highest -waterfall in the world. The upper fall drops 1430 feet sheer. Crossing -the azalia-bordered ~Yosemite Creek~, the road skirts a wide meadow -and turns sharply across the valley. To the left is a magnificent -panorama of the ~Royal Arches~, ~North Dome~, ~Washington Column~ and -the precipice of ~Glacier Point~. At the right the great obelisk of -~The Sentinel~ rises from the south wall. - -Crossing Sentinel Bridge to ~Yosemite Village~ we halt at the -~Sentinel Hotel~ which, with the cottages opposite, occupies the site -of the old Indian village Haw-kaw-koo´-e-tah, the home of the band -called Yo-ham´-i-te, for whom the valley was named. A short distance -beyond is the office of the U.S. National Park Service, where all -campers should stop and register. - -We continue up the canyon, now paralleling the south river margin thru -a beautiful pine, fir and cedar forest. Thru the trees we now and then -catch a glimpse of the ~Quarter Domes~ beyond the dominating ~Half -Dome~, and finally the summit of ~Clouds Rest~. Three-quarters of a -mile from the village is the picturesque ~Sierra Club Lodge~ at the -right of the road. A short distance further is ~Camp Curry~, -delightfully situated among the giant pines and cedars at the base of -the towering cliff of Glacier Point. At this spot was the large Indian -village of Too-yu´-yu´-yu, and a short distance to the northeast in -the meadow was Too-lah´-kah´-mah. This famous hostelry, Camp Curry, is -the final destination of all stages. The road continues up the canyon -to Happy Isles. - - -ROAD TRIP I-A - -POHONO BRIDGE TO YOSEMITE _via_ BRIDALVEIL ROAD - -(5 miles--20 minutes by stage) - -The ~Bridalveil Road~, ascending the south side of the valley, is -scenically superior to the north, or El Capitan Road. Crossing Pohono -Bridge to the south side of the Merced the road immediately enters a -dense and beautiful forest. A short distance takes us to ~Fern -Spring~, justly famous for the purity of its ice cold water. One-half -mile beyond we suddenly emerge at ~Bridalveil Meadows~, obtaining a -most charming view of the Gates of the Valley. At the right, -~Bridalveil Fall~ leaps 630 feet from its hanging valley, the one side -of which is formed by the massively sculptured ~Cathedral Rocks~, and -the other by a solid granite ridge terminating at ~Leaning Tower~, -another eminence of the turreted south wall. On the opposite side of -the canyon rises the sheer face of ~El Capitan~. In the recess at its -west the evanescent streamer of ~Ribbon Fall~ descends in a lace-like -film. - -At the edge of the meadow about 100 feet north of the road a dense -grove of oaks and pines shelters the graves of two pioneers, Rose and -Shurban, who were massacred here by the Indians in May, 1852. Near the -river was once the Indian village of Sap-pah´-sam-mah. The road now -passes near ~Bridalveil Fall~, charming glimpses of which are now and -then revealed. A subsidiary road turns to the right and leads to the -foot of the falls. This short side trip should be taken by all -visitors. Just below a very large rock at the east margin of the -stream is the site of the ancient village of Lem-me´-hitch´-ke. In -view of this fact, our stories of the Indians' great fear of Pohono, -"the spirit of the evil wind," may be somewhat overdrawn. - -Just below the imposing buttress of the lowermost of the Cathedral -Rocks is ~El Capitan Bridge~, and near it ~Lo-to-ya~ (Flower) -~Spring~. North of the river is El Capitan Checking Station and the -terminus of the ~Big Oak Flat Road~ (Road Trip IV). East of Cathedral -Rocks we are treated to a sudden view of the two marvelously slender -~Cathedral Spires~, each rising 500 feet from its base and appearing -to tower even above the Yosemite rim. Directly opposite across ~El -Capitan Meadows~ is a most comprehensive view of the mighty wall of -Tote-ack-ah-noo-la, the "Rock Chief" of the Indians, whose title was -merely translated into Spanish to make the present name. Chauffeurs -often point out the likeness of the chief and other more or less -imaginary mural images. In a shallow niche 1189 feet above the road -stands a hardy Jeffrey pine 82.4 feet high and two feet in diameter. - -In driving beneath the oaks, alders, pines and firs we enjoy -ever-changing vistas across the placid river. ~Three Brothers~, -massively piled promontories of the north wall, are least harshly seen -from this road. Directly ahead rises the watchtower of ~Sentinel -Rock~. At its west flank the transitory ~Sentinel Fall~ descends in a -series of cascades during the spring thaws. Below Sentinel Rock we -pass the site of Galen Clark's cabin, of old Camp Awahnee, and of the -more ancient Indian village of Loi'-ah. About one and a quarter miles -further is Yosemite Village. All campers should register at the -National Park Service headquarters. - - -ROAD TRIP II - -A TOUR OF THE FLOOR OF THE VALLEY - -(9 miles--2 hours ride--1/2 to 1 day walk) - -Every Yosemite visitor should spend at least one day within the valley -itself before beginning the more strenuous trail trips. There is so -much to be seen from the valley floor that weeks might be spent there -were it not for "the call of the High Country" beyond the walls. The -following itinerary includes a visit to most places of interest in the -upper (east) end of the valley: Sentinel Bridge, Indian Village, Royal -Arches, Washington Column, Indian Cave, Mirror Lake, Half Dome, -Mineral Springs, Tenaya Bridge, Happy Isles, Camp Curry and Le Conte -Memorial Lodge, in the order mentioned. - -Road Trips I and VI describe the region west of the village. The -following excursion may be made by motor in two or three hours. Hikers -will find it a moderately long half-day tramp or a leisurely one-day -ramble. An early start should be made in order to see the sunrise at -Mirror Lake. It is well to ascertain the hour beforehand, for this -varies with the season of the year. - -From ~Yosemite Village~ we cross Sentinel Bridge and follow the -poplar-bordered road across the meadow. Straight ahead is ~Yosemite -Fall~ and the ~Lost Arrow~, and at our right a most comprehensive view -of ~North Dome~, the ~Royal Arches~, ~Washington Column~, ~Half Dome~ -and ~Glacier Point~. At the Grizzly Hotel site the El Capitan Road -(Road Trip VI) branches westward, while our route turns up the canyon. -The distant buildings to the left of the road are the Government -barns, shops and warehouses. In this group is the menagerie which will -well repay a subsequent visit. Nearer is the picturesque old cemetery -where many pioneers of the region lie at rest. A little farther -eastward on the largest open level area in Yosemite is the site of the -important old village of Ah-wah´-ne, from which the valley took its -Indian name. - -Continuing along the ~Royal Arch Road~ we soon pass the new Rangers' -Club House. Just beyond, a cross road to the right leads to the -garage. To the northward, high overhead, are the silhouettes of the -~Castle Cliffs~, and at their east the deep cleft of ~Indian Canyon~ -which, to the Yosemite tribe, was "Le Hammo" because of the arrowwood -which grew there. Along the precipitous cliffs of the east wall ran -their main trail into Yosemite from the north. From the valley floor -at the base of a cliff just west of the Royal Arches they first -climbed a large oak and then made their way along narrow ledges toward -the northwest. It was at this oak that old Chief Tenaya was captured -in 1851 by Lieutenant Chandler and the scout Sandino. - -At the mouth of Indian Canyon is ~Yo´-watch-ke~, the only Indian -village in the valley which is still occupied. During the July -celebrations it is picturesquely alive but at other times the few -dirty o´-chums are almost repulsive. This area on the alluvial fan of -Indian Creek is the warmest spot in the valley and botanists will here -find many plants typical of the lower altitudes. - -A short distance further we pass Camp 17 at the right of the road. -About a quarter of a mile beyond and on the opposite side is Camp 20. -At a road junction is a small settlement called Kenneyville, which -occupies the site of the former Indian Camp of Wis´-kah-lah. Here the -~Le Conte Road~ turns south, leading to Camps 15 and 7, and across -Stoneman Bridge to Camp Curry on the Happy Isles Road. Doubling back -to the westward is ~Sequoia Lane~, a road leading to Camps 6 and 7, -and to Yosemite Village, one mile distant. - -We continue eastward, passing Camp 8, which is above the road and just -at the west end of the ~Royal Arches~. During the spring thaw the -beautiful but ephemeral ~Royal Arch Fall~ descends over a cliff at the -left. Its Indian name, Scho-ko-ya, meant "basket fall." In the next -half mile our road is flanked by the overhanging cornices of the -colossal arches. They must be viewed from afar if we would realize how -aptly they were called by the Yosemites "Scho-ko-ni," which means "the -movable shade to a cradle basket." At the left of the road and -directly beneath the arches is Camp 9. As we continue along the road, -breaks in the forest reveal intermittent views of ~Washington Column~ -towering above to the left, and of the great face of ~Half Dome~ -dominating all the east. - -A short subsidiary road to the left now leads to ~Indian Cave~ -immediately under Washington Column. The Yosemites named this retreat -Hol´-low´, but sometimes called it Lah-koo´-hah, which means "Come -out!" It is a low, broad, deep recess under a huge rock and is said to -have been occupied as a winter shelter; also when the Yosemites were -attacked and almost exterminated by the Mono Lake Piutes. The -overhanging rock is black with the smoke of ages, and far back in the -cave large quantities of acorn shells have been found. - -Returning the short distance to the main road, we again turn eastward, -soon passing a group of excellent mineral springs at the right. The -highway now bears gradually to the north into the mouth of ~Tenaya -Canyon~ and in one-half mile ends in a "loop" at the west margin of -~Mirror Lake~. The relative darkness in this deep canyon and the -absence of wind during the early morning hours insures a perfect -reflection for almost every morning of the vacation season. Most -perfect are the reflections of ~Mount Watkins~ (the Wei-yow or -"Juniper Mountain" of the Yosemites) guarding the entrance to the -forbidden gorge of Tenaya. Unfortunately the delta of Tenaya Creek has -greatly encroached upon the mirror and has reduced it to but a remnant -of the beautiful lake which the Indians called Ah-wei´-yo, or "quiet -water." From the end of the road the Tenaya Lake and North Dome Trail -(Trail Trips 4 and 6) continue around the western shore of the lake -and up the canyon. - -After the appearance of the sun over the shoulder of Half Dome, we -retrace the last half mile of our route, turning aside for a short -visit to the mineral springs. A little distance further the main road -forks and we take the left-hand branch which crosses ~Tenaya Bridge~. -A detour to the westward now takes us around and over a portion of the -lateral moraine left at the junction of the ancient Tenaya and Merced -glaciers. Near this point was Hoo-ke´-hahtch-ke´, an Indian village -inhabited up to about 1897. - -A road which branches to the right offers a short-cut to Camp Curry, -about three-quarters of a mile distant. It passes Camps 11 and 14, and -the site of the Lick House, one of the inns of early days. The main -road, however, bears to the left and parallels the beautiful banks of -the Merced. Less than a mile takes us to the ~Happy Isles Bridge~. -Here the main trail to Vernal and Nevada Falls, Glacier Point, Half -Dome, Clouds Rest, Merced Lake, etc. (see Trail Trips), turns south -and ascends the ~Merced Canyon~. At the right of the bridge is a U.S. -Weather Bureau observation station. On the west side of the stream is -the old power plant and from it starts the footpath to ~Happy Isles~. -The short side trip from island to island should not be missed. -Especially are these charming garden spots noted for the beauty of -their flowering dogwoods, maples and alders. The round trip to Sierra -Point (Trail Trip 12) may easily be accomplished from this point in -one hour. A refreshment stand is maintained in the vicinity. To escape -the dust of the road one may follow the picturesque ~Happy Isles -Trail~ from its beginning near the power house to Camp Curry, one mile -westward. - -Our road now bears to the northwest and rounds the imposing buttress -of ~Glacier Point~. One-half mile takes us to a spring at the left of -the road which once supplied the large Indian village of Um´-ma-taw. A -short distance beyond, our route is joined by the short-cut road from -Mirror Lake. Near this road is a cabin often pointed out as having -belonged to John Muir. It was really built and used by James C. Lamon, -a pioneer and the first permanent resident of the valley. Muir's cabin -has long since disappeared and its only existing photograph is in the -possession of Dr. Wm. F. Badé. The orchard at the right occupies the -site of Too´-lah´-kah´-mah, another vanished community of the Yosemite -tribe. - -Extending for a considerable distance along the road are the tents and -bungalows of ~Camp Curry~. If we have time to stop, we may be -refreshed by a swim in the huge open-air swimming pool, by cooling -drinks at the soda fountain or by a rest beneath the great pines and -cedars. - -From the camp center a road to the north leads across the Stoneman -Bridge to Kenneyville. At the right of the road is the site of the old -Stoneman Hotel, which was built and maintained in the early days by -the State of California, but which burned down in 1896. Close to the -bridge, on the banks of the Merced, was once the large Indian village -of Too-yu´-yu´-yu. - -West of the Camp Curry bungalows we pass Camp 16, between the road and -the river. Near this point the ~Ledge Trail~ turns to the south and -mounts the talus slopes above Camp Curry. A short distance beyond is -the new ~Le Conte Memorial Lodge~ picturesquely set among the pines -and incense cedars where once was the Indian village of Ho-low, and -where the old schoolhouse stood until 1911. The lodge is an ideal -place to spend the remainder of the afternoon amongst photographs, -flowers, books and maps, and in a cool and absolutely restful -atmosphere. To the right of the road, where the river makes a big -detour to the north, is Camp 19. One should note the remarkably -perfect reflections in the river below the rock wall parapet during -the remaining half-mile walk to Yosemite Village. - - -ROAD TRIP III - -YOSEMITE TO GLACIER POINT _via_ CHINQUAPIN ROAD - -(28 miles--4 to 5 hours by auto) - -A trip to Glacier Point should be part of everyone's Yosemite -itinerary. Many motorists prefer to make the excursion by road instead -of by trail. The round trip from Yosemite can be made by machine in -one day, but it is better to reserve accommodations in advance at the -Glacier Point Hotel and remain there over night to view the sunrise -over the High Sierra. Another excellent plan is to send one's machine -around by road while one walks or rides to Glacier Point via the -Vernal and Nevada Falls Trail (Trail Trip 1), returning to the valley -via Chinquapin Road. The description of the first 14.5 miles of this -trip, which follows the Wawona Road as far as Chinquapin, will be of -interest to those leaving Yosemite by that route. - -From Yosemite Village we follow the ~Bridalveil Road~ (Road Trip VI-A) -down the valley four and a half miles to the Bridalveil Checking -Station, where the Wawona Road turns to the left. Here all motorists -must register. For safety the park regulations permit the ascent on -even hours only, and at a speed of not more than twelve miles per -hour. - -We now climb steadily beneath a dense forest of pines, fir, incense -cedar, oak and laurel, and at one and a half miles halt at ~Artist -Point~ (Alt. 4701, 750 feet above the valley floor). The view of the -~Gates of the Valley~ to the east is claimed to be one of the most -perfect of all Yosemite landscapes. - -Gradually climbing another 690 feet we finally halt at ~Inspiration -Point~ (Alt. 5391). The view of Yosemite is similar to that from -Artist Point, but with the depths and distances more impressively -accentuated. Across the canyon is ~Fireplace Bluff~. A view-finder -beside the road indicates each point of interest. All machines should -be registered at the Government Checking Station. Telephone -communication and water are here available. - -About half a mile beyond Inspiration Point is ~Fort Monroe~ (Alt. -5540), an old-time stage relay station. This is a fair campsite for -auto parties. A good spring will be found near the Pohono Trail -junction. The visit to the wild-flower gardens and many fine lookout -points of the ~Pohono Trail~ (Trail Trip 18) is an especially fine -one-day walking trip from this point. - -Our road now leads thru most magnificent pine forests, which open now -and then to give us short glimpses of the canyon of the Merced, -thousands of feet below. About two miles from Fort Monroe the -~Hennessy Trail~ (Trail Trip 25) branches to the right and descends to -El Portal, ten miles distant. ~Grouse Creek Crossing~, a half mile -further, is a good auto camp. Fishing is fair downstream. - -Another two miles takes us to ~Avalanche Creek~. There are here no -camping places and the stream contains no trout. _Caution_: The worst -turn on the road is about 200 yards beyond the crossing. One mile -beyond Avalanche Creek the ~Sunset Trail~ (Trail Trip 24) leaves the -road at the right, descending to the Mid-winter Ranger Station near -Arch Rock on the El Portal Road. - -One mile further is ~Chinquapin~, an old stage relay station at the -junction of the Glacier Point and Wawona Roads. There is here a ranger -station and during the summer gas and oil can be obtained. In the -vicinity are many good camp sites. An excellent spring will be found -200 yards north of the ranger cabin. Fishing is fair in ~Indian Creek~ -about a quarter of a mile southward; best fishing is downstream. Many -deer are generally to be seen in the region. Chinquapin is especially -noted for its wonderful sunsets. Before leaving, all machines should -take water. - -The main road continues southward to Wawona and the Mariposa Grove of -Big Trees and thence to Merced, Madera and Fresno. Our route turns -eastward and climbs abruptly 1300 feet in the next three miles to the -head of the canyon of Indian Creek. This long, hard grade takes us to -the 7500-foot level, where we are at last on the gently sloping -plateau above the valley walls. The following eleven miles is a -delightful succession of mountain meadows and forests of red fir, -lodgepole pine and other sub-alpine species. Numbers of deer can -almost always be seen from the road, especially early in the morning. - -~Peregoy Meadow~, about five miles from Chinquapin, was famous in the -early days for its wayside inn on the "Yosemite Trail" from Clarke's -(now Wawona). The old buildings have long since disappeared, but the -trail, now called the ~Alder Creek Trail~ (Trail Trip 19), is still -used. From Peregoy Meadow to Glacier Point are many fine camp sites. -About one mile eastward is ~Bridalveil Creek Crossing~. Fishing is -good upstream, and fair about one mile downstream, but generally poor -near the road. - -At a trail junction about one and a half miles further, the ~Ostrander -Lake and Buck Camp Trail~ (Trail Trips 20 and 21) turns southward -(right). Here one may park his machine and walk to ~Ostrander Lake~ -via Trail Trip 20 and return, a fifteen mile one-day round trip. The -lake offers some of the best fishing in this section of the park. - -Swinging gradually to the northeast the road passes to the east of -~Ostrander Rocks~. A trail to the right leads to Mono Meadow and the -basin of the Illilouette. Three miles further at ~Pothole Meadows~ the -~Peregoy Meadow Trail~ (Trail Trip 19) leaves the road at the left. A -short distance beyond and at the same side of the road is the ~Pohono -Trail~ turn-off (Trail Trip 17). A half mile further, just as the road -starts its final descent to Glacier Point, is a trail to the left -leading to ~Sentinel Dome~. The summit is but a few minutes distant -and from it is revealed a vast panorama of the High Sierra. - -A gradual descent in the final one and a half miles takes us past -several lookout points to the road termination at ~Glacier Point -Hotel~. Excellent accommodations are here obtainable. The overhanging -rock and ~Glacier Point~ are 200 yards northward. (For trips from -Glacier Point see Trail Trips 1, 2, and 16 to 23.) - - -ROAD TRIP IV - -YOSEMITE TO TENAYA LAKE, TUOLUMNE MEADOWS AND MONO LAKE _via_ BIG OAK -FLAT AND TIOGA ROADS - -(Lake Tenaya 57.7 miles. Tuolumne Meadows 65.2 miles. Mono Lake 88.2 -miles) - -Most charmingly scenic of all trans-Sierran routes is the historic old -~Tioga Road~. Built by Chinese labor in 1881 to transport ore from the -Tioga Mine (near Mono Lake) across the Sierra to the San Joaquin -Valley, it soon fell into decay when the venture was abandoned. In -1915 the road was purchased by a group of public-spirited citizens and -presented to the government. Since being well repaired it makes -Yosemite accessible from the east and opens up the wonderfully fine -camping country of the High Sierra to the automobile tourist. Hundreds -of motorists take this exceptionally scenic short-cut to Lake Tahoe. -In normal years the road opens July 15th and closes September 30th. -Detailed information may be obtained from the "Circular of General -Information regarding Yosemite National Park," or at the Motorists' -Information Bureau in Yosemite Village. The first twenty-three miles -of the following trip describes the Big Oak Flat Road as far as Carl -Inn, and should be of use to auto parties leaving the park by that -route. - -From Yosemite we may follow either the ~Bridalveil~ or the ~El Capitan -Road~ westward. At El Capitan Bridge, four miles west of the village, -the ~Big Oak Flat~ road turns abruptly northward. All machines should -be registered at the nearby checking station. For safety, the park -regulations permit the ascent on even hours only and at a speed of not -more than twelve miles per hour. - -Gradually mounting the talus slope of the rough canyon side, we emerge -1200 feet above the valley floor at ~New Inspiration Point~ from which -is our last comprehensive view of the ~Gates of the Valley~. The -outlook, although scenically not as perfect as that from the Wawona -Road, is nevertheless quite attractive, for the depths below when -viewed from this point seem almost always to be permeated by a -transparent blue haze. - -Near the top of the steady four-mile climb is ~Gentry Checking -Station~, where motorists should again register. This is a possible -camp for motorists but rather a poor location. One-half mile further -is the "Gentry Townsite," laid out about 1914, and beyond, the site of -the old Gentry Sawmill. There are here a few good places for auto -camps. Water will be found at a spring above the road. - -~Cascade Creek~ is crossed a short distance northward. The crossing -offers no good camp sites. Fishing is fair. The short steep grade -beyond the bridge is known locally as "Fords' Rest." We now ascend -~Lilly Creek~ to the crossing about half a mile above. Here the blazes -of the old ~Mono Trail~ may be seen at the left leading down to a -point on the rim of the canyon about three miles distant, where was -once the terminus of the Coulterville Road. In the early days this was -one of the chief routes used by the Indians and cattlemen. - -Two miles beyond Cascade Creek is ~Tamarack Flat~ (Alt. 6390), named -from the "tamarack" or lodgepole pine here so abundant. This is a -splendid camping place, but somewhat cold. Fishing is fair and horse -feed may be found upstream. A trail branching to the right leads to -~Aspen Valley~, six miles distant. It is extremely brushy, poorly -marked and almost impassable. - -Three miles westward is ~Gin Flat~, the summit of the Big Oak Flat -Road. The meadow, bordered by red and white fir and Jeffrey and -lodgepole pine, offers an attractive but cold campsite. There is a -tradition that a barrel of gin was once buried here by one of the -old-time whiskey peddlers, who was shortly afterwards killed. A more -or less desultory search on the part of not a few "old-timers" failed -to discover the prize, so after a few decades the matter became almost -legendary. But in 1909, as a battalion of negro cavalry were marching -to Yosemite for patrol duty, the tradition was in some way "picked up" -in Groveland by one of the troopers. The commanding officer could -hardly understand why his troops pushed on so readily the next day -until, when camp was pitched at Gin Flat, they started to dig. Not a -stone in the vicinity was left unturned--but the gin was never found. - -At ~Crane Flat~ (Alt. 6311) two miles further west are many excellent -camp sites. This camping ground is the one nearest to the ~Tuolumne -Grove of Big Trees~. Water is conveniently piped from a spring to the -vicinity of the ranger cabin. It is a good plan, if camp is to be made -at Crane Flat, to gather firewood _en route_, for it is scarce in the -immediate region. Motorists should register at the log cabin of the -Park Ranger, and all east-bound cars should take water. A road -branching southwestward leads to ~Hazel Green~, about five miles -distant on the Coulterville Road, and to the ~Merced Grove of Big -Trees~, seven and a half miles away. It is narrow and steep, but in -fair condition. About a quarter of a mile from Crane Flat the ~Davis~ -(private) ~Road~ turns to the left from the Hazel Green cut-off and -leads to ~Big Meadows~ (4.5 miles) and ~El Portal~ (11.5 miles). - -The main road bears to the north a short distance after leaving Crane -Flat and, after one mile of steep descent, enters the ~Tuolumne Grove -of Sequoias~. Most of the thirty trees in the small grove are -advantageously seen from the road, but a short side trip to the -tunnelled ~Dead Giant~ (above and to the right) is well worth while. -This subsidiary road is steep and narrow and most people prefer to -walk to the giant. - -One-half mile below the grove the main road passes beneath the rustic -gateway which marks the boundary between ~Yosemite National Park~ and -the ~Stanislaus National Forest~. There are two possible auto camps in -the next mile, but neither are very good. Bearing westward the road -follows down the canyon of ~North Crane Creek~. Good camp sites will -be found at the crossing about two miles below the park line. ~Hogdon -Ranch~, a little more than a mile further, is another good place to -camp. At this abandoned cattle ranch an old road branches to the left. -It is impassable because of washouts. A mile and a half further along -the main road is ~Carl Inn~, a mountain summer resort on the ~South -Fork of the Tuolumne River~. Accommodations are excellent. Gasoline -and oil may here be obtained. There are many fine camp sites in the -vicinity and fishing is fair. One may obtain saddle or pack animals at -the hotel for trail trips in the region. - -Just west from the hotel is a main road junction. The ~Big Oak Flat -Road~ to Chinese Camp, Knights Ferry and Stockton continues down the -South Fork, while our road crosses the New England Bridge and bears -northward. One mile takes us to another junction where the ~Hetch -Hetchy Road~ (Road Trip V) branches to the left. The Tioga Road turns -eastward, ascends a rather steep grade thru a fine forest of pine, -cedar and oak, and in 4.2 miles again enters the park at ~Aspen Valley -Ranger Station~. Motorists should stop and register. A government -telephone is here available. There are excellent camping places in the -vicinity and a good spring about two hundred yards northwest of the -ranger cabin. - -Two miles inside the park is ~Aspen Valley~, another abandoned cattle -ranch. The long meadow offers a delightful camp. The ~Carlin Trail~, -which is used chiefly by cattlemen, branches to the westward at this -point and makes a rough descent to ~Ackerson Meadow~ six miles -distant. Leading southeast is a trail to ~Tamarack Flat~ on the Big -Oak Flat Road. Over most of its six miles it is so brushy as to be -almost impassable and it is now little used. About one mile north of -Aspen Valley the seldom used "~Packers' Trail~" begins at the left of -the road and bears northward toward ~Hetch Hetchy~. From Aspen Valley -eastward good camping places are so numerous that several will be -passed each hour. They will therefore not be mentioned in the -following text. - -Our road now ascends ~Long Gulch~, passes over a low divide, and in -4.2 miles crosses the ~Middle Fork of the Tuolumne River~. This is an -attractive auto camp but horse feed is scarce. The stream is well -stocked with rainbow and eastern brook trout. We now follow along the -well-wooded banks of the Middle Fork and in about three and a half -miles, where the road makes a big bend toward the southeast, we find -the beginning of the trail to ~Harden Lake~, ~Hetch Hetchy~, and ~the -Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne~. - -The beautiful little ~Harden Lake~ (Alt. 7575) is only one mile -distant by trail. It is a most attractive place to lunch and the round -trip can easily be made in less than one hour. From points just north -of the lake a most comprehensive view of the Grand Canyon of the -Tuolumne is revealed. Harden Lake contains no trout. - -~White Wolf~, some two miles beyond the Harden Lake Trail Junction, is -one of the many fine meadows which our road now traverses. The old -~Ten Lakes Trail~ shown on the U.S.G.S. maps as leading eastward from -this point has been superseded by the new ~Ten Lakes Trail~ up -Yosemite Creek. The old blazes may be followed eastward two and a half -miles to ~Lukens Lake~ (Alt. 8450), a charming little mountain lakelet -surrounded by a park-like forest. It has not yet been stocked with -trout. - -About three miles beyond White Wolf the ~Yosemite Creek Trail~ (Trail -Trip 11) branches to the right (south). Yosemite is ten miles distant -by this excellent trail. Passing several small meadows, one of which -is ~Dark Hole~, we descend in about two miles to ~Yosemite Creek -Ranger Cabin~. The station is connected by telephone to Yosemite. From -here a good trail bears to the southwest and joins the main Yosemite -Creek Trail one and a half miles below. Good camp sites are numerous -in the vicinity and at the ~Yosemite Creek Crossing~, about a quarter -of a mile eastward, the new ~Ten Lakes Trail~ follows up the east bank -of the creek. Our road now ascends about two and a half miles of heavy -grades, finally passing over a flat divide and descending almost -imperceptibly to the large meadows at ~Porcupine Flat~, an excellent -camping place. One mile further the ~Yosemite Falls Trail~ branches to -the right and leads southwest five miles to ~Yosemite Point~. - -In another mile ~Snow Creek~ is crossed. Fishing is fair down stream. -~Snow Flat~, two and a half miles further, is an especially good place -to camp. It is the usual base camp for the ascent of ~Mount Hoffman~ -(Alt. 10,921), three miles to the northwest. - -~May Lake~ (Alt. 9400) is about one mile north of the road by a -plainly blazed but rough trail which climbs about 500 feet _en route_. -Beautifully set in the rugged glacial amphitheatre at the east -shoulder of Mount Hoffman, which towers imposingly above, it offers -one of the most attractive side trips of the region. As a campsite it -is unsurpassed. In the days when troops were guardians of the park -this was the officers' private fishing lake--and fishing is most -excellent. It was stocked with Loch Leven trout in 1908, with eastern -brook in 1908 and 1917, and with rainbow in 1908 and 1913. - -From ~Snow Flat~ the road rises abruptly for a short distance, then -descends 800 feet in the next three miles to ~Lake Tenaya~. Near a -sharp bend in the road about one mile from the lake, a trail to the -right (Trail Trip 5) leads to Yosemite via Mirror Lake. - -~Tenaya Lake~ (Alt. 8141) is one of the gems of the High Sierra. It is -a large, deep, glacial lake imposingly surrounded by granite crags and -domes. Its Indian name, Py-we-ack, meant "lake of the glistening -rocks," referring to the glacier polished granite at its upper end. -The lake and the pyramidal peak to the east were renamed Tenaya when -the last remnant of Chief Tenaya's Yosemite Tribe was captured here by -the Mariposa Battalion on June 5, 1851. The lake is one of the best in -the park for a permanent auto camp. It was stocked with Loch Leven -trout in 1911 and with rainbow, eastern brook, black spotted, and -steelhead in 1917, 1918, and 1919, but fishing is only fair. From the -lower end of the lake the ~Forsyth Pass Trail~ (Trail Trip 6) bears -eastward across the rocky meadows, and the ~Yosemite Trail~ (Trail -Trip 5) takes off toward the southwest. - -Our road skirts the western lake shore. At a point where ~Murphy -Creek~ enters from the north are the ruins of a log cabin which was -built by John L. Murphy, one of the early pioneer guides of the -region. The ~McGee Lake Trail~ to ~Waterwheel Falls~ here turns off -from the road. Rounding the polished base of ~Polly Dome~ (Alt. 9786) -we finally halt at ~Tenaya Lake Lodge~ near the white beach at the -lake's upper extremity. Accommodations are excellent and fishing -tackle and rowboats may be rented. - -At the head of the long flat canyon bottom is a peculiar glacial -monument often mistaken for Polly Dome. Passing this, our road -continues up the stream to its source, where the great Tuolumne -Glacier overflowed and sent a branch southward to help carve out the -stupendous depths of Tenaya Canyon. - -~Tuolumne Meadows~ (Alt. 8594), the most superb of all high mountain -pleasure grounds, lies seven and a half miles from Tenaya Lake. In the -region are innumerable side trips to alpine summits, to lakes and -streams teeming with trout, to thundering waterfalls, and to peaceful -green pastures of the highlands. ~Tioga Pass~ (Alt. 9941) is seven -miles further, and another sixteen miles takes us down Leevining -Canyon to the weird semi-desert region at ~Mono Lake~. The road then -continues northward to ~Lake Tahoe~ about 118 miles distant. - - -ROAD TRIP V - -YOSEMITE TO HETCH HETCHY _via_ BIG OAK FLAT ROAD AND HETCH HETCHY -RAILROAD - -(Round trip 77 miles--1 day by motor and railroad) - -A new and exceptionally scenic one-day round trip between Yosemite and -Hetch Hetchy has been made possible by the construction activities on -the San Francisco Dam. Throughout the entire season a gasoline -railroad bus runs on daily schedule between Mather (Hog Ranch) and -Hetch Hetchy, stopping long enough to allow one to view the wonderful -canyon and to inspect the enormous engineering project. One may motor -privately from Yosemite to Mather or may ride by the auto stage, which -makes one round trip daily. - -From Yosemite we follow the ~Big Oak Flat Road~ (Road Trips VI and IV) -to the road junction one mile north of ~Carl Inn~, a resort on the -~South Fork of the Tuolumne River~. At this junction (23.4 miles from -Yosemite) we turn to the left on the old ~Hog Ranch Road~, which bears -to the northwest thru the pines of the Stanislaus National Forest. - -The following six-mile drive to ~Mather~ is entirely thru delightful -woods and meadows--a country quite attractive but with no startling -scenic effects. At Mather is the ~Hog Ranch Ranger Station~, which is -connected by telephone with Yosemite and outside points. Here we again -enter ~Yosemite National Park~. - -In the nine-mile rail-motor excursion to Hetch Hetchy we first -traverse a dense pine forest for one mile and then, emerging at the -rim of ~Tuolumne Canyon~, have a wonderfully scenic ride to our -destination. - -~Hetch Hetchy~ is a deeply sculptured Yosemite-like valley with the -broad meadows of its level floor flanked by dominating castellated -cliffs. Its most impressive feature is ~Kolana Rock~, a massive -promontory buttressing the precipitous south wall. The two great -waterfalls--~Tueeulala~, the spirit of gracefulness, and ~Wapama~, the -very soul of power--tumble over the north ramparts at the upper end of -the valley. Fortunate, indeed, will be the visitors of the next few -seasons, for the great gorge will be as yet unflooded. - - -ROAD TRIP VI - -YOSEMITE TO EL PORTAL _via_ EL CAPITAN ROAD - -(15 miles--1-1/2 hours by stage) - -The final hour in Yosemite National Park--that generally spent in the -ride from the valley to El Portal--is one of interest, but it must be -admitted, of anti-climax. Facing westward we lose the wonderful views -which burst upon us in entering, but the trip, for all of that, is -attractive. From Yosemite Village either the Bridalveil or the El -Capitan Road may be followed. The former is the more scenic and is -described as Road Trip VI-A. The latter is set forth in the following -text. - -Crossing ~Sentinel Bridge~ our poplar-bordered road bears northward -across a wide meadow from which are magnificent views of ~Yosemite -Falls~ and the ~Lost Arrow~ straight ahead, and ~North Dome~, ~Royal -Arches~ and ~Half Dome~ to the right. At the Grizzly Hotel site a road -forks eastward to Mirror Lake (Road Trip II). Turning westward beneath -the giant black oaks of the meadow border, we soon pass the old -Hutchings Orchard. The memorial bench at the left marks the spot from -which Galen Clarke so loved to contemplate the beauty of "Cholook," -the fall of falls. A little further are the wild azalia gardens of -~Yosemite Creek~. Just west of the rustic bridge a short branch road -turns to the right to the foot of Yosemite Falls. We continue straight -ahead, passing Yosemite Hospital at the right and then running beneath -the arcade of ~Yosemite Lodge~. Just across the road is the swimming -tank, the tennis courts, laundry, etc. The main buildings occupy the -site of Koom-i´-ne, the largest and most important of the old Indian -villages. - -Bearing southward, we now round the base of ~Three Brothers~, the -Waw-haw´-kee or "falling rocks" of the Indians. At the foot of the -great buttress is ~Rocky Point~. The Yosemite tribes called the place -We-äck (the rocks) because, according to their traditions, the huge -boulders in the vicinity fell _upon_ their trail. It is among these -boulders that Tenaya's three sons were captured in 1852, and the -colossal monument above was named for them. - -Swinging more directly westward, our road now skirts the base of ~El -Capitan~, the Tote-ack-ah-noo-la or "rock chief" of the Indians. The -image of their fanciful chief is to this day pointed out on the wall -two thousand feet overhead, but he is now called "The Wandering Jew." -In a shallow niche 1189 feet above the road stands a hardy Jeffrey -pine 82.4 feet high and two feet in diameter. For half a mile we pass -thru ~El Capitan Meadows~, where once were the Indian villages of -Yu-a´-chah, Ha-eng´-ah, He-le´-jah and Aw´-o-koi-e. At certain times -during the day the ~Cathedral Spires~ and ~Cathedral Rocks~ on the -opposite side of the valley stand out in remarkable perspective, but -under general light conditions this stereoscopic effect is entirely -lacking. - -Beyond El Capitan the ~Ribbon Fall~ may be seen, its dainty streamer -gracefully descending into the rather harsh box-like recess in the -canyon wall. Its Indian name was Lung-o-to-ko-ya, or "pigeon falls." A -cross road to the left passes ~El Capitan Checking Station~ and -crosses ~El Capitan Bridge~ to the ~Bridalveil Road~ south of the -Merced (Road Trips I-A and VI-A). A few steps further along our route -the ~Big Oak Flat Road~ turns to the right and ascends thru the -shattered granite talus of the north canyon side. At this junction was -the old Indian village of Hep-hep'-oo-ma. - -Paralleling the Merced, we now and then are treated to glimpses of -~Bridalveil Fall~ dropping gracefully from its hanging valley and -guarded at the left by ~Cathedral Rocks~ and at the right by the -~Leaning Tower~. Where our route traverses a small meadow is the site -of another vanished village, We'-tum-taw. A short distance beyond is -~Black Spring~, which is but a few steps to the right of the road. The -Yosemites called it Poot-poo-toon, and among the rocks surrounding it -was a small community of the same name. Our road now bends gradually -southward following the banks of the Merced. Across the stream is -~Bridalveil Meadow~ and an especially fine view of the ~Gates of the -Valley~. A short distance further is ~Pohono Bridge~, where our road -is joined by the ~Bridalveil Road~ (Road Trips I-A and VI-A) from the -south side of the valley. - -About a quarter of a mile westward is the old Mail Carrier's Cabin, -the site of the ancient village of Ah-wah'-ma. Across the canyon the -rugged ramparts of the south rim rise imposingly above and ~Meadow -Brook~ pours over the edge to leap 1170 feet as ~Widow's Tears Fall~. -A small dam in the Merced diverts water for the intake of the two -thousand-watt generators of the new government power house just below -the road. South of the river is a grotesque promontory which is well -named Pulpit Rock. - -At the two small bridges about one and a half miles further down the -canyon we pass the foot of ~Cascade Falls~ which, during the flood -waters of early spring, is one of the most attractive scenic features -of the El Portal Highway. From these bridges is also the best view of -~Elephant Rock~, down the canyon. Less than a quarter of a mile -further, ~Wildcat Falls~ pour over the cliff at the right. A short -distance beyond, stage drivers often point out the image of a white -Persian cat on the wall above the road. The old ~Coulterville Road~ -now branches to the right and steeply ascends the canyon wall. This -was the first road into Yosemite and was completed in 1874. Just below -Elephant Rock is ~Battleship Harbor~, a placid reach of the Merced in -which fancied granite dreadnaughts ride anchor. - -A little more than a mile further down the canyon ~Grouse Creek~ -tumbles over the south wall in a series of cascades. We now pass -beneath ~Arch Rock~, a natural tunnel formed by two huge granite talus -blocks. The trail bridge across the Merced, a short distance westward, -is the crossing of the ~Sunset Trail~, which passes the mid-winter -ranger station opposite and ascends past the foot of ~Avalanche Falls~ -to the Wawona Road, 2500 feet above. - -Two miles further down the canyon we pass out of the park and into the -~Stanislaus National Forest~ thru a region of gnarled oaks and -silver-gray digger pines. During the early season ~Indian Creek~, -across the canyon, forms the picturesque ~Chinquapin Falls~. - -One mile below the park line is ~El Portal~, the terminus of the -~Yosemite Valley Railroad~. There is here a hotel and a small store. -On the opposite slope is the incline of the Yosemite Lumber Company -down which flat cars loaded with logs are lowered. From El Portal a -four-hour ride by railroad takes us to ~Merced~. - - -ROAD TRIP VI-A - -YOSEMITE VILLAGE TO POHONO BRIDGE _via_ THE BRIDALVEIL ROAD - -(5 miles--20 minutes by stage) - -The ~Bridalveil Road~ parallels the south bank of the Merced from -Yosemite to Pohono Bridge, five miles westward. This route is more -attractive and more scenic than the northern, or El Capitan Road, -which is often taken by the stages. - -From Yosemite Village we bear westward across the meadows. The -~Sentinel~ towers above at the left and in the distance are the -portals of the valley. About one mile takes us past a Park Ranger's -cabin near the spot where Galen Clarke's house stood until 1919. Just -northward, at the edge of a big meadow, was once the Indian village of -Hoo'-koo-me'-ko-tah. - -A little further and directly under the Sentinel stand the remaining -buildings of old Camp Awahnee, occupying the site of the large and -important Indian community of Loi'-ah. The name, which means "a long -water basket," was also the Yosemites' appellation for the great rock -tower above. The ~Short Trail to Glacier Point~ here turns to the left -and begins its zigzag course up the canyon wall. The ~Ford Road~, a -subsidiary route branching to the right, leads to ~The Big Pine~, -which is the largest known specimen of western yellow pine in the -park. During the flood waters of early spring, ~Sentinel Falls~ -descend in a picturesque cascade at the western flank of the great -obelisk. - -Again continuing westward, we are treated to charming vistas across -the Merced. Especially effective from this angle is the great triple -pyramid of ~Three Brothers~ buttressing the north wall. Just opposite -them on the banks of the river was Kis´-se, the westernmost of the -large Indian villages on the south or "coyote" side of the valley. To -the west a splendid profile of ~El Capitan~ is revealed and suddenly -at the left of the road the ~Cathedral Spires~, each rising 500 feet -from its base, seem to tower above the south rim. The Yosemites called -the latter Po-see´-na Chuck´-ah, or "mouse-proof rocks," from a -fancied resemblance to their acorn caches. A village just below them -in a small meadow near the river was called We´-sum-meh. - -We now skirt the powerfully outlined ~Cathedral Rocks~. At ~El Capitan -Bridge~ one may cross to the north side of the river. Directly -opposite is a ranger station at the foot of the ~Big Oak Flat Road~ -(Road Trip IV). From that point the ~El Capitan Road~ (Road Trips I -and VI) leads both up and down the valley. - -Continuing along the shaded highway, we veer to the south, passing -close to the foot of ~Bridalveil Fall~, charming glimpses of which are -here and there revealed between the trees. Just below a very large -rock at the east margin of ~Bridalveil Creek~ is the site of the -ancient village of Lem-me´-hitch´-ke. Perhaps the unspeakable awe with -which the Yosemites were supposed to look upon Pohono, "the spirit of -the evil wind," has been somewhat exaggerated in the past. A short -subsidiary road turns to the left to the foot of the fall, a brief -side trip which should be taken by all visitors. - -A short drive now takes us to the junction with the ~Wawona Road~ -(Road Trip III) which bears to the left at ~Bridalveil Checking -Station~ and climbs thru the forests of the canyon-side. Turning to -the right, we soon enter ~Bridalveil Meadow~. Near the river was once -the Indian village of Sap-pah´-sam-mah. At the edge of the meadow, -about 100 feet north of the road, a dense grove of oaks and pines -shelters the graves of two pioneers, Rose and Shurban, who were -massacred here by the Indians in 1852. The view back across the -meadows towards the ~Gates of the Valley~ is one of the best from this -elevation. At the left is the great shoulder of ~El Capitan~, with the -~Ribbon Fall~ almost hidden in a deep recess at its west. At the right -of the portal the beautiful ~Bridalveil~ leaps gracefully from its -hanging valley between ~Cathedral Rocks~ and the ~Leaning Tower~. - -Plunging again into the deep woods, we stop for a draught of ice-cold -water at ~Fern Spring~, and a short distance beyond emerge at the -beautiful border of the Merced. Crossing ~Pohono Bridge~ we join the -~El Portal Road~. El Portal is ten miles westward via Road Trip VI, -and Yosemite five miles eastward via Road Trip I. - - - - -YOSEMITE TRAILS - - -For an ideal vacation-land, Yosemite could scarcely be surpassed. Of -the 600 miles of trails in the park probably half are within two days -walking distance of the valley. It is this portion of the park which -is described in the following trail trips--the region which may be -seen on walking tours from the valley as a base camp. - -For the person whose days in Yosemite are limited, Glacier Point -undoubtedly offers the most attractive one-day excursion. It is -reached by a number of trails, chief of which are the beautiful Vernal -and Nevada Falls Trail, the steep but thrilling climb up the narrow -Ledge Trail, and the dusty, toilsome ascent of the Short Trail. Most -thrilling of all Yosemite Trails is the ascent of Half Dome, made -possible by the recent construction of a cable-guarded route up its -north shoulder. Further northeastward is the commanding summit of -Clouds Rest, a long one-day round trip, but well repaid by a -magnificent panorama of the High Sierra. North of the Yosemite walls -the most comprehensive views may be had from Eagle Peak. The top of -North Dome is also a vantage point of the first order, but the round -trip is a long one-day climb. The summit of El Capitan, although -exceedingly lofty, is rather disappointing except for the view over -its rim into the abyss below. Sierra Point is but one hour's climb -above the valley and offers an especially good panorama. - -Many ideal two-day walking trips from Yosemite are made possible by -accommodations at the lodges in the High Sierra. Chief among these -excursions are the trips to Lake Tenaya, Tuolumne Meadows and Merced -Lake. Other charming trails are described in the following text. - - -TRAIL TRIP 1 - -YOSEMITE TO GLACIER POINT _via_ VERNAL AND NEVADA FALLS AND RETURN -_via_ THE SHORT TRAIL - -Reverse of Trail Trip 2 - -(16 miles--8 hours) - -If one were so time-poor as to have but one day in Yosemite, he should -by all means climb to Glacier Point via Vernal and Nevada Falls and -return via the Short Trail. This most scenic trip is easily made afoot -in one day and should be taken as follows rather than in the opposite -direction because (_a_) one faces the falls in ascending, and (_b_) -the gradual ascent is less tiring. Early in the season it is a good -plan to carry a sack or newspaper for protection while passing thru -the mist of Vernal Falls. - -The ~Vernal and Nevada Falls Trail~ starts near Happy Isles Bridge, -2.3 miles from Yosemite Village. The trail leaves the road at the -right just beyond the bridge, or we may take the footpath through -~Happy Isles~, crossing the river on a foot-log and joining the main -trail a quarter mile above. Ascending the canyon, the trail climbs 200 -feet above the roaring Merced, which was here called by the Indians -the "Yanopah" or "water cloud," referring to the mist of Vernal Falls. -A quarter of a mile from the bridge is a fine spring. Here the ~Sierra -Point Trail~ (Trail Trip 12) turns left. Rounding the base of ~Grizzly -Peak~ we pass opposite the mouth of ~Illilouette Canyon~ and see -~Illilouette Falls~ (Drop 350 feet) at its head. The name is a -corruption of the Indian name, Too-tool-a-we-ack. The small dam in the -river below diverts water to the Happy Isles Power House. To the left -of Illilouette Canyon is ~Panorama Cliff~, along the rim of which our -trail runs after a three-hour climb by the Mist Trail (one hour longer -by horse trail). - -Descending 100 feet the trail crosses ~Vernal Bridge~, from which is a -fine view of ~Vernal Falls~, a half mile distant. Near this point was -the old Indian Camp of Ap´-poo-meh. Straight ahead the horse trail -climbs 1600 feet and then descends to the top of Vernal Falls. -Pedestrians should take the much more scenic ~Mist Trail~, which turns -left just beyond the bridge, saving thereby one hour and several -hundred feet climb. Paralleling the river we pass ~Lady Franklin -Rock~, from whence may be obtained excellent photographs of Vernal -Falls. The trail mounts thru the boulder-strewn forest and finally -rounds a rocky point on a narrow ledge. Use extreme caution on -slippery wet rocks! We now enter the mist, traversing the luxuriant -garden of flowers and grasses which gives the fall its name. Between -10 and 12 a.m. beautiful ~circular rainbows~ may be seen in the mist. -Climbing the steep slope at the right we obtain fine profiles of the -fall. The trail then swings beneath an overhanging cliff and mounts a -steep narrow ledge to the top of ~Vernal Falls~ (Alt. 5049, Drop 317 -feet). The Indians called the fall "Yan-o-pah," or "water cloud," -which was also the name for the canyon below. Over the rim of the -natural granite parapet we have an excellent outlook down the canyon. -By climbing along the rim southeast of the falls we find a ladder and -hanging trail descending to a grotto, from which a good view of -Glacier Point is obtained. - -Above Vernal Falls we pass a glacial tarn called ~Emerald Pool~, at -the upper end of which the Merced rushes down over smooth granite, -forming the beautiful ~Silver Apron~ and ~Waterwheel~. - -Just above is the ~Diamond Cascade~ and bridge. Our trail now joins -the horse trail, which descends from the slope above. Crossing the -river at Diamond Cascade, the trail ascends to ~Snow Flat~ below -~Liberty Cap~ (Alt. 7072), which towers above to the left. This -granite dome, the Mah'-ta, or "Martyr Mountain" of the Indians, can be -ascended by a difficult climb up its eastern flank. Good rock-climbers -will find an interesting scramble up the deep defile between this dome -and ~Mt. Broderick~ (Alt. 6705) just northward. At the left of the -trail is the site of the old La Casa Nevada Hotel (The Snow House), -which was built in the early days and burned down in 1897. The old -register is in the Yosemite Museum. The rockslide to the left fell -from the face of Liberty Cap in 1918. Fishing is fair from Diamond -Cascade to Nevada Falls. The trail turns left and mounts 500 feet by -the famous ~Nevada Falls Zigzags~. When white men first visited -Yosemite, part of the Merced descended in a cascade where the trail is -now built. At the top of the switchbacks the trail to ~Little -Yosemite~, ~Clouds Rest~, ~Tuolumne Meadows~ and ~Merced Lake~ (Trail -Trips 13, 5, 8 and 7) continues up the canyon. There is here a -government telephone (Central 1 ring). The new location of a -refreshment stand and rest house in the vicinity is indicated by a -sign. - -Our trail turns right and crosses a small bridge, thence turning -southwest to the top of ~Nevada Falls~ (Alt. 5910, Height 594 ft.). -Nevada is "snow" in Spanish and replaces the old Indian name Yo-wy-we. -Note especially the shooting spray rockets. These are most wonderful -when painted by first rays of sunshine at 7.30 to 8 a.m. Many claim -that, looking down from the rim, the Nevada is the valley's most -fascinating and beautiful fall. Above this point the river was called -by the Yosemite Tribe "Yo-wy-we-ack," or the "twisting rock" branch. - -Crossing the river just above the falls, the trail climbs abruptly 700 -feet by switchbacks. At the summit the ~Mono Meadow~ and ~Merced Pass -Trail~ up ~Illilouette Creek~ turns left (Trail Trip 23). Our trail -turns right and follows the rim of ~Panorama Cliff~ almost level for -about one mile to ~Panorama Point~ (Alt. 6224). From here is a fine -view of ~Royal Arches~, ~Washington Column~ and ~North Dome~ across -the head of ~Yosemite Valley~, and of ~Half Dome~ and ~Grizzly Peak~ -to the right. The trail descends 400 feet to the top of ~Illilouette -Falls~ (Alt. 5850, Fall 370 ft.). Good fishing is reported in upper -~Illilouette Creek~. Exploration up this canyon will well repay those -interested in glacial phenomena. - -Climbing out of the ~Illilouette Canyon~, the trail runs north thru -open forest. The fallen trees and prostrate bushes are caused by -snow-slides from ~Illilouette Ridge~ above (Alt. 8250. Fine view from -summit). As the trail climbs, the view of ~Mt. Starr King~, ~Mt. -Clark~ and the ~High Sierra~ gradually unfolds. The trail joining from -the south leads to ~Buena Vista Lake~ and ~Royal Arch Lake~ (Trail -Trip 22). From one point in the ascent is an especially good profile -of ~Half Dome~ across the canyon. Following along granite ledges the -trail passes ~Glacier Point Hotel~ (Alt. 7200), from which is a most -comprehensive panorama of the High Sierra. Accommodations are -excellent and one should remain here over night if possible to see the -sunrise. ~Glacier Point~ and the overhanging rock are about 200 yards -beyond the hotel. This lookout point was called Patill'ima by the -Yosemite Tribe. From here we obtain what is without doubt the vastest -and most awe-inspiring view readily accessible to tourists. The valley -floor is 3250 feet below. An inclined shaft elevator thru solid -granite from the foot of the cliff is being planned. For trips from -Glacier Point see Trail Trips 16 to 23. - -The descent from Glacier Point to Yosemite is generally made by the -~Short Trail~ (5 miles, 1-1/2 hour walk). From the hotel the trail -follows westward along the canyon wall. Rounding a point we get an -excellent profile view of the ~Gates of the Valley~ with ~Sentinel -Rock at~ the left and ~El Capitan~ at the right. Descending 900 feet -by switchbacks thru a forest of fir, sugar pine, yellow pine, Douglas -fir and incense cedar, we reach ~Union Point~ (Alt. 6314--2350 feet -above the valley floor). There is here a refreshment stand where -cooling drinks and light lunches may be obtained. A short distance -from the point is a shelter cabin and a government telephone (Central -1 ring). - -Descending past ~Agassiz Column~, a huge balancing shaft of granite, -the trail zigzags down the mountain side, emerging at several vantage -points from which are obtained especially fine views of ~Half Dome~ -and the north end of the valley. The character of the forest now -changes, oaks and laurel entering to replace the diminishing fir. The -trail terminates at the foot of ~Sentinel Rock~ at the site of the old -Camp Awahnee and the more ancient Indian village of Loi'-ah. Yosemite -is 1.3 miles distant by road to the right. During the season a regular -auto-bus service is maintained between this and other valley points. - - -TRAIL TRIP 2 - -YOSEMITE TO GLACIER POINT _via_ THE SHORT TRAIL AND RETURN _via_ -VERNAL AND NEVADA FALLS - -Reverse of Trail Trip 1 - -(16 miles--8 hours) - -The Glacier Point excursion is a most scenic one-day trip and this is -the most widely used of Yosemite trails. Parties are advised to take -the reverse of this trip (Trail Trip 1) thereby obtaining views of the -falls which are unnoticed on the down trip. The ascent is also more -gradual and therefore less tiring. - -The ~Short Trail to Glacier Point~ starts from the Bridalveil Road 1.3 -miles west of Yosemite at the site of old Camp Awahnee and of the more -ancient Indian village of Loi'-ah. Turning southward we ascend -abruptly thru a dense forest of oak, mountain laurel, scattered pines, -cedar and Douglas fir. As the trail climbs rapidly by switchbacks, -broad-leaved trees disappear, their places being taken by sugar pines -and true firs from above. Frequently the trail emerges at vantage -points from which are obtained especially fine views of ~Half Dome~ -and the north end of the valley. A climb of 2350 feet takes us past a -balancing shaft of granite, ~Agassiz Column~, to ~Union Point~ (Alt. -6314). At this fine view-point are a government shelter cabin and -telephone (Central 1 ring.) - -The remaining 900-foot climb to Glacier Point is thru a dense forest -with some vast views to the northeast. A short level stretch near the -end leads to ~Glacier Point~ (Alt. 7214). The view from the vicinity -of the overhanging rock is without doubt the vastest and most -awe-inspiring sight readily accessible to tourists. The Yosemite Tribe -called this lookout point Patill'ima. Yosemite is 3250 feet below. An -inclined shaft elevator thru solid granite from the foot of the cliff -is being planned. For trips from Glacier Point see Trail Trips 16 to -23. - -The ~Glacier Point Hotel~ and cottages are but 200 yards distant. The -panorama of the ~High Sierra~ from the hotel balcony is especially -fine. Accommodations are excellent and it is recommended that the -tourist remain over night if possible to see the sunrise. - -Passing the hotel the trail descends gradually along granite ledges -revealing a most impressive profile of ~Half Dome~ across the canyon. -During the descent into the canyon of the Illilouette several patches -of fallen trees and prostrate brush are passed. These are caused by -the frequent snow slides from the ~Illilouette Ridge~ above (Alt. -8250. Fine view). At a trail forks, the ~Buena Vista Trail~ (Trail -Trip 22) branches south up the ~Illilouette Canyon~. An abrupt descent -by zigzags takes us to a point from which is obtained a good view of -the lace-like ~Illilouette Fall~. The name is a corruption of the old -Indian name Too-tool-a-we-ack. A few feet below we stop at the lip of -the fall (Alt. 5850). The canyon above abounds in glacial phenomena -and will well repay a side trip for those interested in geology. -Fishing is good up the canyon. - -A climb of 375 feet takes us to ~Panorama Point~ (Alt. 6224), from -which is an imposing view of the upper end of the valley and the mouth -of ~Tenaya Canyon~. To the right is the sheer edge of ~Panorama -Cliff~, along which our trail now follows almost level for about a -mile. In the canyon below can be seen our route of about two hours -hence. At a trail forks the ~Mono Meadow~ and ~Merced Pass Trail~ -(Trail Trip 23) turns right into the ~Illilouette Creek Basin~. - -Now begins an abrupt descent of 700 feet by switchbacks to the ~Merced -River~ which, above this point, was called by the Yosemite Tribe the -Yo-wy-we-ack or "twisting rock" branch. A few steps from the bridge is -the top of ~Nevada Falls~ (Alt. 5910, Drop 594 ft.). Nevada is Spanish -for snow and replaces the old Indian name Yo-wy-we. Many claim that -the view from the overhanging ledge is the most fascinating -water-vista of Yosemite. Note especially the shooting spray rockets. -These are most wonderful when painted by the first rays of sunshine at -7:30 to 8 a.m. - -About a quarter of a mile upstream the trail crosses a small bridge -and is joined by the ~Clouds Rest~, ~Sunrise~, ~Lake Merced~ and -~Little Yosemite Trail~ (Trail Trips 5, 8, 7 and 13). Here is a -government telephone (Central 1 ring). Fishing is good about two miles -upstream in ~Little Yosemite~. In the following abrupt 500-foot -descent by zigzags some fine profile views of ~Nevada Falls~ are -obtained. When white men first visited Yosemite part of the Merced -cascaded down the steep slope where the trail is now built. As the -trail crosses ~Snow Flat~ at the foot of Nevada Falls, the ruins of -the old "La Casa Nevada," or "Snow House," are seen at the right of -the trail. The old register, which dates back to 1871, is in the -Yosemite Museum. ~Liberty Cap~ (Alt. 7072), which the Indians called -Mah'ta or "Martyr Mountain," towers above to the right. It may be -ascended from the east and good rock climbers will find an interesting -scramble up the deep defile between this dome and ~Mount Broderick~ -(Alt. 6705) just northward. The talus of huge rocks above the trail -fell from the face of Liberty Cap in 1918. - -A bridge across the Merced takes us directly over the ~Diamond -Cascade~. Below is the ~Silver Apron~. From the bridge upstream is -fair fishing. A short distance beyond the crossing is a fork where the -main or "horse trail" turns to the left and climbs 350 feet up the -canyon wall in order to pass Vernal Falls. Pedestrians should turn to -the right and take the far more scenic ~Mist Trail~, thereby saving a -half hour and several hundred feet climb. Following down the river we -pass the ~Silver Apron~ and ~Waterwheel~, below which is a perfect -glacial tarn called ~Emerald Pool~. Near its mouth is the rim of -~Vernal Falls~ (Alt. 5049, Drop 317 ft.). From behind the natural -breast-high granite parapet we have another excellent outlook. The -fall was called by the Indians Yan-o-pah, or "water cloud," which term -was also applied to the canyon below. By climbing along the rim -southeast of the falls we find a ladder and hanging trail descending -to a ~grotto~, from which is a good view of ~Glacier Point~. - -Nearer the fall the ~Mist Trail~ suddenly drops over the edge of the -cliff and follows down a steep, narrow ledge which is well guarded by -chains and iron posts. From here and from the zigzags just below we -obtain excellent profiles of the fall. We now enter the mist, passing -down thru a luxurious growth of grasses and flowers, which caused the -fall to be given its present name. Between 10 and 12 a.m. the -beautiful ~circular rainbows~ may here be seen. Use extreme caution on -slippery wet rocks! Following around the base of a cliff on a narrow -ledge, the trail again enters a forest and parallels the river. We -stop at ~Lady Franklin Rock~, where is obtained one of the best vistas -of the falls (good photograph). A short distance downstream the two -trails reunite just before crossing ~Vernal Bridge~, from which is a -good distant view of the falls. In the canyon below was the old Indian -camp of Ap´-poo-meh. - -The trail now mounts about 200 feet above the riotous Merced and in -rounding the base of ~Grizzly Peak~ offers a clear perception of the -deep recess below ~Illilouette Falls~. - -Again approaching the river we pass a spring and water trough where -the ~Sierra Point Trail~ (Trail Trip 12) joins from the right. The -~Happy Isles Bridge~ on the main road is a quarter of a mile distant. -We have the choice of descending by the main trail or crossing the -foot-log to ~Happy Isles~, and thence by several bridges and footpaths -to the main road. - -The road to the right leads to Mirror Lake. We turn left. Camp Curry -is one mile distant and Yosemite Village 2.3 miles. - - -TRAIL TRIP 3 - -YOSEMITE TO NORTH DOME _via_ YOSEMITE FALLS AND RETURN _via_ MIRROR -LAKE - -Reverse of Trail Trip 4 - -(19.5 miles--10 hours) - -The ~North Dome~ trip is a strenuous one-day climb and should be taken -as follows rather than Trail Trip 4, thus avoiding the hot ascent of -the Mirror Lake zigzags. One should start early, reaching the top of -the falls before the heat becomes excessive. - -The ~Yosemite Falls Trail~ was built in the early days and operated as -a toll trail. It leaves the road a short distance west of ~Yosemite -Lodge~. In the first mile we ascend by sharp zigzags thru a shady -grove of golden oak and laurel, emerging above into the open and -climbing granite ledges to ~Columbia Point~ (Alt. 5031). From here is -a splendid view, especially of the upper end of the valley. Turning -north, the trail ascends a few feet and then follows along a granite -ledge beautifully shaded by oaks, laurel, Douglas fir and pines. At -the left of the trail about a quarter of a mile above Columbia Point -is a spring. A short, rather steep descent takes us to ~Valley View~, -a lookout point a short distance to the right of the trail, from which -is an excellent view of the valley and the ~Upper Yosemite Fall~. -Skirting the base of an almost perpendicular cliff at the left, the -trail approaches the foot of the upper fall and bears to the left. -From this point it is possible to leave the trail and climb to the -foot of the upper fall, entering the cave under its base except during -high water. The climb is dangerous because of slippery rocks. - -By switchbacks the trail ascends the steep slope west of the falls, -crossing a small stream after a quarter-mile climb. During the hour -ascent of the zigzags, ~Mount Clark~ (Alt. 11,506), ~Gray Peak~ (Alt. -11,581) and other High Sierra summits may be seen to the southeast. -Across the canyon are ~Glacier Point~ and ~Sentinel Dome~. At a trail -junction 100 feet beyond the canyon rim is a government telephone -(Central 1 ring). Here the ~Eagle Peak~ and ~Yosemite Creek Trails~ -continue straight ahead (Trail Trips 9, 10 and 11). Our trail turns to -the right and crosses a small stream. Just beyond, the main trail -passes over a low rise. A branch to the left follows south along the -open ridge for a short distance to the top of the falls. From the -railed lookout point, peering into the chasm below we see what Muir -describes as one of the most impressive phenomena of the valley. -Retracing our route to the main trail and turning left, we cross -~Yosemite Creek~ and climb 300 feet on the further side, thence -turning southward. A short trail to the rim takes us to ~Yosemite -Point~ (Alt. 6935), from which is a vast view of the valley and the -High Sierra. The granite spire at the right and just below is "Le -Hammo," the Lost Arrow of one of the most beautiful Yosemite Indian -legends. - -Returning to the main trail we climb parallel to the eastern rim of -the cliff. To the right are ~Castle Cliffs~ and the flat summit of -~North Dome~ beyond. After a climb of 400 feet the trail crosses a -ridge and traverses a dense forest of fir and pine, descending 400 -feet and crossing ~Indian Creek~. Directly south is ~Indian Canyon~, -called by the Yosemite Tribe "Le Hamite," because of the arrowwood -which grew there. Their main trail into Yosemite followed along the -precipitous east side of the canyon. - -The ~Little Winkle Branch of Indian Creek~ is crossed a half mile -beyond the main stream, and here the ~Snow Flat Trail~ continues -upstream. Turning to the right, our trail passes thru a fir forest -about one mile to ~Indian Ridge~, which it follows south over -disintegrating granite and thru stunted forest to the rounded summit -of ~North Dome~ (Alt. 7531). The view is most comprehensive and the -sheer vertical wall of ~Half Dome~ gives an impression of massiveness -nowhere else obtained. To the north of the trail near the summit is -~Slipper Rock~. - -In returning to Yosemite we take all main trails to the right. -Retracing our path up ~Indian Ridge~ it is possible to follow the -trail back to the ~East~ or ~Little Winkle Fork of Indian Creek~, and -turn right on the ~Snow Flat Trail~, but the better and the shorter -way is to follow the plain blazes which turn to the right about a half -mile from the North Dome summit and just west of the crest of ~Indian -Ridge~. Running thru a beautiful forest this trail joins the main -~Snow Flat Trail~ at the ~Little Winkle Branch of Indian Creek~ just -west of ~Indian Rock~. - -It is also possible to leave the trail and follow up Indian Ridge from -North Dome, gradually bearing to the right of ~Indian Rock~ and -intersecting the main ~Mirror Lake Trail~ near the top of the zigzags. - -Our trail follows up the ~East~ or ~Little Winkle Branch of Indian -Creek~, at the source of which the ~Porcupine Flat Trail~ branches to -the left. The ~Mirror Lake Trail~ swings north of ~Indian Rock~, and -descends east to a branch of ~Snow Creek~, passing ~Snow Creek Falls~. -Further down Snow Creek is the junction with the ~Lake Tenaya Trail~ -(Trail Trips 5 and 6). Turning right we further descend Snow Creek and -pass over the rim of the canyon between ~Basket Dome~ (Alt. 7602) at -the right and ~Mt. Watkins~ (Alt. 8235) at the left. In the next one -and a half miles a descent of 2500 feet is made by 108 switchbacks to -the floor of ~Tenaya Canyon~. Following down the canyon one mile, the -trail joins the road at ~Mirror Lake~. Yosemite is three miles distant -by road. - - -TRAIL TRIP 4 - -YOSEMITE TO NORTH DOME _via_ MIRROR LAKE AND RETURN _via_ YOSEMITE -FALLS TRAIL - -Reverse of Trail Trip 3 - -(19.5 miles--10 hours) - -This is a strenuous one-day climb. The advantage of taking the trip as -follows and seeing the sunrise at ~Mirror Lake~ is more than offset by -physical penalty of climbing the hot and steep ~Tenaya Trail~ zigzags. -The trip is better taken in the reverse direction (Trail Trip 3). If -the following route is adhered to, it is best to leave Yosemite as -early as possible, carrying a canteen which should be filled about -three-quarters of a mile above Mirror Lake. - -~Mirror Lake~ is three miles distant by road from Yosemite. Here our -trail leaves the end of the road and skirts the west shore. Following -up the canyon beneath the dense forest about one mile we suddenly turn -left and start the 2500-foot ascent. From the 108 switchbacks are many -fine views. After a long, tiresome climb the trail passes over the -canyon rim between ~Mt. Watkins~ (Alt. 8235) at the right and ~Basket -Dome~ (Alt. 7602) at the left. A short distance takes us to ~Snow -Creek~, which cascades beautifully further down its rough canyon. -Turning upstream we soon arrive at a trail fork where the ~Tenaya Lake -Trail~ (Trail Trip 6) turns right. We turn left, following up the west -branch about a mile further. In high water ~Snow Creek Falls~ is -especially attractive. The trail now makes a wide detour to the north -of ~Indian Rock~ (Alt. 8526). If desirable, pedestrians may leave the -trail and climb to its summit, from which are good views, thence -following south down the long open ridge to the summit of ~North -Dome~. - -The trail keeps at a lower elevation, passing thru almost level fir -forests and meadows with a charming diversity of wild-flowers and -trees. Gradually bearing southward our trail follows down the ~East~ -or ~Little Winkle Branch of Indian Creek~ from its source. The main -~Snow Flat Trail~ continues down this stream, but we turn left on the -plainly blazed ~cut-off trail to North Dome~. Passing thru the dense -forests on the west flank of ~Indian Ridge~, we finally emerge on the -open disintegrated granite at the crest of the long slope leading -southward to North Dome. Here the ~Yosemite Falls Trail~ joins from -the west. The rounded summit of ~North Dome~ (Alt. 7531) is now easily -reached by a walk thru the open forest and over granite pavements, -which here exhibit very well the geological phenomenon of exfoliation -or weathering in concentric shells. Near the summit and to the north -of the trail is ~Slipper Rock~. From the top is a vast outlook, -especially westward toward the ~Gates of the Valley~ and eastward -where the great wall of ~Half Dome~ dominates the entire landscape. -The floor of ~Yosemite Valley~ is partly hidden by the projecting -~Royal Arch Cliff~. Daring rock climbers who have made the descent to -the edge describe this dizzy precipice as one of the most impressive -in the park. - -In returning to Yosemite we take all main trails to the left. -Retracing our path for about half a mile up ~Indian Ridge~, we turn -westward. One mile more thru dense forest takes us past a small stream -and to the ~Little Winkle Branch of Indian Creek~, where the main -~Snow Flat Trail~ joins from upstream. The steep canyon below was -called "Le Hamite" by the Yosemite Indians because of the arrowwood -which grew there. Their main trail into Yosemite followed along the -precipitous east wall of the canyon. - -A climb of 400 feet thru the forest now takes us to the summit of a -long ridge which we follow southward, finally paralleling the edge of -a deep precipice just westward from ~Castle Cliffs~ and emerging -abruptly at ~Yosemite Point~ (Alt. 6935). This is one of the justly -famous view-points of Yosemite and offers a remarkable combination of -depths and distances. The granite spire just below and at the right is -the ~Lost Arrow~, the "Le Hammo" of the Yosemite Tribe, the story of -which is one of their most charming legends. - -Returning a short distance to the main trail we descend to ~Yosemite -Creek~. On the open ridge just beyond the crossing is a secondary -trail which leads to the rim of the ~Upper Yosemite Fall~, a few -hundred feet distant. The wonderful view from this point is most -thrillingly described by Muir. - -Returning to the main trail we cross a small stream where is the -junction with the ~Yosemite Creek~, ~Eagle Peak~ and ~Ten Lakes -Trails~ (Trail Trips 11, 9 and 10). There is here a government -telephone (Central 1 ring). Turning left we descend abruptly 1600 feet -by sharp, dusty switchbacks, finally skirting the bottom of the almost -vertical cliff west of the falls. At this point one can leave the -trail and climb to the foot of the upper fall, in times of low water -even entering the cave beneath its base. The climb is dangerous -because of the slippery rocks. - -The trail now passes southward along a granite ledge beneath the shade -of oaks and laurel. A short steep descent at the left of the trail -takes us to ~Valley View~, an excellent lookout point. Less than -one-half mile further is ~Columbia Point~ (Alt. 5031) from which is a -particularly wide and effective panorama. The following 2000-foot -descent to the floor of Yosemite Valley is first along granite ledges -among scattered Douglas firs and golden oaks, and finally beneath the -dense laurel and oak forests of the lower talus slopes. At the foot of -the trail is the ~El Capitan Road~. Auto busses run between this and -other valley points on half-hour service. ~Yosemite Lodge~ is a short -distance eastward and ~Yosemite Village~ is about three-quarters of a -mile distant via Yosemite Lodge and the foot-bridge. - - -TRAIL TRIP 5 - -YOSEMITE TO TENAYA LAKE _via_ CLOUDS REST AND FORSYTH PASS AND RETURN -_via_ MIRROR LAKE - -Reverse of Trail Trip 6 - -(32.25 miles--2-day trip) - -Owing to the stupendous mountain scenery and the charming diversity of -meadows and forests thru which this trail passes, it deserves to be -ranked among the most scenic of Yosemite Trails. Two days should be -taken for the trip. Excellent accommodations will be found at Tenaya -Lake Lodge, but reservations should be made in advance from Yosemite. - -From Yosemite we take the road past ~Camp Curry~ to ~Happy Isles -Bridge~. Here we turn to the right on the main ~Glacier Point Trail~ -and follow Trail Trip 1 as far as the trail junction at the top of the -~Nevada Falls~ zigzags. At this point we turn left, rising rather -abruptly about 200 feet and then following up the north bank of the -Merced river. About a half mile takes us to a junction where the -~Little Yosemite Trail~ (Trail Trip 13) continues on up the ~Little -Yosemite Valley~. Our trail turns to the left uphill and mounts by -switchbacks thru a dense stand of pine, fir and cedar. A climb of 1000 -feet in one and a half miles takes us to the junction where the ~Half -Dome Trail~ (Trail Trip 14) turns to the left. Our trail turns right -along a gently inclined bench and in one-half mile again branches. To -the right is the ~Sunrise Trail~ (Trail Trip 8). By taking this trail -and branching north on the cut-off route about two miles further, some -distance can be saved by those who do not wish to visit Clouds Rest. - -The main trail, which turns to the left, should be followed. It -continues the climb towards the northeast. About half a mile westward -are the two ~Quarter Domes~ (Alt. 8160 and 8276). At an altitude of -8200 we pass a spring. Above this the trail rises sharply by zigzags -to the base of the ~Pinnacles~ (Alt. 9451). A climb of a few hundred -feet along their east flank takes us near the summit of ~Clouds Rest~ -(Alt. 9924). A short branch trail up the steep and rocky slope leads -to the crest, from which is a vast view in all directions. This is the -highest of the Yosemite Valley summits. - -We descend again to the trail, which turns northeast and follows along -the canyon rim, keeping generally just east of the crest. In two miles -the cut-off trail from Little Yosemite joins from the right. After -gradually bearing to the left, now on the Tenaya Canyon slope, we pass -a small lake at the right of the trail. The lake contains no fish, but -upstream one mile is ~Mildred Lake~ (Alt. 9600), in which are some -very large trout. - -Traversing ~Forsyth Pass~, the picturesque trail now descends 1000 -feet in the next two and a half miles over rough granite to the rocky -meadows just below ~Lake Tenaya~ (Alt. 8141). This large, deep glacial -lake is beautifully surrounded by granite crags and domes. Its Indian -name, Py-we-ack, meant "lake of the glistening rocks," referring to -the glacier-polished granite at its upper end. The lake and the peak -to the east were renamed "Tenaya" when the last remnant of Chief -Tenaya's Yosemite Tribe was captured here by the Mariposa Battalion on -June 5, 1851. There is here good camping, and pasturage seems -abundant, but horses do not like it and should therefore be hobbled to -prevent straying. The lake was stocked with Loch Leven trout in 1911 -and with rainbow, eastern brook, black spotted and steelhead in 1917, -1918 and 1919, but fishing is only fair. Crossing the meadows at the -outlet our trail joins the ~Tioga Road~, which follows the western -margin of the lake to the ~Tenaya Lake Lodge~, about one and a half -miles distant, where good accommodations will be found. The road -continues up the canyon to ~Tuolumne Meadows~ seven and a half miles -distant, and to Mono Lake. - -From Tenaya Lake to Mirror Lake are two trails, which unite after -about two and a half miles. The first of these starts from the road -just beyond the sharp bend about one and a quarter miles from the lake -and bears southwest thru the forest. The other, which is far more -scenic, crosses the meadow and park-like forest below the lake, -passing a beautiful little unnamed lake where good camp sites and -horse-feed will be found, but no fishing. Beyond this is a gradual -300-foot ascent along an open ridge. Below is the deep chasm of the -inaccessible and little known ~Tenaya Canyon~. The unbroken granite -abutments of ~Clouds Rest~ sweep down almost 4000 feet. After each -snowstorm these cliffs shed avalanche after avalanche. At about two -and a half miles from Tenaya Lake the less scenic trail from the Tioga -Road joins from the right. Descending southwest thru timber the trail -passes ~Hidden Lake~ (Alt. 8400--picturesque but no fishing) which is -to the left of the trail but invisible without making a detour. About -two miles further is ~Tenmile Meadow~ (Alt. 8400) on a small tributary -of ~Tenaya Creek~. This is a good place to noon. There is here fine -horse-feed, also good camp sites, but no fishing. - -An abrupt climb of 650 feet now takes us over a spur ridge and to the -source of the east branch of ~Snow Creek~. There is here a small -meadow at the left of the trail, where good horse-feed and camp sites -will be found. A 1500-foot descent by zigzags thru scattered timber -takes us down a side canyon to ~Snow Creek~, across which is a -foot-log. About 300 yards beyond the crossing, the ~North Dome Trail~ -(Trail Trip 4) turns northwest and follows up the west branch of Snow -Creek. We turn left, passing thru a beautiful forest of Jeffrey pine, -lodgepole pine and fir. Fishing is fair, but the trout are small. -About one mile below the crossing we suddenly emerge at the rim of the -canyon between ~Mt. Watkins~ (Alt. 8235) at the left and ~Basket Dome~ -(Alt. 7602) at the right. The following abrupt descent of 2500 feet by -108 switchbacks takes us to the bottom of ~Tenaya Canyon~. Turning -downstream our trail enters a dense forest of oaks, laurel, pine and -cedar. One mile of almost level path takes us to ~Mirror Lake~, where -we skirt the west shore to the end of the road. Yosemite is three -miles distant by road. - - -TRAIL TRIP 6 - -YOSEMITE TO TENAYA LAKE _via_ MIRROR LAKE AND RETURN _via_ FORSYTH -PASS AND CLOUDS REST - -Reverse of Trail Trip 5 - -(32.25 miles--2-day trip) - -~Tenaya Lake~ is one of the gems of the High Sierra. The very scenic -two-day round trip from Yosemite is too long and strenuous to be -attempted in one day. Excellent accommodations will be found at Tenaya -Lake Lodge, but reservations should be made in advance by telephone. -If the trip is to be taken in the following direction one should start -early to avoid the intense heat of the zigzags above Mirror Lake. -Water should be carried. - -The trail starts at ~Mirror Lake~, three miles from Yosemite. One -should plan to see sunrise there (about 8 a.m. in summer). Skirting -the west shore the trail follows up the canyon about one mile, thru a -dense forest of oak, laurel, yellow pine, Douglas fir and incense -cedar. Then begins a long, hard climb of 2500 feet up 108 switchbacks -(one and a half miles--two hours). - -Above the rim of the canyon the trail follows the west bank of ~Snow -Creek~. Fishing is fair but the trout small. Further down stream are -picturesque cascades. After passing thru a forest of Jeffrey pine, -lodgepole pine and fir for about one mile the trail to North Dome and -Tioga Road (Trail Trip 4) branches to the left. Our trail turns right -and crosses ~Snow Creek~ (foot-log) about 300 yards beyond. We then -climb 1500 feet by zigzags up an east branch of Snow Creek thru -scattered timber. At the headwaters of this creek is a small meadow at -the right of the trail, a good campsite with forage fairly abundant. - -Rising over a spur ridge, the trail drops abruptly about 650 feet to -~Tenmile Meadow~ (Alt. 8400) on a small tributary of ~Tenaya Creek~. -This is a good place to noon. It is a fine camp and horse-feed is -abundant, but there is no fishing. Climbing to the northeast thru -timber the trail passes ~Hidden Lake~ (Alt. 8400--picturesque, but no -fishing), which is a short distance to the right of the trail but not -visible from it. About two and a half miles beyond Tenmile Meadow the -trail forks. The left branch leads to the ~Tioga Road~, about one mile -distant, which may then be followed to Lake Tenaya. The trail to the -right is far more scenic. It follows an open granite ridge revealing -the wonderfully glaciated canyon below and ~Clouds Rest~ opposite. -Down the canyon are Half Dome and the head of Yosemite Valley. -Descending about 300 feet the trail passes a beautiful little unnamed -lake, where are good camp sites and abundant pasturage, but no -fishing. From here the trail traverses almost level meadows and a -scattered forest of lodgepole pine one mile to ~Lake Tenaya~ (Alt. -8141). This large, deep glacial lake is beautifully surrounded by -granite crags and domes and is a splendid place for a permanent camp. -Its Indian name was Py-we-ack, or "lake of the glistening rocks," -because of the glacier-polished granite pavements near the north end. -On June 5, 1851, when the last remnant of old Chief Tenaya's Yosemite -Tribe was captured here by the Mariposa Battalion, the lake and the -dominant pyramidal peak at the east were renamed "Tenaya." Forage is -abundant in the vicinity but it is not liked by horses, so stock -should be hobbled. The lake was stocked with Loch Leven trout in 1911 -and with rainbow, eastern brook, black spotted and steelhead in 1917, -1918 and 1919, but fishing is only fair. The ~Tioga Road~ follows -around the western margin of the lake to ~Tenaya Lake Lodge~, about -one and a half miles distant, where good accommodations will be found. -The road continues up the canyon to ~Tuolumne Meadows~, seven and a -half miles distant, and to ~Mono Lake~. - -Our return trail starts just below the lake. Crossing the meadow it -mounts the east slope steadily climbing 1000 feet up the rough granite -to ~Forsyth Pass~, two and a half miles distant. Fine views are -obtained all along the trail. Near the summit a small shallow lake can -be seen east of the trail. By leaving the trail and following up the -small stream about one mile, ~Mildred Lake~ (Alt. 9600) can be -reached. This little lake contains some very large trout. From Forsyth -Pass the trail follows southwest along the rim of Tenaya Canyon about -two miles and then forks. The trail to the left descends thru timber -about three miles and joins the ~Sunrise Trail~, making the shortest -route to Yosemite. The trail to the right leads to Clouds Rest and is -far more scenic than the cut-off. It follows just east of the canyon -rim for about two miles and joins the ~Clouds Rest Trail~. A short, -steep ascent by foot over rough granite takes us to ~Clouds Rest~ -(Alt. 9925), the highest point near Yosemite. From here is a vast -panorama to all sides. Returning to the trail we descend thru stunted -forest and rough granite. To the right are ~The Pinnacles~ (Alt. -9451). The trail descends about 1000 feet by switchbacks to a spring. -~Quarter Domes~ (Alt. 8160 and 8276) are half a mile west on the -canyon rim. The trail descends thru denser and denser forest. A short -distance below, the ~Sunrise Trail~ joins from the east. After -trending westward along a bench the trail is joined from the northwest -by the ~Half Dome Trail~. Descending thru the pine forest, we now and -then are treated to glimpses of ~Mt. Starr King~ across Little -Yosemite. About one-third of a mile takes us to another junction where -a branch trail turns left descending 400 feet into Little Yosemite. -The main trail passes to the right of a granite knob and reaches the -floor of ~Little Yosemite Valley~ near the lower end, where it is -joined by a trail from up the canyon. Turning right we pass ~Liberty -Cap~ and after a 200-foot descent join the main Glacier Point Trail at -the top of ~Nevada Falls~. There is here a government telephone -(Central 1 ring). We turn right. Yosemite is six miles distant via -Trail Trip 2. - - -TRAIL TRIP 7 - -YOSEMITE TO LAKE MERCED - -(16.5 miles--6 hours) - -The round trip from Yosemite to ~Merced Lake~ is an exceedingly scenic -two-day excursion. One should telephone in advance for accommodations -at the Merced Lake Lodge. Pedestrians may save an hour's hard climb by -taking the Mist Trail to the top of Vernal Falls. An excellent -three-day trip may be made by combining Trail Trips 7 and 6. First -day: Lake Merced. Second day: Clouds Rest and Lake Tenaya via Forsyth -Pass. Third day: Yosemite via the summit of North Dome and Yosemite -Falls Trail. - -From Yosemite we take the road on the south side of the valley past -Camp Curry to ~Happy Isles Bridge~. Here we turn right on the main -Glacier Point Trail and follow Trail Trip 1 to the junction at the top -of the ~Nevada Falls~ switchbacks. The ~Glacier Point Trail~ (Trail -Trip 1) turns right and crosses a small bridge. We take the left-hand -trail, which rises about 200 feet and follows up the ~Merced River~. -About half a mile beyond, the ~Little Yosemite Trail~ (Trail Trip 13) -continues up the canyon. The main trail turns to the left and zigzags -upward thru a dense stand of pine, fir and cedar. A climb of about 800 -feet in one and a half miles takes us to the junction with the ~Half -Dome Trail~ (Trail Trip 14), which branches left. Our trail turns -eastward along a gently sloping bench. After a quarter of a mile the -~Clouds Rest Trail~ (Trail Trip 5) continues to climb to the left. The -~Merced Lake Trail~ turns right, fording a small creek and thence -following up the west bank of ~Sunrise Creek~, crossing about a mile -above to the east bank. About half a mile above the crossing is -~Hopkins Meadow~, where the ~Sunrise Trail to Tuolumne Meadows~ (Trail -Trip 8) branches to the left. - -We turn right, passing thru almost level open granite country for the -next two miles where we obtain grand views of ~Little Yosemite~, of -the deep canyon of the ~Merced~, and of ~Mt. Clark~ and ~Mt. Starr -King~ toward the south. Descending some short, steep switchbacks the -trail again becomes almost level and passes the picturesque little -~Duck Lake~ at the right of the trail. Rising a few feet we now -descend abruptly into ~Echo Creek Canyon~, crossing ~Echo Creek~ about -a quarter of a mile from the Merced River. Here at ~Echo Valley~ are -good camp sites, excellent feed and fine fishing. Echo Creek was -stocked in 1905 with eastern brook trout. Steelhead and German brown -trout will also be found in the river. The old "Merced Lake Trail," -which is shown on the U.S.G.S. map as ascending Echo Creek is in very -poor condition and is no longer used. From Echo Valley the trail -climbs about 100 feet over a granite spur, in the ascent passing thru -a beautiful forest of western yellow pine. Following for one mile -along the glaciated granite slope, the trail parallels the river, -which here descends in a series of rapids, cascades and low falls. - -We arrive finally at ~Lake Merced~ (Alt. 7300). This is one of the -most accessible and well known of the lakes in Yosemite's High Sierra. -At its shores and along the entire seven-mile canyon above are ideal -camping places. Horse-feed is abundant above the lake. Fishing is -excellent in both lake and river. The lake contains Loch Leven, German -brown and rainbow trout. Rowboats may be hired at fifty cents per hour -or $2.50 per day. Merced Lake is undoubtedly the best base camp for -trips thruout the entire upper watershed of the Merced River. - -The trail skirts the north edge of the lake, passing into a beautiful -forest of sugar pine and western yellow pine at the upper end. Just -above the lake is ~Merced Lake Lodge~, with excellent accommodations. -One may here rent a fishing outfit and some supplies may be obtained. -~Washburn Lake~ is three miles further up the canyon. - - -TRAIL TRIP 8 - -YOSEMITE TO TUOLUMNE MEADOWS _via_ SUNRISE TRAIL - -(28 miles--12 hours) - -The ~Sunrise Trail~ has long been famous as one of the most scenic -routes between Yosemite and Tuolumne Meadows. The walk is almost too -long to be enjoyed in one day and is better taken in two. - -From Yosemite Village we follow the road south of the river, past Camp -Curry to Happy Isles Bridge. There we turn left on the ~Glacier Point -Trail~ and follow Trail Trip 1 to the junction at the top of ~Nevada -Falls~. Again turning left we skirt the south base of ~Liberty Cap~ -and climb 200 feet to the ~Little Yosemite Valley~. After following -along the margin of the placid Merced we veer abruptly to the left at -the first trail junction. Straight ahead is ~Little Yosemite~ (Trail -Trip 13). Our route mounts the timbered slope to the northward and we -now and then catch glimpses of the round dome of ~Mt. Starr King~ -across Little Yosemite. A climb of 800 feet takes us to the junction -where the ~Half Dome Trail~ (Trail Trip 14) turns northwest. We take -the right-hand trail, which trends eastward along a gently sloping -bench. The ~Clouds Rest Trail~ (Trail Trip 5) now branches northward -directly up the slope. - -Our trail bears eastward and shortly crosses a small branch of Sunrise -Creek. The trail now follows up the north bank of ~Sunrise Creek~, -crossing about a mile above to the south side. One-half mile further -is ~Hopkins Meadow~ and a junction where the ~Merced Lake Trail~ -(Trail Trip 7) turns right. Horse-feed is here moderately abundant and -camp sites fair. The ~Sunrise Trail~ continues up the canyon and is -shortly joined by the ~Forsyth Pass Trail~ from the north (Trail Trip -5). Reaching the head of Sunrise Creek and ascending the east flank of -~Sunrise Mountain~ by long sandy zigzags, the trail emerges at several -vantage points from which ~Mt. Clark~ is most advantageously seen to -the south. The trail now leads almost level through lodgepole pine and -fir forests, emerging suddenly at the foot of ~Long Meadow~. To the -north is the sharp spire of ~Columbia Finger~ (Alt. 10,700) and -~Tenaya Peak~ (Alt. 10,300) at the left. Horse-feed is abundant here -late in the season but the meadow is generally cold. There is no -fishing in the creek. Just beyond the 400-foot ridge to the west is -~Mildred Lake~, in which are some very large trout. - -After following up Long Meadow, the trail rounds the eastern base of -Columbia Finger, passing over glaciated granite and thru stunted -forests. The serrate crest of ~Echo Peak~ (Alt. 11,100) towers -imposingly at the right across the canyon. A rise of a few feet takes -us over ~Cathedral Pass~ (Alt. 9850). Just beyond is a beautiful -unnamed lake above which the spires of ~Cathedral Peak~ rise -impressively at the north. Skirting the east shore of this little lake -at about timber line, the trail bears northward across a sandy plateau -where white bark pine grows abundantly. To the west, down the canyon, -can be seen the upper end of ~Cathedral Lake~ (Alt. 9250) about one -mile distant. Here camping and fishing are good. The lake was stocked -long ago and re-stocked in 1915 by fish from Tuolumne Meadows. -Continuing around the west flank of Cathedral Peak the trail gradually -bears northeast, descending into denser forests of lodgepole pine, fir -and hemlock. To the left can be seen the summit of ~Fairview Dome~ -(Alt. 9250) about one mile distant. A gradual descent through the -dense forest, which is especially noted for its many beautiful -mountain hemlocks, takes us finally to the south edge of ~Tuolumne -Meadows~, where the trail joins the Tioga Road. The ranger camp and -Sierra Club Lodge are about one mile east. - - -TRAIL TRIP 9 - -YOSEMITE TO EAGLE PEAK, EL CAPITAN AND GENTRY - -(14 miles. Eagle Peak and return, 13 miles--8 hours) - -The round trip to the summit of Eagle Peak via Yosemite Falls Trail is -one of the most attractive of one-day Yosemite excursions. From the -valley to the crest of El Capitan via the Yosemite Falls Trail, -returning via Gentry and the Big Oak Flat Road, is too long and hard a -trip to be attempted in one day except by the most hardened walkers. -The trail to Eagle Peak is excellent, but from that point to the -summit of El Capitan it is in poor condition. From this point along -the north rim to Gentry the route is so overgrown by brush as to be -almost impassable. - -From ~Yosemite~ we follow Trail Trip 3 as far as the trail junction -above the zigzags west of the ~Upper Yosemite Fall~. Here we continue -straight ahead, paralleling ~Yosemite Creek~, to another junction a -quarter of a mile above. The trail to the north leads to ~Ten Lakes~ -and ~Hetch Hetchy~ (Trail Trips 10 and 11). We turn to the left, -climbing westward near the north bank of ~Eagle Creek~ over an old -terminal moraine. One mile from the junction is ~Eagle Peak Meadow~ -(Alt. 7200), where are good camp sites and forage. Ascending the creek -to its source, the trail continues south along the ridge, climbing -abruptly the last half mile to ~Eagle Peak~ (Alt. 7333), one of -Yosemite's finest lookout points. To the east the 3800-foot precipice -gives a vast impression of depth. - -About one-third mile from the summit the little-used ~El Capitan -Trail~ branches to the west. Descending by sharp switchbacks to the -head of a small draw, the trail follows the rim westward thru a brushy -forest, undulating over the flat divides between several brooklets. -Swinging southward our trail emerges on an open transverse ridge, -which it follows a short distance to the summit of ~El Capitan~ (Alt. -7564), from which is a commanding outlook both up and down the valley. -It is possible to carefully descend towards the southeast to the rim, -where a slightly extending ledge allows one to peer over the sheer -wall of the 3000-foot cliff. - -The old ~El Capitan Trail to Gentry~ branches to the west about -one-third of a mile north from the summit and continues thru very -brushy country along the north rim to ~Ribbon Creek~, about one mile -distant. From this point if one is a good woodsman and brush-fighter, -the old blazes may be followed thru a three-mile tangle to the ~Gentry -Checking Station~ on the ~Big Oak Flat Road~. Yosemite is then 8.1 -miles distant by road. - - -TRAIL TRIP 10 - -YOSEMITE TO TEN LAKES _via_ YOSEMITE CREEK - -(One way 17 miles--7 hours) - -The recently constructed ~Ten Lakes Trail~ makes the exceptionally -beautiful ~Ten Lakes Basin~ and ~Grant Lakes~ easily accessible from -Yosemite. The round trip is too long to be attempted in one day. The -lakes offer most attractive sites for a permanent camp, and several of -them are well stocked with trout. - -We follow the ~Yosemite Falls Trail~ (Trail Trip 3) from its beginning -just west of ~Yosemite Lodge~ to the trail junction at the top of the -upper zigzags. Here the ~Yosemite Point and North Dome Trail~ turns -right and crosses a small creek. Those who have not visited the top of -the upper fall should by all means turn aside, for it is but a short -distance--less than five minutes' walk. Our main trail continues -straight ahead paralleling without crossing ~Yosemite Creek~ thru a -beautiful mixed forest where the tree-lover will find a few specimens -of western white pine. At about one-quarter mile (4.0 miles from -Yosemite) the ~Eagle Peak Trail~ (Trail Trip 9) branches to the left. -We follow up the west margin of the creek, generally thru dense -forests, but emerging at times to clatter over polished and striated -granite pavements where monster mountain junipers grotesquely spread -their gnarled branches. Great "potholes" have been formed by the -stream where it rushes over the smoothly planed bedrock. At a point -3.7 miles above the Eagle Peak Trail junction the main trail continues -to the left up the west fork (Trail Trip 11). Our trail, which turns -right and keeps on up the main fork canyon, is considerably less -traveled. In the next 2.3 miles we pass over rough granite up the west -bank of the main stream to the ~Yosemite Creek Ranger Station~ on the -~Tioga Road~. There is here a government telephone. Good camp sites -will be found at the crossing a quarter of a mile east of the cabin -and fair feed upstream. Fishing is fair to poor. There are better -camps, feed and fishing about three miles upstream. - -At the Tioga Road the trail is indistinct. We cross the bridge and -follow up the east bank of Yosemite Creek on the main road until the -blazes are sighted. The first third of a mile is easily traversed, but -the following one and a quarter miles are rough. About three miles -above the bridge is a meadow with abundant pasturage. This is a good -campsite and fishing is fair upstream. In the next three miles the -trail gradually ascends to an elevation of 9200 feet, leaving Yosemite -Creek and passing over the flat divide into the Tuolumne River -drainage. At the summit one can leave the trail and walk southeast 1.5 -miles to ~Grant Lakes~ (Alt. 9500). These are two beautiful mountain -lakes, the upper one being in a rugged cirque with sheer walls rising -above at the east. Both were stocked in 1917 with rainbow and eastern -brook trout. - -The Ten Lakes Trail continues north over the tableland and descends -600 feet by switchbacks into the ~Ten Lakes Basin~ (Alt. about 9400), -seven miles from the Tioga Road. Here are many ideal camp sites and -good forage except early in the season. The lakes were stocked with -eastern brook trout in 1908, 1913, 1915 and 1918 with Loch Leven in -1908, and with steelhead in 1918. Fishing is reported excellent. A -walk of one and a half miles due north takes us without climbing to -the summit of ~Grand Mountain~ (Alt. 9350), from which is obtained a -most impressive view of the ~Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne~ and ~Muir -Gorge~ just below. A still finer and more comprehensive panorama may -be had from the summit of ~Colby Mountain~ (Alt. 9700) on the canyon -rim 2.5 miles northeast from Ten Lakes. For this short side trip one -should leave the trail just before its descent into the basin and -follow northward on the ridge that juts out into the main Tuolumne -Canyon. - - -TRAIL TRIP 11 - -YOSEMITE TO HETCH HETCHY _via_ YOSEMITE CREEK, HARDEN LAKE AND SMITH -MEADOW - -(31 miles--12 hours) - -From Yosemite to Hetch Hetchy is a long one-day trail trip. The -following route is not especially scenic, traversing as it does the -rather flat forested plateau west of Yosemite Creek. The country north -of the Tioga Road is heavily grazed. Feed is sometimes scarce on this -account, and the numerous cattle trails are often confusing. Near -Hetch Hetchy the railroad has obliterated about three miles of trail, -making it necessary to follow the railroad grade. Further changes may -be expected as the work in Hetch Hetchy advances. - -From ~Yosemite~ we follow Trail Trip 3 to the trail junction near the -top of ~Yosemite Falls~ zigzags. Here we continue straight ahead up -the west bank of Yosemite Creek, passing beneath a beautiful forest of -Jeffrey pine, white and red fir, lodgepole pine and scattered western -white pine. At about a quarter mile (four miles from Yosemite) a trail -branches left to ~Eagle Peak~ (Trail Trip 9). In tracing the following -few miles up ~Yosemite Creek~ we often cross pavements of glaciated -granite where will be found some magnificent specimens of mountain -juniper. Note also the potholes in the creek bed. At three and -three-quarters miles from the Eagle Peak Trail Junction the ~Ten Lakes -Trail~ (Trail Trip 10) turns northeast, following up the main stream. -Our trail turns left and parallels the west branch of ~Yosemite -Creek~, two and a half miles to the ~Tioga Road~, which we now follow -northwestward for five miles, passing several meadows in which are -good horse-feed and camp sites. One of the largest of these meadows is -~White Wolf~. The small stream south of the road is the headwaters of -the ~Middle Fork~ of the ~Tuolumne River~. There is here fair fishing -but the trout are small. - -At a point where the road curves to the southwest, the ~Harden Lake -Trail~ branches to the right. About one mile northward is a trail -junction where the ~Hetch Hetchy Trail~ turns westward and the ~Harden -Lake and Pate Valley Trail~ turns eastward. ~Harden Lake~ (Alt. 7575) -is but a few steps distant but invisible from the Hetch Hetchy Trail. -It is small and contains no trout, but offers an attractive campsite -among the meadows and park-like forests. - -From Harden Lake we turn westward and for six miles ride thru unbroken -forest to ~Smith Meadow~ on ~Cottonwood Creek~. Here the ~Smith Peak -Trail~ turns northeast. The 1200 foot climb in two miles to ~Smith -Peak~ (Alt. 7835) is well worth a side trip, as it offers a superb -panorama. The north slope drops precipitously 4200 feet to the Grand -Canyon of the Tuolumne. - -At Smith Meadow another trail follows down Cottonwood Creek and leads -to ~Hog Ranch~, seven miles distant. Our trail turns northeast and in -five miles descends to the ~San Francisco Railroad~ grade, which it -intersects about halfway between Hog Ranch and Hetch Hetchy. Since the -trail has here been obliterated it is necessary to follow the railroad -grade which, with pack animals, is rather dangerous on account of the -possible meeting with a train. Two miles northward at the end of the -railroad is the city camp and offices, and a short distance beyond, -the dam-site. From here a good road descends to the floor of ~Hetch -Hetchy~, about one mile distant. - - -TRAIL TRIP 12 - -YOSEMITE TO SIERRA POINT - -(4 miles--3 hours--Round trip 1/2 day) - -For years there was a search for a point in Yosemite from which the -five great waterfalls--Upper and Lower Yosemite, Vernal, Nevada and -Illilouette--might be seen. The quest was finally ended when in 1897 -Mr. Charles A. Bailey and a friend computed the location of such a -point by triangulation. To their surprise it was not one of the -dominating summits, but occurred rather low on the west flank of -Grizzly Peak. The first ascent on June 14, 1897, proved the -calculation to be correct and the crag was named Sierra Point in honor -of the Sierra Club. - -The trail starts from ~Happy Isles~, which are 2.3 miles distant from -Yosemite. Here we turn south on the main ~Vernal~ and ~Nevada Falls -Trail~ or cross Happy Isles by the footpath. A quarter mile takes us -to a spring and water-trough, where the ~Sierra Point Trail~ branches -to the left and ascends the flank of ~Grizzly Peak~ by switchbacks. A -leisurely ascent may be made in forty-five minutes. From the point is -not only a good view of the falls but an impressive panorama. The -depths and distances are accentuated by the promontories being above -the observer and the canyons far below. - - -TRAIL TRIP 13 - -LITTLE YOSEMITE - -(Round trip, 14 to 20 miles--6 to 12 hours) - -~Little Yosemite~, although quite accessible and most charming in its -diversity of scenery, beauty and absolute restfulness, remains unknown -to most tourists. It deserves at least one day in one's Yosemite -itinerary. Fishing is reported good and those interested in geology or -botany will be well repaid by the trip. - -Above Nevada Falls the canyon of the Merced expands to broad level -meadows walled in by precipitous cliffs 1500 to 2000 feet high. Here -in Little Yosemite are exhibited all of the Yosemite features--dome -structure, exfoliation, glacial phenomena, "royal arches," etc., but -on a somewhat smaller scale. Even the forests and flowers are similar, -for the altitude is here only 6000 feet--two thousand feet higher than -Yosemite. The level floor, which has also resulted from the filling in -of an ancient lake, is broken in but three places by the crests of -terminal moraines, which extend across the valley and cause the Merced -to cascade beautifully in "silver aprons." In three miles the polished -granite walls again converge to form a narrow canyon from which the -river emerges, plunging over a beautiful cascade and into a -picturesque glacial tarn. The most outstanding scenic feature of the -valley is the perfectly formed ~Sugarbowl Dome~ (lately renamed -Bunnell Point) at its head. ~Lost Lake~, near the south base of ~Half -Dome~, is a swamp part of the season and later a boggy meadow. It is -interesting only as being in the transition stage between mountain -lake and mountain meadow. - -Kah-win´-na-bah´ was the Indian name for the valley as well as the -large summer camp located there. The river was known as the Yanopah. - -~Little Yosemite~ is reached by following Trail Trip 1 to the top of -the Nevada Falls zigzags, thence turning left and following Trail Trip -5 to the first junction, from which we continue up the canyon. The -head of the canyon is three miles eastward. The region is an excellent -place for a permanent camp away from the overcrowded valley and one -may easily arrange at Yosemite for the delivery here of a camp outfit -and supplies. - - -TRAIL TRIP 14 - -HALF DOME - -(Round trip, 20 miles--12 hours) - -From the time Yosemite was discovered, the mile-high summit of Half -Dome was regarded as unattainable. The few mountaineers who attempted -its ascent returned saying it would never be climbed. Finally there -came a young Scotchman, Captain George C. Anderson, with an -irrepressible determination to accomplish the feat. After all methods -of clinging to the smooth, steeply inclined granite had failed he -procured drills, hammer and eye-bolts, and set out to reach the summit -by rising from peg to peg. Slowly his ladder grew and finally his goal -was reached on October 12, 1875. Anderson was so enthused over the -wonderful dome and the sublime views from the summit that he -constructed a trail to "The Saddle," from whence his pegs led to the -top. Here he determined to build a hotel, but his untimely death in a -lonely cabin in Little Yosemite prevented its completion. - -In 1883 the pegs were swept away by a great, avalanche. Some were -later replaced by daring climbers, but the ascent remained so -dangerous that it was seldom attempted. From 1899 no ascents were made -until 1912, when two adventurous youths fastened ropes to the few -remaining pegs and attained the summit. Following this, the dome was -frequently climbed. In 1919 a public-spirited citizen of San Francisco -donated the money to build a first-class trail to the summit. This was -constructed under the auspices of the Sierra Club, and the once -perilous ascent finally made safe to all. - -The round trip to the summit is one of the most thrilling and scenic -one-day Yosemite excursions. Parties should start early and carry -canteens. From ~Happy Isles~ the main ~Glacier Point Trail~ (Trail -Trip 1) should be followed (take the Mist Trail if walking) to the top -of the ~Nevada Falls~ zigzags. Here we turn left and follow the -~Clouds Rest Trail~ (Trail Trip 5). A climb of 800 feet above the -Little Yosemite Valley takes us to a small stream. About 200 yards -further, in a fine grove of Jeffrey pine and incense cedar, the Clouds -Rest Trail bears to the right along a bench, while our trail climbs -the long switchbacks to the left. The remaining 500-foot climb is thru -dense forest. Anderson's old trail crosses our route in one place and -zigzags up the hillside about a quarter mile eastward. Just below the -ridge and about 200 yards to the right of the trail is a spring near -the big pile of stones, which are the only relics of Captain -Anderson's camp. Canteens should be filled here, as no water will be -found higher. A short climb takes us to the crest of the ridge at the -lowest point between ~Quarter Domes~ (Alt. 8276 and 8160) at the -northeast and ~Half Dome~ at the southwest. - -At the ridge top is a forest of lodgepole pine and a sudden transition -to pure fir as we cross to the northwestern slope where the climate is -more severe. Climbing beneath these firs we suddenly emerge at the -crest and obtain a wide view of the ~High Sierra~ on one side and the -depths of ~Tenaya Canyon~ on the other. A few minutes' walk along the -open ridge takes us to the rustic entrance which marks the beginning -of the foot trail. The pile of timbers and boards nearby were hewn and -split by Captain Anderson to be used for his Half Dome Hotel. The -foot-trail now climbs abruptly 250 feet by short zigzags and stairs to -"~The Saddle~," along the crest of which we continue to the base of -the final ascent. - -If tennis shoes are to be used they should be put on at this point. -The tool-box nearby contains ropes and safety belts for the use of the -public, but the ascent is perfectly safe without them. - -From here an 800-foot double cable railing with iron posts every ten -feet leads to the top. On the steep slopes are footholds, and at one -place a fifty-foot ladder carries us over the most dangerous part of -the ascent. Turning to the right at the top of the cableway we follow -the monuments across the surprisingly flat summit to the brink of the -great northeast face, where we find an overhanging shelf of granite. -The panorama at all sides is inexpressibly grand, but some of the -valley features suffer by being dwarfed in the great distances below. - -The descent should be started not later than 3 to 4 p.m. in order to -reach Yosemite before dark. - - -TRAIL TRIP 15 - -YOSEMITE TO GLACIER POINT _via_ THE LEDGE TRAIL - -(2.5 miles. Average 4 hours climb) - -Next to Half Dome, the ~Ledge Trail~ is the most thrilling of Yosemite -climbs. The ascent was formerly quite dangerous, but in 1918 a safe -foot-trail was constructed. The record ascent is fifty-three minutes, -but this is a steep, hard, 3200-foot climb and will take the average -individual three to five hours. - -The trail starts from the Happy Isles Road, turning southward just -east of the new ~Le Conte Lodge~. It climbs the talus slope above -~Camp Curry~ and turns westward up a steep ledge. As the trail mounts -to view-commanding heights there are many unusual and impressive -glimpses into the depths below. Reaching a steep canyon, the trail -turns sharply to the left and climbs beside a small creek. ~The water -is polluted~ and to drink it is dangerous. Near the top, the trail -gradually becomes less and less steep and finally crosses the canyon -rim only a few feet distant from ~Glacier Point~ and the ~Overhanging -Rock~. Glacier Point Hotel is about 200 yards southward. - - -TRAIL TRIP 16 - -GLACIER POINT TO SENTINEL DOME - -(Round trip, 2 miles in 2 hours) - -The short excursion from ~Glacier Point~ to the summit of ~Sentinel -Dome~ is well worth while. The round trip can easily be made afoot in -two hours and many hikers include it in their "Glacier Point" day. - -From the hotel we follow the ~Chinquapin Road~ about a quarter of a -mile. Just beyond a spring at the left of the road, the trail turns to -the right and climbs abruptly beneath the firs and pines. Gradually -the forest becomes more open and park-like, and the firs are replaced -by hardy Jeffrey pines. During the last quarter mile of the ascent we -pass over weathered granite which has exfoliated in slabs near the -top. At the rounded summit is a gnarled and wind-blown Jeffrey -pine--probably the most photographed tree in the park. To the east is -an exceptionally fine panorama of the High Sierra. - -In returning to Glacier Point we follow the trail to the south, -intersecting the road about 300 yards away. Here we turn left, noting -the soft decomposing granite which seems particularly susceptible to -weather conditions. The distance beyond to the hotel is one and a half -miles. - - -TRAIL TRIP 17 - -GLACIER POINT TO FORT MONROE _via_ POHONO TRAIL - -Reverse of Trail Trip 18 - -(11.7 miles--5 hours. Round trip from Yosemite, 24 miles--13 hours) - -This is one of the most beautiful Yosemite trails. With very little -climbing the trail parallels the south rim thru delightfully -attractive forests and wild-flower gardens, emerging from time to time -to reveal vast views across and into the valley. The round trip from -Yosemite to Glacier Point and thence to Fort Monroe via the Pohono -Trail, returning to the valley via the Wawona Road is too long a trip -to be attempted by the average walker in one day. It is best to stay -over night at the Glacier Point Hotel, starting early the next -morning. - -Leaving the ~Glacier Point Hotel~ we follow the road southwestward -about two miles, turning to the right at the ~Pohono Trail~ sign. We -now follow thru a dense fir forest for one mile, emerging at the -canyon rim at ~The Fissures~. These are great cracks only a few feet -wide and hundreds of feet deep. Just beyond is ~Taft Point~ (Alt. -7503). From here is a wonderful view, especially of the sheer -3500-foot precipices of ~El Capitan~ and ~Three Brothers~ rising as -massive buttresses of the great north wall. - -Swinging south along the rim for a short distance, the trail again -turns westward thru the fir forests passing beautiful small meadows -and wild-flower gardens and descending to ~Bridalveil Creek~. The -bridge has been destroyed but a foot-log is in place. There is fair -fishing in this stream but the fish are small. Bearing west and north -and climbing slightly, the trail emerges at ~Dewey Point~ (Alt. 7316), -another of the promontories of the south rim. From here the ~Cathedral -Rocks~ and ~Leaning Tower~ are viewed from an unusual angle, and ~El -Capitan~ and ~Ribbon Falls~ dominate the opposite wall. Following the -rim westward about half a mile we reach ~Crocker Point~ (Alt. 7090), -from which is obtained another vast outlook. Descending 430 feet thru -the forest we cross a small stream and emerge at ~Stanford Point~ -(Alt. 6659), another prominent lookout on the southern ramparts. About -half a mile westward one sees ~Old Inspiration Point~, from which -Yosemite was first seen by white men on March 21, 1851. Retracing our -path a short distance, we turn to the right and cross ~Meadow Brook~, -which flows over ~Widow's Tears~ a quarter mile below. The vicinity is -a Mecca for flower lovers. The trail continues westward, dropping 1400 -feet in the next one and a half miles to ~Fort Monroe~ (Alt. 5540), an -old stage relay station on the ~Wawona Road~. Yosemite is eight miles -eastward by this road. - - -TRAIL TRIP 18 - -FORT MONROE TO GLACIER POINT _via_ POHONO TRAIL - -Reverse of Trail Trip 17 - -(11.7 miles--5 hours. Round trip from Yosemite, 24 miles--13 hours) - -The ~Pohono Trail~ trip is one of the most beautiful of Yosemite -excursions. Striking eastward from Fort Monroe on the Wawona Road, it -traverses a delightful wooded country in which are some of the finest -wild-flower gardens of the park. From time to time it emerges at the -rugged ramparts of the south wall and affords many vast panoramas. The -round trip from Yosemite to Fort Monroe via Pohono Trail and return to -the valley via the Short Trail is too long to be attempted by the -average walker in one day. Even the trip to Glacier Point by this -route is a long one, and it is suggested that the itinerary outlined -in Trail Trip 17 be followed in preference. At Fort Monroe, an old -stage relay station on the Wawona Road, is a fairly good auto camp. -From here one may visit all the lookout points on the south rim by an -easy one-day walk, or may continue to the Glacier Point Hotel (11.7 -miles), returning the next day. - -The ~Pohono Trail~ turns eastward from the Wawona Road at ~Fort -Monroe~, eight miles distant from Yosemite. In the long steady climb -of 1400 feet in the first two miles we cross two small mountain -streams and near the top of the ascent pass about a quarter mile south -of ~Old Inspiration Point~ (Alt. 6603), from which Yosemite was first -seen by white men on March 21, 1851. The gently sloping trail now -winds beneath the firs thru most luxurious gardens of wild-flowers. -Shortly we cross ~Meadow Brook~ which, a quarter mile below, plunges -over ~Widow's Tears~. Trending northward about half a mile we now -emerge at ~Stanford Point~ (Alt. 6659), one of the promontories of the -south rim. From here, as from all other lookouts along the top of the -great south wall, is a vast panorama. Retracing our path a short -distance we turn to the left, cross another small brook, and climb 350 -feet in the next half mile to ~Crocker Point~ (Alt. 7090). Closely -paralleling the rim for another half mile we halt at ~Dewey Point~ -(Alt. 7316), the imposing apex of one of the great granite buttresses. -~Cathedral Rocks~ and the ~Leaning Tower~ are here viewed from an -unusual angle. To the northward ~El Capitan~ dominates the north wall -and ~Ribbon Falls~ is most advantageously seen. - -A long detour to the southeast now takes us into the ~Bridalveil Creek -Basin~. The trail bridge has been destroyed, but a foot-log is in -place. Fishing is fair, but the trout are small. Turning again -eastward we continue thru the fir forests, passing beautiful small -meadows and wild-flower gardens until we again approach the canyon -rim, which we follow northward for a short distance to ~The Fissures~. -These are great cracks only a few feet wide and hundreds of feet deep. -Just beyond is ~Taft Point~ (Alt. 7503). From here is a wonderfully -vast view, especially of the sheer 3500-foot precipices of ~El -Capitan~ and ~Three Brothers~ on the north wall. Following eastward -along ~Profile Cliff~, our trail again enters the fir and lodgepole -pine forest and leads across the gently sloping plateau about one mile -to the ~Glacier Point Road~. We here turn left and an easy walk of two -miles takes us to the ~Glacier Point Hotel~, where excellent -accommodations will be found. The lookout point and overhanging rock -are about 200 yards northward. For trail trips from Glacier Point -consult Trail Trips 16 to 23. - - -TRAIL TRIP 19 - -GLACIER POINT TO WAWONA _via_ ALDER CREEK TRAIL - -(20.5 miles--7 hours) - -This is one of the oldest trails in the region and was the main -thorofare to Yosemite prior to the construction of roads. The "old -timers" like to tell of the famous hostelries along the -route--Clark's, Westfall's, Peregoy's and McCauley's--which have long -since ceased to be. The trail is not of great importance from the -scenic stand-point, but offers a short-cut between its termini. -Throughout most of its course it is maintained in good condition. - -From ~Glacier Point~ we follow the road southwestward about two and a -half miles. A short distance beyond the Pohono Trail turn-off, our -trail branches to the right and enters the fir and pine forest. In the -next four miles we first climb over a low spur and then descend into -the basin of ~Bridalveil Creek~, where we cross the ~Glacier Point -Road~ at ~Peregoy Meadow~. This is a good camping place and forage is -abundant. Fishing in Bridalveil Creek is rather poor near the road. -Bearing southward, our trail emerges in one mile at ~Westfall Meadow~, -another good campsite. Passing across an almost imperceptible divide -we cross the headwaters of ~Alder Creek~ and follow along the west -side of its canyon thru a beautiful forest of western yellow pine, -sugar pine, fir and cedar, part of which has lately been logged. About -three and a half miles below Westfall Meadow is ~Empire Meadows~, -where feed is abundant and camp sites good. Fishing is fair but the -trout are small. The nearest campsite downstream is at the creek -crossing three miles further. Here there is a fair camping place but -forage is scarce. - -From this crossing Wawona is about six and a half miles distant. -Rising a short distance above the stream, the trail follows the -5500-foot level detouring around the west flank of a well-wooded -mountain. About three miles from the crossing, a trail to the right -descends to ~Alder Creek Ranger Station~ on the ~Wawona Road~ about -one mile distant. We now continue around the mountain, gradually -bearing to the southeast. The trail in the last two miles is rather -rough and zigzags abruptly down to the main road, which it intersects -a short distance from ~Wawona Bridge~. The hotel, store and postoffice -are just beyond. - - -TRAIL TRIP 20 - -GLACIER POINT TO OSTRANDER LAKE - -(13.5 miles--5 hours) - -At the very source of Bridalveil Creek and only five hours' easy walk -from Glacier Point lies the picturesque Ostrander Lake, famous since -the early days for its splendid fishing. The round trip from Glacier -Point Hotel (twenty-seven miles) may be made in one day by good -hikers, but it is far better to camp at the lake at least one night in -order to be there for the best fishing. Motorists, by parking machines -at the trail junction six miles southwest of Glacier Point on the -Chinquapin Road, can easily make the round trip (fifteen miles) in one -day. - -From ~Glacier Point~ we follow the ~Chinquapin Road~ about six miles -to the point where a sign indicates the ~Buck Camp and Ostrander Lake -Trail~ turning to the left. This trail bears south, crossing a small -tributary to ~Bridalveil Creek~, then continues through the open -lodgepole pine forest and crosses the main stream about two miles from -the road. A short distance beyond, the ~Buck Camp Trail~ (Trail Trip -21) continues up the south branch of the creek. Our trail turns -abruptly to the east (left) and again crosses the main stream, -following up the northeast bank. In the first two miles the trail is -good, but the remaining three miles are somewhat rough and steep. - -~Ostrander Lake~ (Alt. 8600) is beautifully set in a glacial -amphitheater on the north side of ~Horse Ridge~ (Alt. 9600), which -towers 1000 feet above. It is shallow on the north and west sides but -deep under the bluffs, where are generally deep snowbanks. The lake -was stocked with rainbow trout in 1892, 1893, 1899 and 1911, and with -eastern brook trout in 1893 and 1899. Fishing is excellent. - -~Buena Vista Lake~ (see Trail Trip 22) is about four miles distant and -may be reached by walking southeast about two miles through open -forest (no trail) on the north slope of Horse Ridge and joining the -~Buena Vista Trail~ in ~Buena Vista Canyon~. Here we may turn south up -the canyon, at the head of which is Buena Vista Lake. - - -TRAIL TRIP 21 - -GLACIER POINT TO CHILNUALNA FALLS OR JOHNSON LAKE _via_ THE BUCK CAMP -TRAIL - -(15.5 miles--6 hours) - -The old ~Buck Camp Trail~ connects Yosemite with the favorite hunting -grounds of the Chowchilla Tribe. It traverses a beautifully wooded -country but offers no startling scenic effects. - -From ~Glacier Point~ we follow the road southwestward about six miles -to a junction, where our trail branches to the left. Bearing southward -we cross a small stream and traverse a rather flat lodgepole pine -forest, finally fording ~Bridalveil Creek~. Just beyond, and at a -distance of about two miles from the road, the ~Ostrander Lake Trail~ -(Trail Trip 20) turns to the left. We continue southward, crossing a -tributary of Bridalveil Creek and gradually mounting the slope beyond. -As the trail turns southeast along the flat ridge, the wooded canyon -of ~Alder Creek~ is seen to the west. Two miles further on an almost -imperceptible pass is traversed. Just beyond is the source of one of -the northern tributaries to ~Chilnualna Creek~. This we follow for -about two miles to the main stream, where are good camp sites and -abundant forage. Fishing is fair but the trout are small. One mile -further is the main ~Chilnualna Falls Trail~. Westward one and a half -miles is the ~Chilnualna Ranger Station~, with good camp sites in the -vicinity, and a half mile further is the top of ~Chilnualna Falls~. -The trail eastward leads to ~Grouse Lake~ (two miles), ~Crescent Lake~ -(three and a half miles) and ~Johnson Lake~ (four and a half miles). - - -TRAIL TRIP 22 - -GLACIER POINT TO JOHNSON LAKE via THE BUENA VISTA TRAIL - -(16 miles--7 hours) - -This is a good new trail and is the most direct route between Glacier -Point and the excellent fishing lakes of the southern part of the -park. The one-way trip is an easy day's journey from Glacier Point. -For those walking from Yosemite there are good camp sites and -excellent fishing _en route_ at Buena Vista and Royal Arch Lakes. - -From ~Glacier Point~ we follow the main ~Vernal-Nevada Falls Trail~ -about two miles. Just east of ~Illilouette Ridge~ we take the right -branch and continue southeastward up the canyon of the Illilouette. -About three miles takes us to another trail junction. To the west is -~Mono Meadow~, about one and a half miles distant, and to the -northeast, crossing ~Illilouette Creek~, are the ~Merced Pass Trail~ -(Trail Trip 23) and the cut-off trail to the rim of ~Panorama Cliff~. - -Our trail continues up ~Illilouette Creek~, finally crossing a low -"hog back" and turning south up ~Buena Vista Creek~. In a glacial -cirque at its head is ~Buena Vista Lake~ (Alt. 9200). The south, or -upper side is backed by a rugged rock bluff from which huge boulders -have fallen into the water, making an excellent place from which to -fish. The lake was stocked with eastern brook trout in 1892, 1908 and -1919, and with rainbow trout in 1892. It is one of the park's best and -most accessible fishing lakes. Surrounded by open parks of timber, it -offers many beautiful camp sites, especially near the outlet. Forage -is fair downstream from the lake but is rather scarce early in the -season. Ostrander Lake is four miles northeast and can be reached by -foot. There are no blazes or monuments to mark the route. - -Our trail now mounts abruptly 400 feet to ~Buena Vista Pass~ (Alt. -9600). To the right about half a mile is ~Buena Vista Peak~ (Alt. -9600), and to the left and running east is ~Buena Vista Crest~. -Excellent views are obtained from the trail as it crosses the open -ridge. Near the summit the granite has fractured perpendicularly, -forming regular rectangular slabs. - -An 800-foot descent thru the open forest in the next two miles takes -us to the picturesque little ~Royal Arch Lake~ (Alt. 8800). This is a -small lake, deep on the north and east sides, and shallow near the -southwest margin. It is named from the arches in the steep northeast -granite wall, which are similar to the Royal Arches of Yosemite Valley -but on a smaller scale. The lake was well stocked with eastern brook -trout in 1897 and fishing is excellent, especially in the deep water -along the rocky northwest shore. There are fine camp sites here and -good horse-feed. - -Skirting the west margin of the lake our trail follows the small -stream about one mile to the main ~Chilnualna Trail~. Eastward is -~Buck Camp~ (two miles), ~Moraine Meadows~ (seven miles), and -~Fernandez Pass~ (eleven miles). We turn westward to ~Johnson Lake~ -(Alt. 8550), about a quarter mile distant. This is a small, round, -deep lake beautifully set in meadows and forest. It is bountifully -stocked with eastern brook trout and rainbow trout. The locality is -ideal for camping. Further westward are ~Crescent Lake~ (one mile), -~Grouse Lake~ (two and a half miles), and ~Chilnualna Falls~ (six and -a half miles). - - -TRAIL TRIP 23 - -YOSEMITE OR GLACIER POINT TO MORAINE MEADOWS _via_ THE MERCED PASS -TRAIL - -(From Yosemite, 22 miles--10 hours. From Glacier Point, 18 miles--7 -hours) - -The ~Merced Pass Trail~ has been replaced to a large extent by the -more scenic and better built Buena Vista Trail, which offers a -short-cut to the splendid fishing lakes in the upper basin of the -South Fork of the Merced. For those whose destination is the wild -country at the headwaters of the San Joaquin River, the Merced Pass -Trail is still the preferable route. The upper basin of Illilouette -Creek abounds in glacial phenomena and fishing is reported good. - -From Yosemite we follow the ~Vernal and Nevada Falls Trail~ (Trail -Trip 1) as far as the rim of ~Panorama Cliff~ just above Nevada Falls. -Here we turn to the right on the ~Mono Meadow Trail~, which bears due -south four miles to the main stream of ~Illilouette Creek~. To reach -this point from ~Glacier Point~ one should follow the ~Vernal-Nevada -Falls Trail~ (Trail Trip 2) for two miles, turn to the right on the -~Buena Vista Trail~ (Trail Trip 22), and after three miles more turn -to the left on the ~Mono Meadow Trail~. A short distance will take one -to the banks of ~Illilouette Creek~. - -At this point--twelve miles from Yosemite and five and a half miles -from Glacier Point--the ~Merced Pass Trail~ turns eastward, following -for ten miles up the main stream of the Illilouette and keeping always -within a short distance of its north bank. Gradually ascending to an -elevation of 9295 feet, we traverse ~Merced Pass~. To the right is the -long ridge of ~Buena Vista Crest~ (Alt. 9712). A descent of 600 feet -in the next two miles takes us to ~Moraine Meadows~. This is a -splendid camping region with abundant horse-feed and good fishing. -Nearby will be found a summer ranger outpost. A trail to the east -leads to ~Fernandez Pass~ and the headwaters of the ~San Joaquin~; one -to the southeast to ~Chain o' Lakes~, where is most excellent fishing; -and one to the west to ~Royal Arch~, ~Johnson~, ~Crescent~ and ~Grouse -Lakes~ and ~Chilnualna Falls~. - - -TRAIL TRIP 24 - -WAWONA ROAD TO EL PORTAL _via_ THE SUNSET TRAIL - -(4 miles--1-1/2 hours) - -This is a cut-off trail widely used by the Park Rangers in their -winter patrols but seldom used by the public. - -Starting from the ~Wawona Road~ one and a half miles northwest of -~Chinquapin~, the trail runs down the ridge on the north side of -~Indian Creek~. Swinging to the north, the trail passes just west of -~Lookout Point~, from which is a fine view down the canyon of the -Merced. Bearing to the right, it descends to ~Avalanche Creek~, where -it passes just below ~Cougar Falls~. The trail then zigzags down the -canyon wall to the midwinter ranger station and trail bridge across -the ~Merced River~, joining the ~El Portal Road~, about three miles -above El Portal. - - -TRAIL TRIP 25 - -WAWONA ROAD TO EL PORTAL _via_ THE HENNESSY TRAIL - -(10 miles--4 hours) - -The ~Hennessy Trail~ is no longer used by the public since the bridge -across the Merced at its lower end was washed away in 1917. Use the -Sunset Trail (Trail Trip 24). - - - [Illustration: Map of Yosemite Valley And Adjacent Region - From U.S.G.S. Topographic Map of Yosemite National Park - SCALE · 1 inch = 2 Miles - Contour Interval 100 Feet] - - -SUNSET PUBLISHING HOUSE, SAN FRANCISCO - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Guide to Yosemite, by Ansel Hall - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GUIDE TO YOSEMITE *** - -***** This file should be named 40360-8.txt or 40360-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/0/3/6/40360/ - -Produced by Joe Longo, R & L. Janssen and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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